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.
Hydrologic and climatic data bases used to assess potential effects of climate change on water resources of American River, Carson River, and Truckee River basins, California-Nevada, and of Gunnison River basin, Colorado
Review of selected water-management models and results of simulations for the Truckee-Carson Rivers system, California and Nevada
Ground-water-quality assessment of the Carson River basin, Nevada and California: Analysis of available water-quality data through 1987
Water-quality assessment of the Carson River ground-water basin, Nevada and California; project description
River-quality assessment of the Truckee and Carson River system, California and Nevada: Hydrologic characteristics
Water-quality characteristics and nutrient and suspended-sediment loads, Carson River and Truckee Canal, western Nevada, water year 1980
Sediment transport model for the East Fork of the Carson River, Carson Valley, Nevada
Planning and design of studies for river-quality assessment in the Truckee and Carson River basins, California and Nevada
Water-resources appraisal of the Carson River basin, western Nevada
Long-term flow of the Carson River in California and Nevada
Water-power resources in upper Carson River basin, California - Nevada
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.
Hydrologic and climatic data bases used to assess potential effects of climate change on water resources of American River, Carson River, and Truckee River basins, California-Nevada, and of Gunnison River basin, Colorado
Review of selected water-management models and results of simulations for the Truckee-Carson Rivers system, California and Nevada
Ground-water-quality assessment of the Carson River basin, Nevada and California: Analysis of available water-quality data through 1987
Water-quality assessment of the Carson River ground-water basin, Nevada and California; project description
River-quality assessment of the Truckee and Carson River system, California and Nevada: Hydrologic characteristics
Water-quality characteristics and nutrient and suspended-sediment loads, Carson River and Truckee Canal, western Nevada, water year 1980
Sediment transport model for the East Fork of the Carson River, Carson Valley, Nevada
Planning and design of studies for river-quality assessment in the Truckee and Carson River basins, California and Nevada
Water-resources appraisal of the Carson River basin, western Nevada
Long-term flow of the Carson River in California and Nevada
Water-power resources in upper Carson River basin, California - Nevada
These are the partners that we are working with currently in the Carson River Basin.