The Walker River begins in the Sierra Nevada as the East Walker River and the West Walker River. In Mason Valley, just south of Yerington, Nev., the rivers converge to create the the Walker River. The Walker River terminates in Walker Lake.
Walker Lake is a terminal lake, meaning that the lake has no water that flows out from it. Since 1882, the level of Walker Lake has declined more than 150 feet. This decline in lake level has caused an increase in dissolved solids making the lake much more saline. The rise in salinity has made it difficult for fish and other wildlife to survive in the Walker River Basin.
Walker River and Lake are in the Walker River Basin (hydrographic region 9). The Walker River Basin is about 3,000 square miles and includes 7 hydrographic areas: Antelope Valley, Smith Valley, Mason Valley, East Walker Area, Walker Lake Valley/Schurz subarea, Walker Lake Valley/Lake subarea, and Walker Lake Valley/Whiskey Flat-Hawthorne subarea.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains more than 32 real-time streamflow gages on the Walker River. The Wabuska gage, in particular, has been operating continuously since 1945.
AVAILABLE DATA
Real-Time Streamflow :: Daily Values :: Peak-Flow :: Water Quality
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE WALKER RIVER BASIN
Hydrology of the Walker River Basin
For more information, contact Kip Allander
The ecosystems and recreational uses of Walker Lake and other terminal lakes in the Great Basin have become at-risk due to consumptive water use. USGS provides scientifically sound data and investigative studies in the Walker River Basin so stakeholders can evaluate alternatives for supplementing flow to Walker Lake while maintaining a healthy agricultural economy.
Visit the web site: Hydrology of the Walker River Basin
For more information, contact Sonya Vasquez
This mapping application provides a basin-wide perspective of real-time streamflow and lake and reservoir storage capacity and stage for the Walker River Basin in Nevada and California. The Hydro Mapper also provides access to historic streamflow, and lake and reservoir data. This tool was developed to create a common operating picture for water users in the Walker Basin and to help monitor changes to instream flows associated with the Walker Basin Restoration Program.
Visit the web site: Walker Basin Hydro Mapper
COMPLETED STUDIES IN THE WALKER RIVER BASIN
If you would like information about completed studies, please email the NVWSC at GS-W-NVpublic-info@ usgs.gov or visit the Hydrology of the Walker River Basin web site.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Hydrology of the Walker River Basin
NVWSC publications for the Walker 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
Spatial patterns of meadow sensitivities to interannual climate variability in the Sierra Nevada
Quantifying seepage using heat as a tracer in selected irrigation canals, Walker River Basin, Nevada, 2012 and 2013
Hydrologic data for the Walker River Basin, Nevada and California, water years 2010–14
Simulation of the Lower Walker River Basin hydrologic system, west-central Nevada, using PRMS and MODFLOW models
Collaborative modelling and integrated decision support system analysis of a developed terminal lake basin
Early impacts of biological control on canopy cover and water use of the invasive saltcedar tree (Tamarix spp.) in western Nevada, USA
Water Budgets of the Walker River Basin and Walker Lake, California and Nevada
Hydrologic Setting and Conceptual Hydrologic Model of the Walker River Basin, West-Central Nevada
Evapotranspiration from the Lower Walker River Basin, West-Central Nevada, Water Years 2005-07
Bathymetry of Walker Lake, West-Central Nevada
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Walker River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page
- Overview
The Walker River begins in the Sierra Nevada as the East Walker River and the West Walker River. In Mason Valley, just south of Yerington, Nev., the rivers converge to create the the Walker River. The Walker River terminates in Walker Lake.
Map of the Walker River Basin. (Public domain.) Walker Lake is a terminal lake, meaning that the lake has no water that flows out from it. Since 1882, the level of Walker Lake has declined more than 150 feet. This decline in lake level has caused an increase in dissolved solids making the lake much more saline. The rise in salinity has made it difficult for fish and other wildlife to survive in the Walker River Basin.
Walker River and Lake are in the Walker River Basin (hydrographic region 9). The Walker River Basin is about 3,000 square miles and includes 7 hydrographic areas: Antelope Valley, Smith Valley, Mason Valley, East Walker Area, Walker Lake Valley/Schurz subarea, Walker Lake Valley/Lake subarea, and Walker Lake Valley/Whiskey Flat-Hawthorne subarea.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains more than 32 real-time streamflow gages on the Walker River. The Wabuska gage, in particular, has been operating continuously since 1945.
AVAILABLE DATA
Real-Time Streamflow :: Daily Values :: Peak-Flow :: Water Quality
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE WALKER RIVER BASIN
Hydrology of the Walker River Basin
For more information, contact Kip Allander
The ecosystems and recreational uses of Walker Lake and other terminal lakes in the Great Basin have become at-risk due to consumptive water use. USGS provides scientifically sound data and investigative studies in the Walker River Basin so stakeholders can evaluate alternatives for supplementing flow to Walker Lake while maintaining a healthy agricultural economy.
Visit the web site: Hydrology of the Walker River Basin
For more information, contact Sonya Vasquez
This mapping application provides a basin-wide perspective of real-time streamflow and lake and reservoir storage capacity and stage for the Walker River Basin in Nevada and California. The Hydro Mapper also provides access to historic streamflow, and lake and reservoir data. This tool was developed to create a common operating picture for water users in the Walker Basin and to help monitor changes to instream flows associated with the Walker Basin Restoration Program.
