Walker River Basin
December 1955
Rain/Rain-on-Snow Event
During an unseasonably warm period, several days of intense rainstorms partially melted the snowpack. