Washoe County Regional Water Management Planning Commission Meeting - May 6, 2026
Washoe County Regional Water Management Planning Commission Meeting - May 6, 2026
The Washoe County Regional Water Management Planning Commission met on May 6, 2026 at 9:30 AM to review proposed updates to the 2026–2045 Comprehensive Regional Water Management Plan (RWMP). Commissioners approved the agenda and prior meeting minutes, received presentations on updated chapters of the plan, and discussed the project schedule. No public comments were made.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda approval: Motion by Commissioner Crump, second by Commissioner Flansburg; unanimous.
- Approval of amendments from April 1, 2026 meeting: Motion by Commissioner Mincer, second by Commissioner Crump; unanimous.
Discussion Items
Chapter 5: Stormwater and Watershed Based Water Quality Planning
Birgit Whittagren and consultant Jill Sutherland (Resource Concepts Inc.) presented updates. The chapter was reorganized to cover: regulatory framework (NPDES, TMDL), the Truckee Meadows stormwater management program, locally led watershed planning, resources and tools, and watershed restoration spotlights. Proposed removals include outdated state/federal regulatory generalities, references to the deprecated Truckee River Information Gateway (now TMRPA's Natural Resources Data Portal), and topics covered elsewhere (e.g., TMWA water conservation in Chapter 8). Key additions include links to TMStormwater.com, TMWA's forest-watershed initiatives, One Truckee River's 2025 Coordinated Vegetation Map, and completed projects (Chalk Creek Channel Restoration, Gold Ranch fire rehabilitation, Portland Lew installations). Staff requested feedback by June 30, 2026. Commissioner Flansburg commended the work.
Chapter 6: Flood Management and Storm Water Drainage
Birgit Whittagren presented updates developed with Reno, Sparks, Washoe County, and the Truckee River Flood Management Authority. The revised chapter covers: regional flood damage history, federal/state regulatory framework, flood control efforts (including the Truckee River Flood Management Project), local government programs, and a basin-by-basin overview. Proposed removals include older flood event data, outdated FEMA information, and a policy now included in Chapter 1. Key updates incorporate the latest FEMA flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs), open FEMA data, new flood types (post-fire flooding, 2017 Lemmon Valley Closed Basin flood), the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan, and Reno's revised Title 18. Feedback due June 30, 2026.
Chapter 8: Water Conservation, Efficiency, and Use of Water
Birgit Whittagren presented updates with TMWA and Sun Valley GID. The chapter was reorganized into: regional benefits of conservation, five-year progress overview, current programs (water usage review, advanced metering, leak detection), future opportunities (advanced purified water, recycled water), and drought response (referencing TMWA's plan). Proposed removals include outdated tables (1995–2015 history), obsolete programs (ultra-low-flow toilet retrofits), references to the closed Nevada Landscape Association, and repetitive figures from TMWA's conservation plan. Key updates highlight smart meter expansion, public-education partnerships (UNR Cooperative Extension, Sierra Nevada Journeys, Smart About Water Day), and alternative water supplies (American Flat, cross-referenced to Chapter 3). Feedback due June 30, 2026.
Project Schedule and Status
Birgit Whittagren reported the RWMP update is on schedule. Chapters 1, 3, and 4 were presented in April; feedback is due May 31, 2026. Chapters 5, 6, and 8 were presented today; feedback is due June 30, 2026. At the next meeting (June 3, 2026), staff will present revised Chapters 2, 7, and 9, along with the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency's consensus forecast. The issues and action plan will be developed after all chapters are complete. Staff expressed gratitude for partner coordination.
Key Outcomes
- The commission received and discussed the three draft chapter updates; no formal vote was taken on the content, and no objections were raised.
- Feedback deadlines: May 31, 2026 (Chapters 1, 3, 4); June 30, 2026 (Chapters 5, 6, 8).
- Next meeting: June 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM in the Washoe County Chambers.
- The meeting adjourned without further business.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, yeah, they're on. Yeah. So you can do anybody on my channel to this. Oh, remember. And then I would like to add on the silence. Yeah, hold on. Yeah, the little little sticks with the ball going in. Yeah. We can do that right now. Yes, we didn't have a time to be so different. Um, is somebody on Zoom? Can you hear us? Yes, so I can hear you. Okay. We're gonna check off. All right, we good. Okay. Thanks, Jennifer. We're gonna have to not think. Chris Mountain. Here. Danielle Henderson. Here. Eric Kram. Here. John Enlow. John Flansburg. Here. Casey Mentzer. Here. Mylan Newman. Here. Donna Noel. Here. Eddie Quaglieri. Here. Amber Sosa. Here. Cara Steele. Here. Michael Widmer. Yeah. We have a quorum. Thank you. Um, moving to item two. Public comments. Do we have any public comments? I have none. Thank you. Item three, approval of the agenda.
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