Science in the Humboldt River Basin Active
Humboldt River near Carlin
Lamoille Creek
Beaver Creek
Susie Creek
Humboldt River near Elko
The Humboldt River is in north-central Nevada. The river is about 330 miles long and provides water for mostly agricultural purposes. One of the largest industries in Nevada is gold mining and the majority of those mines are in the Humboldt River Basin on the Carlin Trend. Gold mines in Nevada produce close to 80 percent of all the gold in the U.S. and are the 4th largest in the world. In 2010, Nevada mines produced 5,338,559 ounces of gold (Nevada Division of Minerals).
The Humboldt River Basin is the largest river basin that is entirely within the State covering more than 16,000 square miles. The Humboldt River Basin contains 34 hydrographic areas: Marys River, Area, Starr Valley, North Fork Area, Lamoille Valley, South Fork Area, Huntington Valley, Dixie Creek Area, Elko Segment, Susie Creek Area, Maggie Creek Area, Marys Creek Area, pine Valley, Crescent Valley, Carico Lake Valley, Upper Reese River Valley, Antelope Valley, Middle Reese River Valley, Lower Reese River Valley, Whirlwind Valley, Boulder Flat, Rock Creek Valley, Willow Creek, Clovers Area, pumpernickel Valley, Kelley Creek Valley, Little Humboldt Valley, Hardscrabble Area, paradise Valley, Winnemucca Segment, Grass Valley, Imlay Area, Lovelock Valley, and White plains.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains more than 69 streamflow gages on the Humboldt River.
DATA
Real-Time Streamflow :: Daily Values :: Peak-Flow :: Water Quality
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN
Evaluation of Streamflow Depletion Related to Groundwater Withdrawal, Humboldt River Basin
For more information, contact Kyle Davis.
The Humboldt River Basin (HRB) is the only major river basin that is entirely within the State of Nevada. Precipitation supplies all the water that enters the basin; consequently, the variability in climate has significant impacts on the hydrology of the area. In addition, increased development which has been superimposed on natural climate fluctuations affects the water resources of the basin. Continued groundwater withdrawals within the Humboldt River Basin are likely contributing to streamflow depletion of the Humboldt River. The timing and magnitude of the effects of groundwater withdrawals on streamflow of the Humboldt River are not well understood. Although groundwater use in the Humboldt River Basin is primarily for agriculture, a substantial quantity of groundwater has been removed from consolidated rock units and basin fill as part of mining activity in the middle Humboldt River basin. The contribution to streamflow depletion by mine dewatering is currently thought to be relatively small, largely because much of the water was or continues to be returned to the river or to unconsolidated deposits near the river. However, many Humboldt River water rights holders contend that mine dewatering contributes significantly to streamflow depletion.
To evaluate the impacts of groundwater withdrawals on streamflow, three transient, regional-scale flow models will be developed and documented. The three models will represent the upper, middle, and lower Humboldt River Basins, respectively. The middle HRB model will be developed by the USGS; the upper HRB model is being developed separately and simultaneously by the Desert Research Institute (DRI); and the lower HRB model will be co-developed by the USGS and DRI.
Visit the project web site: Evaluation of Streamflow Depletion Related to Groundwater Withdrawal, Humboldt River Basin
COMPLETED STUDIES IN THE HUMBOLDT 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 Resources of the Upper Humboldt River Basin
Any decisions to further develop the ground-water resources of the upper Humboldt River Basin will have to be balanced against the potential effects of such development on streamflow. County and state water-resource managers need information that will enable them to make informed decisions regarding future use and development of the water resources of the upper Humboldt River Basin. To address these needs and concerns, the NVWSC has adopted a phased approach for assessing the water resources of the upper Humboldt River basin in northeastern Nevada. Phase one was completed in 2007–08 and describes the hydrogeologic framework and groundwater conditions. Phase two took place in federal fiscal years 2009–11. The results from phase two were summarized in USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5077, which describes properties of basin-fill deposits, presents an overall water budget for the period 1971–2000, and describes interactions of groundwater and streamflow along the mainstem Humboldt River and its main tributaries.
Visit the project web page: Water Resources of the Upper Humboldt River Basin
Find out more about our work in the Humboldt River Basin from the links below.
Nevada Water Science Center data sets and tools for the Humboldt River Basin are listed below.
USGS publications for the Humboldt River Basin are listed below. Some older publications are not yet available electronically. For a list of these publications, please email the NVWSC at GS-W-NVpublic-info@ usgs.gov.
