Traveltime Data for Truckee River 

Between Tahoe City, California, and 

Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999

By E. James Crompton ancfLarry R. Bohman

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Open-File Report 00-363

Carson City, Nevada 

2000
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHARLES G. GROAT, Director

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive 

purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

For additional information Copies of this report can be 

contact: purchased from:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey 

U.S. Geological Survey Information Services 

333 West Nye Lane, Room 203 Building 810 

Carson City, NV 89706-0866 Box 25286, Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225-0286

email: GS-W-NVpublic_info@usgs.gov 

http://nevada.usgs.gov
CONTENTS

Abstract..........................................................................................................................................................................^ 1

Introduction................................................................................................................................................................^ 1

Purpose and Scope..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Previous Dye-Tracing Investigations in Study Area ................................................................................................. 2

Description of Study Area .................................................................................................................................................... 2

Data Collection, Quality Assurance, and Results ................................................................................................................. 4

Data Collection.......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Quality Assurance...................................................................................................................................................... 6

Dye-Tracing Results .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Summary............................................................................................................................................................................... 8

References Cited ................................................................................................................................................................... 8

FIGURES

1. Map showing general location of Truckee River gaging stations and injection or sampling sites used in

traveltime studies................................................................................................................................................... 3

2 9. Graphs showing observed response curves for Truckee River between:

2. Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., May 4,1999........................................................................................................ 17

3. Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., April 30-May 1, 1999........................... 18

4. Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev., April 28,1999..................................................... 19

5. Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., August 25,1999.................................................................................................. 20

6. Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., August 18-20, 1999.............................. 21

7. Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble BluffDam near Nixon, Nev., August 16-17, 1999............................................ 22

8. Tahoe City, Calif, and Boca Bridge near Truckee, Calif, September 14-15,1999........................................... 23

9. Old U.S. Highway 40 bridge near Truckee, Calif, and Mogul, Nev., September 19-20,1999.......................... 24

TABLES

1. Truckee River traveltime-study injection and sampling sites and selected U.S. Geological Survey

streamflow-gaging stations.................................................................................................................................... 5

2-9. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between:

2. Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., May 4, 1999........................................................................................................ 9

3. Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., April 30-May 1, 1999........................... 10

4. Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble BluffDam near Nixon, Nev., April 28,1999..................................................... 11

5. Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., August 25,1999.................................................................................................. 12

6. Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., August 18-20,1999 .............................. 13

7. Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble BluffDam near Nixon, Nev., August 16-17, 1999............................................ 14

8. Tahoe City, Calif, to Boca Bridge near Truckee, Calif, September 14-15, 1999.............................................. 15

9. Old U.S. Highway 40 bridge near Truckee, Calif., and Mogul, Nev., September 19-20,1999.......................... 16

CONTENTS III
CONVERSION FACTORS, ABBREVIATED WATER-QUALITY UNITS, AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer

pound (Ib) 0.4536 kilogram

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter

cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter

foot per mile (ft/mi) 0.1894 meter per kilometer

foot per second (ft/s) 0.3048 meter per second

cubic foot per second (ftVs) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

mile per hour (mi/h) 1.609 kilometer per hour

ounce (oz) 29.57 milliliter

Abbreviated water-quality units used in this report:

g/L, gram per liter 

Hg/L, microgram per liter

Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929, formerly called "SeaLevel Datum of 1929"), which is derived from a general adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the United States and 

Canada.

IV Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
Traveltime Data for Truckee River 

Between Tahoe City, California, and 

Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999

By E. James Crompton and Larry R. Bohman

Abstract

Traveltime measurements were made during 1999 along the Truckee River between Tahoe 

City, Calif., and Marble Bluff Darn near Nixon, 

Nev. Fluorescent rhodamine WT dye was injected 

at various locations along the river for streamflows 

ranging from 173 to 2,780 cubic feet per second.

The resulting data, presented in tabular and 

graphic form may be useful to water-quality modelers or water-resources managers concerned with 

predicting the movement of soluble contaminants 

accidentally spilled into the Truckee River. The 

data provided in this report also could be used to 

determine the dispersion-related characteristics 

(duration and magnitude of pollutant concentrations) that may be expected in the Truckee River.

INTRODUCTION

The use of dyes and tracing techniques provides a 

means of measuring the traveltime and dispersion characteristics of streams. Traveltime may be defined as the 

time it takes for water or soluble constituents introduced into a river to move downstream from one point 

to another. Introduced constituents also tend to disperse 

as they move downstream, causing peak concentrations 

to decrease and the length of the solute plume to 

increase. Dye tracing involves the instantaneous injection of a nontoxic, fluorescent dye at a location along 

the stream and sampling of the resulting dye plume at 

locations downstream (Buchanan, 1964; Wilson, 

1968). The dye mixes with the water and moves in the 

same manner as the water. Traveltime is measured as 

the time required for movement of the centroid or center of mass of the dye plume between sampling sites. 

Dispersion is characterized by the time of passage of 

the solute plume and attenuation of the peak concentration as the plume moves downstream. Dye studies typically are made over a range of streamflows that are 

indexed to flows at selected stream-gaging stations.

Information on traveltime of solutes may be 

required for water-quality modeling or waste-transport 

studies and also provides an objective means for determining an appropriate course of action in response to 

the spilling of a soluble toxic substance. For the former 

purpose, the model results are usually no better quantitatively than the traveltime data used in their development because simulation of biochemical processes in 

water-quality models involves the calculation of timedependent reactions. Although mean streamflow 

velocity may be computed from streamflow measurements made at gaging stations, such point data may not 

adequately characterize an entire stream reach. Extrapolation of such point data may be subject to large 

errors. For the latter purpose, officials responsible for 

public safety (including water-supply managers and 

regulators) and others interested in transient waterquality problems need to be able to predict passage and 

arrival times or peak concentration of a noxious substance released or spilled upstream. Accurate traveltime information is needed to provide a reasonable 

basis for deciding whether, when, and how long to suspend operations of public water-supply intakes or how 

best to handle any perceived threat to the river environment.

Purpose and Scope

This report describes the techniques and presents 

the results (in tabular and graphical form) of eight dyetracing studies made during two flow regimes on the 

Truckee River between Tahoe City, Calif, and Marble 

Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev. (approximately 3 mi 

upstream from Pyramid Lake) during 1999. Three of 

the eight studies were made during high flow (greater 

than 2,000 ft3/s), and five during medium flow (173 to 

627 ft3/s). The high-flow studies were done during 

April and May, and the medium-flow studies during 

August and September.

