A Historical Overview of Walker Lake, Nevada

Evolution of Nevada's Desert Lake

During the Prepaleozoic Era, before 586 million years, Walker Lake was covered by a great ocean. However, due to plate tectonics, the ocean floor uplifted, the land became fused, and an inland sea was created that had no outlet. Moving forward in time, during the Pleistocene epoch (Ice Age), this area was covered by the ancient Lake Lahontan which reached over 8,665sqmi (22,000km) of Northwestern Nevada and part of California. With an estimated depth of 900 feet (270m), Lake Lahontan was one of the largest lakes in North America. The climate during this era was much colder and received more precipitation. Around the end of the Pleistocene, the climate began to change which caused the massive ice sheet covering so much of the land to recede northward. This led to the gradual desiccation of Lake Lahontan, leaving a number of smaller lakes behind, including Walker Lake. During the Ice Age, Lake Lahontan was fed by flows from many different rivers, including the Truckee, Carson, Humboldt, Susan, Quinn and Walker.

The Walker River continued to feed Walker Lake, creating a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals that thrived in the lake and on its shores. At least 11,000 years ago, Native Americans, the Agai Ticcatta’s, a hunter gather society lived around the Walker Lake Area, or Agai Pah (Trout Lake) as it was originally named. Life was plentiful and abundant for the Agai Ticcatta’s, with the lake supplying all their essential needs. Their food source was more varied than that of modern day people and included seeds, berries, rice grass, native plants, pine nuts, ducks, fish and a variety of animals. The tall grass or Tule that grew along the moist shore was used for many different purposes, including the building of homes that provided warmth and shelter during the cold winters.

Life was plentiful and abundant for Trout Lake and the Agai Ticcatta’s until the fur trappers, gold rush and white settlers discovered what was to become known as Walker Lake. The new name, Walker Lake was so named by Fremont after the trapper Joseph Walker.

In the late 1800's, water from the Walker River was needed for agricultural purposes and since that time, the level of the lake has dropped over 150 feet (45.72m). Unfortunately, as the lake level drops, the salt levels increase. Presently, the total dissolved salts have reached a critical level, and the lake's ability to support wildlife is being compromised.

The future for Walker Lake is uncertain. Much research has been conducted by the Desert Research Institute and University of Nevada, Reno. The water from the Walker River is presently 130% over allocated for agricultural use. One thing is for certain, if an adequate supply of fresh water does not begin to flow in to Walker Lake, it will continue to recede. How far will it recede and what ecosystems will it be able to support, only time and nature will tell.

For additional Information on Walker Lake:

Walker Lake Interpretive Association:

The Walker Basin, Nevada and California: Physical Environment:

007 Truckee River Symposium:

---

What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

---