Humboldt River near Carlin
Lamoille Creek
Beaver Creek
Susie Creek
Humboldt River near Elko
The Humboldt River flows east to west through north-central Nevada and is about 330 miles long. It is an important water source for residents and agriculture, and it also supports one of Nevada’s largest industries—gold mining. Most of the state’s mines are in the Humboldt River Basin along the Carlin Trend. Nevada produces about 72 percent of all U.S. gold, making it the fifth largest producer in the world. In 2022, mines in Nevada produced more than 4 million ounces of gold (Nevada Division of Minerals).
Geography
The Humboldt River Basin is the largest basin entirely within Nevada, covering 17,000 square miles. All water in the basin comes from precipitation, so changes in climate strongly affect water supply. The basin is studied in three parts—upper, middle, and lower—because conditions and water use vary across these areas. Groundwater use is mostly for agriculture, but mining also removes large amounts of groundwater from rock formations and basin fill, especially in the middle Humboldt River Basin. The effect of mine dewatering on river flow is not fully understood because much of the water is returned to the river or nearby deposits. For this reason, the impact is thought to be small, although many water rights holders believe mine dewatering significantly reduces streamflow.
Studies in the Humboldt River Basin
- Evaluation of Streamflow Depletion Related to Groundwater Withdrawal, Humboldt River Basin
- Water Resources of the Upper Humboldt River Basin
Available Water Data
The Humboldt River flows east to west through north-central Nevada and is about 330 miles long. It is an important water source for residents and agriculture, and it also supports one of Nevada’s largest industries—gold mining. Most of the state’s mines are in the Humboldt River Basin along the Carlin Trend. Nevada produces about 72 percent of all U.S. gold, making it the fifth largest producer in the world. In 2022, mines in Nevada produced more than 4 million ounces of gold (Nevada Division of Minerals).
Geography
The Humboldt River Basin is the largest basin entirely within Nevada, covering 17,000 square miles. All water in the basin comes from precipitation, so changes in climate strongly affect water supply. The basin is studied in three parts—upper, middle, and lower—because conditions and water use vary across these areas. Groundwater use is mostly for agriculture, but mining also removes large amounts of groundwater from rock formations and basin fill, especially in the middle Humboldt River Basin. The effect of mine dewatering on river flow is not fully understood because much of the water is returned to the river or nearby deposits. For this reason, the impact is thought to be small, although many water rights holders believe mine dewatering significantly reduces streamflow.
Studies in the Humboldt River Basin
- Evaluation of Streamflow Depletion Related to Groundwater Withdrawal, Humboldt River Basin
- Water Resources of the Upper Humboldt River Basin