THETHE CARSONCARSON RIVERRIVER WATERSHEDWATERSHED A Lifeline Connecting Our Communities Reno Fernley Truckee Canal VIRGINIA RANGE S NGE T 50A DT RA IL BOL L 95A HUM W A T Virginia City 95 E R
R A N 341 G Hobart 395 E Reservoir 40 MILE DESERT
Soda Lake 50A Carson Sink Marlette Fallon Lake Silver Naval Air Snow Valley Mark Twain Peak Stagecoach Springs Station Stillwater National 28 Wildlife Refuge Moundhouse Dayton Carson River 50 50 Carson Fort Churchill Lake CARSON RANGE Historic State Park Carson River Weeks Spooner Lake 50 50
Lake Indian Hills Carson City Tahoe Lahontan Reservoir
Carson River 95A 95
395 DESERT MOUNTAIN RANGE DEAD CAMEL RANGE
50 PINE NUT MOUNTAINS Monument Genoa Peak SIERRA NEVADA Johnson Lane Stateline
50 95 South Minden Lake Tahoe Jobs Peak I West Fork Carson River 95A
Brockliss Slough Yerington N Gardnerville
89 Gardnerville Ruhenstroth
Ranchos CALIFORNIA 88 NEVADA Pyramid Lake
80
East Fork Carson River Mud Carson Sink Woodfords Lake Mt. Siegel 395 Fernley Truckee Canal
Reno Storey County Churchill County Hope Valley 395 Fallon 88 89 80 395 50 Indian Creek 50 Reservoir Truckee River Carson River Lake Carson City West Fork Carson River Tahoe
Douglas County Lyon Carson River 50 County Watershed Basin Boundary Topaz Lake 395 Markleeville 89
395 Alpine County Ebbett’s Pass Carson Pass Lost Lakes Area 89 Monitor Pass Carson River Watershed: Our Home Carson River Watershed Water and Land Use Timeline 11,200 years ago — First record of human The Carson River is our lifeline in the desert. Its precious water supports our watershed’s environment, economy, and quality of life. The 12,000-75,000 years ago—Last Ice settlement in the Carson River basin. Carson River meanders 184 miles from the snow pack in California’s high Sierra (elev. ~11,000 ft.) through green alpine meadows, wide valleys, Age and Historic Lake Lahontan. rock-lined canyons, cottonwood galleries, and high desert sage brush plateaus to the intermittent lake beds and wetlands in Nevada’s Carson Early 1800s — Before the white man’s Sink (elev. ~3,000 ft.). The Carson River Watershed connects several rural and urban communities, tribal lands, irrigated agricultural areas, historic arrival, the Washoe people inhabited sites, parks, open space, and recreation areas. There are approximately 3,965 square miles of land from which drains water into the river creating the upper watershed region and the http://www.jqjacobs.net/rock_art/grimes_point.html Northern Paiute people lived in the lower the Carson River Watershed. The river itself is terminal, meaning it is one of a few rivers in the world that does not flow to an ocean. watershed. 1840—Pioneers settled in 1800 The Carson River Coalition (CRC) is a watershed-wide stakeholder group that serves as the steering committee for the integrated watershed Carson Valley. 1844—John C. Fremont and his expedition planning process (IWPP). The idea for the CRC was created during a watershed-wide conference held in 1998 in response to the 1997 floods. 1851—Towns established in guide Kit Carson came upon the Carson River in Participants in the CRC include private individuals; local, state and federal agencies; tribal governments; and citizen-driven groups. The IWPP Genoa and Dayton. Lahontan Valley. program focuses on management of watershed resources long-term and addresses the diverse needs and concerns of all stakeholders. 1860s—Comstock Mining Boom: silver and gold 1869—Construction began on are first discovered in Nevada. the Sutro Tunnel. 1850 1864—Nevada became the Challenges in the Carson River Watershed 1873—Marlette Water System was battleborn state and Carson created to provide water for Virginia City is designated the capital. City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, and is still a major source of water to these communities. 1869—First section of V&T Railroad constructed. Photo courtesy of CWSD
Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection Water Quality Floodplain Management Water Supply 1903-1914—Construction of Lahontan 1900 Dam and Truckee Canal, known as the 1925—Alpine Decree initiated; 55 year water rights litigation ensued. Newlands Project, was the first US Bureau of Reclamation project. Courtesy of TCID
1949—Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in the Lahontan Valley. 1937—Major flooding occurred East Fork near Carson Valley flowed at 12,000 cfs and Cradlebaugh bridge was under 18 inches of water.
