Misplaced Pages

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72-660: The Walker River is formed in southern Lyon County , 9 miles (14 km) south of Yerington , by the confluence of the East Walker and West Walker rivers. The West Walker River originates at Tower Lake in Mono County, California , 9,623 ft (2,933 m) above sea level in the Stanislaus National Forest . It flows north through a rugged canyon which provides the route for U.S. Route 395 . It then emerges into Antelope Valley , where some water

144-445: A family was $ 56,106. Males had a median income of $ 45,319 versus $ 31,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 21,041. About 8.7% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over. Although not so historically Republican as neighboring Douglas County , Lyon is nonetheless a powerfully Republican county. The last Democrat to carry

216-479: A female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

288-596: A man and are greatly pleased with their success." James "Grizzly" Adams trapped beaver in the Carson River around 1860, "In the evening we caught a fine lot of salmon-trout ( cutthroat trout ), using grasshoppers for bait, and in the night killed half a dozen beavers, which were very tame." Adams' account is consistent with a 1906 newspaper article in the Nevada State Journal that the Mason's Valley of

360-1084: A route from the Great Salt Lake to California via the Humboldt River, the Humboldt Sink, the Carson Sink , and then up into the Sierra Nevada by either the Carson River or the Walker River to near the headwaters of the Merced River and thence down to the San Joaquin River . John C. Frémont named Walker Lake after the trapper, and the United States Geographic Board named the river after Walker in its Fifth Report. Due to

432-801: A route into the human body to have a harmful effect. Direct contact with soils and subsequent ingestion and/or eating fish and waterfowl taken from the CRMS area, which may have already ingested CoCs, provide the most likely route into the body. Small children have the highest risk due to developing bodies and their propensity for ingesting soil while at play. Signs of Mercury poisoning due to oral ingestion are most commonly found to affect kidneys, central nervous system, and development - especially in organic mercury. The EPA and other scientists studied residents of contaminated areas and found no direct evidence of increased metals in blood, hair and urine samples. They did find elevated levels in certain fish and waterfowl. Some of

504-919: A total of 132,063 acres (53,444 ha), of which about 38 percent is in California and 62 percent in Nevada. Of the irrigated areas, 23 percent are in the Bridgeport Valley (California), 15 percent are in the Antelope Valley (California), 15 percent in the Smith Valley (Nevada), 44 percent in the Mason Valley (Nevada), and 2 percent on the Walker River Indian Reservation. Average annual consumptive use between 1939 and 1993

576-620: A very heavy snowpack in the winter of 1996/1997 and a very warm spring, the West Fork of the Walker River flooded to unprecedented levels. Much of Highway 395 for the 30-mile span where it shares a canyon with the river was completely washed away. That North American beaver ( Castor canadensis ) were once native to the Walker River is evidenced by a 1906 article in the Nevada State Journal newspaper by newspaper mining writer Fitz-James MacCarthy (aka Fitz-Mac), who stated that

648-538: Is Bald Mountain . Part of the Toiyabe National Forest is located within Lyon County. As of the census of 2000, there were 34,501 people, 13,007 households, and 9,443 families living in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km ). There were 14,279 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km ). The racial makeup of

720-690: Is a northwestern Nevada river that empties into the Carson Sink , an endorheic basin . The main stem of the river is 131 miles (211 km) long although the addition of the East Fork makes the total length 205 miles (330 km), traversing five counties: Alpine County in California and Douglas , Storey , Lyon , and Churchill Counties in Nevada , as well as the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City, Nevada . The river

792-699: Is a pure Lahontan strain on 5 miles (8.0 km) of the East Fork Carson River from the headwaters to Carson Falls. There is also a native population of the only Paiute cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki seleniris ) in existence in the drainages of Silver King Creek, a tributary of the East Fork Carson River in the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest . North American beaver ( Castor canadensis ) were re-introduced to

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864-524: Is approximately 80 percent of the total Walker Lake watershed of 3,917 square miles (10,140 km). The U.S. Geological Survey divides the basin into 4 sub-basins: The Walker River headwaters originate along a large section of the Sierra Crest at elevations of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) or more. The southern boundary of the Walker River drainage basin forms the northern border of Yosemite National Park . The Sweetwater Mountains lie between

