Carson River Basin
March 1907
Rain-on-Snow Event
No recorded precipitation is available. Information is anecdotal. Flooding resulted from a series of storms that started out as snow but then turned to rain. Heavy snows fell on March 16, 1907, and extended down to the valley floors, covering much of the Carson River Basin (Rigby and others, 1998). Precipitation turned to rain which continued until March 20. The storm warmed and then turned to rain which continued until March 20. Rain fell across the entire watershed, even the highest mountain crests. Extensive damage occurred. In Carson Valley, all bridges over the East Fork, West Fork and main-stem Carson River were destroyed or severely damaged. Agricultural land was severely impacted along with irrigation structures. Residents living near the river or in low areas were forced to move to higher ground. Schools in Carson Valley that were impacted by flood waters were forced to temporarily close. The Virginia and Truckee (V&T) railroad in Carson Valley was severely damaged and closed for 6 weeks, which had a large affect on the economy of Carson Valley. Flooding in east side of Carson City destroyed several bridges and dams which were used by mills for mining and ore-processing.
Selected Streamflow Peaks
| Site ID | Gaging Station | Peak (cubic feet per second) |
|---|---|---|
| 10311500 | Carson River near Empire, Nev. | 4,000 |
