Science in the Colorado River Basin Active
Virgin River at Littlefield
Hot Creek near Sunnyside
Muddy River near Glendale
Las Vegas Wash below Lake Las Vegas
Colorado River below Hoover Dam
The Colorado River is one of the longest rivers in the Western United States. It begins in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows southwestward until it reaches Mexico where it becomes a small stream or dry riverbed. The Colorado River forms the border between southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. In Nevada, Hoover Dam and Davis Dam control the flow of the river and create two reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Hoover Dam and Davis Dam both generate hydroelectric power for Nevada and neighboring states.
Use of water from the Colorado River is carefully controlled by the Colorado River Compact, a 1922 agreement which specifies the allocation of water rights between Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Nevada. In addition to the Colorado River Compact, several other laws, contracts, and guidelines define the "Law of the River."
The Colorado River Basin (Region 13) covers just over 2,500 square miles in southern Nevada and includes the following hydrographic areas: Dry Valley, Rose Valley, Eagle Valley, Spring Valley, patterson Valley, panaca Valley, Clover Valley, Lower Meadow Valley Wash, Kane Springs Valley, White RIver Valley, Pahroc Valley, Pahranagat Valley, Coyote Springs Valley, Three Lakes Valley, Las Vegas Valley, Colorado River Valley, Piute Valley, Black Mountains Area, Garnet Valley, Hidden Valley, California Wash, Muddy River Springs Area, Lower Moapa Valley, Tule Desert, Virgin River Valley, Gold Butte Area, and Greasewood Area.
The Muddy River and Virgin River also are part of the Colorado River Basin.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains several streamflow gages on the Colorado River.
DATA
Real-Time Streamflow :: Daily Values :: Peak-Flow :: Water Quality
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN
Evaluation of the Migration of Palliative Chemicals Used for Dust Abatement, Clark County, Nevada
Evaporation from Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, Lower Colorado River Basin, Nevada and Arizona
Monitoring Hydrogeologic Conditions in the Regional Carbonate Aquifer, Clark County, Nevada
COMPLETED STUDIES IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN
Not all completed studies are listed here. If you would like additional information about completed studies, please email the NVWSC at GS-W-NVpublic-info@ usgs.gov.
Water Quality of Springs in the Spring Mountains
Delineation of Vegetation Using Satellite Imagery, Clark County
Find out more about our work in the Colorado River Basin from the links below.
Nevada Water Science Center data sets and tools for the Colorado River Basin are listed below.
Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Colorado River Basin are listed below.
Water quality in the Las Vegas Valley area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California, 1992-96
Estimates of bridge scour at two sites on the Virgin River, southeastern Nevada, using a sediment-transport model and historical geomorphic data
Hydrogeology and potential for ground-water development, carbonate-rock aquifers, southern Nevada and southeastern California
Hydrology and water quality of the Beaver Dam Wash area, Washington County, Utah, Lincoln County, Nevada, and Mohave County, Arizona
Pesticides in surface water, bottom sediment, crayfish, and shallow ground water in Las Vegas Valley area, Carson River Basin, and Truckee River Basin, Nevada and California, 1992-95
Water-quality assessment of the Las Vegas Valley area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California: Nutrients, pesticides, and suspended sediment, October 1969-April 1990
Environmental and hydrologic settings of the Las Vegas Valley Area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California
Selected hydrologic data for and location of MX wells in east-central and southern Nevada, January 1980 through May 1996
Distribution of oil and natural-gas wells in relation to ground-water flow systems in the Great Basin region of Nevada and Utah, and adjacent states
Geohydrologic reconnaissance of Lake Mead National Recreation Area; Las Vegas Wash to Virgin River, Nevada
Synthetic organic compounds and carp endocrinology and histology in Las Vegas Wash and Las Vegas and Callville Bays of Lake Mead, Nevada, 1992 and 1995
Geochemistry and isotope hydrology of representative aquifers in the Great Basin region of Nevada, Utah, and adjacent states
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Colorado River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page
- Overview
The Colorado River is one of the longest rivers in the Western United States. It begins in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows southwestward until it reaches Mexico where it becomes a small stream or dry riverbed. The Colorado River forms the border between southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. In Nevada, Hoover Dam and Davis Dam control the flow of the river and create two reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Hoover Dam and Davis Dam both generate hydroelectric power for Nevada and neighboring states.
Use of water from the Colorado River is carefully controlled by the Colorado River Compact, a 1922 agreement which specifies the allocation of water rights between Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Nevada. In addition to the Colorado River Compact, several other laws, contracts, and guidelines define the "Law of the River."
The Colorado River Basin (Region 13) covers just over 2,500 square miles in southern Nevada and includes the following hydrographic areas: Dry Valley, Rose Valley, Eagle Valley, Spring Valley, patterson Valley, panaca Valley, Clover Valley, Lower Meadow Valley Wash, Kane Springs Valley, White RIver Valley, Pahroc Valley, Pahranagat Valley, Coyote Springs Valley, Three Lakes Valley, Las Vegas Valley, Colorado River Valley, Piute Valley, Black Mountains Area, Garnet Valley, Hidden Valley, California Wash, Muddy River Springs Area, Lower Moapa Valley, Tule Desert, Virgin River Valley, Gold Butte Area, and Greasewood Area.
The Muddy River and Virgin River also are part of the Colorado River Basin.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains several streamflow gages on the Colorado River.