936-557: Is defined as the water, sediment, and biologic resources of the Carson River, Lahontan Reservoir, Washoe Lakes, Steamboat Creek, associated irrigation ditches, and the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge. EPA Contractor and USGS are continuing studies of OU-2 areas and will produce a (RI/FS) . The most significant health risk posed by mercury in OU-2 is the consumption of fish and waterfowl from affected lake and river systems. In

1008-849: Is diverted to the Topaz Lake reservoir, enters Nevada in Douglas County , and turns northeast. It flows through Hoye Canyon into Lyon County, then across the Smith Valley , past Smith , and finally through Wilson Canyon into the Mason Valley , where it joins the East Walker. The East Walker River also begins in Mono County, California, in the Bridgeport Valley , fed by several Sierra streams originating in

1080-439: Is land and 23 square miles (60 km ) (1.1%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Nevada by area. The highest point is approximately 10,565 feet (3,220 m) on the northeast ridge of Middle Sister , the peak of which is located in adjacent Mono County , California , while the highest independent mountain completely within Lyon County is the nearby East Sister . The most topographically prominent peak in Lyon County

1152-584: Is licensed and legalized in Lyon county. There are several open ranches , including: All are located in Mound House , which is on US Highway 50 adjacent to the line dividing Lyon and Carson City counties. Several gambling casinos are located in various parts of Lyon County, as are numerous restaurants, clubs, saloons, etc. 39°01′N 119°11′W  /  39.01°N 119.19°W  / 39.01; -119.19 Carson River The Carson River

1224-645: Is named for Kit Carson , who guided John C. Frémont 's expedition westward up the Carson Valley and across Carson Pass in winter, 1844. The river made the National Priorities List (NPL) on October 30, 1990 as the Carson River Mercury Superfund site (CRMS) due to investigations that showed trace amounts of mercury in the wildlife and watershed sediments. Archaeological findings place the eastern border for

1296-651: Is the Lyon County Brothel Ordinance. Out of 20,674 votes cast, 4,031 voted to have it rescinded, and 16,643 voted to keep the brothels open in Lyon County. Lyon County has sixteen schools provided by the Lyon County School District . There are three public airports in Lyon County: The Central Pacific (the first transcontinental railroad ) ran through the county, although a portion of

1368-594: Is the primary concern regarding the Carson River Mercury Superfund site. Several forms of mercury are prevalent in the open water source, including inorganic mercury (Hg2+) and organic methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg is produced from bacteria in river systems and can be ingested by the wildlife in the area. The methylmercury, due to its specific properties that include it being fat soluble, can lead to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury in Carson River Aquatic wildlife. The contaminants, however, need

1440-660: The Fernley, NV Micropolitan Statistical Area which is part of the Reno - Carson City -Fernley, NV Combined Statistical Area . Lyon County was one of the nine original counties created on November 25, 1861. It was named after Nathaniel Lyon , the first Union General to be killed in the Civil War . Its first county seat was established at Dayton on November 29, 1861, which had just changed its name from Nevada City in 1862, and which had been called Chinatown before that. After

1512-613: The Hoover Wilderness , including Buckeye, Robinson, Green, and Virginia creeks. After forming the Bridgeport Reservoir at the town of Bridgeport , the East Walker flows northeast into Nevada in Lyon County, receives Rough Creek, and flows north along the eastern edge of the Toiyabe National Forest before its confluence with the West Walker. Below the forks, the Walker River flows initially north through

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1584-633: The poverty line , including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over. From 2000 until 2008, Lyon County was one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. However, its growth rate collapsed during 2008. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 51,980 people, 19,808 households, and 14,137 families living in the county. The population density was 26.0 inhabitants per square mile (10.0/km ). There were 22,547 housing units at an average density of 11.3 units per square mile (4.4 units/km ). The racial makeup of

1656-687: The 1850s and 1860s, the river was used as the route of the Carson Trail , a branch of the California Trail that allowed access to the California gold fields , as well as by the Pony Express . Gold was discovered along the river in the Silver Mountain Mining District in 1860. 1868 Virginia and Truckee Railroad transported ore to the quartz reduction mines along the river. Virginia City, Nevada , along

1728-492: The 1990s, the EPA compelled several limited area cleanups to be completed by third parties and completed cleanup on a half dozen areas themselves. The cleanups occurred primarily in residential areas of Dayton. The remainder of the site has not undergone cleanup, and due to the size and scope of the area impacted, most likely never will. Since complete site cleanup is not economically viable. A long-term sampling and response plan (LTSRP)

