Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe (2026)

July 2026

Volume X, Issue I

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Natural Resources

Newsletter

Natural Resources Department

Inside this issue:

Natural Resources

Department

Meet our New Staff

Meet our Youth Workers

Water Quality Program

Tribal Air Quality

Monitoring Program

Tribal Response Program

Wildlife Monitoring

Program

Water Resources Program

Wetlands Program

Aquatic Invasive Species

Program

Recycling Program

Kooyooe Tukadu Youth

Camp

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Donna Noel, Natural Resources Director

Greetings from the Natural Resources Department!

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We have had another great year in the Natural Resources

Department with fulfilling all our grant obligations. The

Youth Camp and several other events were able to be held

along with other public outreach activities. We held a

two-day youth camp in June with the whole department.

The kids had a chance to be educated on environmental

issues and to participate in activities. And since it is

summer, we made sure to squeeze in some fun in the sun

as well. Other outreach events included clean-ups,

presentations, activities, and recycling events. The Natural

Resources Department is committed to getting the youth

and community involved in learning about the protection

of our natural resources, and to help clean up the

reservation. We are compelled to promote public

outreach and opportunities to get the community

involved in environmental activities. We are planning next

year’s events so if you have any suggestions, please call or

email us and let us know.

The Natural Resources Department is entirely funded by

grants. Our continuing grants help us achieve our

objectives in monitoring water and air quality, minimizing

non-point source pollution, eradicating noxious weeds,

evaluating Brownfields sites, assessing wetlands,

scheduling water deliveries, overseeing the irrigation

systems, exploring renewable energy projects, improving

fish passage, supporting summer college interns,

monitoring illegal dumping, restoring riverbanks, and

buying water rights for Pyramid Lake. Due to the major

changes in Washington DC, much of our grant funding has

been cut by a minimum of 30%. It proved to be a

challenge, but the staff have all come together and have

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developed creative ways to continue our program and search for other funding sources. The funding cuts

will not reduce the personnel or the quality/quantity of work needed to protect tribal resources. These

tasks are very important in the protection of Tribal resources, but we are always building capacity within

the department to include sustainable programs to address other environmental concerns. To help

determine where the department will focus in the future, we are assessing and prioritizing the critical

issues impacting the environment.

Water Quality/AIS

Adrienne Juby, Water Quality Manager, is continuing integrating the AIS program with water quality

program to ensure precision and accuracy in their data collection. The AIS program continues to increase

their hours for boat inspections and updating the regulations, as well as monitoring new invasive species

including the golden mussels. There are now consistent hours to facilitate the mandatory inspection

regulation. The water quality program completed the water quality monitoring of the surface water on

the reservation. This included the river, lake, wetlands and springs. New ground water monitoring wells

were established in Wadsworth. These wells will allow us to monitor ground water levels regionally to

ensure pumping outside the reservation has no effect on the tribe’s groundwater. The Water Quality

department also monitors the algae bloom in the lake and notifies visitors and tribal members about the

hazards associated with the bloom. The program continues to monitor water quality in the lake, river,

streams, and wetlands on the reservation.

Fish Passage

Fish Passage project design, permitting and NEPA review have all been completed this year for the

Numana Dam Project. Due to inadequate funding, the Numana Dam Project has been re-engineered to

include a partial ramp in the river to facilitate fish movement to the existing fish ladder. The fish ladder

will also be modified by changing the intake of the ladder and the exit structure upstream. We believe

this re-engineered plan will increase fish passage over Numana Dam, allowing the Cui-ui and LCT to travel

to spawning beds upstream of Numana Dam.

The other Fish Passage project, Herman Ditch, will utilize a pump induction well to provide water to

Herman Ditch for irrigation. We are currently developing the NEPA documents and evaluating the

structural capacities of our funding.

Irrigation

The Natural Resources Department is also overseeing the Nixon Ditch Irrigation Project to begin in the

fall. This project will correct the engineering errors made by NRCS by increasing the pipe diameter to 48

inches, relining some of the canals to have a wider base, and install pipe in some sections. This will ease

water access to fields from the Nixon Ditch and improve efficiency in the system.

