Truckee River Flood Management Authority
(TRFMA)
Quick Resources
Our Work
The Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) is a partnership among the City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, and numerous other regional stakeholders working to reduce flooding along the Truckee River in Washoe County, Nevada.
Among key tasks, TRFMA is implementing the Truckee Meadows Flood Project (TMFP), a comprehensive program that includes the planning, design, and construction of flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration projects, while also supporting partner jurisdictions in maintaining existing flood protection infrastructure.
For more detailed information on individual projects and how they function as a coordinated system, visit the Our Project page.
TRFMA develops and maintains advanced hydraulic models and mapping tools that inform project design, support floodplain planning, and assist local governments in reviewing proposed development. In coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey, National Weather Service, and other partners, TRFMA operates and helps fund a network of streamflow and precipitation gages to monitor watershed conditions and evaluate flood potential, and provides technical and logistical support to emergency responders during flood events.
These efforts reduce long-term flood risk, improve emergency preparedness, and restore natural river function, supporting a more resilient Truckee Meadows for residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
Core Functions of TRFMA
Truckee Meadows Flood Project Delivery & Coordination
The Truckee Meadows Flood Project (TMFP) is a coordinated system of seven major elements: Vista Narrows, Rock–McCarran, Truckee Meadow Water Authority (TMWA) Levee/Floodwall, Reno–Tahoe International Airport Berm, Sparks North Bank Levee, Grand Sierra Resort Flood Project, and the Reno–Sparks Indian Colony Levee/Floodwall.
TRFMA leads coordination and delivery of these interconnected elements in partnership with local, state, federal, and tribal agencies, including the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Storey County. This includes oversight of design progression, environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder coordination required to advance complex, multi-jurisdictional efforts.
Each element is sequenced and integrated to function as part of a unified regional system, ensuring improvements reduce flood risk without creating unintended upstream or downstream impacts.
For additional details on project elements, including status and implementation timelines, visit the Our Project page.
In addition to project delivery, TRFMA supports ongoing system-wide efforts, including:
- Continued development and application of hydraulic models
- Operation and maintenance of the Flood Warning System
- Technical assistance to local governments and emergency managers
- Coordination with stakeholders on downstream mitigation strategies
- Public outreach and flood awareness initiatives
These efforts ensure the regional flood management system remains effective, adaptable, and responsive to changing conditions.
Hydraulic Modeling &
System Analysis
TRFMA and its contracted consultants continue to develop and refine hydraulic models of the Truckee River, Steamboat Creek, North Truckee Drain, and the lower Truckee River system. These models are used to:
- Inform engineering design and project evaluation
- Support floodplain planning and development review
- Evaluate system-wide flood behavior and downstream effects
- Develop simulated flood inundation mapping
Model outputs provide empirically based tools that support emergency managers and decision-makers in understanding flood risk and planning response actions such as road closures and evacuations. This work also supports updates to FEMA floodplain mapping and informs project design.
Floodplain Mapping &
FEMA Coordination
TRFMA has submitted documentation to FEMA requesting a Physical Map Revision (PMR) for the Truckee River system. Submitted on March 15, 2023, this effort updates floodplain modeling and mapping for the Truckee River, Steamboat Creek, North Truckee Drain, and the lower Truckee River reach from Vista downstream to Wadsworth.
If approved, the updated mapping will provide a more accurate representation of flood risk and support informed decision-making for development within or near the floodplain, ensuring appropriate design standards and mitigation measures are incorporated.
View/download: TRFMA Submits Truckee River Physical Map Revision Package to FEMA for Review
Flood Warning System & Emergency Support
TRFMA currently operates seven precipitation gages and helps fund the operation of two others in cooperation with the USGS. In addition, TRFMA helps fund the operation of 10 streamflow gages along the Truckee River and its tributaries with the USGS. The gauges on this network are used to help predict flood flows and validate flood models for prediction with cooperating agencies such as the Truckee River Federal Watermaster and the National Weather Service. These models and gauge numbers are, in turn, used to estimate the timing and extent of flooding for Emergency managers and first responders along the Truckee River and its tributaries.
The gages also have other ancillary uses, such as aiding in a better understanding of flash floods and overall Truckee River basin hydrology and seasonal flows, which are used by several local, state, and federal agencies associated with the river.
Voluntary Home Elevation Program
TRFMA implements a program that reduces flood risk for property owners in some key flood-prone locations.
These efforts include the Voluntary Home Elevation Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners in Hidden Valley, Eastside Subdivision, and Rosewood Lakes to elevate homes to at least the 100-year flood elevation. Funding was provided through FEMA grants with local matching funds, and eligible homeowners could receive up to 100% tax-exempt funding.
Since the program was established in 2011, four homes have been elevated. The program is no longer accepting new applicants.
These efforts reduce long-term exposure to flood damage and support community resilience.
View/download: Nevada Assembly Bill 54 & Washoe County Ordinance No. 1439
Partnerships & Community Involvement
TRFMA participates in regional partnerships that support river stewardship, water resource planning, and flood awareness. These include:
- One Truckee River, a collaborative effort to manage and protect the river across jurisdictions
- Northern Nevada Water Planning Commission, where TRFMA serves as a voting member, contributing to regional water planning
- Nevada Flood Awareness Campaign
- Green Vibe River cleanup and stewardship programs
Completed Projects & Program Achievements
TRFMA has delivered a range of flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration efforts throughout the Truckee River corridor, improving river capacity, restoring floodplain function, and reducing long-term risk to communities and critical infrastructure.
Major infrastructure and restoration efforts include:
- Replacement of the Virginia Street Bridge in downtown Reno with a hydraulically efficient structure capable of conveying the 100-year flood (with 2 feet of freeboard), completed in 2016
- Construction of the Reno–Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC) levee and floodwall, approximately 2,300 feet in length, completed in 2009, including a multi-use path and recognized with Project of the Year awards.
View/download RSIC Levee / Floodwall Construction Project Fact Sheet - Relocation of the North Truckee Drain in Sparks, completed in 2018, improving stormwater conveyance and reducing flood risk in the Sparks industrial area
- Ecosystem restoration projects at Lockwood, Mustang Ranch, Tracy Power Plant, and 102 Ranch, restoring river function, improving habitat, and enhancing floodplain connectivity, along with recreational access improvements.
View/download Ecosystem Restoration Projects Fact Sheet - Acquisition of approximately 12 high-risk properties (about 126 acres), relocation of more than 40 businesses, and removal of repetitive-loss structures
For more detailed information on these projects, including design, timelines, and system integration, visit the Our Project page.
Together, these efforts reflect a coordinated, multi-benefit approach that balances flood protection, environmental restoration, and community value across the Truckee River system.