1800-423: The Carson River and Lahontan Reservoir vary from 100-1000 ng/L, which is considered highly toxic. The surrounding wildlife has been exposed to this contamination and has been subject to negative effects. These organomercurials readily bioaccumulate and affect the predators in this ecosystem with the greatest mercury concentration. An example of this bioaccumulation has been researched in fish-eating birds along

1872-480: The Carson River and accumulating at the Lahontan Reservoir. White bass ,a piscivorous species in Lahontan Reservoir, are subject to the bioaccumulation of Hg contamination, and have showed mercury concentration significantly higher to that catfish species found in the reservoir due to difference in diet. Research has shown that the concentrations of mercury vary dependent on species, diet, and size of

1944-517: The Carson River watershed around 1940 and have thrived since. There are eyewitness accounts of beaver in the upper Carson River through 1892. The Washo people who lived in the eastern Sierra with hunting grounds extending as far west as Calaveras County , have a word for beaver, c'imhélhel . Powers reported that the northern Paiute wrapped their hair in strips of beaver fur, made medicine from parts of beaver and that their creation legend included beaver, which they called su-i'-tu-ti-kut'-teh . Given

2016-819: The Carson Sink, was designated as National Priority Listed (NPL) due to historic mining activity site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) in August 1990. This is Nevada's only NPL site and is being jointly managed by NDEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 9 (EPA), Region IX, in San Francisco. Millions of pounds of mercury were imported and used in approximately 250 Comstock mills to recover gold and silver. An estimated 14,000,000 pounds of mercury

2088-724: The Dayton Court House burned down in 1909, the seat was moved to Yerington in 1911. There were stories that it was named for Captain Robert Lyon, a survivor of the Pyramid Lake War in 1860, but Nevada State Archives staff discovered a county seal with the picture of the Civil War general, settling the conflict. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,024 square miles (5,240 km ), of which 2,001 square miles (5,180 km )

2160-638: The East Fork Carson River was designated a "Wild and Scenic River" by the State of California from Hangman's Bridge just east of Markleeville, California to the CA/NV border, prohibiting any further consideration of impoundment. The 205 miles (330 km) Carson River watershed encompasses 3,966 square miles (10,270 km ) and includes two major forks in the Sierra Nevada in its upper watershed region. The 74-mile-long (119 km) East Fork rises on

2232-813: The Mason Valley, past Yerington, into central Lyon County. It turns sharply to the southeast around the north end of the Wassuk Range , flowing through the Walker River Indian Reservation where it is dammed to create Weber Reservoir. It flows past Schurz , where most of the remaining water is diverted for irrigation. The river seasonally continues south to empty into Walker Lake, approximately 20 miles (32 km) north-northwest of Hawthorne . The Walker River naturally discharged about 461 cubic feet per second (13.1 m/s) of water into Walker Lake, although this varies greatly between wet and dry years. Large irrigation diversions have reduced

Walker River - Misplaced Pages Continue

2304-507: The Mason's Valley of the Walker River in Yerington was well known to "the early trappers and fur hunters... Kit Carson knew it to the bone...The beavers of course were all trapped long ago, and you never see an elk nowadays..." Beaver have since re-colonized the Walker River watershed. The Walker River and Walker Lake formerly supported Lahontan cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi ) or LCT; however, increases in salinity due to

2376-865: The V&;T. It traveled east through Dayton, then turned south to the Mason Valley, and east again on its way to Walker Lake. Later a branch line connected the C&;C to the Southern Pacific at Hazen . While the line west of Silver Springs was removed, the line from Hazen to Walker Lake (now standard gauge) is still in place, and used several times each week by the Union Pacific to service the NV Energy Fort Churchill Generating Station, near Yerington. The Eagle Salt Works Railroad ran for 13.5 miles, primarily on

2448-601: The Walker River and geographic features from around the associated region in Nevada: "Where the Walker runs down to the Carson Valley Plain There lived a maiden, Darcy Farrow was her name The daughter of old Dundee and a fair one was she" Lyon County, Nevada Lyon County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada . As of the 2020 census , the population was 59,235. Lyon County comprises

2520-680: The Walker River was part of the territory of the Northern Paiute people . The first European to see the Walker River was probably Hudson's Bay Company fur trapper Peter Skene Ogden , who had discovered the Humboldt River in 1828 and returned in 1829 to trap beaver south of the Humboldt Sink , although records are scant. In 1833, Joseph R. Walker led a party sent by Captain Benjamin Bonneville to find

