In this episode, Living with Fire’s Megan Kay digs into the intersection of wildfires and community water systems with Kara Steeland and Stephanie Morris of Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA). Kara is TMWA’s Senior Hydrologist and Watershed Coordinator, and at the time of the interview, Stephanie was Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs. 

For more full episode details including transcript visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/1819551/episodes/17503579

Stephanie and Kara share that 80% of the water for the Truckee Meadows is stored upstream in California lakes and reservoirs surrounded by federal land managed by the US Forest Service. They explain that wildfires that happen in the watershed increase ash and organic material in the short term, which increases the difficulty and cost of water treatment. In the longer term, debris flows from burn scar areas increase sediment and debris in waterways, impacting water quality treatment and reducing storage capacity.

TMWA talks about how they work with partners to help protect watersheds and mitigate water quality impacts. As Stefanie says, “[We] don’t own the land around the reservoirs. … We can’t just go out there and do work. But what TMWA can do is help bring funds and planning expertise to [the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership] to help increase scale and pace of those projects.”

They highlight the partnership’s Ladybug Project, above Stampede reservoir near Ladybug Peak, that aims to mitigate fire impacts by reducing fuels and altering future fire behavior and decreasing debris flows coming off of burned areas.

• Learn more about TMWA’s efforts at https://tmwa.com/article/middle-truckee-river-watershed-forest-partnership-awarded-8m-to-lower-wildfire-risk/ and https://tmwa.com/article/addressing-wildfire-risk-in-the-middle-truckee-river-watershed/. 
• Learn more about the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership at https://www.truckeeforests.org/.
• Connect with Truckee Meadows Water Authority at:
  • Website: https://tmwa.com/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truckeemeadowswaterauthority/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truckeemeadowswaterauthority/ 
  • X/Twitter: https://x.com/tmwa/ 
• Learn more about Living With Fire https://www.livingwithfire.org and find the Living With Fire evacuation checklist and other publications at  https://www.livingwithfire.org/resources/publications/.