Flood-control effects of Truckee River Basin Reservoirs, December 31, 1996, through January 4, 1997, California and Nevada

Abstract

Devastating floods throughout northern California and western Nevada occurred January 1-3. 1997. In Nevada alone, about $500 million in projected damages and two deaths were attributed to floodwaters along the Truckee, Carson, and Walker Rivers (fig. 1) (Nevada Appeal, 1997). Flooding was extensive in downtown Reno (fig. 2), at the Reno/Tahoe International Airport, and in the industrial area of Sparks, Nev. (fig. 3).