2592-470: The West Walker and East Walker rivers, and the Pine Nut Mountains lie northwest of the West Walker. The lower Desert Mountains form the northern edge of the Walker River watershed. The Wassuk Range lies between the main Walker River watershed and Walker Lake in the east; the Walker River makes a long detour around the north end of the range in order to reach Walker Lake. The river irrigates

2664-407: The age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.6% were non-families, and 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 40.9 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 48,433 and the median income for

2736-464: The average flow into Walker Lake to about 104 cubic feet per second (2.9 m/s). As a result, the level of Walker lake has dropped by 160 feet (49 m) between 1882 and 2010, with about 20 feet (6.1 m) of that occurring between 1996 and 2010. The lake has lost more than half its original surface area and 80 percent of its water volume. The Walker River's endorheic drainage basin covers an area of 3,082 square miles (7,980 km), which

2808-402: The county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 – the county was one of three in Nevada to vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964 – and Jimmy Carter in 1976 is the last Democrat to pass forty percent of Lyon County's vote. An advisory question about Lyon County's legal brothels was put on the 2018 ballot. "Lyon County Question 1" asked whether or not voters wanted to rescind Title 3, Chapter 5, which

2880-427: The county was 85.0% white, 2.5% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.3% Pacific islander, 6.4% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.0% were German , 18.5% were English , 15.5% were Irish , 5.9% were Italian , and 5.3% were American . Of the 19,808 households, 33.2% had children under

2952-419: The county was 88.62% White , 0.65% Black or African American , 2.45% Native American , 0.61% Asian , 0.14% Pacific Islander , 4.59% from other races , and 2.94% from two or more races. 10.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 13,007 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.10% had

Walker River - Misplaced Pages Continue

3024-535: The declining water level have decimated the fishery. The last confirmed catch of LCT from Walker Lake was in 2009. A remnant population of LCT are still extant in By-Day Creek, a tributary of the East Walker River. The riparian zone of the lower Walker River and its delta at Walker Lake provide important habitat for migratory birds. The popular song Darcy Farrow , written in 1964, references

3096-411: The early 20th century. During these course changes, the Walker River ceased to flow into Walker Lake, causing it to dry up. Sediment deposits around Walker Lake have happened at least twice in the previous 13,000 years, although this may also have been due to severe drought. The first humans to inhabit the Walker River basin may have arrived as early as 11,000 years ago. Prior to the arrival of Europeans,

3168-595: The end of the upper watershed at Mexican Dam just southeast of Carson City . In the middle watershed, the river runs generally northeast from Carson City across Lyon County , past Dayton . The middle watershed ends in eastern Churchill County at the Lahontan Dam . Here, river flows are augmented by water from the Truckee River and stored in the Lake Lahontan reservoir. Downstream from the dam (in

3240-472: The highest levels in the nation. Human health, if impacted, would be impacted slowly, over years of small amounts of exposure, and could be hard to detect. The upland (dry-land) contamination source area of the CRMS. OU-1 is undergoing continued management and monitoring to assure public protection from mine wastes. The most significant health risk in OU-1 is direct contact and ingestion of contaminated soils. OU-2

3312-538: The hydrological connection of the Humboldt River and Sink to the Carson Sink during flood years (as recently as 1998), it is not surprising that beavers were historically extant on eastern Sierra watercourses. Peter Skene Ogden , on a Hudson's Bay Company expedition to the terminus of the Humboldt River, wrote in his diary on May 15, 1829, "In no part have I found beaver so abundant. The total number of American trappers in this region at this time exceeds 80. I have only 28 trappers... The trappers now average 125 beaver

3384-413: The individual fish, and that currently the fish found in the reservoir are considered safe, but not recommended, for human consumption. The Carson River is a trophy trout stream that offers ideal conditions for both fly and spinning anglers . Further up in the river system anglers can fish for various species of trout, such as the previously mentioned Lahontan Cutthroat, Rainbow, and Brown trout . Down

3456-412: The levels of mercury observed in fledglings have led to induced stress, immune deficiencies, and neurological impairment, which could lead to a decrease in survival rates for younger birds learning to survive along the Carson River. Many fish species in the Carson River also have been studied to check for mercury contamination. In one study, electrofishing was conducted at four different locations along

