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Water and Related Land Resources, Humboldt River Basin, Nevada

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Water and Related Land Resources, Humboldt River Basin, Nevada Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Reserve ^ aTC424 •N3W38 .TER and RELATED LAND RESOURCES 1962 ' V . 6 UMBOLDT RIVER BASIN NEVADA *** ' ' * • *“««“**" 'V“'^'Cr=- -:r- * m ^ HI 1''*^ . ... REPORT NUMBER SIX MAGGIE CREEK SUB - BASIN OCTOBER, 1963 Based on a Cooperative Survey 1 THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES and THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE / Prepared by Economic Research Service • Forest Service - Soil Conservation Service United States L E G E I Department of Agriculture ^-«-ELKO CO. Maggie Creek — Sub-l Sub -Basin EUREKA CO. — Watei Court A )N MAP National Agricultural Library mounta TUSCARORA MAGGIE CREEK SUB -BASIN HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN SURVEY ELKO a EUREKA COUNTIES, NEVADA AUGUST 1963 north Carlin, Nevada, looking COVER Photograph - Haying operations on Maggie Creek of southeast toward the Humboldt Valley. S.c.s. PH 0 TO - - 6 - 7 8 2 - 7 REGISTER REPORT NUMBER SIX MAGGIE CREEK SUB-BASIN OCTOBER 1963 Will you please defach and fill out this form; mail it to us, so that we may send you any additions, changes, or corrections. Humboldt River Basin Field Party P.O. Box 982 Elko, Nevada 89801 Name Address UJ5. OEPWTTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natiohal agricultural library DEC 22 199? CATALOGING PR£P. WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCES REPORT NUMBER SIX HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN NEVADA MAGGIE CREEK SUB-BASIN Based on a Cooperative Survey by The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service - Soil Conservation Service Economic Research Service October 1963 f II FOREWORD This Is a report for the people of Nevada, and particularly for the people of the Humboldt River Basin, concerning water and related land resources in the Maggie Creek Sub-Basin. It is the sixth of a series of reports which will result from a cooperative survey of the Humboldt River Basin by the Nevada State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. It was prepared by the Soil Conserva- tion Service and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. The State of Nevada seeks constantly to assist local people and their organizations in the conservation, development and management of water resources. It has particular regard for the relationship of water to land and to human resources. This is exemplified by the creation of the Nevada State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. A primary responsibility of that Department is to cooperate with Federal agencies and local groups and to coordinate State-Federal activities that help solve water and related land problems for the people of Nevada. The responsibilities of the Nevada State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the cooperative research work already under way in the Humboldt River, set the stage for Federal-State cooperation in developing information on opportunities for improving the use of the land and water resources of the Basin. Accordingly, cooperation was initiated with the U. S. Department of Agriculture under a Plan of Work dated June 3, 1960 with agencies of the Department and of the State of Nevada participating in the survey. It is important here to point out that responsibility for matters concerning State water rights and determination of water supply as it might affect State water rights was assumed by the State of Nevada. This cooperative survey of the Humboldt River Basin is for the primary purpose of determining where improvements in the use of water and related land resources, some of which have social and economic aspects, might be made with the assistance of projects and programs of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. A major part of the survey is foc- used on situations where improvement might be brought about by means of Federal- State- local cooperative projects developed under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 566, 83d Congress as amended). This survey is in keeping with long established tradition in the Department of Agriculture of cooperation with States and local entities in the conduct of its work. Further, such cooperation is a most important respon- sibility of the Nevada State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The U. S. Department of Agriculture- State of Nevada Plan of Work in the Hum- boldt River Basin offers opportunities for participating in the survey by other Nevada State agencies and Federal agencies. The Bureau of Land Management, as an example, has cooperated with respect to the national land reserve. Thus, the survey is not limited but is rather as broad in scope and agency participation as is required to meet the agreed upon objectives. The entire Humboldt River Basin is being studied by segments identified as sub- basins. This report contains much information for study and use in understanding and solving some of the existing water and land resource problems in the Maggie Creek Sub- Basin. The report presents opportunities for Federal-State-local project-type develop- ments under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, together with other oppor- tunities for development and adjustment. 