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
The Carson River is an important water resource for residents, agriculture, and wildlife. 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 water uses. At Lahontan Reservoir, water imported from the Truckee River Basin is used as needed to supplement natural inflows from the Carson River. Streamflow downgradient of the Lahontan is also used for irrigation and supports habitat critical to migratory birds in the wetlands of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. 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.
The Carson River Basin (State of Nevada hydrographic region 8) is about 3,900 square miles and extends about 150 miles from eastern California to Pershing County, Nevada. The Carson River Basin includes the following hydrographic areas: Carson Desert, Churchill Valley, Dayton Valley, Eagle Valley, and Carson Valley. Major cities and towns with the Carson River Basin include Carson City (Nevada's capital), Dayton, Fallon, Gardnerville, and Minden.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains surface and groundwater monitoring locations throughout the Carson River Basin.
AVAILABLE DATA
- Real-Time Streamflow
- Daily Value Streamflow
- Peak Streamflow
- Water Quality for all site types (zip file)
WATER DATA TOOLS
Carson River Basin Hydro Mapper
WATER PLANNING TOOLS
- Assessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
By: Richard M. Yager, Douglas K. Maurer, and C.J. Mayers - The distribution and modeling of nitrate transport in the Carson Valley alluvial aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada
By: Ramon C. Naranjo, Toby L. Welborn, and Michael R. Rosen
WATER PLANNING PRESENTATIONS
Presentations related to East Fork and West Fork Carson River Headwater Flow models and Carson Valley Groundwater/Surface Water model are available here.
STUDIES IN THE CARSON RIVER BASIN
Modeling Tools
Water Quality Science
Chemical Quality of Water Deliveries to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
Nevada Water Science Center projects in the Carson River Basin are linked below.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center data releases and tools listed below. Links to other available tools and data can be found on the Overview tab.
Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Carson River Basin are listed below.
Mercury and suspended sediment, Carson River Basin, Nevada; loads to and from Lahontan Reservoir in flood year 1997 and deposition in reservoir prior to 1983
Water quality in the Las Vegas Valley area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California, 1992-96
Summary of Level 1 and Level 2 analyses of bridge scour at selected sites in the Carson River Basin, Nevada, 1995-96
Simulation of selected river diversion operations in the upper Carson River Basin, California and Nevada
Flood of January 1997 in the Carson River Basin, California and Nevada
Ground-water quality assessment of the Carson River basin, Nevada and California — Results of investigations, 1987–91
Pesticides in surface water, bottom sediment, crayfish, and shallow ground water in Las Vegas Valley area, Carson River Basin, and Truckee River Basin, Nevada and California, 1992-95
Progress report on daily flow-routing simulation for the Carson River, California and Nevada
Watershed characterization for precipitation-runoff modeling system, north fork, American River and east fork, Carson River watersheds, California
Interactive computer program to simulate and analyze streamflow, Truckee and Carson River Basins, Nevada and California
Hydrologic features of the Truckee and Carson River Basins and adjacent areas, western Nevada and eastern California
Data on ground-water quality in the Carson River basin, western Nevada and eastern California, 1987-90
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Carson River Basin.
The Carson River is an important water resource for residents, agriculture, and wildlife. 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 water uses. At Lahontan Reservoir, water imported from the Truckee River Basin is used as needed to supplement natural inflows from the Carson River. Streamflow downgradient of the Lahontan is also used for irrigation and supports habitat critical to migratory birds in the wetlands of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. 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.
The Carson River Basin (State of Nevada hydrographic region 8) is about 3,900 square miles and extends about 150 miles from eastern California to Pershing County, Nevada. The Carson River Basin includes the following hydrographic areas: Carson Desert, Churchill Valley, Dayton Valley, Eagle Valley, and Carson Valley. Major cities and towns with the Carson River Basin include Carson City (Nevada's capital), Dayton, Fallon, Gardnerville, and Minden.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center maintains surface and groundwater monitoring locations throughout the Carson River Basin.
AVAILABLE DATA
- Real-Time Streamflow
- Daily Value Streamflow
- Peak Streamflow
- Water Quality for all site types (zip file)
WATER DATA TOOLS
Carson River Basin Hydro Mapper
WATER PLANNING TOOLS
- Assessing potential effects of changes in water use with a numerical groundwater-flow model of Carson Valley, Douglas County, Nevada, and Alpine County, California
By: Richard M. Yager, Douglas K. Maurer, and C.J. Mayers - The distribution and modeling of nitrate transport in the Carson Valley alluvial aquifer, Douglas County, Nevada
By: Ramon C. Naranjo, Toby L. Welborn, and Michael R. Rosen
WATER PLANNING PRESENTATIONS
Presentations related to East Fork and West Fork Carson River Headwater Flow models and Carson Valley Groundwater/Surface Water model are available here.
STUDIES IN THE CARSON RIVER BASIN
Modeling Tools
Water Quality Science
Chemical Quality of Water Deliveries to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
Nevada Water Science Center projects in the Carson River Basin are linked below.
USGS Nevada Water Science Center data releases and tools listed below. Links to other available tools and data can be found on the Overview tab.
Nevada Water Science Center publications for the Carson River Basin are listed below.
Mercury and suspended sediment, Carson River Basin, Nevada; loads to and from Lahontan Reservoir in flood year 1997 and deposition in reservoir prior to 1983
Water quality in the Las Vegas Valley area and the Carson and Truckee River basins, Nevada and California, 1992-96
Summary of Level 1 and Level 2 analyses of bridge scour at selected sites in the Carson River Basin, Nevada, 1995-96
Simulation of selected river diversion operations in the upper Carson River Basin, California and Nevada
Flood of January 1997 in the Carson River Basin, California and Nevada
Ground-water quality assessment of the Carson River basin, Nevada and California — Results of investigations, 1987–91
Pesticides in surface water, bottom sediment, crayfish, and shallow ground water in Las Vegas Valley area, Carson River Basin, and Truckee River Basin, Nevada and California, 1992-95
Progress report on daily flow-routing simulation for the Carson River, California and Nevada
Watershed characterization for precipitation-runoff modeling system, north fork, American River and east fork, Carson River watersheds, California
Interactive computer program to simulate and analyze streamflow, Truckee and Carson River Basins, Nevada and California
Hydrologic features of the Truckee and Carson River Basins and adjacent areas, western Nevada and eastern California
Data on ground-water quality in the Carson River basin, western Nevada and eastern California, 1987-90
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Carson River Basin.