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Research about Truckee River

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Truckee River.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2019

Return of a giant: Coordinated conservation leads to the first wild reproduction of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the Truckee River in nearly a century

Many freshwater fish populations have been greatly reduced, with particular loss of migratory fishes. Recovering depleted populations is challenging as threats are often plentiful and complex, especially in arid environments where demands for water resources are high. Here, we describe how a collaborative, multifaceted approach has spurred natural reproduction—a major step towards Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi (LCT) recovery in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River, Nevada, once home to one of largest freshwater salmonids in North America. The factors limiting LCT were immense, including habitat fragmentation, degradation, and non‐native species attributes common in the declines of native salmonids. Yet for the first time in over 80 years and each year since 2014, adfluvial LCT have spawned in the lower Truckee River, resulting in the production of tens of thousands of young‐of‐year. The progress and positive trajectory towards recovery were driven by a holistic view of the Truckee River watershed beginning in the early 1990's that envisioned bringing numerous conservation building blocks together to expedite the conservation and recovery for the listed fishes of Pyramid Lake. Although additional challenges remain, the LCT recovery program in the Truckee River basin provides a template for the conservation of imperiled fishes.

Nevada↗
USGS2012

Movement patterns, habitat use, and survival of Lahontan cutthroat trout in the Truckee River

Habitat fragmentation, hybridization, and competition with nonnative salmonids are viewed as major threats to Lahontan cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi . Understanding Lahontan cutthroat trout behavior and survival is a necessary step in the reintroduction and establishment of naturally reproducing populations of Lahontan cutthroat trout. We used weekly radiotelemetry monitoring to examine movement patterns, habitat use, and apparent survival of 42 hatchery-reared Lahontan cutthroat trout in a 16.5-km stretch of the Truckee River, Nevada, across three reaches separated by barriers to upstream movement. We found differences in total movement distances and home range sizes of fish in different reaches within our study area. Fish used pool habitats more than fast water habitats in all reaches. Time of year, stream temperature, and fish standard length covariates had the strongest relationship with apparent survival. Monthly apparent survival was lowest in January, which coincided with the lowest flows and temperatures during the study period. Our results verify the mobility of Lahontan cutthroat trout and indicate that conditions during winter may limit the survival and reintroduction success in the portions of the Truckee River evaluated in this study.

California, Nevada↗
USGS2008

Traveltime data for the Truckee River between Tahoe City, California, and Vista, Nevada, 2006 and 2007

Traveltime measurements were made during 2006 and 2007 along the Truckee River between Tahoe City, Calif., and Vista, Nev. Fluorescent rhodamine WT dye was injected at various locations along the river during streamflows ranging from 143 to 2,660 cubic feet per second. The resulting data, presented in tabular and graphic form, may be useful to water-quality modelers or water-resources managers concerned with predicting the movement of soluble contaminants accidentally spilled into the Truckee River. The data provided in this report also could be used to determine the dispersion-related characteristics (duration and magnitude of pollutant concentrations) that may be expected in the Truckee River.

California, Nevada↗
USGS2003

Flows for floodplain forests: a successful riparian restoration

Throughout the 20th century, the Truckee River that flows from Lake Tahoe into the Nevada desert was progressively dammed and dewatered, which led to the collapse of its aquatic and riparian ecosystems. The federal designation of the endemic cui-ui sucker ( Chasmistes cujus ) as endangered prompted a restoration program in the 1980s aimed at increasing spring flows to permit fish spawning. These flows did promote cui-ui reproduction, as well as an unanticipated benefit, the extensive seedling recruitment of Fremont cottonwood ( Populus fremontii ) and sandbar willow ( Salix exigua ). Recruitment was scattered in 1983 but extensive in 1987, when the hydrograph satisfied the riparian recruitment box model that had been developed for other rivers. That model was subsequently applied to develop flow prescriptions that were implemented from 1995 through 2000 and enabled further seedling establishment. The woodland recovery produced broad ecosystem benefits, as evidenced by the return by 1998 of 10 of 19 riparian bird species whose populations had been locally extirpated or had declined severely between 1868 and 1980. The dramatic partial recovery along this severely degraded desert river offers promise that the use of instream flow regulation can promote ecosystem restoration along other dammed rivers worldwide.

California, Nevada↗
USGS1983

Reproduction by the endangered cui-ui in the lower Truckee River

Adult spawning behavior and emigration of larvae of the endangered cui-ui Chasmistes cujus were studied in a natural side channel of the lower Truckee River. External radio-tags placed on eight apparently did not affect spawning behavior. Cui-uis spawned in clusters of two to seven fish; usually a single female was flanked by two males. Each spawning act lasted 3–6 seconds, and individual fish spawned numerous times. The most active tagged male and female spawned at least 294 times and 114 times, respectively. Individual females broadcast eggs over an area of up to 50 m 2 . Males spawned over a 4–5-day period, and females over 2.5–4 days. Most spawning occurred at night in water depths ranging from 9 to 43 cm, water velocities ranging from 23 to 87 cm/second, and temperatures of 12–17 C. The preferred spawning substrate was gravel. Peak emergence and out-migration of cui-ui larvae occurred 14 days after peak spawning.

California, Nevada↗
USGS1974

Long term flow of the Truckee River in California and Nevada

The Office of the Solicitor, Department of the Interior, requested the Geological Survey to evaluate the reliability of streamflow records in the Truckee River basin and to determine the long-term average annual runoff. The reliability of streamflow records was evaluated by comparisons between pairs of records at six locations along the Truckee River between Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. The observed or estimated annual runoff near Nixon, Nevada was adjusted for changes in storage, evaporation losses, diversions, and depletions to approximate the inflow into Pyramid Lake under natural conditions. The long-term average annual runoff near Nixon was computed on the basis of streamflow records since 1899. The long-term (124-year) record of precipitation at Sacramento and tree ring information were used to substantiate the conclusion that the average runoff during the 74 years of streamflow record is a reliable measure of the average runoff for a longer period.

California, Nevada↗