The Carson River begins in the Sierra Nevada as the East Fork and West Fork of the Carson River. These two forks come together in the Carson Valley, not far from Carson City, Nev. The river then flows through the Carson River Basin until its terminus at the Carson Sink. The Carson River is a popular recreation spot with rafters, hikers, and fishermen.
USGS Water Data for the Nation
These pages provide access to water-resources data collected throughout the Carson River Basin.
The Carson River Basin (hydrographic region 8) is about 3,900 square miles and extends about 150 miles from eastern California to pershing County, Nevada. The Carson River Basin includes the following hydrographic areas: Carson Desert, Churchill Valley, Dayton Valley, Eagle Valley, and Carson Valley. Major cities and towns with the Carson River Basin include Carson City (Nevada's capital), Dayton, Fallon, Gardnerville, and Minden.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains surface and groundwater monitoring locations throughout the Carson River Basin.
USGS Water Data for the Nation data:
- Real-Time Streamflow
- Daily Value Streamflow
- Peak Streamflow
- Groundwater Level Measurement Map help
- Water Quality Map help
- Groundwater Quality ( Arsenic, Nitrate) help
Water Planning Tools:
- Assessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
By: Richard M. Yager, Douglas K. Maurer, and C.J. Mayers -
The distribution and modeling of nitrate transport in the Carson Valley alluvial aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada
By: Ramon C. Naranjo, Toby L. Welborn, and Michael R. Rosen
Water Planning Presentations:
Presentations related to East Fork and West Fork Carson River Headwater Flow models and Carson Valley Groundwater/Surface Water model are available here.
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE CARSON RIVER BASIN
Modeling Tools
Water Quality Science
Collection of arsenic and associated geochemical data important to occurrence and mobility of arsenic in groundwater used for public supply in southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, NevadaChemical Quality of Water Deliveries to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
Nevada Water Science Center projects in the Carson River Basin are linked below.
Collection of arsenic and associated geochemical data important to occurrence and mobility of arsenic in groundwater used for public supply in southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada
Water for the Seasons
Evaluation of Groundwater Flow in the Middle Carson River Basin, Eagle, Dayton, and Churchill Valleys, Nevada
Chemical Quality of Water Deliveries to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
Occurrence and Mobility of Arsenic in Groundwater Used for Public Supply in Southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada
Monitoring Sediment and Water Quality in Clear Creek
USGS Nevada Water Science Center data releases and tools listed below. Links to other available tools and data can be found on the Overview tab.
Supplemental Data for Groundwater Contributions to Excessive Algal Growth in the East Fork Carson River, Carson Valley, West-Central Nevada, 2010 and 2012
Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Carson River Basin are listed below.
Peak streamflow determinations in Nevada: A cooperative program with the USGS and Nevada Department of Transportation
Early warning pesticide monitoring in Nevada’s surface waters
Managed aquifer recharge in snow-fed river basins: What, why and how?
Spatial patterns of meadow sensitivities to interannual climate variability in the Sierra Nevada
Groundwater contributions to excessive algal growth in the East Fork Carson River, Carson Valley, west-central Nevada, 2010 and 2012
Discharge, sediment, and water chemistry in Clear Creek, western Nevada, water years 2013–16
Chemical quality of water and bottom sediment, Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Lahontan Valley, Nevada
Long-term trends of surface-water mercury and methylmercury concentrations downstream of historic mining within the Carson River watershed
Groundwater-level change and evaluation of simulated water levels for irrigated areas in Lahontan Valley, Churchill County, west-central Nevada, 1992 to 2012
Discharge, suspended sediment, bedload, and water quality in Clear Creek, western Nevada, water years 2010-12
The distribution and modeling of nitrate transport in the Carson Valley alluvial aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada
Assessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Carson River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page
- Overview
The Carson River begins in the Sierra Nevada as the East Fork and West Fork of the Carson River. These two forks come together in the Carson Valley, not far from Carson City, Nev. The river then flows through the Carson River Basin until its terminus at the Carson Sink. The Carson River is a popular recreation spot with rafters, hikers, and fishermen.
USGS Water Data for the NationThese pages provide access to water-resources data collected throughout the Carson River Basin.
Carson River Basin, Nevada (Public domain.) The Carson River Basin (hydrographic region 8) is about 3,900 square miles and extends about 150 miles from eastern California to pershing County, Nevada. The Carson River Basin includes the following hydrographic areas: Carson Desert, Churchill Valley, Dayton Valley, Eagle Valley, and Carson Valley. Major cities and towns with the Carson River Basin include Carson City (Nevada's capital), Dayton, Fallon, Gardnerville, and Minden.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains surface and groundwater monitoring locations throughout the Carson River Basin.
