Storytelling Side Accordion - A story map presented by Esri

1	Walker River Basin

The Walker River Basin covers about 4,000 square miles in west-central Nevada and eastern California, flowing from its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada to the terminus at Walker Lake.

Walker River Basin boundary is from the Watershed Boundary Dataset at http://nhd.usgs.gov/wbd.html.

2	The Headwaters of the East and West Walker Rivers

The East Walker River, along with Robinson Creek and Buckeye Creek, begin their flow in the Sierra Nevada and flow into Bridgeport Reservoir, north of Bridgeport, Calif. From Bridgeport Reservoir, the East Walker River flows northeast through Devil's Gate as it enters Nevada from California.

The West Walker River begins its flow in the Sierra Nevada, northwest of Center Mountain. The West Walker River flows northward through Leavitt Meadows then turns east and flows through Pickle Meadows. The River then intersects U.S. Highway 395 converging with the Little Walker River. The West Walker River flows northward along the west side of the Sweetwater Mountains through Walker Canyon and enters Antelope Valley at Walker, Calif., just past the confluence with Rock Creek.

Walker River Basin boundary is from the Watershed Boundary Dataset at http://nhd.usgs.gov/wbd.html.

3	The Mainstem of the East and West Walker Rivers

Upon leaving the Sierra Nevada, the East Walker River winds around Bald Mountain, east of the Cambridge Hills. It continues northward past the Gray Hills entering Mason Valley.

As the West Walker flows from the Sierra Nevada, it flows through Antelope Valley, past Coleville, Cailf. The West Walker River continues downstream past Topaz, Calif., where a major diversion provides water to Topaz Lake, a storage reservoir. The West Walker River continues to flow east as it crosses into Nevada where it meets the outflow from Topaz Lake. It flows northeastward through Smith Valley before entering Mason Valley.

Walker River Basin boundary is from the Watershed Boundary Dataset at http://nhd.usgs.gov/wbd.html.

4	The Confluence of the East and West Walker Rivers: The Walker River

The East and West Walker Rivers join just south of Yerington, Nev. in Mason Valley to form the mainstem of the Walker River. The Walker River continues to flow northward through Mason Valley, before it bends eastward around Parker Butte past Wabuska, Nev. entering the Lower Walker River basin.

Walker River Basin boundary is from the Watershed Boundary Dataset at http://nhd.usgs.gov/wbd.html.

5	The Lower Walker River Basin

As the Walker River bends southward around Parker Butte, it flows through Campbell Valley, before entering Weber Reservoir. The Walker River leaves Weber Reservoir flowing downstream southward past Schurz, Nev. before terminating in Walker Lake, the Basin’s lowest point and a “closed” basin with no outflow or discharge except through evaporation.

Walker River Basin boundary is from the Watershed Boundary Dataset at http://nhd.usgs.gov/wbd.html.

LEGEND

Walker River Basin boundary

USGS The National Map: National Boundaries Dataset, 3DEP Elevation Program, Geographic Names Information System, National Hydrography Dataset, National Land Cover Database, National Structures Dataset, and National Transportation Dataset; USGS Global Ecosystems; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line data; USFS Road data; Natural Earth Data; U.S. Department of State HIU; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Data refreshed February, 2025. |

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