Water Management

It started out as a dry year; however, spring rain events helped bring the Truckee River Watershed up to

an average water year. The Carson Watershed had a below average year. This resulted in diversions into

the Truckee Canal to meet Lahontan targets. The reservoirs are full, which will provide water through any

upcoming drought years. The flows were average which resulted in the release of fish water to satisfy

spawning conditions. The Cui-ui and LCT had an average run. The USFWS tagging program began last year

resulting in 100 Cui-ui and 100 LCT to monitor their movements in the river during spawning season. This

data will be used in future years to know how to improve spawning reaches in the lower Truckee River. It

is notable that a Cui-ui was detected at Derby Dam for the first time. USFWS also used screw traps to

monitor the return of the fry to Pyramid Lake.

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Groundwater

The groundwater monitoring in the Wadsworth area helped the Tribe review the methods to be used to

stabilize the pit wall in Area A on the CEMEX lease. The Reclamation and stability of area A CEMEX pit is

almost completed. 3:1 slopes have been developed by the addition of rock to the west side of the pit and

an overflow culvert was added to the north side of the pit to prevent water from breeching the pit lake

berms. The east and south part of the pit walls will be completed by September and the area will be

seeded with native seeds. Our department has been monitoring the revegetation project to ensure only

native plants proliferate on the site and ensure no invasive species take over the property. The

groundwater and geothermal water on the reservation may be threatened by new geothermal plants

developed by Ormat. The San Emidio Valley plant went into production last year. The Tribe and Ormat

have been monitoring the springs, and the monitoring wells were installed. The monitoring protocol will

be implemented by Broadbent, a 3rd party consultant.

Fire Restoration

The Department is still working on the restoration of the Tule, Truckee, Tohakum, and Perry Fires. Most of

the restoration and protection work was completed, along with the herbicide treatment to reduce the

cheat grass and the final seeding of the treated areas. The follow-up monitoring of the seeded areas will

proceed for the next few years and be re-treated if necessary. The western boundary fence near the Perry

Fire will be repaired by the end of next year, as we cannot find contractors to complete it. We are doing

the project internally and have completed approximately 5 miles during this year. Hardscrabble Creek

restoration deigns and permitting will be completed by the end of this year and will prevent flooding and

debris mobilization during high water events. Truckee Fire compensation has been completed, and we

will continue to work on road improvements for the Tohakum fire. We are focused on the restoration of

these lands and protecting the water quality in the streams and lake.

EPA Tribal Environmental Plan (ETEP)

The ETEP document was developed by the Natural Resources Department as a strategic planning tool to

guide the workplans and scope of work we are developing for grants. This document is revisited every

five years to review and include any new objectives within the department. The department wants to

address any environmental issues the membership has, so if you see an environmental problem please

contact me and I will add it into a workplan, if possible. The Natural Resources Department’s mission is

“to ensure clean air, water and lands to maintain healthy fish, wildlife, and plant populations for future

generations to preserve the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s culture and way of life” and we take this mission

seriously by thinking about it every workday, with every decision made.

Respectfully,

Donna Marie Noel

Natural Resources Director

Natural Resources Department

Noel Scheuerman, Executive Assistant

I have completed my 1st year of work for the tribe and have enjoyed it! I have learned so much. I have

helped the director get to and schedule meetings, help with budgets and finance, and complete grant

management. I'm looking forward to next year and learning more.

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Meet our new Staff!

May Flores, Wetlands Specialist

Hello from the Natural Resources Department. My name is May Flores, the new Wetland Specialist. I

started my current position in August of 2025, and I am so happy to be involved. My job involves all kinds

of things, from regular wetland assessments and water quality testing, to frog surveys and native plant

and macroinvertebrate identification. Before my current position with the Tribe, I worked with native

plants in the Great Basin and central California, as well as animals including reptiles, mammals, and fish.

