Boca Reservoir: a brief history
We love to kayak. Rather, I get to relax while Tony does all the work in a kayak. Mags joins in also, but it’s not as relaxing for her.
Our favorite place to go is Boca Reservoir. It is so close that we can get there quickly and beat all the boaters and jet skiers before they disturb the satin-smooth water surface. I’ve never seen the water level this high before. The water level is 38580 acre-feet compared to last month’s level of 37660. Because of this, we are able to row into little canals and bays that were land before.
Boca got its name in1868 when it became a settlement on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Boca means mouth in Spanish and was named so because of its proximity to the mouth of the Truckee River. Its location on the Southern Pacific line helped turn what was a small construction camp into a settlement.
Because of its extremely cold winters and a forest of trees, investors developed sawmills, ice-cutting companies, and a brewery in 1876.
In 1881, many ice companies merged to create the Union Ice Company. A dam was constructed to create a 180-acre reservoir to store logs in the summer and harvest ice during the winter.
Boca produced enough ice to supply the state of California for 12 years. By 1872, Boca was producing so much lumber and ice for the country that it had its own railway to and from the mill.
The brewery burned to the ground in 1893 and was never rebuilt leaving only the milling operations to keep the town going. Finally, in 1904, the hotel burned to the ground and what was left of the town was demolished to make way for the larger Boca Reservoir we have today. By the 1920s, manmade refrigeration was waning the need for ice houses and the ice business ceased.
This tree fell into the rising waters and creates a beautiful symmetrical image.
I’ve spent enough time at Boca that I have seen it so low that you could almost walk across it. It’s so wonderful to see it so full of water and wildlife today.
This mama duck has a very full schedule!
Boca Reservoir is another convenient and close treat to escape the city and get cooled off. Another reason I love living in Reno.
If you want to make your home in Northern Nevada, call me, and let’s get you started. It all starts with a phone call. The best part of any day is going home.
