East Walker River above Strosnider Ditch
West Walker River near Coleville
Walker River near Mason
Walker River above Weber Reservoir near Schurz
Walker River near Mouth at Walker Lake
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, Nevada, 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 (State of Nevada 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
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE WALKER RIVER BASIN
Hydrology of the Walker River 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. 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
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
Supplemental Data: Estimated effects of pumping on groundwater storage and Walker River stream efficiencies in Smith and Mason Valleys, west-central Nevada
Data for the 1976 report Geohydrology of Smith Valley, Nevada, with special reference to the water-use period 1953-72
Data for the 2009 report Hydrologic Setting and Conceptual Hydrologic Model of the Walker River Basin, West-Central Nevada
Irrigated Acreage Delineated from Landsat-Derived Maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 1975-2010, Walker River Basin Nevada and California
Publications authored by the Nevada Water Science Center scientists for the Walker River Basin are listed below.
Estimated effects of pumping on groundwater storage and Walker River stream efficiencies in Smith and Mason Valleys, west-central Nevada
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
Knowing requires data
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
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Walker River Basin.
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, Nevada, 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 (State of Nevada 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
ACTIVE STUDIES IN THE WALKER RIVER BASIN
Hydrology of the Walker River 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. 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
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
Supplemental Data: Estimated effects of pumping on groundwater storage and Walker River stream efficiencies in Smith and Mason Valleys, west-central Nevada
Data for the 1976 report Geohydrology of Smith Valley, Nevada, with special reference to the water-use period 1953-72
Data for the 2009 report Hydrologic Setting and Conceptual Hydrologic Model of the Walker River Basin, West-Central Nevada
Irrigated Acreage Delineated from Landsat-Derived Maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 1975-2010, Walker River Basin Nevada and California
Publications authored by the Nevada Water Science Center scientists for the Walker River Basin are listed below.
Estimated effects of pumping on groundwater storage and Walker River stream efficiencies in Smith and Mason Valleys, west-central Nevada
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
Knowing requires data
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
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Walker River Basin.