Abstract
Previous Dye-Tracing Investigations in Study 

Area

La Camera and others (1985) published, in tabular form, the physical, chemical, and biological data 

collected as part of the Truckee-Carson river-quality 

assessment (Nowlin and others, 1980) in support of 

water-quality modeling and investigations of troutspawning habitats in the Truckee River system. 

La Camera and others (1985) included the results from 

13 dye-tracer studies during the period 1979-80 for a 

wide range of flows in three reaches along the Truckee 

River from Truckee, Calif, to Vista, Nev.; Vista to 

Derby Diversion Dam (hereafter, "Derby Dam") near 

Wadsworth, Nev.; and Derby Dam to Marble Bluff 

Dam near Nixon, Nev.

Brown and others (1986) analyzed the data published by La Camera and others (1985) and provided 

an overview of the hydrologic system of the Truckee 

River and Carson River Basins; presented data and 

computed relations in graphical, tabular, and map 

form; and interpreted the raw and computed data. 

The computed relations then were used in equations to 

relate velocities to flows in 43 reaches of the Truckee 

River from Sparks to Pyramid Lake for water-quality 

modeling (Nowlin, 1987). The velocity-flow relations 

developed by Nowlin (1987) also were used in more 

recent water-quality models of the Truckee River 

(Caupp and others, 1997).

Bohman (2000) did four traveltime studies during 

low-flow conditions (12 to 161 ft-Vs) on the Truckee 

River during November and December 1993. The four 

river reaches studied by Bohman (2000) were from the 

confluence of Steamboat Creek and the Truckee River 

near Sparks, Nev., to Derby Dam near Wadsworth, 

Nev.; from Derby Dam near Wadsworth, Nev., to Wadsworth, Nev.; from Wadsworth, Nev., to Dead Ox 

Wash near Nixon, Nev.; and from Dead Ox Wash near 

Nixon, Nev., to Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev. 

He tabulated and combined the 1993 data with earlier 

data from La Camera and others (1985) and presented 

graphical relations between traveltime and distance and 

between traveltime and flow.

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

A detailed description of the physical and hydrologic characteristics of the Truckee River was given by 

Van Denburgh and others (1973), Brown and others 

(1986), and the Jones and others (1991). The following 

paragraphs briefly describe the physical setting of the

Truckee River. A general location map of the study 

area, including the relevant streamflow-gaging stations 

and dye-study sites, is shown in figure 1.

The Truckee River watershed is a topographically 

enclosed basin on the eastern slope of the Sierra 

Nevada along the California-Nevada border. In the 

part of the basin that surrounds Lake Tahoe, headwater 

altitudes exceed 10,000 ft above sea level. The lowest 

part of the basin is at the river's terminus, Pyramid 

Lake, where the altitude is approximately 3,795 ft 

above sea level. The total drainage area of the basin is 

3,120 mi2, but only 1,940 mi2 contributes streamflow 

to the 116-mi-long stretch of the Truckee River above 

Marble Bluff Dam (about 3 mi upstream from the 

mouth at Pyramid Lake).

From the outlet of Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River 

flows generally north about 15 mi to Truckee, Calif, 

then northeasterly for about 28 mi across the State line 

to Verdi, Nev. Downstream from Verdi, the river flows 

to the east about 21 mi to Vista, Nev. Several major 

tributaries, all of which are controlled by reservoirs, 

join the Truckee River downstream from Tahoe City, 

they include Donner Creek, Martis Creek, Prosser 

Creek and the Little Truckee River. Just downstream 

from the mouth of the Little Truckee River, the Truckee River flows through a deeply incised canyon to the 

California-Nevada border. About 8 mi east of the border, the river passes through an alluvial valley bounded

	EXPLANATION

 Hydrographic-area boundary

A 22 Dye-injection or sampling site Number is site number (table 1)

1 Tahoe City

2 Squaw Creek

3 Near Truckee

4 State Highway 267

5 Old U.S. 40 bridge below Truckee

6 Boca Bridge

7 Farad

6 Verdi

9 Mogul

10 West McCarran

11 Reno

12 Steamboat Creek

13 Vista

14 Patrick

15 NearTracy

16 Below Tracy

17 Below Derby Dam

IB Wadsworth

19 Dead Ox Wash

20 Near Nixon

21 Nixon

22 Marble Bluff Dam

A 20 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station Number is 

	identification number used by the Survey (table 1)

Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Neer Nixon, Nevada, 1999
\ / YV

 .«« NEVADA ^1 Tt*r\

'^ *^S*& \t.

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data. 1:24,000 and

1:100,000, 1969-85

Universal Transverse Mercator projection

Zone 11

39°30' 

r

30 KILOMETERS

Figure 1. General location of Truckee River gaging stations and injection or sampling sites used in traveltime studies. 

Old U.S. Highway 40 (denshire Road in parts of California or State Route 427 in parts of Nevada) is not shown on map; 

at map scale, it roughly parallels Interstate 80. See table 1 for full site names and other alternate route names.

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA 3
by mountain ranges. This area, known as the Truckee 

Meadows, includes the rapidly growing cities of Reno 

and Sparks. Although the current economy of the area 

is dominated by gaming and tourism, Truckee Meadows still contains irrigated agricultural lands. Both 

municipal and agricultural water needs are satisfied by 

diversions at 10 locations along the river within and 

upstream from the Truckee Meadows. Two hydroelectric plants are located in the western part of the Truckee 

Meadows; both these plants are run-of-river and divert 

part of the streamflow from the Truckee River near 

Verdi. Irrigation return flows from diversions originating on the north side of the river between Verdi and 

Reno and some natural flow enter the Truckee River 

via the North Truckee Drain near Vista, just east of 

Sparks. Irrigation return flows from diversions originating on the south side of the river between Verdi and 

Sparks, treated municipal-sewage effluent, and additional natural flows enter the river from Steamboat 

Creek, also near Sparks. The Truckee Meadows Water 

Reclamation Facility (formerly called the Reno-Sparks 

sewage-treatment plant) is near the mouth of Steamboat Creek.