3528-416: The livers and eggshells of the birds nesting along the river. The upper Carson River watershed provides habitat for the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi ), as well as large non-native rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) and brown trout ( Salmo trutta ), providing excellent fly fishing. The Lahontan cutthroat is threatened by hybridization with rainbow trout, but there

3600-475: The lower watershed), much of the water is used for irrigation in the vicinity of Fallon , with limited flows continuing northeast into the Carson Sink . Clear Creek , which begins at about 8,780 feet (2,680 m) on Snow Valley Peak ( Toiyabe National Forest , Carson Range ) west of Carson City, is the only perennial tributary of the Carson River mainstem, and is protected by the Nature Conservancy. The Carson River basin, from New Empire to Stillwater and

3672-483: The lower watershed, was home to the world's greatest silver rush, the Comstock Lode in 1859. The Carson Valley provided food and forage for the silver miners and their livestock. The Comstock mining boom critically impacted the watershed and water quality by causing deforested slopes, mine tailings, and steep raw riverbanks above channels cut into the valley floor in many places. These mining operations have also led to high levels of existing mercury concentrations within

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3744-419: The mercury binds to the gold or silver, it is separated from the barren soil to a retorting vessel where the mercury is vaporized and condensed off of the amalgam . During the Comstock Lode a new, Washoe "hot-pan" amalgamation, the process was created specifically to treat Nevada ore in 1861. Washoe "hot pan" mining used a cast iron pan with the soil mixture, mercury, sulfuric acid, and other materials to remove

3816-415: The mercury loss happened throughout the amalgam process. The recovery amount of the vaporized mercury completely depends on the technology used, and the efficiency of mercury binding depends on the ability of the precious metal. Both of the actions were not completely refined themselves and attributed to as much as 0.7–1 kg of mercury waste/ per tonne of ore processed in Nevada mines. Hydraulic mining

3888-748: The mercury. It is estimated that this practice in California attributed to mercury losses up to 10-30%.   In the lower reaches of the Carson River watershed, the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge hosts large breeding colonies of white-faced ibis ( Plegadis chihi ) and is frequented by non-breeding American white pelicans ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ). In winter, the refuge supports wintering tundra swans ( Cygnus columbianus ) as well as hosts of ducks and geese. The Carson River watershed also provides habitat for many smaller species of birds such as tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor ) and house wrens ( Troglodytes aedon). Recent research on these two bird species has shown significant mercury concentrations in

3960-440: The nearby Walker River in Yerington, Nevada was well known to "the early trappers and fur hunters...Kit Carson knew it to the bone...The beavers of course were all trapped long ago, and you never see an elk nowadays..." During the Comstock Lode mining operations (1860–1890), extensive amount of Mercury (Hg) was released into the Carson River, Lahontan Reservoir , and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge . The mercury levels in

4032-496: The north slopes of Sonora Peak (itself just north of Sonora Pass at about 10,400 feet (3.2 km) in southern Alpine County , southeast of Markleeville in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness . The 40-mile-long (64 km) West Fork rises in the Sierras near Carson Pass and Lost Lakes at 9,000 feet (2,700 m) elevation and flows northeast into Nevada, joining the East Fork about 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of Genoa. The Carson River then flows north 18 miles (29 km) to

4104-499: The original Central Pacific grade from Luva (two miles east of Fernley) to Eagle Salt Works Railroad . The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad ran on the west side of the Mason Valley . Amtrak 's California Zephyr passenger train passes through, but does not stop in Lyon County. The nearest Amtrak passenger stations are located in Reno and Winnemucca . The California Zephyr runs from the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago via Salt Lake City , Denver and Omaha . Prostitution

4176-451: The original route has been shifted for a new route south of Wadsworth in favor of Fernley. The Central Pacific later became the Southern Pacific Railroad which was merged into Union Pacific in 1996. The Virginia and Truckee Railroad runs through Mound House in western Lyon County, on its way from Carson City to Virginia City . The narrow-gauge Carson and Colorado Railroad had its terminus in Mound House, where it intersected with

4248-455: The precious metals. Losses of mercury that attributed to the contamination of the Carson River and eventually to the CRMS occurred during these processes. Mercury loss in the mining operations ranged from transportation failures, crude equipment, and poor handling. The mercury was transferred using leather bags, pails, and barrels that leaked and spilled. Equipment was not up to standards and not practical for containing tailings. However, most of

