irrigation

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. — Spooner Lake is one of Nevada’s most popular places to hike, mountain bike, ride horses or simply enjoy nature, and welcomes more than 150,000 visitors every year. On Thursday, the Nevada Division of State Parks is pleased to launch the bidding process for the park’s much-anticipated Spooner Lake Improvement Project, which involves a complete redesign and update of the facilities, including construction of a visitor center and amphitheater.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday that it has received $1 million in Clean Water Act grant funds provided by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency that will be used to complete 11 projects to reduce “nonpoint source pollution” and improve water quality across the state.

The Dayton Valley Golf Course has been acquired by Tour Specs Golf Management from Duncan Golf Management in a deal that was finalized this week. Tour Specs Golf Management principal owner, James (Jim) Kepler will also serve as course general manager. Kepler is a well-known PGA professional in Nevada and west coast golf communities.

While some areas of western Nevada have experienced freezing morning lows already, a strong Arctic cold front that will sweep over the Carson City and Sierra region now through Tuesday is expected to be a noticeable and chilly one indeed.

It’s the annual conundrum. Is it too soon to turn off the irrigation system? With recent nights down to the teens here in Washoe Valley, we turned off the irrigation system and drained it prior to the forthcoming hard freezes. Then we turned off the outside water and drained the hose bibs too. Yet with temperatures last week back in the 60s with low to mid-30s at night, I’m sure I will have to irrigate again soon.

From sunny days and warm temperatures to anticipated overnight freezing ahead, fall weather will arrive over the next few days around the Carson City region, prompting a freeze watch by the National Weather Service and a warning for gardeners to bring in the tomato plants and other fall vegetables that haven't been harvested.

It’s only August and the leaves of the "Autumn Blaze" maple at The Greenhouse Project site are completely yellow. What’s going on?

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of July 27 through Aug. 2, as well as the South Carson Street Project report for the week. For information on lane restrictions and street closures related to the South Carson Street Project, please visit CarsonProud.com.

Watching the news on the Numbers Fire south of Gardnerville reminds us how important it is to create and maintain defensible space around your home. The fire burned 18,380 acres in the week it took to get it contained. Have you taken responsibility to make your home/landscape defensible and survivable?

Summit Lake in remote northwest Nevada is home to the only self-sustaining, robust, lake population of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, North America’s largest freshwater native trout species.

My neighbor Mark, now known as “Chip” after Chip Gaines from “Fixer Upper” on HGTV, acquired his new moniker after building an amazing fence to enclose his wife’s garden (with her help of course!). Since we have major animal challenges in our neighborhood — ground squirrels, rabbits, deer and bears — a strong defense system is essential for successful vegetable production. The impressive garden fence that "Chip" built should keep all the critters out.

It's officially Arbor Day and the day to hug a tree! Or, better, plant one!

That's what some of the members of the Chamber's Leadership Class did early Friday morning as phase one of their class project.

It’s that time of year — water main flushing time! You might have noticed strange waterflow occurrences or discoloration, no need to worry, Carson City Public Works crews are conducting much needed maintenance on the main line pipes.

It snowed six inches last night. This followed the four inches it snowed a day or so before. I’m grateful for the extra moisture for the trees, the lawn, all my plants and all the native trees. As I wrote a few weeks ago, I had been doing the water on and off, drag hoses, drain lines boogie for a number of weeks. This water-laden snow is a welcome, although temporary, reprieve.

A portion of Sonoma Park in Carson City, which has been closed since earlier this month for maintenance, will re-open Friday. The main grass area will be opened to the public and dogs on Friday, March 27 at 3 p.m. weather permitting.

Sonoma Park in Carson City will be closed from March 9-27 for seasonal maintenance and repairs, while efforts to renovate the turf, address drainage issues and repair deficiencies related to the playground and amenities in the park are made.

Carson City is at the center of a legal dispute following its refusal to allow hemp to be grown on property in the Buzzys Ranch area in East Carson City. Tahoe Hemp is suing for $15 million in damages citing the city broke its agreement with the Jarrard Family Trust, which gives rights to the family to use the property for agricultural purposes.

Tribal members, conservationists and students, bundled up in thick coats and beanies, gathered in two rows fanning out from transport trailers to watch the release into tribal land, an area usually closed to the public. Bighorn sheep, separated into two trailers, rushed out in waves.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will host their next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Sierra Room of the Community Center, located at 851 E. William Street.

On the docket for discussion items include a report on deaths occurring at the Carson City Jail, a discussion about restricting religious use at the Brewery Arts Center, presentations of length of service awards, and more.


On and off, on off. That’s what I keep doing with our irrigation and hoses as the daytime temperatures stay warm, but with nighttime temperatures below freezing. On, water; off, open spigots and hoses and drain them. While this is tedious, I am enjoying the beautiful weather.

PLACERVILLE, Calif. - Incident Commander Kevin Breitwieser has declared that the Caples Fire is now 100% contained and in patrol status at 3,435 acres. There has been almost no change in fire size since October 18. The extreme wind event on October 26 that prompted a public safety power shutoff was a good test of the containment lines and resulted in three small spots which were extinguished. Traces of smoke from interior burning will continue to be visible, but no additional fire growth is expected.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Water Pollution Control has entered the public notice period for the issuance of an individual Nevada State groundwater discharge permit for High Sierra Cultivation, a marijuana grow operation in Carson City.

The public comment period will end Nov. 18, 2019.

The nights are freezing, but the daytime temperature should reach 66 degrees today and the mid to upper 70s later this week. When the temperatures vary from freezing at night to warm days, it’s hard to know how much to water.

A reader recently asked me, “How much do I water my lawn at this time of year? It depends. Influencing factors to consider include: temperature, wind, solar radiation, humidity, age of the lawn, soil type and method of irrigation.

Writing this on Wednesday, Sept. 18, the morning temperature reading was 37 degrees and Tuesday it was 35 degrees. If the cold nights didn’t alert me that fall is near, my flowers and trees would. Leaves are turning yellow on the neighborhood poplars and ash trees. Some maples are already changing to autumn oranges and reds.

Lyon County Commissioner Greg Hunewill died Monday, August 19, at Carson Tahoe Hospital, Lyon County Manager Jeff Page said Tuesday. Hunewill, 61, had been suffering with health issues since January, said Page.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for West Walker River from north of Sonora Junction in Mono County to southern Mason Valley in Lyon County from Tuesday evening June 11, 2019, until the threat has passed.

The identity of a man found April 24 along the Carson River in Dayton has been identified and was a man reported missing last year, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday, April 30, 2019, The Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the decedent was in fact a missing person, who was identified as 34-year-old Dayton resident, Frank Greene.

A body was discovered Wednesday afternoon near an irrigation ditch in Dayton, according to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

As part of an ongoing campaign supported by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN), this year’s Fix a Leak Week encourages Nevadans to help put a stop to the more than one trillion gallons of water wasted nationally from household leaks each year.