Downstream from the Truckee Meadows, the 

river parallels Interstate 80 eastward for about 29 mi 

through arid canyon terrain to Wadsworth, Nev. At 

Wadsworth, the river turns north and continues for 

about 23 mi through the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation to Marble Bluff Dam downstream from Nixon, 

Nev. Tributaries below Vista, Nev., are ephemeral; 

large flows are mostly in response to heavy precipitation, usually as summer thunderstorms. Downstream 

from Wadsworth, the channel is unstable in many areas 

and therefore is subject to lateral shifting within the 

flood plain during major floods. Population is sparse, 

limited to the communities of Wadsworth and Nixon 

and a few private ranches. The irrigation needs of small 

ranches bordering the lower Truckee River below Vista 

are served by 11 diversions. The largest diversion in 

this reach is the Truckee Canal. At Derby Dam (about 

19 mi downstream from Vista), the canal diverts water 

from the river southeastward into Lahontan Reservoir 

in the Carson River Basin. The approximately 31-milong canal was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) as part of the 

Newlands Project, the Nation's first project completed 

under the authority of the Reclamation Act of 1902 

(Jones and others, 1991, p. 23).

River gradients vary between the lower basin and 

the steeper mountain-block area of the upper bisin. The 

gradient of the river is fairly steep above Reno, averaging about 35 ft/mi. Within the 8-mi reach of the river 

between Reno and Vista, the gradient is relatively flat 

(about 1.6 ft/mi). From Vista to Marble Bluff Dam, the 

Truckee River channel slope averages less than 10 

ft/mi. The numerous diversion structures have important localized effects on the channel slope. Resultant 

decreases in flow velocities and increases in flow 

depths upstream from diversion structures undoubtedly 

influence both traveltime and dispersion characteristics 

of the river (Nowlin, 1987).

DATA COLLECTION, QUALITY 

ASSURANCE, AND RESULTS

This report presents the results of eight dye-tracing studies. Three studies were made under high-flow 

conditions between Mogul, Nev., and Marble Bluff 

Dam near Nixon, Nev., during April-May 1999, and 

five studies under medium-flow conditions between 

Tahoe City, Calif, and Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, 

Nev., during August-September 1999. Locations of the 

streamflow-gaging stations and dye-study sites, are 

shown in figure 1; sampling and injection sites are 

listed in table 1. This section of the report provides an 

overview of the field and laboratory procedures used to 

collect the data, quality-assurance methods, and the 

results of the tracer studies.

Data Collection

Field procedures for traveltime and dispersion 

studies on streams using dye tracers are well documented (Kilpatrick and Wilson, 1989). In general, 

those procedures were followed closely during the 

1999 Truckee River studies.

The five Truckee River reaches studied in 1999 

were from Tahoe City, Calif, to Boca Bridge near 

Truckee, Calif; from the old U.S. Highway'40 bridge 

near Truckee, Calif, to Mogul, Nev.; from Mogul, 

Nev., to Vista, Nev.; from Steamboat Creek at its 

mouth near Sparks, Nev., to Wadsworth, Nev.; and 

from Wadsworth, Nev., to Marble Bluff Dam near 

Nixon, Nev. For each study reach, a minimum of three 

sampling sites downstream from the injection point

'Old U.S. Highway 40 is now known as Glenshire Road.

Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
'E 

o>

i

0

8

s

I

|

- I

O B

Z g

£ 2

I

ill!

o 

o

cs »o

VC OO

ro o

O O

1o

oCO

s "

A vO

CJ <s

I

I

=a

CQ

Si

ts

o

!

3 I

TJ J)

tu 09

s 

3

r- 

<s

3.8

2

§ s

OO ON

13

S 53 53 v " ^ " > > > >

2 & 2 2 2 -g 2

QJ -S QJ (DO V

^ Ji^JJfl

§

00

O>

s

>

g § 

o o

?*.!<!

I g * I z jj

> Bi o | 2 .2

o S B! «8 > (2 

«-» ^3 « « 13

, O > >

2 ts 2 2

H H

§ §

O <N

O O

 » <N

I

§

CO

D 

2

I

§ 

I

2 2 2 1 2 1 2

UUV^U^U V

^^^^1^^.,:^

8 S §1 Si M °

s5 ^ [5^ [5^ f

<D

2

<D

J^

i ^ S :* ^

CQ

I

8 c

IIc *

§

O O

V) V>

n ro

O O

§ S 3

§

0 w-i

r- rOO ON O ~^ ^ ^ rs rs

DATA COLLECTION, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND RESULTS
were selected. Accessibility and suitability for making 

streamflow measurements over a range of flows were 

considered in site selection. Sampling sites were far 

enough downstream from the injection sites that complete lateral mixing could be assumed. Tributary 

inflows, analogous to a side injection of clear water, 

cause lateral-mixing problems at nearby downstream 

sampling sites. Dye-measurement sites were chosen to 

be sufficiently downstream from tributary inflows for 

the water and dye to be fully mixed. Despite these precautions, Little Truckee River and Steamboat Creek 

inflows may have caused poor mixing at Boca Bridge 

near Truckee (site 6) and at Vista (site 13), respectively, during the medium-flow studies.

Single-slug (instantaneous) dye injections usually 

were made near the center of active flow. Rhodamine 

WT dye was used in the studies because it is less susceptible than other dye types to loss by contact with 

aquatic plants, suspended clays, and the streambed and 

streambanks. For each injection, the type and amount 

of dye, time and location of injection, and the measured 

streamflow were recorded. The amount of dye to be 

injected at the upstream end of each study reach was 

determined by using general empirical relations (Kilpatrick and Wilson, 1989) that are dependent upon the 

maximum streamflow anticipated for the reach, velocity, reach length, and dye concentration. These dye 

amounts typically were chosen so peak concentrations 

at the downstream end of each study reach or at municipal water intakes did not exceed 10 (ig/L.

Fluorometers were used in the field and in the laboratory to determine the presence and concentration of 

dye in the samples collected. Fluorometers measure the 

luminescence of a fluorescent substance when that substance is subjected to a light source of an appropriate 

wavelength. The higher the concentration of the fluorescent substance, the more emitted light the fluorometer detects. Control samples taken at each site indicate 

that the background concentration was 0.04 (ig/L or 

less in the river. When the dye plume arrived at a given 

site, 14 to 34 samples were taken in the main flow of 

the river at time intervals adequate to define the timeconcentration (response) curve. Samples were collected manually at single points in the river. Fluorometer measurements were made in the field at the time of 

sampling to guide the frequency and duration of sampling for each dye plume. After field measurement, 

samples were stored out of sunlight in 1-oz glass bottles for later analysis under laboratory conditions.