4320-459: The prehistoric Martis people in the Reno /Carson River area, these are thought to be the first humans to enter the area about 12,000 years ago. By the early 1800s, the Northern Paiute lived near the lower Carson River and the present Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge , while the Washoe people inhabited the upper watershed region. The Carson River watershed was a shared territory between these two tribes. The Northern Paiute of western Nevada

4392-408: The river for fish, waterfowl, plant materials, and especially water in the arid Nevada desert climate. Displacement of these tribes and changes of lifestyle did not take place until the development of European settlements. The first European settlements in Nevada were the 1851 settlements at Mormon Station (now Genoa ) and at the mouth of Gold Canyon ( Dayton ), both in the Carson River Watershed. In

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4464-414: The river system the ecosystem changes to a warm water environment, and the fish species change accordingly. Backcountry hiking is found along the upper river in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness . Kayakers and river rafters enjoy the lower river's gentle class II rapids, as well as its outstanding scenery and river-side hot springs. The East Carson has extensive Native American cultural values associated with

4536-451: The river through sediment deposition resulting from mine tailings during the Comstock Lode . These tailings were attributed to the mining process that settlers used in the 1850s to recover silver and gold. This process is known as mercury amalgamation. Mercury amalgamation has been mining precious metals since the Middle Ages . Mercury amalgamation is accomplished by pulverizing the ore and covering it with mercury using drums or tables. Once

4608-399: The river to capture and sample fish for traces of Hg toxicity. Carp , golden shiners , species of sucker-fish, and crayfish all showed Hg toxicity in samples taken from the four testing sites. This study also showed that many samples taken from the fourth, and furthest down the river system, produced higher levels of Hg contamination, suggesting that the mercury has been getting washed down

4680-410: The river. The species involved in the study were adult double-crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus ), snowy egrets ( Egretta thula ) and black-crowned night-herons ( Nycticorax nycticorax ), which all recorded high levels of Hg toxicity in their kidneys and livers. Concentrations of Hg were also observed in eggs and fledglings, but were found not to affect the hatchability of the eggs. Rather,

4752-421: The watershed. In the early 20th century, the Newlands Reclamation Act was passed to bring irrigation water into the region for agriculture. The Lahontan Dam, completed in 1914, was constructed as part of the Newlands Irrigation Project. The Truckee-Carson Irrigation District was formed in 1918 as part of the project to divert water from the Truckee River to the Carson Valley for agricultural use. In 1989,

4824-412: Was 258,000 acre-feet (318,000,000 m), leaving only 76,000 acre-feet (94,000,000 m) to flow to Walker Lake, mostly in wet years such as 1997–98. Sedimentary evidence suggests that the Walker River has changed course in the past, flowing northwest through the Adrian Valley from a point near present-day Wabuska into the Carson River . There were some anecdotal observations of this phenomenon during

4896-417: Was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 40,699, and the median income for a family was $ 44,887. Males had a median income of $ 34,034 versus $ 25,914 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,543. About 7.20% of families and 10.40% of the population were below

4968-409: Was also used in the Carson River region. Hydraulic mining uses mercury to bond to the gold and silver in the mining slurry. The gold/silver amalgam drops to the bottom of the sluice while gravel and other tailings pass over. As time passes, the mercury is ground into a fine layer that coats the bottom of the sluice and can contaminate the surrounding area through leaks and the effluent of water containing

5040-424: Was developed to manage site contamination in the future. The LTSRP provides guidance for land development activities (both commercial and residential) to help assure site CoCs do not impact human health and the environment. Typically, soil sampling is required to verify developed area soils do not contain CoCs at levels which may cause harm to human health. The Mercury in the Carson river is primarily introduced into

5112-408: Was grouped into several bands relating to the area that they inhabited. The group that established itself along the Carson River were known in the Shoshone language as "Toituked". The Washoe peoples that had residence in the Carson Valley were also divided into a separate group and called "Pau wa lu". Ancient people and indigenous tribes used the Carson River as a resource for livelihood, depending on

5184-450: Was lost to the environment during that process. Arsenic and lead , which were common constituents of the mined ore, were concentrated by the milling process and were also released into the environment. Therefore, the contaminants of concern (CoCs) at the site are mercury, arsenic, and lead. Mercury , arsenic, and lead are known or suspected carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) and/or detrimental to human health in some other way. Mercury

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