Better do it now...... This also affects Stilwater and Greenhead
Although more water will flow to Lahontan Reservoir from the Truckee Canal on Friday, the lake level has likely peaked this year and will drop to about 4,000 acre-feet by the end of September.
Allocations to farmers will also drop from 90 percent to 80 percent.
While the low water levels will affect recreation at the reservoir, otherwise known as Lake Lahontan, those hit the hardest will be farmers relying on the water to flow through the hot summer months.
At the May 7 Truckee-Carson Irrigation District board of director's meeting, the directors decided not to reduce allocations to water users.
"The May 1 NRCS April-July forecast for the Carson River at Fort Churchill was 75,000 acre-feet, which is 42 percent of average. This will still be enough to supply a 90 percent allocation; however, Lahontan Reservoir will be drawn down to 4,000 acre-feet by the end of September," reads a statement from the TCID Web site.
Dave Overvold, project manager with TCID, said Tuesday the allocations will likely drop again.
"Indications are that we may have to drop it to 80 percent," Overvold said.
Once the decision becomes final, water users will be notified through the TCID Web site, www.tcid.org, or on their monthly water card.
The irrigation district will analyze available water in the reservoir near the end of June and decide whether to hold back any water for fall seeding. Overvold said those farmers wishing to seed in the fall will simply save some of their yearly water allocation for the fall months - provided there's still water left to irrigate with in October and November.
"It's risky because if the water doesn't materialize, they've just lost their allocation," Overvold said.
Another expected loss due to lack of water this year will be the amount of electricity produced through TCID's three hydroelectric plants.
"It'll take them off line," Overvold said. "It's not if, it's when."
While the drop in allocations is unwelcome news, the flows through the Truckee Canal, which breached Jan. 5, will increase to 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) on May 16.
Overvold said flows in the canal began climbing to 250 cfs last Friday. To ensure the canal's safety, TCID crews have been driving its length every day. He said there are a few visible seeps, but was reassured because the water was running clear and not washing mud out.
On the recreation side of things, Nevada Division of State Parks, which manages Lahontan State Park, is expecting a normal turnout for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
"The reservoir has started to come up a little," said Rob Holley, Lahontan Park Supervisor. "I'm expecting the reservoir to increase over the next several weeks, and hopefully through part of June will maintain a useable level.
"I fully expect in July and August the reservoir to drop noticeably," Holley said. "In the latter part of the summer, we expect low water and poor water quality at Silver Springs to be a deterrent to people."
If the level of Lahontan continues to fall, it could rival a low set for the lake over 15 years ago.
Figures from the LVN archives show on July 1, 1992 the lake was at 23,950 acre feet. By July 29, 1992, the level had plummeted to just 4,267 acre feet.
Although more water will flow to Lahontan Reservoir from the Truckee Canal on Friday, the lake level has likely peaked this year and will drop to about 4,000 acre-feet by the end of September.
Allocations to farmers will also drop from 90 percent to 80 percent.
While the low water levels will affect recreation at the reservoir, otherwise known as Lake Lahontan, those hit the hardest will be farmers relying on the water to flow through the hot summer months.
At the May 7 Truckee-Carson Irrigation District board of director's meeting, the directors decided not to reduce allocations to water users.
"The May 1 NRCS April-July forecast for the Carson River at Fort Churchill was 75,000 acre-feet, which is 42 percent of average. This will still be enough to supply a 90 percent allocation; however, Lahontan Reservoir will be drawn down to 4,000 acre-feet by the end of September," reads a statement from the TCID Web site.
Dave Overvold, project manager with TCID, said Tuesday the allocations will likely drop again.
"Indications are that we may have to drop it to 80 percent," Overvold said.
Once the decision becomes final, water users will be notified through the TCID Web site, www.tcid.org, or on their monthly water card.
The irrigation district will analyze available water in the reservoir near the end of June and decide whether to hold back any water for fall seeding. Overvold said those farmers wishing to seed in the fall will simply save some of their yearly water allocation for the fall months - provided there's still water left to irrigate with in October and November.
"It's risky because if the water doesn't materialize, they've just lost their allocation," Overvold said.
Another expected loss due to lack of water this year will be the amount of electricity produced through TCID's three hydroelectric plants.
"It'll take them off line," Overvold said. "It's not if, it's when."
While the drop in allocations is unwelcome news, the flows through the Truckee Canal, which breached Jan. 5, will increase to 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) on May 16.
Overvold said flows in the canal began climbing to 250 cfs last Friday. To ensure the canal's safety, TCID crews have been driving its length every day. He said there are a few visible seeps, but was reassured because the water was running clear and not washing mud out.
On the recreation side of things, Nevada Division of State Parks, which manages Lahontan State Park, is expecting a normal turnout for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
"The reservoir has started to come up a little," said Rob Holley, Lahontan Park Supervisor. "I'm expecting the reservoir to increase over the next several weeks, and hopefully through part of June will maintain a useable level.
"I fully expect in July and August the reservoir to drop noticeably," Holley said. "In the latter part of the summer, we expect low water and poor water quality at Silver Springs to be a deterrent to people."
If the level of Lahontan continues to fall, it could rival a low set for the lake over 15 years ago.
Figures from the LVN archives show on July 1, 1992 the lake was at 23,950 acre feet. By July 29, 1992, the level had plummeted to just 4,267 acre feet.