Streamflow measurements were made at the 

injection site and at each sampling site. In those 

instances where direct streamflow measurements were 

not made while dye was present, streamflow-gagingstation data from nearby stations were substituted or 

were used to estimate the flow within a reach during the 

period when dye was present. Also, diversion data (20 

sites) and return data (4 sites) were obtained from the 

Federal Water Master, Dave Wathen (U.S. District 

Court, written commun., 1999). In the reach from 

Farad (site 7) to Mogul (site 9) about 18 percent of the 

flow was diverted from the Truckee River for irrigation 

and municipal uses during September. During August 

about 130 ft3/s was diverted through the Truckee 

Canal, which is upstream from the sampling site below 

Derby Dam near Wadsworth (site 17).

The samples collected in the field were reanalyzed under more-controlled laboratory conditions 

because sample temperatures experienced in the field 

varied and were different from those used to calibrate 

the fluorometer. Aside from dye concentration, sample 

temperature is the most significant factor affecting the 

fluorescence of a dilute solution. The fluorometer was 

calibrated in the lab according to procedures described 

by Wilson and others (1986) using standard solutions 

prepared from the same dye lot that had been used in 

the field. The raw data shown in tables and used in figures in this report are the actual dye-concentration values that were obtained under laboratory conditions; 

they were not adjusted to conservative values on the 

basis of dye-recovery percentages.

Quality Assurance

Quality-assurance procedures used in this study 

involved comparing field and laboratory measurements 

of dye concentrations, analyzing plots of dye concentrations, and conserving dye mass.

In general, dye-concentration values recorded in 

the laboratory differed slightly from those measured in 

the field; however, the trend in concentration was consistent between field and laboratory values.

Plotted dye concentrations were compared to 

expected patterns and within a given reach. The dye 

curves were similar to those presented by Kilpatrick 

and Wilson (1989, p. 3), in that the peak concentration 

was reduced and the dye plume increased in length as 

it moved downstream.

In addition to streamflow measurements and U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) gaging-station data, data 

on agricultural and municipal diversions (20 sites) and

6 Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marbia Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
on returns (4 sites) were obtained from the files of the 

Federal Water Master, Dave Wathen (U.S. District 

Court, written commun., 1999).

The amount of dye recovered at each sampling 

site was determined on the basis of measured streamflows and on dye concentrations. Recovered amounts 

were compared to the amounts of dye injected and 

amounts of dye recovered at other sites within the same 

study.

Dye-Tracing Results

Data collected during the 1999 studies are presented in tables 2 through 9 and are plotted in figures 2 

through 9. The tabulated data include injection place, 

time, and volume; sampling sites, and distance from 

injection; and streamflows during sampling period; 

sampling times; and dye concentrations. The dye-concentration values show the amount of dispersal in the 

dye plume and the timing and location of the peak concentration.

Data for the Truckee River reach from Tahoe 

City, Calif., to Boca Bridge near Truckee, Calif., is presented in table 8; for the reach from the old U.S. Highway 40 bridge near Truckee, Calif., to Mogul, Nev., in 

table 9; for Mogul, Nev., to Vista, Nev., in tables 2 and 

5; for Steamboat Creek at its mouth near Sparks, Nev., 

to Wadsworth, Nev., in tables 3 and 6; and for Wadsworth, Nev., to Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev., 

in tables 4 and 7.

During the high-flow study regime, flows ranged 

from 2,130 to 2,780 ft3/s (tables 2 through 4). For the 

sites at Patrick and below Tracy (sites 14 and 16, table 

3), discharges had to be estimated on the basis of discharge measurements made at the USGS streamflowgaging station near Tracy (site 15). For the site below 

Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon (site 22, table 4), the no 

initial background sample was collected, the first sampling was done after the dye had arrived and possibly 

after the peak had passed.

Where either the first sample at a site was collected after the dye had arrived or the last sample, 

before the dye concentrations reached 0.2 |ig/L, the 

values were derived from graphical analyses of the raw 

data according to the methods described by Kilpatrick 

and Wilson (1989).

During the medium-flow study regime, flows 

ranged from 173 to 627 ft3/s (tables 5 through 9). As at 

high flow, for the site at Patrick (site 14, table 6) 

streamflow was estimated from data collected at the 

USGS streamflow-gaging station near Tracy (site 15). 

Similarly, discharge measurements for the sites at State

Highway 447 at Nixon and below Marble Bluff Dam 

near Nixon (sites 21 and 22, table 7) were estimated 

from data collected at the USGS streamflow-gaging 

station near Nixon (site 20). Discharge measurements 

also could not be made at Boca Bridge near Truckee 

(site 6, table 9); streamflow was estimated from data 

collected at nearby USGS gaging stations.

Variations in discharge between sites are mostly 

the result of diversions and tributaries between sites. In 

particular, the drop in discharge between the sites 

below Tracy and below Derby Dam near Wadsworth 

(sites 16 and 17, tables 3 and 6) is mostly flow being 

diverted to the Truckee Canal. The increase in discharge between the sites below Derby Dam near Wadsworth and at Wadsworth (sites 17 and 18, table 3) is 

largely due to releases from the Truckee Canal within 

this reach. The decrease in discharge between the sites 

at Farad and at Bridge Street bridge at Verdi (sites 7 

and 8, table 9) is due in large part to a diversion for 

hydropower, which returns the water above the site 

near Mogul (site 9, table 9).

As the dye travels downstream, the concentration 

is reduced from its peak and the dye plume takes longer 

to pass each site. For example, during high-flow conditions on the reach between Mogul and Vista (table 2), 

the peak concentrations at the site above West McCarran Boulevard bridge (site 10) was 23.0 ^lg/L; at Reno 

(site 11), 15.0 |lg/L; and at Vista (site 13), 8.5 |ig/L. For 

each sampling site, the amount of time that the dye concentration was greater than 10 percent of the peak concentration was about 40 minutes at the site above West 

McCarran Boulevard bridge, about 50 minutes at Reno, 

and about 1 hour and 15 minutes at Vista. The other 

dye-study reaches show a similar pattern.

