The Southern Lassen Irrigation District was one of my entities organized to reclaim the sagebrush lands of the southern and eastern portions of Honey Lake Valley. This would be done by damming the waters of Long Valley Creek, capturing especially the winter run-off to hold for the spring and summer irrigation season when it is needed the most.
Enter C.E. Grunsky, consulting engineer for the irrigation district. It was his contention that if the district’s goal was to reclaim 26,000 acres, they would need more water than just Long Valley Creek. In July 1918 he unveiled his plan. Grunsky wanted to divert the flood/surplus water of the Little Truckee River via Dog Valley into Long Valley Creek. At Scotts, along Long Valley Creek, about six miles south of Doyle a dam would be construct to impound those waters. It was his contention this would alleviate the flooding problems of the Truckee Meadows (Reno/Sparks). In addition it was his opinion those flood waters were wasted in Pyramid Lake which he remarked, “did no good to anybody.”
In August 1918, Grunsky organized a meeting of California and Nevada officials to discuss the merits of the project. Most of the attendees were receptive. The project never proceeded any further, especially since everyone’s focus at the time was World War I, rations, etc.