by Jeannette Halderman, Program Manager
The future of Martis Creek Dam poses unique opportunities to the Truckee River watershed.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has stated the dam poses a catastrophic risk of failure. The Corps is pursuing a detailed evaluation of the dam, downstream dangers, and alternative solutions. The alternatives range from reconstruction of the dam to removal.
Whichever alternative the Corps proposes, the impact to the Truckee and Reno/Sparks communities is significant.
So the Watershed Council has partnered with American Rivers and Sierra Watch to help the communities along the Truckee River better understand and evaluate the alternatives. We are bringing local voices and national expertise to facilitate the best possible outcome.
We have a launched a website dedicated to the project and we will be convening meetings the fall in Truckee and Reno/Sparks.
Check it out and sign-up for updates.
Note: Previously the Corps had announced they would release a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) this fall. Marshall Marik, project manager for the Corps, has just recently told us the DEIS will be delayed until the spring 2013.