The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has received a $4,000 donation from the Truckee River Yacht Club to support ongoing efforts by Community Service work crews to protect trees along the Truckee River from beaver damage.

The donation was accepted by the Washoe County Board of Commissioners at the January 10th board meeting. Funds will be used to purchase chicken wire and other materials necessary to wrap trees and minimize the damage caused by beavers.

“For decades, the Truckee River Yacht Club has played an important role in efforts to protect and enhance the Truckee River,” Washoe County Sheriff Michael Haley said. “This is an extremely generous donation that provides much needed support for ongoing efforts to keep the river system aesthetic and healthy. We are very appreciative for their support.”

Community Service work crews from the Sheriff’s Office continue to play an important role in efforts to maintain a healthy and attractive river system. In addition to protecting trees, their responsibilities along the Truckee River include clearing invasive weeds and picking up trash and debris.

The overall public benefit of the Sheriff’s Community Service Work Program has increased significantly over the past several years as local governments face severe budget reductions. The program requires sentenced defendants to perform a specific number of hours or days of community service.

Participants are typically low risk offenders with no violent felony charges, no current violent misdemeanor charges, no record of escape and no open charges. Crews work on projects ranging from protecting the river to cleaning up illegal dump sites.

The program benefits the public through savings in the cost of running the jail, and the estimated cost of work done throughout the community. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, Sheriff work crews saved the community an estimated $1,729,476 in labor costs.

Community service work crews are available to local non-profit and government agencies for projects including event set up and tear down, landscape maintenance, cleaning up illegal dumps sites and flood preparations. For information, contact Michael Sherak at (775) 785-4240.