Walker River (Nevada)
Encyclopedia
The Walker River is a river in west central Nevada
in the United States
, approximately 62 miles (99.8 km) long. It drains an arid portion of the Great Basin
southeast of Reno
, with a watershed that extends into the Sierra Nevada mountains. It flows within an enclosed basin, providing the principal inflow of Walker Lake
as well as Topaz Lake
(West Fork). The river was named for explorer Joseph Reddeford Walker
. Its average discharge is about 360 cuft/s.
It is formed in southern Lyon County
, 9 mi (11 km) south of Yerington
, by the confluence of the East Walker
and West Walker
rivers, the East Walker is regulated by the Bridgeport Reservoir
while the West Walker comes directly from snowmelt. It flows initially north past Yerington into central Lyon County, where it turns sharply to the southeast, flowing through the Walker River Indian Reservation
past Schurz
. It enters the northern end of Walker Lake, along the east side of the Wassuk Range
, approximately 20 mi (32 km) NNW of Hawthorne
.
Most of the streamflow is consumed by irrigation
before reaching Walker Lake. The diversions have caused the level of Walker lake to drop by 140 ft (42 m) between 1882 and 1994. The eastern branch of the river is one of the last natural trout fisheries in California.
Due to a very heavy snowpack in the winter of 1996/1997 and a very warm spring the west fork of the Walker River flooded to unprecedented levels. Much of Highway 395 for the 30 mile span where it shares a canyon with the river was completely washed away.
drainage basin
covers an area of 12800 sq mi (33,151.8 km²). The U.S. Geological Survey
divides the basin into 4 sub-basins:
was well known to "the early trappers and fur hunters...Kit Carson
knew it to the bone...The beavers of course were all trapped long ago, and you never see an elk nowadays..."
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, approximately 62 miles (99.8 km) long. It drains an arid portion of the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
southeast of Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, with a watershed that extends into the Sierra Nevada mountains. It flows within an enclosed basin, providing the principal inflow of Walker Lake
Walker Lake (Nevada)
Walker Lake is a natural lake, 50.3 mi² in area, in the Great Basin in western Nevada in the United States. It is 18 mi long and 7 mi wide, located in northwestern Mineral County along the eastern side of the Wassuk Range, approximately 75 mi southeast of Reno...
as well as Topaz Lake
Topaz Lake
Topaz Lake is a reservoir located on the California-Nevada border, about south of Reno.The lake was formed by diverting waters from the West Walker River into a nearby basin that had previously contained a smaller, natural lake. The initial construction took place in 1922, resulting in a...
(West Fork). The river was named for explorer Joseph Reddeford Walker
Joseph Reddeford Walker
Joseph R. Walker was a mountain man and experienced scout.-Biography:Walker was born in Roane County, Tennessee. In the spring of 1833, Benjamin Bonneville sent a party of men under Joseph Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake and to find an overland route to California...
. Its average discharge is about 360 cuft/s.
It is formed in southern Lyon County
Lyon County, Nevada
Lyon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,980. Its county seat is Yerington.-History:...
, 9 mi (11 km) south of Yerington
Yerington, Nevada
Yerington is a city in Lyon County, located in western Nevada, USA. The population was 2,883 at the 2000 census. It is named after Henry M. Yerington, Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad from 1868 to 1910. It is the county seat of Lyon County....
, by the confluence of the East Walker
East Walker River
The East Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin....
and West Walker
West Walker River
The West Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the Sierra Nevada range along the California-Nevada border in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin.It rises from snowmelt in the...
rivers, the East Walker is regulated by the Bridgeport Reservoir
Bridgeport Reservoir, California
Bridgeport Reservoir, also known as Bridgeport Lake, is a lake at the lower end of Bridgeport Valley in Mono County, California. Its earth-filled dam was constructed in 1923 by the Walker River Irrigation District, along the East Walker River...
while the West Walker comes directly from snowmelt. It flows initially north past Yerington into central Lyon County, where it turns sharply to the southeast, flowing through the Walker River Indian Reservation
Walker River Indian Reservation
The Walker River Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation located in central Nevada in the United States. It is located along the Walker River between Yerington and Walker Lake. At the current lake level, the reservation has only a small frontage on Walker Lake...
past Schurz
Schurz, Nevada
Schurz is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. It is located on the Walker River Indian Reservation. It is the burial place of Wovoka, the Paiute messiah who originated the Ghost Dance movement...
. It enters the northern end of Walker Lake, along the east side of the Wassuk Range
Wassuk Range
The Wassuk Range is located in west-central Nevada in the United States. It is found to the west of Walker Lake in Mineral County.The mountains reach an elevation of 11,239 feet at Mount Grant, approximately eight miles northwest of Hawthorne...
, approximately 20 mi (32 km) NNW of Hawthorne
Hawthorne, Nevada
Hawthorne is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 3,311 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mineral County...
.
Most of the streamflow is consumed by irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
before reaching Walker Lake. The diversions have caused the level of Walker lake to drop by 140 ft (42 m) between 1882 and 1994. The eastern branch of the river is one of the last natural trout fisheries in California.
Due to a very heavy snowpack in the winter of 1996/1997 and a very warm spring the west fork of the Walker River flooded to unprecedented levels. Much of Highway 395 for the 30 mile span where it shares a canyon with the river was completely washed away.
Drainage Basin
The Walker River's endorheicEndorheic
An endorheic basin is a closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other bodies of water such as rivers or oceans...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
covers an area of 12800 sq mi (33,151.8 km²). The U.S. Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
divides the basin into 4 sub-basins:
- West WalkerWest Walker RiverThe West Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the Sierra Nevada range along the California-Nevada border in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin.It rises from snowmelt in the...
of 992 sq mi (2,569.3 km²) - East WalkerEast Walker RiverThe East Walker River is a tributary of the Walker River, approximately long, in eastern California and western Nevada in the United States. It drains part of the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada in the watershed of Walker Lake in the Great Basin....
of 1080 sq mi (2,797.2 km²) - Walker River of 1010 sq mi (2,615.9 km²)
- Walker LakeWalker Lake (Nevada)Walker Lake is a natural lake, 50.3 mi² in area, in the Great Basin in western Nevada in the United States. It is 18 mi long and 7 mi wide, located in northwestern Mineral County along the eastern side of the Wassuk Range, approximately 75 mi southeast of Reno...
of 835 sq mi (2,162.6 km²)
Ecology
That North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) were once native to the Walker River is evidenced by a 1906 article in the Nevada State Journal newspaper by newspaper mining writer Fitz-James MacCarthy (aka Fitz-Mac) stated that the Mason's Valley of the Walker River in Yerington, NevadaYerington, Nevada
Yerington is a city in Lyon County, located in western Nevada, USA. The population was 2,883 at the 2000 census. It is named after Henry M. Yerington, Superintendent of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad from 1868 to 1910. It is the county seat of Lyon County....
was well known to "the early trappers and fur hunters...Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
knew it to the bone...The beavers of course were all trapped long ago, and you never see an elk nowadays..."