Having worked in a Natural History Museum for two years before starting as the Wetland Specialist, I love

museum science and have worked hard to put together an herbarium collection with all our local plant

species. Aside from my environmental work, I taught music for three years and I still play Salsa, Cumbia

and funk gigs on the side!

Meet our new Staff!

Stephen O’Brien, Environmental Technician

Hello all, my name is Stephen O’Brien and I am an Environmental Technician here at the Pyramid Lake

Natural Resources Department. Having joined the team in mid-September of 2025, I have been able to

participate on multiple projects including California Rapid Assessment Method surveys of wetlands,

Truckee River water quality sampling, and aquatic invasive species surveys of Pyramid Lake. The best part

about the work is that I get to explore the areas around Pyramid Lake that not many people are fortunate

enough to see.

Originally from Chattanooga, TN, I moved to Golden, CO for an undergraduate degree in

Civil/Environmental Engineering. I have also lived in Washington and Oregon for work focused on

spawning pacific salmon, but I have fallen in love with Northern Nevada.

My goals are to advance and continue the great work of the Natural Resources Department and to

further improve the environmental health of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. I am thankful and

excited to contribute to this great team!

Thank you,

Stephen O'Brien

Meet our new Staff!

Megan Schwartz, Environmental Technician

Hello! I’m Megan Schwartz and I joined the Natural Resources Department in November of 2025. I moved

to Reno in 2022 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology and plan to graduate this December. I’ve had a

lot of fun getting to know everyone and have received the warmest welcome I could have possibly hoped

for. I’ve spent a lot of time at the Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Station in Sutcliffe and am

excited to learn more about all the different things that the department is involved in! I’ve recently been

spending much of my time learning the ins and outs of the water quality program and learned so much

about the area’s flora and fauna in the process. I’m looking forward to learning so much more!

Thanks!

Megan Schwartz

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Meet our new Staff!

Christian Burke, Environmental Intern

Hi all, my name is Cristian Burke, and I’m originally from Nixon. Having just graduated from Oregon State

University (OSU) with a degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences (FWCS), I am both

pleased and grateful to get to work with the Department. During the summers of 2023 and 2024, the

Natural Resources Department supported my career development with internship experiences. Though

my motivation to seek higher education was to work in fish conservation, the Department had

encouraged me to broaden my interests beyond fish. I was exposed to the efforts of the Water Quality

and Aquatic Invasive Species Programs and got to participate in numerous activities, from the Truckee

River bioassessments to boat inspection and decontamination. I also got to see a new side of the

Pyramid Lake Reservation, its beautiful wetlands and other habitats. Not only was my time with the

Department fun, but it is also a different kind of feeling knowing that I had contributed to the protection

and restoration of the resources that the Tribe holds dear.

When I was made aware that the Natural Resources Department would take me on again after I

completed my degree, I happily accepted the call. For the time being, I remain an Intern. However, now

armed with this degree, I am eager to get back into the groove of old responsibilities while also taking on

new ones.

Fun Fact: I was able to leverage the skills gained through the Natural Resources Department to earn a

spot in the Vanguarding an Inclusive Ecological Workforce (VIEW) Fellowship, which is hosted by the OSU

FWCS Department. I participated in a project looking at the behavioral responses of Fall Chinook salmon

to odors, which I presented a poster on at the 2026 Oregon Chapter and Western Division American

Fisheries Society Annual Meeting.

If you have questions for me about anything, reach out – cburke@plpt.nsn.us

Best fishes,

Cristian Burke

Meet our Summer Youth Workers!

Farrah Maumee, Environmental Youth Worker

Hello, my name is Farrah Maumee, and I am a 2026 summer youth worker in the Natural Resources

Department under the supervision of Susie Albright. During my time here, I have participated in CRAM, a

monitoring activity, and learned about wetland ecosystems and natural resource management. I have

also worked at the community garden in Nixon, done fieldwork, and helped prepare for Burning Man

sign-ups. Additionally, I’ve learned about the Numana Dam Fish Passage Project, which helps fish spawn

upstream by giving them a way around the dam. Along with that, I have learned about western pond

turtles, and that activity requires lots of patience. These experiences have helped me learn new skills and

contribute to my community.