Because the dye plume moved more slowly during medium-flow than during high-flow conditions, it 

took longer for the dye to pass each site. As an example 

of such traveltime characteristics, during high-flow 

conditions, the elapsed time for the dye to travel from 

the injection point near Mogul (site 9) to its peak concentration at Vista (site 13, table 2) was about 5 hours; 

during medium-flow conditions, traveltime for the 

same reach was about 11 hours (table 5). For each sampling site, the amount of time that the dye concentration 

was greater than 10 percent of the peak concentration 

was about 1 hour and 10 minutes at the site above West 

McCarran Boulevard bridge (site 10), about 2 hours at 

Reno (site 11) and 2 hours and 50 minutes at Vista. A 

comparison of the medium- and high-flow traveltimes 

for the reach between Steamboat Creek mouth near

DATA COLLECTION, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND RESULTS 7
Sparks and Wadsworth (tables 3 and 6) and for the 

reach between Wadsworth and Marble Bluff Dam 

(tables 4 and 7) show similar patterns.

SUMMARY

In 1999, eight dye-tracing studies were done during two flow regimes on the Truckee River between 

Tahoe City, Calif., and Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, 

Nev. (approximately 3 mi upstream from Pyramid 

Lake). Three studies were made during high flow, 

(greater than 2,000 ft3/s), and five studies were made 

during medium flow (173 to 627 ft3/s). The high-flow 

studies were done during April and May, and the 

medium-flow studies were done during August and 

September.

The five Truckee River reaches studied were 

from Tahoe City, Calif., to Boca Bridge near Truckee, 

Calif.; from the old U.S. Highway 40 bridge near Truckee, Calif., to Mogul, Nev.; from Mogul, Nev., to 

Vista, Nev.; from Steamboat Creek at its mouth near 

Sparks, Nev., to Wadsworth, Nev.; and from Wadsworth, Nev., to Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev.

The results document the traveltime characteristics of the dye plume at each of the sampling points 

within each study reach. As the dye moved downstream, the peak concentration was reduced and the dye 

plume increased in length. During medium-flow conditions, the dye took longer to pass each site and traveled 

more slowly than during high-flow conditions.

REFERENCES CITED

Bohman, L.R., 2000, Estimation of traveltime characteristics 

for Truckee River between Truckee, California, and 

Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nevada, and for Truckee Canal in Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 99-4226,53 p.

Brown, W.M., III, Nowlin, J.O., Smith, L.H., and Flint, 

M.R., 1986, River-quality assessment of the Truckee 

and Carson River system, California and Nevada 

Hydrologic characteristics: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 84-576,201 p.

Buchanan, T.J., 1964, Time of travel of soluble contaminants in streams: American Society of Civil Engineers 

Proceedings, Journal of the Hydraulics Division, v. 90, 

no. SA3, p. 1-12.

Caupp, C.L., Brock, J.T., and Runke, H.M., 1997, Application of the dynamic stream simulation and assessment 

model (DSSAMt) to the Truckee River below Reno, 

Nevada Model formulation and overview: Boise, 

Idaho, Rapid Creek Research Technical Report No. 

RCR96-1.1,107 p.

Jones, Jeanine, Maxwell, S.R., andHayward, Patricia, 1991, 

Truckee River atlas: California Department of Water 

Resources, 128 p.

Kilpatrick, F.A., and Wilson, JJF., Jr., 1989, Measurement of 

time of travel in streams by dye tracing: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, bk. 3, chap. A9, 27 p.

La Camera, R.J., Hoffman, R.J., Nowlin, J.O., Smith, L.H., 

and Lima, S.M., 1985, Data on surface-water quality 

and quantity, Truckee River system, Nevada and California, 1979-81: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 84-238,191 p.

Nowlin, J.O., 1987, Modeling nutrient and dissolved-oxygen 

transport in the Truckee River and Truckee Canal 

downstream from Reno, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4037, 

487 p.

Nowlin, J.O., Brown, W.M., III, Smith, L.H., and Hoffman, 

R.J., 1980, Planning and design of studies for riverquality assessment in the Truckee and Carson River 

Basins, California and Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 80-435,75 p.

Van Denburgh, A.S., Lamke, R.D., and Hughes, J.L., 1973, 

A brief water-resources appraisal of the Truckee River 

Basin, western Nevada: Nevada Division of Water 

Resources Reconnaissance Report 57, 122 p.

Wilson, JJF., Jr., 1968, Time-of-travel measurements and 

other applications of dye tracing, in International Union 

of Geodesy and Geophysics Commission of Surface 

Waters, Hydrological aspects of the utilization of water: 

International Association of Scientific Hydrology Publication 76, p. 252-265.

Wilson, JJF., Jr., Cobb, E.D., and Kilpatrick, F.A., 1986, Fluorometric procedures for dye tracing: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, 

bk. 3,chap.A12,41p.

8 TraveHlme Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe CRy, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
Table 2. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between 

Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., May 4,1999

Injection site: Truckee River near Mogul, Nev. (site number 9) 

Date and time of injection: May 4,1999, at 0900 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 7 67

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamflow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

above West McCarran 

Boulevard bridge 

at Reno, Nev.

10

4.77

1 2,300

May 4, 1999

Truckee River 

at Reno, Nev.

11

9.67

2,130

May 4, 1999

Truckee River 

at Vista, Nev.

13

15.36

2,350

May 4, 1999

Rhodamlne WT dye, in mlcrograms per liter

Time

of day

1010

1015

1017

1019

1021

1023

1025

1027

1029

1031

1033

1035

1038

1041

1044

1047

1050

1057

1100

Concen- Time of

tration day

0.03

1.5

4.9

9.4

14

18

21

23

21

20

16

14

8.9

6.5

4.2

2.8

1.6

.60

.35

1124

1130

1135

1137

1139

1142

1145

1148

1151

1154

1157

1200

1203

1208

1213

1218

1223

1228

1233

1238

1243

Concen- Time of

tration day

'0.0

.62

1.0

2.7

4.1

8.0

12

13

15

15

14

12

11

5.7

4.2

2.7

1.8

1.0

.58

.38

.23

1320

1330

1335

1340

1345

1350

1355

1400

1405

1410

1415

1420

1425

1430

1435

1440

1445

1450

1455

1500

Concentration

0.04

.28

1.2

2.3

4.0

6.4

7.1

8.5

7.3

7.0

5.4

4.2

3.1

2.2

1.5

1.1

.70

.48

.35

.23

Estimated.

