On Friday, May 9, 2008, the Bureau of Reclamation, the owners of the Truckee Canal, authorized the Truckee Carson Irrigation District (TCID) to increase the flows in the canal from 150 cubic feet per second (cfs) to an upper limit of 250 cfs.

The canal was closed after the breach of January 5, 2008, that damaged approximately 590 homes in the City of Fernley. Beginning March 21, 2008, Reclamation authorized resumption of flows at the 150 cfs rate. The new upper flow rate of 250 cfs is approximately one-third of the typical maximum flows in the canal.

Authorization of the increase to 250 cfs is based on Reclamation's approval of requirements placed on TCID in a letter dated March 14, 2008, authorizing the resumption of diversions. These requirements included completion of a set of Standing Operating Procedures, a Facilities Improvement Plan, and Emergency Action Plans, as well as a Monitoring Program, a Maintenance Plan, and a Special Rodent Control Plan. Reclamation has determined that, with the completion of those requirements, it is safe to operate the canal at maximum flow rate of 250 cfs.