Ground-water use, locations of production wells, and areas irrigated using ground water in 1998, middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada
Data on Streamflow and Quality of Water and Bottom Sediment in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Churchill and Pershing Counties, Nevada, 1998-2000
Simulation of streamflow, middle Humboldt River, north-central Nevada
Water budget estimates for the 14 hydrographic areas in the middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada
Water budgets for Pine Valley, Carico Lake Valley, and Upper Reese River Valley hydrographic areas, middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada: Methods for estimation and results
Hydrogeologic framework and ground-water levels, 1982 and 1996, middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada
Field verification study of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Churchill and Pershing counties, Nevada, 1996
Ground-water flow and simulated effects of development in Paradise Valley, a basin tributary to the Humboldt River in Humboldt County, Nevada
Documentation of model input and output values for simulation of pumping effects in Paradise Valley, a basin tributary to the Humboldt River, Humboldt County, Nevada
Ground-water conditions and effects of mine dewatering in Desert Valley, Humboldt and Pershing Counties, northwestern Nevada, 1962-91
Potential hydrologic effects of mining in the Humboldt River Basin, northern Nevada
Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Churchill and Pershing Counties, Nevada, 1990-91
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Humboldt River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page
- Overview
The Humboldt River is in north-central Nevada. The river is about 330 miles long and provides water for mostly agricultural purposes. One of the largest industries in Nevada is gold mining and the majority of those mines are in the Humboldt River Basin on the Carlin Trend. Gold mines in Nevada produce close to 80 percent of all the gold in the U.S. and are the 4th largest in the world. In 2010, Nevada mines produced 5,338,559 ounces of gold (Nevada Division of Minerals).
The Humboldt River Basin is the largest river basin that is entirely within the State covering more than 16,000 square miles. The Humboldt River Basin contains 34 hydrographic areas: Marys River, Area, Starr Valley, North Fork Area, Lamoille Valley, South Fork Area, Huntington Valley, Dixie Creek Area, Elko Segment, Susie Creek Area, Maggie Creek Area, Marys Creek Area, pine Valley, Crescent Valley, Carico Lake Valley, Upper Reese River Valley, Antelope Valley, Middle Reese River Valley, Lower Reese River Valley, Whirlwind Valley, Boulder Flat, Rock Creek Valley, Willow Creek, Clovers Area, pumpernickel Valley, Kelley Creek Valley, Little Humboldt Valley, Hardscrabble Area, paradise Valley, Winnemucca Segment, Grass Valley, Imlay Area, Lovelock Valley, and White plains.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains more than 69 streamflow gages on the Humboldt River.
DATA
Real-Time Streamflow :: Daily Values :: Peak-Flow :: Water Quality
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN
Evaluation of Streamflow Depletion Related to Groundwater Withdrawal, Humboldt River Basin
For more information, contact Kyle Davis.
The Humboldt River Basin (HRB) is the only major river basin that is entirely within the State of Nevada. Precipitation supplies all the water that enters the basin; consequently, the variability in climate has significant impacts on the hydrology of the area. In addition, increased development which has been superimposed on natural climate fluctuations affects the water resources of the basin. Continued groundwater withdrawals within the Humboldt River Basin are likely contributing to streamflow depletion of the Humboldt River. The timing and magnitude of the effects of groundwater withdrawals on streamflow of the Humboldt River are not well understood. Although groundwater use in the Humboldt River Basin is primarily for agriculture, a substantial quantity of groundwater has been removed from consolidated rock units and basin fill as part of mining activity in the middle Humboldt River basin. The contribution to streamflow depletion by mine dewatering is currently thought to be relatively small, largely because much of the water was or continues to be returned to the river or to unconsolidated deposits near the river. However, many Humboldt River water rights holders contend that mine dewatering contributes significantly to streamflow depletion.
To evaluate the impacts of groundwater withdrawals on streamflow, three transient, regional-scale flow models will be developed and documented. The three models will represent the upper, middle, and lower Humboldt River Basins, respectively. The middle HRB model will be developed by the USGS; the upper HRB model is being developed separately and simultaneously by the Desert Research Institute (DRI); and the lower HRB model will be co-developed by the USGS and DRI.
Visit the project web site: Evaluation of Streamflow Depletion Related to Groundwater Withdrawal, Humboldt River Basin
COMPLETED STUDIES IN THE HUMBOLDT 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 Resources of the Upper Humboldt River Basin
Any decisions to further develop the ground-water resources of the upper Humboldt River Basin will have to be balanced against the potential effects of such development on streamflow. County and state water-resource managers need information that will enable them to make informed decisions regarding future use and development of the water resources of the upper Humboldt River Basin. To address these needs and concerns, the NVWSC has adopted a phased approach for assessing the water resources of the upper Humboldt River basin in northeastern Nevada. Phase one was completed in 2007–08 and describes the hydrogeologic framework and groundwater conditions. Phase two took place in federal fiscal years 2009–11. The results from phase two were summarized in USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5077, which describes properties of basin-fill deposits, presents an overall water budget for the period 1971–2000, and describes interactions of groundwater and streamflow along the mainstem Humboldt River and its main tributaries.
Visit the project web page: Water Resources of the Upper Humboldt River Basin
- Science
Find out more about our work in the Humboldt River Basin from the links below.
- Data
Nevada Water Science Center data sets and tools for the Humboldt River Basin are listed below.