Tables 2-9
Table 3. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between Steamboat Creek at 

mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., April 30-May 1,1999

Injection site: Truckee River at Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev. (site number 12) 

Date and time of injection: April 30,1999, at 1025 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 10.2

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamf low during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

at Patrick, Nev.

14

8.61

22,460

April 30, 1999

Truckee River 

below Tracy1

16

12.91

22,480

April 30, 1999

Truckee River 

below Derby Dam 

near Wadsworth, Nev.

17

19.04

2,170

April 30, 1999

Truckee River 

at Wadsworth, Nev.

18

29.84

2,500

April 30-May 1, 1999

Rhodamine WT dye, in micrograms per liter

Time Concen- Time Concen- Time of Concen- Time Concenofday tration of day tration day tration of day tration

1255 0.02

1305 .04

1315 .03

1325 .58

1335 5.6

1340 9.0

1345 11

1350 12

1355 11

1400 9.2

1405 7.6

1410 5.1

1415 3.6

1420 2.6

1425 1.8

1435 .75

1445 .37

1455 .20

1505 .15

1515 .10

1500 0.04

1515 2.0

1520 4.2

1530 8.1

1535 8.4

1540 10

1545 10

1550 9.8

1555 7.4

1605 5.5

1615 3.0

1625 1.7

1635 .75

1645 .42

1655 .21

1700 0.02

1 715 .03

1730 .12

1745 1.5

1755 1.5

1805 2.6

1815 3.4

1820 3.7

1825 3.8

1830 3.8

1835 3.6

1840 3.4

1850 2.8

1900 2.3

1910 2.1

1920 1.7

1930 1.4

1940 1.2

1950 1.0

2000 .86

2015 .75

2030 .66

2045 .64

2100 .54

2120 .40

2140 .39

2219 2.2

1945 0.02

2000 .03

2015 .04

2030 .04

2050 .04

2110 .23

2130 1.4

2150 2.1

2210 3.0

2230 2.4

2250 2.0

2310 1.4

2330 I.I

2350 .85

0010 .76

0030 .62

0050 .60

0110 .44

0207 2.2

'Powerplant near Tracy, Nev. 

Estimated.

10 Traveltlme Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe CKy, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
Table 4. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between 

Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev., AphI 28, 1999

Injection site: Truckee River at Wadsworth, Nev. (site number 18) 

Date and time of injection: April 28,1999, at 0910 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 14.82

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamflow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

at Dead Ox Wash 

near Nixon, Nev.

19

10.51

2,780

April 28, 1999

Truckee River 

at State Highway 447 

at Nixon, Nev.

21

20.47

2,720

April 28, 1999

Truckee River 

below Marble Bluff Dam1

22

23.74

2,720

April 28, 1999

Rhodamine WT dye, in micrograms per liter

Time

of day

1225

1247

1257

1307

1317

1327

1337

1347

1357

1407

1417

1427

1437

1447

1457

1507

1516

Concen- Time of

tration day

0.13

4.2

7.4

10

9.2

7.8

5.5

3.4

2.2

1.7

1.1

.83

.53

.45

.34

.26

2 .2

1535

1550

1605

1620

1635

1650

1705

1720

1735

1750

1805

1820

1835

1850

1905

1935

1950

Concen- Time of

tration day

0.09

.95

1.1

4.0

6.6

7.0

5.5

3.6

2.2

1.5

.88

.60

.37

.27

.23

.14

.12

1716

1755

1815

1835

1855

1915

1935

1955

2015

2035

2055

2115

2135

2155

2215

2235

2255

2315

2335

2345

Concentration

20

6.1

5.0

3.1

1.6

1.1

.66

.35

.28

.24

.19

.17

.17

.18

.09

.10

.11

.09

.09

.08

'Near Nixon, Nev. 

Estimated.

Tables 2-9 11
Table 5. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between 

Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., August 25, 1999

Injection site: Truckee River near Mogul, Nev. (site number 9) 

Date and time of injection: August 25, 1999, at 0815 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 2.65

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamflow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

above West McCarran 

Boulevard bridge 

at Reno, Nev.

10

4.77

432

August 25, 1999

Truckee River 

at Reno, Nev.

11

9.67

417

August 25, 1999

Truckee River 

at Vista, Nev.

13

15.36

490

August 25, 1999

Rhodamine \VT dye, in mlcrograms per liter

Time 

of day

1040

1052

1057

1102

1107

1112

1117

1122

1127

1137

1147

1157

1207

1217 

1227

Concen- Time of 

tration day

0.02

2.3

5.4

10

12

14

14

13

11

7.2

3.4

2.0

1.0

.62 

'.2

1307

1317

1327

1332

1339

1246

1352

1359

1405

1410

1415

1420

1425

1430 

1435

1445

1456

1506

1521

1532

1542 

1557

Concen- Time of 

tration day

0.05

.07

.50

1.2

2.4

4.1

6.1

7.6

8.6

9.2

9.4

9.3

8.8

8.0 

7.2

5.6

3.8

2.8

1.4

.94

.62 

'.2

1728

1745

1800

1809

1820

1830

1840

1850

1900

1910

1920

1930

1942

1950 

2000

2010

2020

2041

2100

2120

2140

Concentration

0.04

.06

.23

.38

.78

1.4

2.1

2.8

3.1

3.8

4.0

3.8

3.6

3.2 

2.8

2.5

1.9

1.4

.78

.44

.25

'Estimated.

12 Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, Caiifornia, and Marbie Biuff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
Table 6. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between Steamboat Creek 

at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., August 18-20,1999

Injection site: Truckee River at Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev. (site number 12) 

Date and time of injection: August 18,1999, at 0832 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 4.55

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamflow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

at Patrick, Nev.

14

8.61

2570

August 18, 1999

Truckee River 

below Tracy1

16

12.91

530

August 18, 1999

Truckee River 

below Derby Dam near 

Wadsworth, Nev.

17

19.04

470

August 19, 1999

Truckee River 

at Wadsworth, Nev.

