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Walker Lake (Nevada)
Encyclopedia
Walker Lake is a natural lake
, 50.3 mi² (130 km²) in area, in the Great Basin
in western Nevada
in the United States
. It is 18 mi (29 km) long and 7 mi (11 km) wide, located in northwestern Mineral County
along the eastern side of the Wassuk Range
, approximately 75 mi (120 km) southeast of Reno
. The lake is fed from the north by the Walker River
and has no natural outlet except absorption and evaporation.
The lakebed is a remnant of prehistoric Lake Lahontan
that covered much of northwestern Nevada during the ice age
. Although the ancient history of Walker Lake has been extensively studied by researchers seeking to establish a climatic timeline for the region as part of the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository study, this research has raised many puzzling questions. Unlike Pyramid Lake, the lake itself has dried up several times since the end of the Pleistocene
, probably due to natural diversions of the Walker River
into the Carson Sink
. Also, this research found no evidence that the Walker Lake basin contained water during the Lake Lahontan highstand, although based on the surface elevation of the highstand evidenced elsewhere in the region it must have.
Walker Lake is the namesake of the geological trough in which it sits, and which extends from Oregon to Death Valley
and beyond, the Walker Lane
.
In the 19th century the area around the lake was inhabited by the Paiute
. Extensive use of the water of the Walker River and its tributaries for irrigation
since the late 19th century has resulted in a severe drop in the level of the lake. According the USGS, the level dropped approximately 140 ft (40 m) between 1882 and 1994.
The lower level of the lake has resulted in a higher concentration of stream pollutants. the salt concentration is above the lethal limit for most of the native fish species throughout much of the lake, and the survival of the Lahontan cutthroat trout
in the lake will be threatened if inflow is not drastically increased. Also affected are the lake's Tui chub
. In 2009, the town of Hawthorne
canceled its Loon Festival because the lake, once a major stopover point for migratory loon
s, could no longer provide enough chub and other small fish to attract many loons.
The Walker Lake State Recreation Area
is located along the western shore of the lake. The Hawthorne Army Depot
, which claims to be the world's largest ammunition depot, fills the valley to the south of the lake. U.S. Route 95
passes along the western shore of Walker Lake.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
, 50.3 mi² (130 km²) in area, in the Great Basin
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds in North America and is noted for its arid conditions and Basin and Range topography that varies from the North American low point at Badwater Basin to the highest point of the contiguous United States, less than away at the...
in western Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is 18 mi (29 km) long and 7 mi (11 km) wide, located in northwestern Mineral County
Mineral County, Nevada
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,071. In 2009, it was estimated to have dropped to 4,662. Its county seat is Hawthorne.-History:...
along the eastern side of the Wassuk Range
Wassuk Range
The Wassuk Range is located in west-central Nevada in the United States. It is found to the west of Walker Lake in Mineral County.The mountains reach an elevation of 11,239 feet at Mount Grant, approximately eight miles northwest of Hawthorne...
, approximately 75 mi (120 km) southeast of Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. The lake is fed from the north by the Walker River
Walker River (Nevada)
The Walker River is a river in west central Nevada in the United States, approximately long. It drains an arid portion of the Great Basin southeast of Reno, with a watershed that extends into the Sierra Nevada mountains. It flows within an enclosed basin, providing the principal inflow of Walker...
and has no natural outlet except absorption and evaporation.
The lakebed is a remnant of prehistoric Lake Lahontan
Lake Lahontan
Lake Lahontan was a large endorheic Pleistocene lake of modern northwestern Nevada that extended into northeastern California and southern Oregon...
that covered much of northwestern Nevada during the ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. Although the ancient history of Walker Lake has been extensively studied by researchers seeking to establish a climatic timeline for the region as part of the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository study, this research has raised many puzzling questions. Unlike Pyramid Lake, the lake itself has dried up several times since the end of the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
, probably due to natural diversions of the Walker River
Walker River (Nevada)
The Walker River is a river in west central Nevada in the United States, approximately long. It drains an arid portion of the Great Basin southeast of Reno, with a watershed that extends into the Sierra Nevada mountains. It flows within an enclosed basin, providing the principal inflow of Walker...
into the Carson Sink
Carson Sink
Carson Sink is a playa in the northeastern portion of the Carson Desert that was formerly the terminus of the Carson River. The sink is currently fed by drainage canals of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District...
. Also, this research found no evidence that the Walker Lake basin contained water during the Lake Lahontan highstand, although based on the surface elevation of the highstand evidenced elsewhere in the region it must have.
Walker Lake is the namesake of the geological trough in which it sits, and which extends from Oregon to Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
and beyond, the Walker Lane
Walker Lane
The Walker Lane is a geologic trough roughly aligned with the California/Nevada border southward to where Death Valley intersects the Garlock Fault, a major left-lateral strike-slip fault...
.
In the 19th century the area around the lake was inhabited by the Paiute
Paiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
. Extensive use of the water of the Walker River and its tributaries for irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
since the late 19th century has resulted in a severe drop in the level of the lake. According the USGS, the level dropped approximately 140 ft (40 m) between 1882 and 1994.
The lower level of the lake has resulted in a higher concentration of stream pollutants. the salt concentration is above the lethal limit for most of the native fish species throughout much of the lake, and the survival of the Lahontan cutthroat trout
Lahontan cutthroat trout
Lahontan cutthroat trout is the largest subspecies of cutthroat trout, and the state fish of Nevada.-Natural history:...
in the lake will be threatened if inflow is not drastically increased. Also affected are the lake's Tui chub
Tui chub
The Tui chub, Gila bicolor, is a cyprinid fish native to western North America. Widespread in many areas, it is an important food source for other fish, including the cutthroat trout.- Range :...
. In 2009, the town of Hawthorne
Hawthorne, Nevada
Hawthorne is a census-designated place in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. The population was 3,311 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mineral County...
canceled its Loon Festival because the lake, once a major stopover point for migratory loon
Loon
The loons or divers are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia...
s, could no longer provide enough chub and other small fish to attract many loons.
The Walker Lake State Recreation Area
Walker Lake State Recreation Area
Walker Lake State Recreation Area is a state park unit of Nevada, USA, on the west shore of Walker Lake. The park is within the Great Basin, and the Central Nevada Region of the Nevada State Parks system. Walker Lake State Recreation Area is located north of the town of Hawthorne, on U.S. Route 95...
is located along the western shore of the lake. The Hawthorne Army Depot
Hawthorne Army Depot
Hawthorne Army Depot is a U.S. Army ammunition storage site located near the town of Hawthorne in western Nevada in the United States. It is directly south of Walker Lake. The depot covers and has storage space in 2,427 bunkers...
, which claims to be the world's largest ammunition depot, fills the valley to the south of the lake. U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95
U.S. Route 95 is a north–south U.S. highway in the western United States. Unlike many other US highways, it has not seen deletion or replacement on most of its length by an encroaching Interstate highway corridor, due to its mostly rural course...
passes along the western shore of Walker Lake.
See also
- Honey LakeHoney LakeHoney Lake is an endorheic sink within the Honey Lake Valley located in northeastern California, near the Nevada border. Summer evaporation reduces the lake to a lower level of 12 km² and creates an alkali flat....
- Pyramid Lake
- Winnemucca LakeWinnemucca LakeWinnemucca Lake, just east of Pyramid Lake in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Nevada is on the dividing line between Washoe County and Pershing County counties.- Geography :...
- Mono LakeMono LakeMono Lake is a large, shallow saline lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean...