$2.9 million approved for flood control

RENO -- Washoe County commissioners have approved giving the Nature Conservancy $2.9 million in state grants for flood control efforts on the Truckee River at the site of the old Mustang Ranch brothel.

The entire project is estimated at $7.8 million, and includes $4.1 million in a federal grant and nearly $776,000 in grants from Reno and Sparks.

Naomi Duerr, director of the Truckee River Flood Management Project, said construction is expected to start in mid July.

It's the latest phase of an ongoing effort to return the river to a more natural state and provide a flood plain to help alleviate severe damage in floods.

Similar efforts at under way at Lockwood, the 102 Ranch and the McCarran Ranch.

When all are completed, more than nine miles of river will be restored.

"We are making tremendous progress," Duerr said.

The Mustang area will connect with five miles of restored river at the McCarran Ranch, which opens to the public next spring, said Patti Bakker, Mustang project manager for the Nature Conservancy.

Bakker said the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will develop a specific plan later this summer for recreational uses on the 250-acre Mustang Ranch site.

The Mustang river project will use $1.67 million of $4.75 million in grants provided by the Nevada Legislature in 2007 for the Truckee, Duerr said. Another $1.3 million came from a state bond issue approved by voters in 2002 for outdoors projects.

"It's a true partnership at the state, local and federal level," Duerr said. "And the Nature Conservancy, our great nonprofit partner, has tremendous expertise."