If you compare what Washoe Lake looks like today, compared to two years ago, you probably wouldn't recognize it. After four years of drought, the lake was nearly completely dry. Thousands of dead fish lined the shore where the water once was. In April of 2015, Governor Brian Sandoval stood about 200 feet away from the south boat dock on the dry lake's floor, where he signed an executive order to create a Drought Forum. Today, that same spot is under 8-9 feet of water.
"I grew up out here, so the lake is great to have back again," Capt. Mike Trevino, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District said.
Trevino says he does not know exactly what the deepest spot is in the lake, but about 18 feet is what's been reported. He and his crew are preparing for what could be a busy summer. The wet winter has brought the lake back to life, with water levels rising past the trees along the shores. The return of water means a return of recreation to Washoe Lake State Park.
"I imagine there's going to be several people looking to get their jet skis back on," Trevino said. "They waited and kept them for the few years they haven't been able to ride them and they can bring them into Washoe Lake and ride them. So I think we're going to probably be busy over the next couple of weeks."
People are already camping and riding jet skis at the lake. Trevino says he expects the larger crowds will result in more emergencies. That is why his crew is brushing up on water incidents, using a rescue boat.
"This boat is staged down south and that's why we're getting it ready now," Trevino said. "Since we do have water back in the lake, we need to be prepped for it."
Boating, jet skiing, and wind surfing all come with risks, and when they happen, the team intends to be ready. The spring conditions bring dangers for some watercraft, including shallow water, floating debris and cold water.
"The water's coming right off the mountain-side,"Trevino said. "It's still pretty cold, so there's concern about hypothermia and different things like that."
The lake's level is very noticeable on the west side, where the water is just a few feet below I-580. Now that the snowmelt has started, that is expected to rise even more.
"We'll see changes with that, too, and the Truckee River and everything else. So, we have our swim teams and everybody's going to be high-alert for these kinds of problems."