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Meet our Summer Youth Workers!

Phillip Davis Jr., Environmental Youth Worker

Hello my name is Phillip Davis Jr, I live in Nixon Nevada I’m 15 years old and in 9 th grade, attending

Pyramid Lake Jr/Sr High School. I play basketball in and outside of school. This year they had a golf team

that me and my friends were a part of, which was a nice experience. Natural Resources is my first job so I

am excited about that. I chose it because I like being outside and enjoying the environment.

Summer Youth Workers participating in wetland surveys

Water Quality Program

Adrienne Juby, Water Quality Manager

The Water Quality Program added another sampling event this year! This spring we started monthly

sampling at popular beaches along Pyramid Lake’s western shore in addition to our annual mountain

stream and monthly lower Truckee River monitoring.

During these sampling events, we collect in situ environmental data that includes temperature, pH,

specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, and dissolved oxygen, as well as water samples for processing

nutrient analyses in the laboratory that includes, dissolved reactive phosphorous, total phosphorous,

ammonia, nitrite + nitrate, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen. This spring, we added Escherichia coli (E. coli) and

cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) monitoring. The data we collect helps identify trends in water quality

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over time, identifies existing or emerging water quality issues, and informs us whether the Tribe’s water

quality standards are being met.

There are normal background levels of E. coli and cyanobacteria in water, and we are working to

understand what those base levels are throughout the year, so if higher concentrations outside the

normal range are detected, we can look at the potential causes and understand the impacts to aquatic

health.

The goal of these sampling events is to better understand whether E. coli and cyanobacteria are present

at concentrations that could pose potential health risks to the community and public, understand

seasonal, annual, and long-term effects of these organisms on water quality, and track changes over time

to improve mitigation measures.

Some cyanobacteria, such as Microcystis and Nodularia, are naturally occurring in Pyramid Lake. Under

the right conditions (light intensity, nutrients, temperature, salinity, etc.), cyanobacteria can produce

byproducts known as cyanotoxins that lead to harmful algae blooms (HABs). The release of these toxins

is what causes health effects associated with HABs. Our algae sensors detect levels of chlorophyll-a and

phycocyanin, which are predictors of the type of algae present in an aquatic ecosystem. This rapid

measurement tool will provide immediate feedback about the relative presence of cyanobacteria,

prompting further HABs monitoring when needed. There has been no indication of a HABs event since

monitoring began in early-June 2026. Updated information will be published to ensure the community is

aware of any changes and potential health risks.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 775-574-0101 ext. 22 or

ajuby@plpt.nsn.us

Adrienne Juby

Water Quality Manager

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Tribal Air Quality Monitoring Program

Tanda Roberts, Air Quality Specialist

The Tribal Air Quality (AQ) Monitoring Program has been making significant improvements to the

Wadsworth AQ Monitoring Station. The area has been expanded, new monitoring equipment has been

installed, and the station is being upgraded to modern technology that enhances both efficiency and

accessibility. These improvements will provide real-time access to the data being collected, allowing for

faster analysis, more informed decision-making, and more effective monitoring overall.

The Tribal AQ Monitoring Program has been closely monitoring air quality permits issued by the Nevada

Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP) – Bureau of Air Pollution Control (BAPC) that could

potentially impact tribal lands. The Tribal AQ Program submitted comments on the proposed significant

revision to the Class I Air Quality Operating Permit for the Nevada Cement Company. The BAPC agreed

with the Tribe’s comment to increase Method 9 visible emissions observations from weekly to daily. This

will ensure compliance, characterize visible emissions, and help protect downwind communities.

The Tribal AQ Program was also honored to receive the 2026 Virgil Masayesva Excellence Award for

Program Development in recognition of our commitment to air quality management and the protection

of environmental resources in Indian Country. This award reflects the work in advancing programs that

support both environmental stewardship and the communities we serve.