USGS Water Data for the Nation data:
- Real-Time Streamflow
- Daily Value Streamflow
- Peak Streamflow
- Groundwater Level Measurement Map help
- Water Quality Map help
- Groundwater Quality ( Arsenic, Nitrate) help
Water Planning Tools:
- Assessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
By: Richard M. Yager, Douglas K. Maurer, and C.J. Mayers -
The distribution and modeling of nitrate transport in the Carson Valley alluvial aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada
By: Ramon C. Naranjo, Toby L. Welborn, and Michael R. Rosen
Water Planning Presentations:
Presentation given at Douglas County Commissioner Meeting on 11/7/2019: Water Resources of Carson Valley: Monitoring, Current Status and Trends, Water Planning Tools (models). Presentations related to East Fork and West Fork Carson River Headwater Flow models and Carson Valley Groundwater/Surface Water model are available here.
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE CARSON RIVER BASIN
Modeling Tools
Water Quality Science
Collection of arsenic and associated geochemical data important to occurrence and mobility of arsenic in groundwater used for public supply in southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, NevadaChemical Quality of Water Deliveries to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
- Science
Nevada Water Science Center projects in the Carson River Basin are linked below.
Collection of arsenic and associated geochemical data important to occurrence and mobility of arsenic in groundwater used for public supply in southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada
The Nevada Water Science Center (NVWSC) is increasing the spatial understanding of the distribution of arsenic and important geochemical information in groundwater resources near select water-supply wells in southern Carson Valley by collecting groundwater samples to complement the existing dataset (2006 – 2015).Water for the Seasons
Water for the Seasons (WftS) is a four year study funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WtfS uses the Truckee-Carson River System (TCRS) as a pilot study to learn how to best link science with decision-making in snow-fed arid-land river systems. By working collaboratively with stakeholders, WftS aims to create a model for improving community climate...Evaluation of Groundwater Flow in the Middle Carson River Basin, Eagle, Dayton, and Churchill Valleys, Nevada
Demand for water resources in the Carson River basin is increasing due to steady population growth and the resulting development and changes in land and water use throughout the middle part of the basin. Agricultural land is being urbanized while land not previously irrigated may be converted for agricultural use.Chemical Quality of Water Deliveries to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
The ecosystems of Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) are critical habitat for migratory birds. Increased irrigation efficiencies have reduced the amount of fresh water delivered to the wetlands, leading Congress to include provisions in the 1990 Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act to assist with wetland restoration and maintenance. The Secretary of the Interior has...Occurrence and Mobility of Arsenic in Groundwater Used for Public Supply in Southern Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada
Over the past 15 years, Douglas County, Nev., has removed production wells in northern Carson Valley from use due to relatively high arsenic concentrations. To maintain the supply of water to the public, the town of Minden has been providing water to Douglas County and Carson City. Due to the projected increases in municipal demand, water resource managers are concerned that increasing pumping...Monitoring Sediment and Water Quality in Clear Creek
Clear Creek is a small alpine stream that begins near Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada. The creek flows roughly parallel to U.S. Highway 50 and discharges to the Carson River near Carson City, Nevada. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is concerned about how historical and ongoing development in the Clear Creek drainage basin has/is affecting Clear Creek and its sediment-transport... - Data
USGS Nevada Water Science Center data releases and tools listed below. Links to other available tools and data can be found on the Overview tab.
Supplemental Data for Groundwater Contributions to Excessive Algal Growth in the East Fork Carson River, Carson Valley, West-Central Nevada, 2010 and 2012
This data release contains two tabular data sets of water-quality data collected on the East Fork Carson River. EFCR_CQW.xlsx is a Microsoft Excel workbook containing continuous water-quality data collected by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) at a site on the East Fork Carson River over two time periods in 2010 and 2012. Data were collected at U.S. Geological Survey site num - Publications
Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Carson River Basin are listed below.
Filter Total Items: 58Peak streamflow determinations in Nevada: A cooperative program with the USGS and Nevada Department of Transportation
BackgroundFloods are one of the most costly and frequent natural disasters in Nevada. For example, the 1997 New Year’s flood has been estimated to have caused more than $1 billion in damage across northern Nevada (Truckee River Flood Management Authority, 2017). In 2014, more than 2 miles of Interstate 15 in southern Nevada was heavily damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Norbert combined with monAuthorsKurtiss SchmidtEarly warning pesticide monitoring in Nevada’s surface waters
A pesticide is a substance, or mixture of substances, used to kill or control insects, weeds, plant diseases, and other pest organisms. Commercial pesticide applicators, farmers, and homeowners apply about 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides annually to agricultural land, non-crop land, and urban areas throughout the United States. Although intended for beneficial uses, there are also risks associateAuthorsJena M. Huntington, Derek C. Entz, Carl E. ThodalManaged aquifer recharge in snow-fed river basins: What, why and how?
