Science in the Carson River Basin

The Carson River is an important water resource for residents, agriculture, and wildlife. The USGS provides science support on water quality and quantity, as well as on the impacts of climate change on water resources in the basin.

Map of the Carson River Basin, Nevada — Carson River Basin, Nevada (Public domain.)

Geography

The Carson River Basin (State of Nevada hydrographic region 8) is nearly 4,000 square miles and stretches about 150 miles from Alpine County in eastern California to Pershing County in western Nevada. The Carson River Basin is a river-dominated hydrologic system, divided into three sub-basins: upper, middle, and lower.

At the headwaters, precipitation as snow and rain can produce runoff that is unregulated until it reaches Lahontan Reservoir. Water flowing in the mainstem may be diverted in Carson Valley for agriculture and for municipal uses. At Lahontan Reservoir, water imported from the Truckee River Basin via the Truckee Canal is used as needed to supplement natural inflows from the Carson River. Streamflow downstream of Lahontan is used for irrigation and supports habitat critical to migratory birds in the wetlands of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Carson River Basin Hydro Mapper

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

A new tool called the Carson River Basin Hydro Mapper (CBH) was created to help people access important water data. This tool shows current and past water levels measured by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the State of Nevada Division of Water Resources. It also includes information about groundwater, like nitrate and arsenic levels, collected by the USGS. Additionally, the CBH shows real-time streamflow and surface water levels for specific bodies of water. This tool makes it easy for resource managers, the public, and scientists to access and understand the latest information about water in the Carson River Basin.

Monitoring in the Carson River Basin

Monitoring Sediment and Water Quality in Clear Creek

Studies in the Carson River Basin

Evaluating the effects of groundwater management options on water resources in the Carson Valley
Evaluating water-use patterns contributing to trends in Carson River streamflow and effects of climate change and future growth on water deliveries to Lahontan Reservoir
Evaluation of Stream Capture in the Carson River Basin
Assessment of Water Levels, Nitrate, and Arsenic in the Carson Valley Alluvial Aquifer and the Development of a Data Visualization Tool for the Carson River Basin, Nevada
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
Integrated Hydrology and Operations Modeling to Evaluate Climate Change Impacts in an Agricultural Valley Irrigated With Snowmelt Runoff

Presentations

Available Water Data

Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Carson River Basin are listed below.

Filter Total Items: 61

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March 18, 2009

Sediment Loads and Yield, and Selected Water-Quality Parameters in Clear Creek, Carson City and Douglas County, Nevada, Water Years 2004-07 Sediment Loads and Yield, and Selected Water-Quality Parameters in Clear Creek, Carson City and Douglas County, Nevada, Water Years 2004-07

Some reaches of Clear Creek above U.S. Highway 395 have experienced severe erosion as a result of fires, extreme precipitation events, and past and current human activities in the basin. Previous evaluations of erosion in the basin have concluded that most of the sediment produced and transported in the basin was associated with U.S. Highway 50, a four-lane highway that roughly parallels...

Authors

Ralph Seiler, James Wood

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

January 1, 2008

Analysis of Streamflow Trends, Ground-Water and Surface-Water Interactions, and Water Quality in the Upper Carson River Basin, Nevada and California Analysis of Streamflow Trends, Ground-Water and Surface-Water Interactions, and Water Quality in the Upper Carson River Basin, Nevada and California

Changes in land and water use and increasing development of water resources in the Carson River basin may affect flow of the river and, in turn, affect downstream water users dependent on sustained river flows to Lahontan Reservoir. To address these concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Churchill County, and the Truckee-Carson...

Authors

Douglas Maurer, Angela Paul, David Berger, C. Mayers

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

September 28, 2007

Precipitation and Runoff Simulations of the Carson Range and Pine Nut Mountains, and Updated Estimates of Ground-Water Inflow and the Ground-Water Budgets for Basin-Fill Aquifers of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California Precipitation and Runoff Simulations of the Carson Range and Pine Nut Mountains, and Updated Estimates of Ground-Water Inflow and the Ground-Water Budgets for Basin-Fill Aquifers of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California

Recent estimates of ground-water inflow to the basin-fill aquifers of Carson Valley, Nevada, and California, from the adjacent Carson Range and Pine Nut Mountains ranged from 22,000 to 40,000 acre-feet per year using water-yield and chloride-balance methods. In this study, watershed models were developed for watersheds with perennial streams and for watersheds with ephemeral streams in...

Authors

Anne Jeton, Douglas Maurer

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

December 28, 2006

Occurrence of anthropogenic organic compounds in ground water and finished water of community water systems in Eagle and Spanish Springs Valleys, Nevada, 2002-2004 Occurrence of anthropogenic organic compounds in ground water and finished water of community water systems in Eagle and Spanish Springs Valleys, Nevada, 2002-2004

As a part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program, an effort to characterize the quality of major rivers and aquifers used as a source of supply to some of the largest community water systems (CWSs) in the United States has been initiated. These studies, termed Source Water-Quality Assessments (SWQAs), consist of two sampling phases. Phase 1 was designed...

