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TMWA presents 2025–2045 water resources plan: conservation credited, aquifer storage proposed
Summary
Truckee Meadows Water Authority outlined its 2025–2045 resource plan to county commissioners, reporting stable long‑term supplies thanks to conservation and metering and proposing options such as aquifer storage and the Advanced Purified Water Project to guard against future drought scenarios.
Truckee Meadows Water Authority staff presented their 2025–2045 Water Resources Plan to the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 13, summarizing supply and demand projections, major strategies and next‑step priorities.
Assistant General Manager Danny Rauter and Cara Steelen described the plan’s central conclusions: current system production is roughly 90,000 acre‑feet, and 20‑year demand projections rise modestly toward about 107,000 acre‑feet under a 1.8% annual increase scenario. TMWA staff credited past conservation programs, metering and tiered billing for long‑term reductions in per‑capita use and emphasized that the region currently relies on 80–85% Truckee River surface water supplemented by groundwater wells.
The resource plan models a range of climate scenarios and identifies several options to address future shortages, including expanded aquifer‑storage and recovery programs, an Advanced Purified Water Project at American Flat, enhanced watershed protection and partnerships to preserve water rights. Staff noted there are approximately 40,000 acre‑feet of Truckee River water rights still available to be converted to municipal use and that no new Truckee River rights can be created beyond existing decrees.
Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked about how jurisdictions can support plan implementation. TMWA staff pointed to the new “at‑a‑glance” report intended for elected officials and the public as the starting point for community outreach and to align jurisdictional actions.
What this means: TMWA projects that with a mix of conservation and strategic projects the region can meet projected demands over a 20‑year horizon, while also acknowledging higher‑end climate scenarios where shortages would require additional infrastructure or supply strategies.