What does climate change mean for snow-fed river basins?Climate change poses unique challenges in snow-fed river basins across the western United States because the majority of water supply originates as snow (Dettinger, Udall, & Georgakakos, 2015). In the Sierra Nevada, recent observations include changes in snow accumulation and snowmelt, and shifts in peak streamflow timing (Barnhart et al., 20AuthorsKelley Sterle, Wesley Kitlasten, Eric D. Morway, Richard G. Niswonger, Loretta SingletarySpatial patterns of meadow sensitivities to interannual climate variability in the Sierra Nevada
Conservation of montane meadows is a high priority for land and water managers given their critical role in buffering the effects of climate variability and their vulnerability to increasing temperatures and evaporative demands. Recent advances in cloud computing have provided new opportunities to examine ecological responses to climate variability over the past few decades, and at large spatial sAuthorsChristine M. Albano, Meredith L. McClure, Shana E. Gross, Wesley Kitlasten, Christopher Soulard, Charles Morton, Justin HuntingtonGroundwater contributions to excessive algal growth in the East Fork Carson River, Carson Valley, west-central Nevada, 2010 and 2012
Excessive algal growth and low dissolved oxygen concentrations were observed during low streamflow conditions during summer months along a 5,800-foot reach of the East Fork Carson River in Carson Valley, west-central Nevada. Algal growth from nutrient enrichment of a stream reduces aquatic diversity, threatens fish ecology and stream health, and can be a recreational nuisance. In response to conceAuthorsNancy L. Alvarez, Randy A. Pahl, Michael R. RosenDischarge, sediment, and water chemistry in Clear Creek, western Nevada, water years 2013–16
Clear Creek is a small stream that drains the eastern Carson Range near Lake Tahoe, flows roughly parallel to the Highway 50 corridor, and discharges to the Carson River near Carson City, Nevada. Historical and ongoing development in the drainage basin is thought to be affecting Clear Creek and its sediment-transport characteristics. Previous studies from water years (WYs) 2004 to 2007 and from 20AuthorsJena M. Huntington, Daniel J. Riddle, Angela P. PaulChemical quality of water and bottom sediment, Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Lahontan Valley, Nevada
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collected data on water and bottom-sediment chemistry to be used to evaluate a new water rights acquisition program designed to enhance wetland habitat in Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and in Lahontan Valley, Churchill County, Nevada. The area supports habitat critical to the feeding and resting of migratory bAuthorsCarl E. ThodalLong-term trends of surface-water mercury and methylmercury concentrations downstream of historic mining within the Carson River watershed
The Carson River is a vital water resource for local municipalities and migratory birds travelling the Pacific Flyway. Historic mining practices that used mercury (Hg) to extract gold from Comstock Lode ore has left much of the river system heavily contaminated with Hg, a practice that continues in many parts of the world today. Between 1998 and 2013, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) colAuthorsEric D. Morway, Carl E. Thodal, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasqualeGroundwater-level change and evaluation of simulated water levels for irrigated areas in Lahontan Valley, Churchill County, west-central Nevada, 1992 to 2012
The acquisition and transfer of water rights to wetland areas of Lahontan Valley, Nevada, has caused concern over the potential effects on shallow aquifer water levels. In 1992, water levels in Lahontan Valley were measured to construct a water-table map of the shallow aquifer prior to the effects of water-right transfers mandated by the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Settlement Act of 1990 (PublicAuthorsDavid W. Smith, Susan G. Buto, Toby L. WelbornDischarge, suspended sediment, bedload, and water quality in Clear Creek, western Nevada, water years 2010-12
Clear Creek is a small stream that drains the eastern Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe, flows roughly parallel to the U.S. Highway 50 corridor, and discharges to the Carson River near Carson City, Nevada. Historical and ongoing development in the drainage basin is thought to be affecting Clear Creek and its sediment-transport characteristics. A baseline study from water years 2004–07 collected and evAuthorsJena M. Huntington, Charles S. SavardThe distribution and modeling of nitrate transport in the Carson Valley alluvial aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada
Residents of Carson Valley in Douglas County, Nevada, rely on groundwater from an alluvial aquifer for domestic use and agricultural irrigation. Since the 1970s, there has been a rapid increase in population in several parts of the valley that rely on domestic wells for drinking water and septic systems for treatment of household waste. As a result, the density of septic systems in the developed aAuthorsRamon C. Naranjo, Toby L. Welborn, Michael R. RosenAssessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
Rapid growth and development within Carson Valley in Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California, has caused concern over the continued availability of groundwater, and whether the increased municipal demand could either impact the availability of water or result in decreased flow in the Carson River. Annual pumpage of groundwater has increased from less than 10,000 acre feet per year (aAuthorsRichard M. Yager, Douglas K. Maurer, C.J. Mayers - Partners
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Carson River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page
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