1 wish to recognize the excellent work of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in this cooperative effort. I consider that this report will serve the best interest of the people in the Humboldt River Basin and the State of Nevada. Governor of Nevada 1 HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN SURVEY MAGGIE CREEK SUB-BASIN REPORT CONTENTS Page Foreword, Governor of Nevada Summary i Authority and Organization 1 Historical Information 1 Settlement 1 Floods 3 Fires — 4 Previous Studies 4 Bureau of Reclamation — 4 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 4 Other Studies 4 General Sub-Basin Characteristics 4 Geology 5 Ground Water 5 Soils . 5 Precipitation — 5 Growing Season 6 General Cover Types — 6 Water Yield 7 Land and Water Use 10 Land Status 10 Land Use 10 Water Rights 1 Water Use 1 Surface Water 1 Ground Water 12 Irrigation Methods 12 The Agricultural Industry 12 Markets 13 Transpor'.ation 13 Water-Related Problems in the Sub-Basin 13 Agricultural Water Management 13 Seasonal Distribution of Water 13 Soils 14 Control of Water 14 Irrigation Efficiency 15 Seepage Loss 15 Drainage 15 Flood Damage 15 I Page Wet-Mantle Floods 15 Dry-Mantle Floods 17 Vegetal Conditions 18 Range and Watershed 18 Phreatophytes 19 Timber Management 19 Fire Protection — 19 Recreation and Wildlife — 24 Recreation Developments— 24 National Land Reserve 24 Wild Life 24 Deer and Other Big Game blunting 24 Fishing 24 Small Game 26 Programs Other Than Project- Type Developments Available for the Improvement of Water and Related Land Resources 27 Technical Assistance and Cost- Sharing under Public Law 46 27 Agricultural Water Management 27 Vegetal Improvement 29 Watershed Protection and Erosion Control 29 Possibilities for Water Salvage 30 Bureau of Land Management Programs 30 National Land Reserve 30 Fire Protection 31 Watersheds with Opportunities for Project-Type Development 32 Susie Creek Watershed 32 Maggie Creek Watershed 33 References 36 Appendix I 42 Maps Land Status Soils, Range Sites, and Forage Production Land Use and Phreatophytes TABLES Number Page 1. Acreage of present annual forage plant production classes, grouped by soil associations for each vegetal type and site, Maggie Creek Sub-Basin 20 2. Phreatophyte acreage and annual ground water use, Maggie Creek Sub-Basin— 22 3. Potential developments, recreation inventory report, 1959, national land reserve, Maggie Creek Sub-Basin 25 II Number Page 4. Phreafophyte acreage and annual ground water use, Susie Creek watershed 49 5. Acreage classes of present and potential annual forage plant production classes, grouped by soil associations for each vegetal type and site, Susie Creek watershed , 50 6. Phreatophyte acreage and annual ground water use, Maggie Creek watershed 60 7. Acreage classes of present and potential annual forage plant production 10. classes, grouped by soil associations for each vegetal type and site, Maggie Creek watershed 62 8. Soil characteristics, Maggie Creek Sub-Basin 71 9. Interpreted soil characteristics, Maggie Creek Sub-Basin 73 Summary of Water Balance Studies by elevation zones for watersheds in Maggie Creek Sub-Basin for an 80% frequency 80 FIGURES 1 . Flow diagram of water yields and depletions in acre-feet for watersheds in the Maggie Creek Sub-Basin (80% frequency) 9 2. Annual streamflow distribution, Maggie Creek 10 PHOTOGRAPH S Number Page Haying operations on Maggie Creek north of Carlin, Nevada, looking southeast toward Humboldt Valley Cover 1. The only well developed for irrigation use at the present time in the sub-basin. (Upper Horseshoe Ranch, on lower Maggie Creek.) 8 2. One type of obstruction commonly used to divert streamflow into irri- gation ditches or over hay lands. (T. S. Ranch, Maggie Creek. ) 14 3. Flood debris and remnants of the ice jam at Susie Creek bridge, U.S. Highway 40. Looking west toward Carlin, Nevada, February 12, 1963. 17 4. Deep channel incision along Swales Creek, one of the Susie Creek tributaries. As a result of Meadow disiccation by this gully, worth- less rubber rabbitbrush has replaced the former Great Basin wildrye along the stream bottom. ; 23 5. Rubber rabbitbrush phreatophyte type, upper Maggie Creek bottom, looking north. 23 6. Rubber rabbitbrush overstory controlled and Great Basin wildrye restored through proper stocking and improved livestock management. (Upper Horseshoe Ranch, Maggie Creek.) 30 7. Deeply incised channel, upper Susie Creek, which has desiccated the former meadow, now replaced by rubber rabbitbrush and sagebrush. 47 Mi Number8. Page An i! lustration of the effects of fencing and proper livestock manage- ment on vegetal cover, Susie Creek bottom above the upper narrows, looking south. The willow stringers and thickened perennial vegetal 9. cover in the fenced area beyond the road and bridge have materially reduced channel cutting.
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