If you have concerns about air quality or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

The Tribal AQ Program has monitoring sensors and other tools that help characterize local air quality and

identify potential sources that may be affecting it. Based on the information that is collected, the AQ

program can also offer recommendations to help improve air quality or reduce exposure to air pollutants.

You can email me @ troberts@plpt.nsn.us.

Tribal Response Program

Emily Lamb, Environmental Specialist

The Pyramid Lake Tribal Response Program (TRP) is an environmental

program which operates within the Pyramid Lake Natural Resources

Department. The primary purpose of the program is to serve the Pyramid

Lake communities as an enforcement agency to ensure that all qualifying

suspected contaminated sites are assessed, and if necessary remediated

in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The program is also

involved in establishing ordinances to ensure the health of the land, water,

and inhabitants of the Reservation are protected.

The program receives annual funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the form of

a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 128(a) grant to

perform assessment and clean-up activities related to brownfield sites on the Reservation.

​The EPA defines a brownfield as "a real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may

be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant". Brownfield

properties are often abandoned commercial or industrial sites but can also be residential in nature.

Suspected contamination must be hindering the redevelopment for the property to qualify as a

brownfield. Some examples of potential brownfield sites (and the hazards which may be present) include

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decommissioned gas stations (petroleum, leaking underground storage tanks), illegal dump sites (paints,

pesticides, tires), and abandoned housing built before 1989 (asbestos containing materials, lead based

paint).

If you suspect a site to be contaminated, please fill out and submit Form 105, which can be found

digitally on the TRP website as well as in person at the Natural Resources Department building.

For more information on inventoried brownfield sites or a copy of the public record, visit our website at

www.plptbrownfields.org or email me at elamb@plpt.nsn.us.

Wildlife Monitoring Program

Emily Lamb, Environmental Specialist

The Pyramid Lake Wildlife Monitoring Program is committed to the conservation and recovery of native

wildlife populations on the Reservation. Programmatic funding comes in the form of U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service grants. Currently the Wildlife Monitoring Program performs work under the White-nose

Syndrome Grants to States (Bat Monitoring and Inventory) and Tribes and the Tribal Wildlife Grant

(Population Monitoring of Recovering Bighorn Sheep).

Bat Monitoring and Inventory Project

Bats world-wide are currently under threat from a fungal disease called White-nose Syndrome (WNS),

which has already killed millions of bats in North America. Bats provide crucial ecosystem services, such

as pollination and pest control. A single bat can eat thousands of insects in one night, including

mosquitoes and agricultural pests! The goal of the bat monitoring and inventory project is to develop a

Reservation-wide bat inventory to monitor species presence/absence and track species movement across

the landscape. Data collected as part of the project are shared with other bat conservation specialists in

an effort to track and slow the spread of white-nose syndrome. Work is done in collaboration with the

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), White-nose Syndrome National Response Team, and

regional bat working groups. More information on White-nose Syndrome and bat conservation can be

found at nabatmonitoring.org

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Monitoring plans for 2026 include stationary acoustic monitoring in the four NABat grid cells that lie

within the Reservation boundaries as well as a mobile acoustic transect run in one of the grids. Stationary

monitoring utilizes specialized microphones and detector boxes that are able to record ultrasonic bat

calls. The microphones and detectors are placed in a single location for a series of nights where they will

record bat calls during the evenings when bats are active. Mobile acoustic surveys are performed by

attaching an ultrasonic microphone to a vehicle which will record bat calls while driving a set path. All the

call data collected is then run through specialized software that shows the bats calls and aids in species

identification, since each species of bat produces different call sequences. From this data we can then

compile a list of all species found on the Reservation and can use that list to make management decisions

based on any unique needs or areas of concern for our resident bat species.

Acoustic deployments from the 2025 sampling season

Population Monitoring of Recovering Bighorn Sheep

In 2020, a small herd of California Bighorn Sheep was reintroduced to native habitat in the Lake Range.