DATA
Real-Time Streamflow :: Daily Values :: Peak-Flow :: Water Quality
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN
Evaluation of the Migration of Palliative Chemicals Used for Dust Abatement, Clark County, Nevada
Evaporation from Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, Lower Colorado River Basin, Nevada and Arizona
Monitoring Hydrogeologic Conditions in the Regional Carbonate Aquifer, Clark County, Nevada
COMPLETED STUDIES IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN
Not all completed studies are listed here. If you would like additional information about completed studies, please email the NVWSC at GS-W-NVpublic-info@ usgs.gov.
Water Quality of Springs in the Spring Mountains
Delineation of Vegetation Using Satellite Imagery, Clark County
- Science
Find out more about our work in the Colorado River Basin from the links below.
- Data
Nevada Water Science Center data sets and tools for the Colorado River Basin are listed below.
- Publications
Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Colorado River Basin are listed below.
Filter Total Items: 89Water quality in the Las Vegas Valley area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California, 1992-96
No abstract available.AuthorsHugh E. Bevans, Michael S. Lico, Stephen J. LawrenceEstimates of bridge scour at two sites on the Virgin River, southeastern Nevada, using a sediment-transport model and historical geomorphic data
A bridge-scour study by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Nevada Department of Transportation, began in April 1996 to evaluate the Mesquite, Nevada, and Riverside, Nevada, bridges on the lower Virgin River using a sediment-transport model and historical geomorphic data. The BRIdge Stream Tube model for Alluvial River Simulation (BRI-STARS) was used to estimate bridge scour. The mAuthorsM.M. Hilmes, J. E. VaillHydrogeology and potential for ground-water development, carbonate-rock aquifers, southern Nevada and southeastern California
Seventeen hydrographic areas in southern Nevada were assessed for the ground-water development potential of the underlying carbonate-rock aquifers on the basis of geologic and hydrologic information developed as part of the Nevada Carbonate Aquifers Study and information compiled from previous investigations. All selected areas lie within a miogeoclinal belt where thick accumulations of carbonateAuthorsT. J. BurbeyHydrology and water quality of the Beaver Dam Wash area, Washington County, Utah, Lincoln County, Nevada, and Mohave County, Arizona
No abstract available.AuthorsW. F. Holmes, G. E. Pyper, J. S. Gates, D.H. Schaefer, K.M. WaddellPesticides in surface water, bottom sediment, crayfish, and shallow ground water in Las Vegas Valley area, Carson River Basin, and Truckee River Basin, Nevada and California, 1992-95
No abstract available.AuthorsKathryn C. Kilroy, Sharon A. WatkinsWater-quality assessment of the Las Vegas Valley area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California: Nutrients, pesticides, and suspended sediment, October 1969-April 1990
The U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) is designed to provide long-term, consistent information on water quality that can be used to describe local, regional, and national conditions. The full-scale NAWQA Program, initiated in 1991, includes both study-unit and national synthesis activities. Study-unit investigations provide scientific data and interpretationsAuthorsKathryn C. Kilroy, Stephen J. Lawrence, Michael S. Lico, Hugh E. Bevans, Sharon A. WatkinsEnvironmental and hydrologic settings of the Las Vegas Valley Area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California
No abstract available.AuthorsK. J. Covay, J.M. Banks, H.E. Bevans, S.A. WatkinsSelected hydrologic data for and location of MX wells in east-central and southern Nevada, January 1980 through May 1996
No abstract available.AuthorsM.L. Tumbusch, D.H. SchaeferDistribution of oil and natural-gas wells in relation to ground-water flow systems in the Great Basin region of Nevada and Utah, and adjacent states
This map publication is one of several in a series concerning various aspects of the ground-water hydrology of the Great Basin in Nevada, Utah, and adjacent States. One report in the series describes the hydrogeologic framework of the Great Basin (Plume and Carlton, 1988). Another shows the ground-water levels for the aquifer systems of the Great Basin (Thomas and others, 1986). A third reportAuthorsDonald H. SchaeferGeohydrologic reconnaissance of Lake Mead National Recreation Area; Las Vegas Wash to Virgin River, Nevada
This study is the last of a series of eight geohydrologic reconnaissance studies that were done in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The studies were done to evaluate the water resources in the recreation area and to identify areas having potential for the development of water supplies that would be adequate for marinas and campgrounds. The study area includes about 250 square miles north ofAuthorsR. L. Laney, J. T. BalesSynthetic organic compounds and carp endocrinology and histology in Las Vegas Wash and Las Vegas and Callville Bays of Lake Mead, Nevada, 1992 and 1995
No abstract available.AuthorsH.E. Bevans, S. L. Goodbred, J.F. Miesner, S.A. Watkins, T. S. Gross, N. D. Denslow, Trenton ChoebGeochemistry and isotope hydrology of representative aquifers in the Great Basin region of Nevada, Utah, and adjacent states
This report briefly describes the general quality and chemical character of the ground water, discusses in detail the geochemical and hydrologic processes that produce the chemical and isotopic compositions of water in the two principal types of aquifers (basin fill and carbonate rock), delineates flow systems in carbonate-rock aquifers of southern Nevada, and discusses ground-water ages and flowAuthorsJ. M. Thomas, A. H. Welch, M. D. Dettinger - Web Tools
- Partners
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Colorado River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page