18

29.84

330

August 19-20, 1999

Rhodatnine WT dye, in micrograms per liter

Time Concenof day tration

1430 0.03

1445 .08

1500 .74

1515 2.4

1530 6.0

1545 8.2

1600 10

1615 8.8

1630 8.0

1645 6.0

1700 4.4

1715 3.0

1730 2.0

1745 1.2

1800 .82

1914 2.2

Time Concenof day tration

1815 0.03

1830 .10

1845 .30

1900 .88

1915 2.2

1930 3.6

1945 5.4

2000 6.7

2015 7.4

2030 7.0

2045 6.3

2100 5.4

2115 4.2

2130 3.4

2145 2.4

2200 1.5

2215 1.1

2230 .86

2300 .52

2315 .36

2344 2 .2

Time Concenof day tration

0015 0.03

0030 .06

0100 .15

0115 .21

0130 .38

0145 .62

0200 .98

0215 1.2

0230 1.6

0245 2.0

0300 2.4

0315 2.3

0330 2.4

0345 2.4

0400 2.3

0415 2.2

0430 2.1

0445 2.0

0500 .9

0515 .8

0530 .6

0545 .4

0615 .2

0630 1.0

0645 .96

0700 .94

0715 .87

0730 .80

0745 .74

0815 .70

0830 .66

0920 .58

0935 .54

0950 .53

1432 2.2

Time Concenof day tration

0930 0.03

1000 .10

1030 .26

1045 .44

1100 .64

1120 .90

1140 .2

1200 .4

1230 .7

1245 .7

1300 .7

1315 .7

1330 .7

1350 .6

1410 .5

1440 .3

1510 .2

1550 .98

1650 .82

1830 .68

2030 .52

0338 2 .2

0715 .12

'Powerplant near Tracy, Nev. 

Estimated.

Tablas 2-9 13
Table 7. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between 

Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev., August 16-17,1999

Injection site: Truckee River at Wadsworth, Nev. (site number 18) 

Date and time of injection: August 16,1999, at 0832 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 3.70

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamflow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

at Dead Ox Wash 

near Nixon, Nev.

19

10.51

469

August 16, 1999

Truckee River 

at State Highway 447 

at Nixon, Nev.

21

20.47

2425

August 17, 1999

Truckee River 

below 

Marble Bluff Dam1

22

23.74

2425

August 17, 1999

Rhodamlne WT dye, In mlcrograms per liter

Time

of day

1620

1635

1650

1705

1720

1735

1750

1805

1820

1835

1850

1905

1920

1935

1950

2005

2020

2035

2050

2144

Concen- Time

tration of day

0.04

.05

.24

1.4

2.8

4.8

6.6

7.4

7.2

6.4

5.4

3.8

3.0

2.2

1.6

1.3

.98

.78

.62

2 .2

0145

0200

0215

0230

0245

0300

0315

0400

0415

0430

0445

0500

0515

0530

0550

0610

0640

0710

0740

0810

0840

0910

0938

Concen- Time of

tration day

0.04

.05

.08

.19

.40

.72

1.3

3.2

3.4

4.1

3.6

4.2

3.9

3.6

3.2

2.6

1.8

1.3

.92

.64

.50

.34

2 .2

0415

0430

0445

0500

0515

0530

0545

0600

0615

0630

0645

0700

0715

0730

0745

0800

0815

0830

0845

0900

0915

0930

1000

1030

1100

1130

1200

1230

1300

Concentration

0.02

.04

.07

.13

.27

.54

.96

1.5

2.1

2.6

2.9

3.4

3.8

4.0

3.8

3.7

3.4

3.2

2.8

2.5

2.2

1.7

1.0

.86

.64

.48

.35

.30

.22

Near Nixon, Nev. 

2Estimated.

14 Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
Table 8. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between Tahoe City, Calif., and Boca Bridge near 

Truckee, Calif, September 14-15,1999

Injection site: Truckee River at Tahoe City, Calif, (site number 1) 

Date and time of injection: September 14,1999, at 1900 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 2.55

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamflow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

below Squaw Creek 

near Tahoe City, Calif.

2

6.15

'263

September 14-1 5, 1999

Truckee River 

near Truckee, Calif.

3

12.63

266

September 15, 1999

Truckee River 

at State Highway 267 

at Truckee, Calif.

4

15.39

1 320

September 15, 1999

Truckee River 

above old U.S. 40 bridge 

below Truckee, Calif.

5

20.08

346

September 15, 1999

Truckee River 

at Boca Bridge near 

Truckee, Calif.

6

25.01

570

September 15, 1999

Rhodamine WT dye, in micrograms per liter

Time Concenof day tration

2315 0.03

2330 .79

2340 2.5

2350 5.2

2400 8.3

0010 10

0020 11

0030 11

0040 10

0055 7.9

0115 5.4

0140 3.0

0200 1.8

0221 1.2

0241 .76

0324 '.2

Time Concenof day tration

0318 "O.O

0325 1.0

0335 2.6

0355 5.9

0405 7.4

0417 8.6

0421 8.8

0427 8 9

0432 8.8

0442 7.8

0453 7.2

0505 5.8

0515 4.8

0530 3.7

0545 2.6

0600 1.7

0615 1.4

0630 1.1

0646 .74

0700 .60

0742 '.2

Time Concenof day tration

0450 0.03

0510 .38

0530 1.8

0545 3.8

0555 5.1

0605 6.2

0615 6.6

0625 7.0

0635 7.0

0645 6.6

0655 6.0

0705 5.2

0715 4.3

0730 3.2

0745 2.3

0800 1.8

0815 1.3

0830 1.0

0845 .73

0900 .58

0948 '.2

Time Concenof day tration

0759 .02

0812 .19

0826 .32

0837 .77

0851 1.7

0905 2.8

0910 3.7

0925 4.1

0935 5.2

0943 5.4

0953 5.5

1002 5.4

1012 5.1

1021 4.6

1031 4.1

1041 3.7

1051 3.1

1106 2.4

1121 1.7

1136 1.3

1151 1.0

1206 .78

1221 .58

1236 .50

1251 .39

1330 '.2

Time Concenof day tration

1115 0.03

1130 .08

1145 .40

1200 .54

1215 .95

1230 .4

1245 .7

1300 .9

1315 2.0

1330 .8

1345 .5

1400 .2

1415 .99

1430 .78

1445 .59

1500 .44

1515 .35

1530 .27

1545 .24

1600 .20

1615 .16

1630 .14

Estimated.

Tablea 2-9 15
Table 9. Dye-concentration data from traveltime study on Truckee River between old U.S. Highway 40 

bridge near Truckee, Calif., and Mogul, Nev., September 19-20,1999

Injection site: Truckee River above old U.S. 40 bridge below Truckee, Calif, (site number 5) 

Date and time of injection: September 19,1999,at2330 

Volume of injected dye, in liters: 1.10

Sampling site:

Name

Number

Distance downstream from 

injection site, 

in river miles.

