Watershed Protection Benefit Project

OTR’s Watershed Protection Benefit Project will complete these three main goals: 1) coalition building, 2) fund development, and 3) River-Friendly Living efforts. Specific descriptions per each goal are:

Goal #1: Coalition Building Effort: Lead and coordinate regional coalition building focused on the protection and improvement of the Truckee River through the OTR partnership activities with a focus to support and develop projects that reduce erosion and sedimentation into the Truckee River.

Goal # 2: Fund Development Work: Lead, coordinate, and submit funding proposals to support OTR and further the implementation of the OTR Management Plan. Specifically, OTR will continue to develop its grants plan through the project period, which will adapt new funding opportunities to be identified, researched, cultivated and grant applications submitted.

Goal #3: River-Friendly Living (RFL) Program: Launch OTR’s RFL public engagement events at Lake Park’s RFL Demonstration Garden in Reno. Host, promote, and lead a walking tour of the garden sharing OTR’s RFL practices with the public. Continue to increase the public’s understanding of the Truckee River, RFL practices, and efforts underway to protect the Truckee River led by OTR and its partners focused on content to mitigate storm water run-off. Explore how to expand OTR’s RFL reach and public education and engagement with contract services and partners’ support. Share OTR’s RFL messaging to the public.

TMWA Benefit:

Priority III Local Stormwater Improvements: OTR’s River-Friendly Living (RFL) Program mitigates storm water run-off due to urbanization of the local watershed through collaborative on-the-ground installation of demonstration projects. With such projects, OTR coordinates with local governmental institutions and multiple departments to develop project concepts, research and apply for funding opportunities, and with funds secured, administrate and coordinate installation projects on public land, such as the RFL Demonstration Garden in Lake Park in Reno. In 25/26, OTR is exploring a possible new RFL Demonstration Garden site to collaborate with the City of Reno Utility Services.

Priority V – Rehabilitation of Local Tributaries & Drainage Courses: OTR’s coalition building and fund development efforts support the rehabilitation of local tributary creeks, tributaries, and the Truckee River through engagement, coordination, communication, and support to OTR’s Partnership Council members to continue to do more implementation projects focused on water quality improvements.

Priority VI – Stewardship & Environmental Awareness: OTR develops and implements educational content focused on the region’s adult audience related to the watershed protection and promotes direct actions residents can take to mitigate storm water run-off on their private property through continually messaging to the public to build awareness and engagement to care for the Truckee River as an important community asset. The RFL Program is divided into four branches (Yards, Individual Actions,

Neighborhoods, and Voices and Hands) providing many options for residents to care for the Truckee River. OTR’s RFL content is shared with the public through OTR’s website, blogs, newsletters, and social media platforms. From July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025, the OTR website received 12,241 visits, a 47% increase in one year and OTR RFL posts reach increased by 15%n on Facebook, 3,242% on Instagram and 187% on LinkedIn.