The Wildlife Monitoring Program is committed to the continual monitoring of the sheep to ensure the

survival of this Tribal ‘species of protection’. The primary goal of the program is a healthy, sustainable,

and robust population of bighorn sheep of varying age and sex classes. Through achieving this goal, the

program will ensure that this important species thrives in the mountain ranges they formerly called

home.

The program is currently monitoring water and vegetation resources, herd movement as the sheep utilize

these resources, and recruitment rate of new lambs born each spring. Through GIS technologies,

telemetry, and trap cameras the program has been able to passively monitor the bighorn sheep. Later in

2026, the program hopes to partner with NDOW for a helicopter flyover to perform an aerial population

count and potentially redeploy the radio collars that have fallen off since their deployment.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the activities performed by the Wildlife

Monitoring Program, reach out to Emily Lamb at elamb@plpt.nsn.us.

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Water Resources Program

Amira Morrow, Water Resource Specialist

The Water Resources Program is committed to ensuring that the Tribe has sufficient water available to

support the overall wellbeing of the community. This is done through securing water rights to prepare for

drought, support lower Truckee River flows during spawning season, as well as to support the health of

Pyramid Lake. Additionally, the program is heading up projects to address erosion and sedimentation

along the lower Truckee River, as well as incision of creeks within the Reservation.

Marble Bluff Dam Island Removal and Bank Stabilization Project

This fall, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin Phase 1 of the Marble Bluff Island Removal Project. This

phase includes removal of the vegetated sediment island that has formed above the dam, near the fish

passage channel. This island impairs the passage of LCT and Cui-ui during spawning by forcing them to

swim parallel to the dam, which increases the likelihood that a portion of fish may fall back over the dam,

hindering their spawning efforts. Additionally, a section of the riverbank above the island will be

stabilized to protect property and further hinder future sediment buildup near the fish passage.

Phase 2 will begin next fall and will include realignment of the river channel through old reservoir

sediments, filling a section of the current channel to create a floodplain, and further stabilizing banks to

prevent erosion. This project has been years in the making, and it’s exciting to finally see it happening.

Hardscrabble Creek Restoration Project

This year we received the 100% Final Design Basis Report for the restoration of Hardscrabble Creek. After

the Tule Fire in August of 2016, a large rainstorm occurred within the burn scar. This led to flooding and

deep channel incision of Hardscrabble Creek. Because Hardscrabble Creek provides fresh water to

Pyramid Lake year-round, the quality of that water also impacts the water quality of the lake. In addition,

channel incision leads to increased flood magnitude which could threaten the community of Sutcliffe if

such an event were to occur.

The goal of the restoration project is to reduce the channel incision within the Hardscrabble watershed

and reestablish the natural floodplain with native riparian vegetation. These actions will raise the water

table within the watershed leading to a healthier ecosystem and increased supply of fresh water for

Pyramid Lake, along with reduced flood risk for Sutcliffe by increasing floodwater storage capacity within

the watershed.

While the restoration design is complete, funding still needs to be secured to implement the project in

full. We will begin this year with building zuni bowls to address headcuts in the upper portion of the

creek this year to prevent further channel incision. We will continue portions of the restoration project as

more funding becomes available.

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Truckee River Flood Project

The PLPT Natural Resources Department has been working with the Truckee Meadows Flood

Management Authority (TRFMA) to mitigate the impacts of the Truckee River Flood Projects that will

reduce flood damage in Reno and Sparks through the construction of floodwalls, levees, a nature park

designed to flood, and the widening of Vista Narrows along the river in east Sparks. While these projects

will help reduce property damage from flooding within the Truckee Meadows, it will also increase the

flow of floodwaters downstream, including within the Reservation.

TRFMA has set up a fund to support restoration projects on the lower Truckee River that will reduce

erosion and potential property damage that may occur due to increased flood flows. These funds are set

to be released once construction has begun within the Truckee Meadows. Priority restoration sites have

been identified, and final design and permitting will begin for these sites once the funds have been

allocated to the Water Resources Program.