Authors

Michael Rosen, Donald Shaefer, Patricia Toccalino, Gregory Delzer

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

September 21, 2006

Water-Table Levels and Gradients, Nevada, 1947-2004 Water-Table Levels and Gradients, Nevada, 1947-2004

In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began a program to protect the quality of ground water in areas other than ground-water protection areas. These other sensitive ground water areas (OSGWA) are areas that are not currently, but could eventually be, used as a source of drinking water. The OSGWA program specifically addresses existing wells that are used for underground...

Authors

Thomas Lopes, Susan Buto, J. Smith, Toby Welborn

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

August 17, 2006

Rates of evapotranspiration, recharge from precipitation beneath selected areas of native vegetation, and streamflow gain and loss in Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California Rates of evapotranspiration, recharge from precipitation beneath selected areas of native vegetation, and streamflow gain and loss in Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California

Rapid growth and development in Carson Valley is causing concern over the continued availability of water resources to sustain such growth into the future. A study to address concerns over water resources and to update estimates of water-budget components in Carson Valley was begun in 2003 by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Douglas County, Nevada. This report summarizes...

Authors

Douglas Maurer, David Berger, Mary Tumbusch, Michael Johnson

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

August 2, 2006

Flood chronology of the Carson River basin, California and Nevada web site Flood chronology of the Carson River basin, California and Nevada web site

No abstract available.

Authors

Anne Jeton

January 1, 2006

Water Budgets and Potential Effects of Land- and Water-Use Changes for Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California Water Budgets and Potential Effects of Land- and Water-Use Changes for Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California

To address concerns over continued growth in Carson Valley, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Douglas County, Nevada, began a study in February 2003 to update estimates of water-budget components in Carson Valley. Estimates of water-budget components were updated using annual evapotranspiration (ET) rates, rates of streamflow loss to infiltration and gain from ground-water...

Authors

Douglas Maurer, David Berger

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

January 1, 2004

Sources of phosphorus to the Carson River upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, Nevada and California, Water Years 2001-02 Sources of phosphorus to the Carson River upstream from Lahontan Reservoir, Nevada and California, Water Years 2001-02

Discharge of treated municipal-sewage effluent to the Carson River in western Nevada and eastern California ceased by 1987 and resulted in a substantial decrease in phosphorus concentrations in the Carson River. Nonetheless, concentrations of total phosphorus and suspended sediment still commonly exceed beneficial-use criteria established for the Carson River by the Nevada Division of...

Authors

Nancy L. Alvarez, Ralph Seiler

January 1, 2000

Methylmercury in water and bottom sediment along the Carson River system, Nevada and California, September 1998 Methylmercury in water and bottom sediment along the Carson River system, Nevada and California, September 1998

No abstract available.

Authors

Ray J. Hoffman, Karen Thomas

January 1, 2000

Data on stream-water and bed-sediment quality in the vicinity of Leviathan Mine, Alpine County, California, and Douglas County, Nevada, September 1998 Data on stream-water and bed-sediment quality in the vicinity of Leviathan Mine, Alpine County, California, and Douglas County, Nevada, September 1998

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) con- ducted a chemical assessment of streams in the Leviathan Mine and adjacent areas in September 1998. On-site measurements of streamflow, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductance, and at most sites alkalinity, bicarbonate, and carbonate were made at 14 sites. Water samples were collected for chemical analyses of nutrients, major ions...

Authors

Karen Thomas, Michael Lico

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

January 1, 2000

Monitoring of inorganic contaminants associated with irrigation drainage in Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and Carson Lake, west-central Nevada, 1994-96 Monitoring of inorganic contaminants associated with irrigation drainage in Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and Carson Lake, west-central Nevada, 1994-96

No abstract available.

Authors

Peter L. Tuttle, R.J. Hoffman, Stanley Wiemeyer, J.F. Miesner

By

Water Resources Mission Area, Nevada Water Science Center

These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Carson River Basin.

Science in the Carson River Basin

East Fork Carson River near Markleeville

West Fork Carson River at Woodfords

Carson River near Genoa

Carson River at Deer Run Rd

Carson River near Fort Churchill

Geography

Carson River Basin Hydro Mapper

Monitoring in the Carson River Basin

Studies in the Carson River Basin

Presentations

Available Water Data

Jena Huntington

Studies Chief

Ramon C. Naranjo

Research Hydrologist

Geography

Carson River Basin Hydro Mapper

Monitoring in the Carson River Basin

Studies in the Carson River Basin

Presentations

Available Water Data

Jena Huntington

Studies Chief

Ramon C. Naranjo

Research Hydrologist