Visit the web site: Walker Basin Hydro Mapper
COMPLETED STUDIES IN THE WALKER RIVER BASIN
If you would like information about completed studies, please email the NVWSC at GS-W-NVpublic-info@ usgs.gov or visit the Hydrology of the Walker River Basin web site.
Walker Lake, Nevada. (Public domain.) - Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Hydrology of the Walker River Basin
Walker Lake is one of the few perennial, natural terminal lakes in the Great Basin. The ecosystems and recreational uses of Walker Lake and other terminal lakes in the Great Basin have become at-risk due to consumptive water use. - Publications
NVWSC publications for the Walker River Basin are listed below.
Filter Total Items: 27Peak 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. ThodalSpatial 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 HuntingtonQuantifying seepage using heat as a tracer in selected irrigation canals, Walker River Basin, Nevada, 2012 and 2013
The Walker River is an important source of water for western Nevada. The river provides water for agriculture and recharge to local aquifers used by several communities. Farmers began diverting water from the Walker River in the 1860s to support growing agricultural development. Over time, the reduced inflows into Walker Lake from upstream reservoirs and diversions have resulted in 170 feet of lakAuthorsRamon C. Naranjo, David W. SmithHydrologic data for the Walker River Basin, Nevada and California, water years 2010–14
Walker Lake is a threatened and federally protected desert terminal lake in western Nevada. To help protect the desert terminal lake and the surrounding watershed, the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Geological Survey have been studying the hydrology of the Walker River Basin in Nevada and California since 2004. Hydrologic data collected for this study during water years 2010 through 2014 includedAuthorsMichael T. Pavelko, Erin L. OrozcoSimulation of the Lower Walker River Basin hydrologic system, west-central Nevada, using PRMS and MODFLOW models
Walker Lake is a terminal lake in west-central Nevada with almost all outflow occurring through evaporation. Diversions from Walker River since the early 1900s have contributed to a substantial reduction in flow entering Walker Lake. As a result, the lake is receding, and salt concentrations have increased to a level in which Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi (Lahontan Cutthroat trout) are no longer pAuthorsKip K. Allander, Richard G. Niswonger, Anne E. JetonCollaborative modelling and integrated decision support system analysis of a developed terminal lake basin
A terminal lake basin in west-central Nevada, Walker Lake, has undergone drastic change over the past 90 yrs due to upstream water use for agriculture. Decreased inflows to the lake have resulted in 100 km2 decrease in lake surface area and a total loss of fisheries due to salinization. The ecologic health of Walker Lake is of great concern as the lake is a stopover point on the Pacific route forAuthorsRichard G. Niswonger, Kip K. Allander, Anne E. JetonEarly impacts of biological control on canopy cover and water use of the invasive saltcedar tree (Tamarix spp.) in western Nevada, USA
D. carinulata defoliated the majority of trees within 25 and 9 km, respectively, of the release location within 3 years. At the Humboldt site, D. carinulata reduced the canopy cover of trees adjacent to the release location by >90%. At a location 4 km away during the first year of defoliation, D. carinulata reduced peak (August) stem water use by 50−70% and stand transpiration (July to late SeptemAuthorsR.R. Pattison, C. M. D'Antonio, T.L. Dudley, Kip K. Allander, B. RiceWater Budgets of the Walker River Basin and Walker Lake, California and Nevada
The Walker River is the main source of inflow to Walker Lake, a closed-basin lake in west-central Nevada. The only outflow from Walker Lake is evaporation from the lake surface. Between 1882 and 2008, upstream agricultural diversions resulted in a lake-level decline of more than 150 feet and storage loss of 7,400,000 acre-feet. Evaporative concentration increased dissolved solids from 2,500 to 17,AuthorsThomas J. Lopes, Kip K. AllanderHydrologic Setting and Conceptual Hydrologic Model of the Walker River Basin, West-Central Nevada
The Walker River is the main source of inflow to Walker Lake, a closed-basin lake in west-central Nevada. Between 1882 and 2008, agricultural diversions resulted in a lake-level decline of more than 150 feet and storage loss of 7,400,000 acre-ft. Evaporative concentration increased dissolved solids from 2,500 to 17,000 milligrams per liter. The increase in salinity threatens the survival of the LaAuthorsThomas J. Lopes, Kip K. AllanderEvapotranspiration from the Lower Walker River Basin, West-Central Nevada, Water Years 2005-07
Evapotranspiration is the ultimate path of outflow of nearly all water from the Lower Walker River basin. Walker Lake is the terminus of the topographically closed Walker River basin, and the lake level has been declining at an average rate of about 1.6 feet per year (ft/yr) since 1917. As a result of the declining lake level, dissolved-solids concentrations are increasingly threatening the fisherAuthorsKip K. Allander, J. LaRue Smith, Michael J. JohnsonBathymetry of Walker Lake, West-Central Nevada
Walker Lake lies within a topographically closed basin in west-central Nevada and is the terminus of the Walker River. Much of the streamflow in the Walker River is diverted for irrigation, which has contributed to a decline in lake-surface altitude of about 150 feet and an increase in dissolved solids from 2,500 to 16,000 milligrams per liter in Walker Lake since 1882. The increase in salinity thAuthorsThomas J. Lopes, J. LaRue Smith - Partners
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Walker River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page