Cyndi Loza

It was a historic day for the West on Saturday as California and Nevada officials signed an agreement to manage the waters of the Truckee River.

After nearly two decades, the Truckee River Operating Agreement, or TROA, was signed at a special celebration in Wingfield Park on Saturday afternoon.

“This truly is a landmark legislation,” said U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev, to a crowd of more than 350 people.

The agreement outlines the operational details of a water management system made possible with the Truckee River Negotiated Settlement, passed by Congress in 1990.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., championed the settlement agreement, calling the path to this point “a real struggle” in the past.

But, signing the agreement on Saturday was similar to finishing a marathon, Reid said.

“When it’s over, it’s over with,” Reid said. “You finished the race and all you think about are the good things.”

The agreement still must be approved in federal court, which officials acknowledge could take years.

Among the six that joined Reid in signing the agreement were: Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Ronald Tenpas, Truckee Meadows Water Authority Chairman Mike Carrigan and other Nevada and California officials.

“I think the most important component from this is that it recognizes greater uses than agriculture,” said Pyramid Lake Paiute Chairman Mervin Wright Jr., who signed the operating agreement. “It gives us the opportunity to use water for purposes such as fishery, habitat support (and) basic restoration and recovery of threatened and endangered species.”

The legislation will also divide the waters between Nevada and California to prevent future ligation regarding allocations, increase drought protection for the Truckee Meadows, improve water quality downstream from Reno to Sparks and enhance stream flows and recreational opportunities in both states.