Navigating the Carson River Watershed Discovery Project
Presenter: Edwin James, PE
General Manager
Carson Water Subconservancy District
777 E. William St., Suite 110A, Carson City Nevada 89703
775-887-7456
Stephanie A. Hicks, AICP, CFM Director of Grants & Hazard Mitigation Planning,
R.O. Anderson Engineering, Inc.
Within the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Program, the Discovery process is intended to initiate watershed-wide discussions about increasing resilience to flooding. The goal of Discovery is to determine which areas within a watershed require mapping, risk assessment, or mitigation planning assistance.
In 2012, Carson Water Subconservancy District (CWSD) implemented the Discovery phase of the Carson River Floodplain Risk Mapping Program. CWSD engaged R.O. Anderson Engineering, Inc. to assist in the development of the Discovery Report. CWSD and R.O. Anderson Engineering, Inc. initiated two Discovery meetings with stakeholders throughout the Carson River watershed. Stakeholders included the six counties within the watershed (Alpine County, California; Carson City, Churchill County, Douglas County, Lyon County, and Storey County, Nevada), Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Nevada Division of Water Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Truckee Carson Irrigation District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, and FEMA. As part of the meetings, the various stakeholders provide data and information regarding flood issues, flood risk, and flood mitigation capabilities within the Carson River watershed. The Discovery process also included information and recommendations taken from the 2008 Carson River Regional Floodplain Management Plan.
As of 2012, the Carson River Watershed Discovery Project was the only Discovery process to be completed in Nevada and was one of the first to be completed in FEMA’s western regions. The purpose of the presentation is to discuss the overall process, stakeholder participation, and how CWSD is using the Discovery Project for its future flood risk planning.