Progress seen, but hurdles remain in longtime dispute over Truckee River

RENO -- Federal officials said they foresee an end to a longstanding dispute over water from the Truckee River but hurdles remain.

The Truckee River Operating Agreement is designed to end decades of conflict over the Truckee's water by balancing the interests of Fallon-area farmers, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe's fisheries and upstream urban users.

Betsy Rieke, Lahontan Basin area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, predicted her agency, Nevada and California, the tribe and other parties would sign the agreement by the summer.

However, Kenneth Parr, deputy area manager for the reclamation bureau, said his agency must complete a water storage contract for the Reno area's water purveyor. Also, the agreement must be sanctioned through a tribal vote.

Parr added that implementation wouldn't begin until two court decrees concerning the river are modified to include terms of the agreement.