TRFMA also designed and funded a new pedestrian bridge in Wadsworth. The groundbreaking ceremony

was held last August, and construction was put off until summer break, as the bridge is used by students

at Natchez Elementary School. Demolition began on the old bridge in June, and the new bridge will be

ready for the beginning of the school year ’26-’27. The bridge was designed to allow for efficient passage

of flood flows and to reduce the rise of floodwater upstream of the bridge.

If you have any questions regarding these projects, please contact me at amorrow@plpt.nsn.us

Regards,

Amira Morrow

Wetlands Program

May Flores-Hill, Wetlands Specialist

With new staff, the Natural Resource’s Wetlands Program has kept up its monitoring and assessment

activities.

Wetland Bioassessments

Annual Wetland Bioassessments are well underway, using the California Rapid Assessment Method

(CRAM). CRAM allows us to assign a numerical value to each wetland, allowing us to compare different

wetlands or to compare new scores with previous years. Our Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) is another

tool that uses the presence or absence of macroinvertebrates like insects to make inferences about the

condition of a wetland. Some insects are more sensitive than others, and the most sensitive are found in

only the cleanest and healthiest of wetland habitats. If those bugs are absent, we can assume that

something is wrong.

The Wetland Program also runs annual water tests on the Reservation’s wetlands to give us an idea of

what is really going on in the water. We test water quality parameters like pH, temperature, and the

amount of dissolved oxygen in each wetland using a Sonde probe, Samples are taken back to the lab to

test for macronutrients, like Phosphorus and Ammonia, that affect the plants and animals within the

wetland. The Wetland Program hopes to incorporate these assessments into monitoring more wetlands

this year than ever before.

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Amphibian Monitoring

Northern leopard frogs have gone from being the most common frog in the Truckee River Watershed to

being almost completely wiped out, other than just a few ponds on the Reservation. The biggest threat to

Northern leopard frogs is the American bullfrog, an aggressive and invasive species that eats and spreads

disease to native amphibians. For the first time, the Wetland Program employed acoustic monitoring

devices in 2026 to capture audio recordings of Northern leopard frogs and find them in places that are

hard for Wetland Program staff to see during visual surveys. We have gathered our first recording of a

leopard frog and have plenty more data to analyze this coming winter. During visual encounter surveys

this year, the Wetland Program located young-of-year subadult Northern leopard frogs, confirming that

they are still breeding. We will continue to watch them, as well as the bullfrogs that threaten them.

Never transport bullfrogs, tadpoles, or any other invasive species that could cause damage to the local

ecosystem!

Northern leopard frog; Tile Drain wetland

Herbarium Collection and Seed Bank

The Wetlands Program has collected seeds from several species of native plant as a tool to help restore

damaged or threatened wetlands. These will be sown this coming fall to revegetate priority areas. The

program has expanded the Tribe’s herbarium to include over three hundred dried plant specimens. These

are to be used for training new staff members to identify both native and non-native plants found on the

reservation, as well as outreach.

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Aquatic Invasive Species Program

Justin Jackson, Field Supervisor

Greetings from the Aquatic Invasive Species program. New for this year is mandatory inspections for all

motorized and or trailered watercraft. In previous years, inspections were only mandatory when the

station was open due to limited staffing availability. This year however, beginning in October 2025 the

inspection station has been open every single day except for Christmas and the day after (family day).

During this past year we conducted 4665 inspections and 1131 decontaminations at the Watercraft

Inspection Station located in Sutcliffe NV. Inspecting incoming watercraft remains one of the best

methods of preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Program staff conducted sampling and monitoring activities to look for any new aquatic invasive species

in the Lake and River. Samplers were checked monthly, annual surveys were conducted, and plankton

sampling was conducted in both Lake and River. We are pleased to announce that no new invasive

species have been detected!

Recycling Program

Dehan Dominguez, Environmental Assistant

Good day,

As the Natural Resources Assistant/Recycling Coordinator, I wear all kinds of hats. My name is Dehan

Dominguez, and I have worked for this department for over four years. I keep a general calendar,

coordinate and assist in staff meetings, community workshops, and events, screen & compose

correspondence on a wide variety of subjects requiring thorough knowledge of procedures, examine

forms, reports, files, or other documents for accuracy and completeness. I coordinate staff and

community meetings, parties, banquets, and special events as required.