River Projects Outreach and Education Invasive Species
1955—Major flooding occurred East Fork near Carson Valley flowed at 16,700 cfs. 1950 Flora and Fauna Habitat Resources and Cooperators: The Carson River Photo courtesy of CWSD Wildlife habitats range from the Watershed Map Photo courtesy of Juanita Schubert upper watershed forests, 1959—Carson Water Subconservancy 1968—Tahoe Basin treated wastewater is aspen groves, and high District formed as a part of the Federal exported to Alpine and Douglas counties. mountain forests to the Washoe Project. lower watershed dry, 1980—Alpine Decree established, water salt desert shrub lands. rights litigation resolved. 1972—Federal EPA Clean Water Act becomes law. There is abundant diversity in the plants and animals 1977—Drought year of record. 42,278 acre feet of that make the Carson River 2015 reprint made possible through funding from: 1986—Friends of Hope Valley water measured at Carson City in the river system. Watershed their home, and many of these established. species are pictured on the map. Go to www.cwsd.org for a list of fish and wildlife 1983—Wettest Year on Record. 825,323 acre feet of water species that live in our watershed! Can you measured at Carson City in the river system, nearly 20 identify the upper and lower parts of the 1975 times more than in 1977. watershed on the map? 1990—Carson River Mercury Site listed Agriculture and Ranching Photo courtesy of Judy Wickwire as a Superfund Site by EPA. 1989— The Nevada Legislature Every valley in the watershed changed the function of CWSD to 1997—Most severe and extensive produces food and Educational Resources: conduct regional watershed planning. flood on record supports a variety of • View links on www.cwsd.org to obtain East Fork flowed at 20,000 cfs. livestock. Ranching additional information on watershed 1992—The Carson River was placed on the Clean Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection is one of the oldest challenges. Water Act’s 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. businesses in the watershed, dating back • Try a scavenger hunt between the front and 2000—Leviathan Mine listed to the 1840s. Can you back of this map! Where is Hope Valley, Lost 1998—Carson River as a Superfund site by EPA. identify specific areas Lakes, V&T Railroad, Lahontan Reservoir, Coalition formed in on the map where agriculture Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, etc., on response to the 1997 flood. takes place? the timeline and map? 2000—CRC developed the Vision Full rights remain the property of Wolf Products, Inc.— • Interactive map is online at www.cwsd.org/ 2000 www.wolf-products.com and 11 Guiding Principles. Recreational Opportunities watershed/ A Lifeline Connecting Photo courtesy of CWSD Our watershed has 2007—The Carson River Watershed Adaptive Stewardship • Large scale map with flashcards is available Our Communities 2003—CWSD was appointed the Clean Water Act many diverse options Plan was adopted by CWSD, becoming the first integrated Section 208 planning entity. for recreating, such at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada in watershed management plan created by the CRC. as snow skiing, Carson City ■ What is a watershed? 2008—Regional Floodplain Management Plan adopted by all 2013—Bison Fire was started by snowshoeing, fishing, five counties along the river. • Nevada Academic Content Standards that ■ Where does your water come from? lightning on western slope of the soaking in hot springs, align with the content in this map: Pine Nut Range in Douglas County, hot air ballooning, ■ When was the last major flood? http://www.cwsd.org/outreach-and-education/ burning 24,136 acres. mountain biking, boating, ■ Where is the largest reservoir in the hiking, and much more! • Watershed map lesson plans are available watershed? Can you find each of these activities on at www.cwsd.org/watershed/ 2014—Alluvial fan flash floods ■ the map? Visit www.cwsd.org/recreation/ for Where does the Carson River end? occurred in Douglas County and recreation locations throughout the Carson ■ Access the interactive map online Carson City after severe summer River Watershed! www.cwsd.org/watershed/ Photo courtesy of Steve Dunleavy thunderstorms. www.stevedunleavy.com Photo courtesy of Craig Swartz