- Publications
USGS publications for the Humboldt River Basin are listed below. Some older publications are not yet available electronically. For a list of these publications, please email the NVWSC at GS-W-NVpublic-info@ usgs.gov.
Filter Total Items: 36Ground-water use, locations of production wells, and areas irrigated using ground water in 1998, middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada
In 1998, ground water was being pumped from about 420 production wells in the middle Humboldt River Basin for a variety of uses. Principal uses were for agriculture, industry, mining, municipal, and power plant purposes. This report presents a compilation of the number and types of production wells, areas irrigated by ground water, and ground-water use in 14 hydrographic areas of the middle HumbolAuthorsRussell W. PlumeData on Streamflow and Quality of Water and Bottom Sediment in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Churchill and Pershing Counties, Nevada, 1998-2000
This study was initiated to expand upon previous findings that indicated concentrations of dissolved solids, arsenic, boron, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, and uranium were either above geochemical background concentrations or were approaching or exceeding ecological criteria in the lower Humboldt River system. Data were collected from May 1998 to September 2000 to further characterize streamflowAuthorsAngela P. Paul, Carl E. ThodalSimulation of streamflow, middle Humboldt River, north-central Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsGlen William HessWater budget estimates for the 14 hydrographic areas in the middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada
Water budgets were developed for the 14 hydrographic areas in the middle Humboldt River Basin of north-central Nevada. The water budgets include estimates of average annual precipitation, runoff, water yield, ground-water recharge and subsurface flow, and evapotranspiration (ET) determined from recently developed or revised methods. Ground-water pumping is not included in the budget estimates. TheAuthorsDavid L. BergerWater budgets for Pine Valley, Carico Lake Valley, and Upper Reese River Valley hydrographic areas, middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada: Methods for estimation and results
No abstract available.AuthorsDavid L. BergerHydrogeologic framework and ground-water levels, 1982 and 1996, middle Humboldt River basin, north-central Nevada
The Humboldt River Basin encompasses an area of nearly 17,000 mi2 in north-central Nevada; it is the only major river basin that begins and ends entirely within the State (fig. 1). The study area for this report is the middle Humboldt River Basin, which consists of 14 hydrographic areas that encompass 7,400 mi2 (fig. 1 and table 1). The principal tributaries to the Humboldt River in the study arAuthorsRussell W. Plume, David A. PonceField verification study of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Churchill and Pershing counties, Nevada, 1996
No abstract available.AuthorsR. L. Seiler, P. L. TuttleGround-water flow and simulated effects of development in Paradise Valley, a basin tributary to the Humboldt River in Humboldt County, Nevada
A computer model was used to characterize ground-water flow in Paradise Valley, Nevada, and to evaluate probable long-term effects of five hypothetical development scenarios. One finding of the study is that concentrating pumping at the south end of Paradise Valley may increase underflow from the adjacent Humboldt River valley, and might affect flow in the river.AuthorsDavid E. Prudic, M.E. HermanDocumentation of model input and output values for simulation of pumping effects in Paradise Valley, a basin tributary to the Humboldt River, Humboldt County, Nevada
Documentation is provided of model input and sample output used in a previous report for analysis of ground-water flow and simulated pumping scenarios in Paradise Valley, Humboldt County, Nevada.Documentation includes files containing input values and listings of sample output. The files, in American International Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) or binary format, are compressed aAuthorsA.E. Carey, David E. PrudicGround-water conditions and effects of mine dewatering in Desert Valley, Humboldt and Pershing Counties, northwestern Nevada, 1962-91
Desert Valley is a 1,200-square-mile, north- trending, structural basin, about 30 miles northwest of Winnemucca, Nevada. Unconsolidated basin-fill deposits exceeding 7,000 feet in thickness constitute the primary ground-water reservoir. Dewatering operations at an open-pit mine began in the Spring of 1985 in the northeast part of Desert Valley. Ground-water withdrawal for mine dewatering in 1991 wAuthorsD.L. BergerPotential hydrologic effects of mining in the Humboldt River Basin, northern Nevada
This report provides a general assessment of effects that the current and potential mining activities during the next 5 years may have on the water resources in each of the 34 hydrographic areas in the Humboldt River Basin of northern Nevada. Nearly 40 active gold mines are operating in the basin; of these, 15 are large-scale, open-pit mines. The potential effects of mining were assessed for sevenAuthorsE. James CromptonReconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in and near Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Churchill and Pershing Counties, Nevada, 1990-91
A reconnaissance investigation was begun in 1990 to determine whether the quality of irrigation drainage in and near the Humboldt Wildlife Management Area, Nevada, has caused or has the potential to cause harmful effects on human health, fish, and wildlife or to impair beneficial uses of water. Samples of surface and ground water, bottom sediment, and biota collected from sites upstream and downstAuthorsR. L. Seiler, G.A. Ekechukwu, R.J. Hallock - Partners
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Humboldt River Basin. A complete list of our partners is available here: Partners page