Current Uses and Operations:
Reservoir Background
Reservoir Storage/Flood Control
Water Deliveries
Water Transfers
Fisheries Flows
Recent operating challenges
Concerns for future operations
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Reservoir Backround
Boca Dam was completed in 1937 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as
the only major feature of the Truckee River Project. The project
was initially constructed to irrigate approximately 29,000 acres in the
Truckee Meadows and to support Floriston rates. Due to urbanization
of the Truckee Meadows area, however, irrigation rights are being sold
and a portion of the reservoir's yield now supports municipal use.
Note that a principal incentive behind the construction of the dam was
that it helped the USBR to reach settlement in the Truckee River Agreement
negotiations by resolving conflicts between the Truckee Meadow irrigators
who had previously relied on natural flow rights and rights to Lake Tahoe
water.
Reservoir Storage/Flood Control
During the flood season, November 1 through April 10, the storage is
maintained below 33,100 acre-ft to allow adequate storage for runoff.
Once the flood season has passed, up to 41,100 acre-ft of water can be
stored in the reservoir. Note that the exact date on which water
in excess of the flood capacity may be stored in the reservoir is dependent
upon the annual snowpack and varies from year to year.
Water Deliveries
Stored water is released throughout the summer to meet downstream demands.
Enough water is released to meet flood protection needs in the fall. Water
is delivered to downstream users by timed releases from the reservoir.
On average, it takes approximately 25 hours for water to reach Reno, and
37 hours for water to reach the Derby Diversion for the Newlands Project.
Water Transfers
An important use of the storage is water transfer between Lake Tahoe,
Donner Lake, and other reservoirs. These water transfers are the trading
and owing of water between reservoirs. For instance, water is transferred
from Donner Lake to Boca Reservoir by releasing water from Donner and subsequently
slowing releases from Boca. Water transfers between Boca and Stampede Reservoirs
are also very common.
Fisheries Flows
A minimum of 30 cfs has to be maintained from the dam to maintain fisheries
in the Little Truckee River.