Also, the Reno Redevelopment Commission has initiated a number of downtown projects associated with the river to encourage both local residents and tourists to visit local parks and walkways along the river. In addition to local efforts involved with improving water quality in the Truckee River, an agreement between the United States, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Washoe County, the cities of Reno and Sparks, and the State of Nevada, called Water Quality Settlement Agreement was signed in October 1996. In short, this agreement provides for the joint acquisition of water rights along the Truckee River corridor, including the irrigated lands along the Truckee Canal that in turn will be dedicated to improving water quality in the river by enhancing flows. The Truckee River provides irrigation water to the Truckee Meadows. The irrigated acreage is meadows, pastures or alfalfa fields.
Cattle graze on the meadows and pastures and are fed hay from the alfalfa fields.
The irrigation water is diverted from the river, creeks and drainage water into ditches. These irrigation water rights are dictated in the Orr Ditch Decree. Truckee Meadows population is expected to grow by 2.0 to 2.5 percent annually. As a result, commercial, industrial and residential water demands will increase. East of the Truckee Meadows and near the town of Wadsworth, part of the Truckee River water is diverted at Derby Dam into the Truckee Canal.