Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee does not act on Buzzy Ranch bank restoration project
The Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC) did not take action on the bank stabilization project along the Carson River at Buzzy’s Ranch.
The city purchased the land that consisted of just under 500 acres in 2007 and 2010. Before the city purchased the area, a bioengineering plan was put forward to fix the erosion but it failed. A trail along the eastern boundary of the property was installed in 2020 and a consultant told Open Space that the distance between the trail and the river was expected to be sufficient.
However, due to the significant flood events in 2022 and 2023, there was much more bank loss than expected. The riverbank has eroded approximately 22 feet over the last three years, compared to the 100 feet over the last 24 years. Overall, the riverbank has migrated approximately 150 feet since June 1990.
"I want to emphasize that this particular spot on the river is an anomaly," Lyndsey Boyer, the Open Space manager said. "The last three years has been really odd."
Boyer added that Open Space tries to keep a "living river approach" meaning leaving the river to remain natural, but the infrastructure that is threatened is the trail, the agricultural land to the west and the irrigation infrastructure near by.
A few residents showed up to public comment to ask the committee to not go forward with changing things about the river and told them to leave it as is. One commenter said the plan was "seriously flawed" and the trail was placed too close to the river.
The proposed repair design was put on the agenda, but changes are to be made to this plan, so Open Space decided to not propose a plan of action today.
Open Space did tell the committee that they do want to implement a bank stabilization project this fall before next winter and the following winters melt.
The Open Space Department has been working with an engineering firm on possible solutions and permitting for work. The stabilization project is estimated to cost $100,000-$200,000, but they may pursue grant funding, they just don't know if there's going to be enough time to recieve the money.
Moving the trail would cost $150,000, but moving the trail will not stop the erosion.
"We feel moving the trail will put us in the situation that we're in currently," Boyer said. "We'll be back here again if we only move the trail."
In case grant money is out of reach, the stabilization project has been included in the proposed Open Space budget for fiscal year 2025.