As the Recycling Coordinator, I am responsible for collecting, hauling, and bundling local recycling to

Waste Management. All funds generated from recycling aluminum cans are put towards the yearly

Natural Resources Youth Camp.

Recycling Program

Recycling started a new pilot program in the spring of 2025 called the “VEHICLE CLEANUP PROGRAM.” It

gives Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Members that reside on the reservation an opportunity to dispose of

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their broken-down cars that are most likely a hazard to the environment, not only the ground and plants

around it, but also, the varmints such as rats, & mice, chipmunk's, squirrels and snakes, that can carry

diseases that can harm to humans. As of today, the vehicle clean-up program has removed 87 cars. The

Natural Resources Department is now trying to see if Audi Parts INLTD will renew their contract with us.

Look for upcoming new information, as it will be posted.

I keep close contact with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, as I am a board member. The group meets at

least every 2 months on upcoming events. We collaborate two river clean-ups here on the reservation in

Wadsworth. Plus, this year, KTMB came out with 14 volunteers to help with the Fourth of July Clean-up.

Between their cleanup crew and the volunteers from the Tribe, we had 43 helpers and picked up 536

pounds of trash and firework debris.

The yearly Natural Resources Youth Camp was successful; we had 15 youth attendees and over 14

speakers that talked to them about environmental issues. The camp lasted for two days with the last day

of camp including a fun trip to the lake followed by a family BBQ. We had over 50 folks for dinner.

Dehan Dominguez

Natural Resources Assistant/Recycling Coordinator

envassistant@plpt.nsn.us

The 2026 Kooyooe Tukadu Youth Camp

Megan Schwartz, Environmental Technician

We are proud to report that the water quality program hosted the annual Natural Resource Department

Environmental Youth Camp at Big Bend on June 16th and 17th We had a great turnout of 15 participants

attending this year. The children were able to experience presentations on a variety of topics such as

native birds and reptiles and their adaptations, ecohydrology, Paiute culture, and other topics! Tanda

Roberts, from our department, shared the importance of good air quality and how overlooking the

negative health effects can be harmful to their friends and loved ones. They were given booklets to work

through while Tanda explained the concepts.

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We want to extend a special thank you to Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, A&K Earth Moving, and Big R for

their generous donations. We also want to thank the wonderful presenters; the camp wouldn’t be the

same without their invaluable contributions and willingness to donate their time to inspiring the next

generation of scientists and conservationists. Our presenters included Kate Berry, UNR College of Science;

Melyssa Dolan, US Forest Service; the UNR Museum of Natural History; Dean Tonenna; Steve Norman,

Nevada Gem and Mineral Society; Margaret Lord and her educators, Department of Wildlife; Noa Ratia,

UNR graduate student; Ai Ana Richmond, UNR graduate student. We would like to also thank our PL

Parks and Recreation Department for their assistance, the Water Resources Program, Pyramid Lake

Operations program, the Realty Office, Tribal Maintenance, and the Tribal Cultural program for their

contributions to our event. Finally, we want to thank our young attendees, their parents, and their

families for their participation in this year’s youth camp.

We look forward to hosting this event again for next year’s NRD Youth Camp in June 2027!

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Environmental Department is to preserve the

health and culture of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe through the

protection and restoration of the natural environment including air,

water, and lands upon which the Tribal Members have depended on

for thousands of years.

Vision Statement

Ensure clean air, water, and lands to maintain healthy fish, wildlife

and plant populations for future generations to preserve the

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s Culture and way of life.

Pyramid Lake Natural Resources Department

https://plpt.nsn.us/natural-resources

Pyramid Lake Water Quality Website

https://www.plpt-waterquality.org

Pyramid Lake Invasive Species Program Website

https://www.pyramidlakeais.org

Pyramid Lake Tribal Response Program

https://www.plptbrownfields.org

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