Environment
The flood that damaged 100 homes east of Reno reminds us that it can happen here, and has.
In 1986 portions of New Washoe City were hit with thunderstorm caused flash floods twice, causing extensive damage to homes. Concentrated around Jumbo Grade and Partridge Drive, the thunderstorm deluges caused damage to many homes.
Washoe County later set out to improve flood drainage, enlarging roadside ditches and clearing natural, historic creek drainages, some that pass through neighbors yards.
While the county has a program and a special tractor scoop to clear the ditches, many water courses through private property have been neglected, filling with brush and debris.
In more recent years Jumbo Creek which is channeled into the ditch along Clark Drive on its way to Washoe Lake has approached flood stage.
We should use the example of the damage at Hidden Valley to remember to keep our emergency waterways maintained.
For an article on historic floods throughout Washoe Valley, see my article from 2021 (you will leave southwashoe.com).
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