Sierra Speaker Series: An Overview of Water Management at Donner Lake

The monthly Sierra Speaker Series connects folks to the rich cultural and natural history of the area. Join us at Donner Memorial State Park Visitor Center to learn and engage! Doors open at 5 pm, and the presentation is to follow at 5:30 pm. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Light refreshments will be available. Parking is free after 5 pm. No registration required.

Donner Lake is not only important ecologically and recreationally, but it also serves as a critical drought supply reservoir for over 440,000 people in the Reno-Sparks area in northern Nevada. The original dam was built in 1877, and the current dam which controls the top 12 feet of the lake was constructed in the 1930s. Water management throughout the Truckee River Watershed is complex, and Truckee Meadows Water Authority manages Donner Lake water levels to meet multiple needs. This presentation will provide a synopsis of basic water management in the Truckee River system and specifically how Donner Lake water levels have been historically and currently managed.

Kara Steeland joined Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) in 2016 and currently holds the role of Senior Hydrologist and Watershed Coordinator. She helped manage water resources for the Reno-Sparks area and led the update process for TMWA’s 2020-2040 Water Resource Plan. Kara has also been key in the creation of a source water protection program for the region and has helped develop multiple watershed partnerships to protect the region’s water quality.