Streamftow during 

sampling period, 

in cubic feet per 

second.

Date

Truckee River 

at Boca Bridge near 

Truckee, Calif.

6

4.90

2627

September 20, 1999

Truckee River 

at Farad1

7

14.25

627

September 20, 1999

Truckee River 

at Bridge Street 

bridge at Verdi, Nev.

8

22.64

1733

September 20, 1999

Truckee River 

near Mogul, Nev.

9

27.40

505

September 20, 1999

Rhodamlne VVT dye, in micrograms per iiter

1 Powerplant near Floriston, Calif.

2 Estimated.

3 Part of flow directed upstream of site for hydropower.

Time Concenof day tration

0100 0.05

0130 .02

0200 .04

0230 2.2

0240 4.2

0248 4.2

0250 4.0

0255 3.4

0300 2.8

0305 2.2

0310 1.8

0315 1.1

0320 1.0

0325 .60

0330 .60

0335 .40

0340 .30

0345 .20

0350 .09

Time Concenof day tration

0650 0.03

0714 .10

0744 1.4

0750 1.8

0755 2.4

0800 2.6

0805 2.8

0810 3.0

0815 2.6

0821 2.8

0827 2.6

0835 2.2

0850 1.4

0913 .60

0933 .30

0940 .20

Time Concenof day tration

1215 0.03

1230 .06

1245 .05

1300 .15

1315 .40

1330 .80

1345 .3

1400 .7

1415 .8

1430 .6

1445 .3

1500 1.0

1515 .70

1530 .50

1545 .35

1600 .20

1615 .15

1630 .10

1645 .08

1700 .05

Time Concenof Day tration

1500 0.10

1520 .20

1540 .21

1605 .40

1621 .45

1643 .50

1701 .70

1722 .85

1742 .75

1804 .72

1824 .58

1845 .50

1904 .40

1922 .40

1942 .35

2003 .31

2022 .20

2043 .20

2104 .10

2133 .10

16 Traveltime Deta for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Merble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
25

2°

u

j

oc 

u

O.

o 

oc 

o

s

o

i

u

o 

u

III

10

n r

Site 10 

West McCarran

01234567

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

Figure 2. Observed response curves for Truckee River sites, 10,11, and 13 for reach between Mogul, Nev., and Vista, Nev., May 4, 

1999. See table 1 for full site names.

Figures 2-9 17
13

12

11

10

CC ill

5 9

CC 111

a

(A

8

OC 7

O I

o

I

UJ

o

o 

o

111

a

Site 14 

Patrick

I I \

 Observed

o Estimated

Site 16 

Below Tracy

Site 17 

Below Derby Dam

Site 18 

Wadsworth

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

14 15 16

Figure 3. Observed response curves for Truckee River sites 14,16,17, and 18 for reach between Steamboat 

Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., April 30-May 1,1999. See table 1 for full site names.

18 Traveltlme Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Merble Bluff Dem Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
Site 19 

Dead Ox Wash

I I

 Observed 

o Estimated

Site 21 

Nixon

Site 22

Marble Bluff

Dam

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

13 14

Figure 4. Observed response curves for Truckee River sites 19, 21, and 22 for reach between Wadsworth, Nev., and 

Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev., April 28,1999. See table 1 for full site names.

Figures 2-9 19
15

14

13

12

Ct

UJ

cc 10

UJ

a.

tfi

1 9

cc 

a 

o

g 8

Z 7 

O

I 6

UJ 

O

UJ

n i i r

Site 10 

West McCarran

\ \ I I I I I I I

 Observed 

o Estimated

Site 13 

Vista

I

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

Figure 5. Observed response curves for Truckee River sites 10,11, and 13 for reach between Mogul, Nev., 

and Vista, Nev., August 25,1999. See table 1 for full site names.

20 Traveltlme Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
UJ

o

o 

o ui

11

10

ec ui °- 7

ec 

o 

o 

cc 

o

Site 14 

Patrick

1 I

 Observed

o Estimated

Site 16 

Below Tracy

Site 17 

Below Derby Dam

Site 18 

Wadsworth

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

45 50

Figure 6. Observed response curves forTruckee River sites 14,16,17, and 18 for reach 

between Steamboat Creek at mouth near Sparks, Nev., and Wadsworth, Nev., August 18-20, 

1999. See table 1 for full site names.

Figures 2-9 21
CC 6

W

S 5 

< CC 

0

o

CC

o

o 

la

Ul

o 

O

u

Site 19 

Dead Ox Wash

 Observed 

o Estimated

Site 22

Site 21 Marble 

Nixon Bluff 

Dam

10 15 20 25 

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

30

Figure 7. Observed response curves for Truckee River sites 19,21, and 22 for reach between 

Wadsworth, Nev., and Marble Bluff Dam near Nixon, Nev., August 16-17,1999. See table 1 

for full site names.

22 Traveltlme Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999
DC

UJ

DC

UJ 

D.

(A

DC 

O 

O 

DC 

O

5

Z

DC

UI 

O

O 

O 

UI

Q

Sites

Old U.S. 40 bridge 

below Truckee

6 8 10 12 14 16 

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

Figure 8. Observed response curves forTruckee River sites 2 through 6 for reach between Tahoe City, Calif., 

and Boca Bridge near Truckee, Calif., September 14-15,1999. See table 1 for full site names.

Figures 2-9 23
4.5

4.0

oc

LU

t oc _j 3.5

OC 

LU

D.

(A

OC

o 

o 

oc 

o

I

LU 

O

1

LU

3.0

2.5

2.0

1-5

1.0

0.5

Site 6 ' 

Boca Bridge

T

Observed

I

Site? 

Farad

Site 8 

Verdi

I

5 10 15 20 

ELAPSED TIME SINCE INJECTION, IN HOURS

25

Figure 9. Observed response curves for Truckee River sites 6 through 9 between 

old U.S. Highway 40 bridge near Truckee, Calif., and Mogul, Nev., September 19- 

20,1999. See table 1 for full site names.

24 Traveltime Data for Truckee River Between Tahoe City, California, and Marble Bluff Dam Near Nixon, Nevada, 1999

*U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 2000-585-646/39083