Washoe County Roads and Stormwater crews have been working since Friday, June 19, to clear mud and debris from the Hidden Valley neighborhood southeast of Sparks. The National Weather Service radar estimate indicated approximately 2 ½ inches of rain fell in less than an hour on Friday. Approximately six homes have suffered major damage or have been destroyed by the mud and rocks that flowed through the neighborhood. Stormwater infrastructure is typically designed to convey about one inch of rainfall over the course of a day; however, the storm’s intensity, combined with the large rocks and debris it mobilized, quickly overwhelmed many stormwater protection assets.
Washoe County is exploring options for impacts to a private storm water system owned by the defunct homeowners’ association so that it may be able to hold further rainfall.
All available team members worked over the holiday weekend: 21 people operated seven 10-wheelers, one excavator, three loaders, two backhoes, many hand shovels, and two Vactor (industrial sewer and vacuum) trucks. The City of Reno assisted with eight team members, two street sweepers, and three Vactor trucks. As of Sunday evening, crews had removed 4,100 tons – just over 9 million pounds – of mud and debris. SNC was contracted to wash the streets on Monday to prevent the mud from becoming airborne dust.
Residents are being asked to push mud and rocks into the roadway so that County crews can dispose of it. Household debris must remain separate, and Waste Management has provided four Dumpsters to collect non-organic garbage (carpets and flooring, ruined furniture, etc.). The Dumpsters are located at:
- Pembroke Drive at Parkway Drive
- Cheltenham Way at Rough Rock Road
- Parkway Drive at Hurst Park Road
- Native Dancer Drive at Parkway Drive
Washoe County Manager Kate Thomas will be issuing an Emergency Declaration to be voted on the Board of County Commissioners at a special meeting on Friday that will make emergency funding available for the cleanup. Additionally, Team Rubicon is providing volunteers to help residents cleanup their personal property. Washoe County is not permitted to operate on private property. Please work with your insurance carrier or call Washoe311 (3-1-1) to request assistance. It is always a good idea to consider flood insurance regardless of your home’s proximity to a FEMA-designated floodplain. Learn about federal flood insurance programs here.
Hidden Valley Regional Park will remain closed until further notice. Washoe County’s top priorities are public safety, maintaining emergency access and infrastructure integrity, and clearing the public right-of-way.
Washoe County Roads and Stormwater crews will continue to work over the coming days and weeks to clean up the area and repair damage to the roads and park.
