CONSERVATION PLAN ACKNOWLEDGMENTS City Council Robert Cashell, Mayor Pierre Hascheff, At-Large Dan Gustin, Ward One Sharon Zadra, Ward Two Jessica Sferrazza, Ward Three Dwight Dortch, Ward Four David Aiazzi, Ward Five Office of the City Manager Charles McNeely, City Manager Mary Hill, Assistant City Manager Susan Schlerf, Assistant City Manager Donna Dreska, Chief of Staff Planning Commission Jim Newberg, Chair Kevin Weiske, Vice Chair Doug Coffman Lisa Foster Dennis Romeo Jason Woosley Community Development Department John B. Hester, AICP, Community Development Director John Toth, P.E., Assistant Community Development Director Claudia Hanson, AICP, Deputy Community Development Director - Planning Nathan Gilbert, Associate Planner Amended by City Council October 22, 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Plan Organization ............................................................................................1 Boundary .........................................................................................................1 Time Frame .....................................................................................................1 Relationship to Other Plans .............................................................................1 Need for Conservation Plan.............................................................................1 Truckee River...................................................................................................2 Development Constraints............................................................................4 Biodiversity ......................................................................................................4 Drainageways ..................................................................................................4 Definitions ........................................................................................................6 Flora and Fauna...............................................................................................7 Fences .............................................................................................................7 Bicycle and Pedestrian Paths ..........................................................................7 Wetlands/Stream Environments ...............................................................7 Geology and Soils Structural Geology ...........................................................................................8 Soils ...............................................................................................................10 Slope Management........................................................................................10 Geologic Hazards Slope Stability ................................................................................................11 Diatomaceous Earth ......................................................................................11 Altered Volcanics/Minerals.............................................................................11 Ground Shaking/Liquefaction.........................................................................12 Debris Flow....................................................................................................13 Air Quality .......................................................................................................13 Land Use Patterns and Transportation ..........................................................14 Archaeological Resources........................................................................15 Historic Resources ......................................................................................16 Appendices Appendix A – Development Constraints Area (DCA) Map ...........................A Appendix B – Biodiversity Value Map ..........................................................B Appendix C – Potential Wetlands, Stream Environments, and Regionally Significant Hydrologic Resources Map...................................... C Appendix D – Resource Values and Functional Requirements of Significant Hydrologic Resources ............................................. D Appendix E – Wetland and Plant Species in Nevada...................................E Appendix F – Hydric Soils in the Wetland Policy Area.................................F Appendix G – City of Reno Major Drainageways........................................ G INTRODUCTION Plan Organization This plan is divided into nine sections: Introduction, Truckee River, Drainageways, Wetlands/Stream Environments, Geology and Soils, Geologic Hazards, Air Quality, Archaeological Resources and Historic Resources. The Introduction describes the boundary, time frame, relationship to other plans and why this plan is needed. Additional sections generally describe the conservation, development, and utilization of the natural resources identified. Boundary This Conservation Plan covers all of the City of Reno and its sphere of influence at the time this plan was prepared. Time Frame This Conservation Plan horizon is to the year 2030. Relationship to Other Plans This plan is an element of the City of Reno Master Plan prepared in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 278.150 through 278.170. Policies of the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan are applicable regionwide. The City of Reno Master Plan has three different levels of applicability; Citywide, Center and Corridor, and Neighborhood. Citywide plans include this Conservation Plan and other plans that apply to the entire City and its sphere of influence. Center and Corridor plans are for the eight centers and five transit oriented development corridors in the City and its sphere of influence. Neighborhood plans cover other areas, not in centers or corridors, which have been designated as appropriate for more detailed planning. Policies in center, corridor and neighborhood plans elaborate, with greater detail, upon general policies contained in the citywide and regional plans. Center, corridor and neighborhood plans must conform with and not be in conflict with policy direction of the citywide plans and the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan. Similarly, Title 18 of the Reno Municipal Code applies at the citywide, center and corridor, and neighborhood levels and must be consistent with these plans. Need for Conservation Plan The Nevada Revised Statutes enable a city to prepare a master plan that can cover all or parts of a city and its sphere of influence. NRS 278.160 requires that city master plans cover conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources. Additionally, NRS 278.0284 provides for consistency between the master plan, development code (Title 18 of the Reno Municipal Code) and capital improvements as follows: Conformity of local ordinances and regulations to master plan. Any action of a local government relating to development, zoning, the subdivision of land or capital improvements must conform to the master plan of the local government. Conservation Plan Page 1 City of Reno Master Plan October 22, 2008 In adopting any ordinance or regulation relating to development, zoning, subdivision of land or capital improvements, the local government shall make a specific finding that the ordinance conforms to the master plan. TRUCKEE RIVER "There is no price that can be placed on the quality of life or the character of our cities or towns which is shaped by our natural systems, and often highlighted by our rivers".1 The Truckee River is one of only a few terminal rivers in the United States, beginning and ending in a lake. The Truckee flows from Lake Tahoe, California to Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Along the way, it flows through downtown Reno. Like many towns, Reno's early development was located near the river, but not oriented towards the river in any significant way. Downtown buildings turned their backs on the river. Over the years, heavy industrial uses including open storage, metal works, and a refuse transfer station have cropped up along the Truckee's bank. Many of these uses are no longer deemed suitable for the sensitive river environment. The Truckee River is a natural catalyst and theme for public and private investment/reinvestment in parks, cultural facilities and downtown. Recognition of the river as an asset will eventually lead to economic revitalization of downtown and the area immediately to its east. While this investment in corridor properties needs to be fostered, it must be done in a way which recognizes the river as an asset and a system. The river system provides the community with recreation, fisheries, flood control, water quality enhancement and abatement of pollution. Abatement of pollution incorporates uptake of nutrients by riparian plants, stabilization of banks, and deposition of sediment. These system attributes are provided to Reno's citizens free of charge. Replicating these systems would be prohibitively expensive. Many public spaces are located along the river corridor which need to be linked in some fashion to allow public access. Linking the existing system of parks, paths, and improvements would enhance their value and the benefit realized from the public investment. Lack of or impaired access is one of the greatest land use issues faced by the Nevada Department of Wildlife along the Truckee River. Before access can be fully developed, legitimate concerns of private property owners regarding trespass and privacy must be addressed. A significant issue concerning these public spaces is their treatment by adjoining property owners. Where the City has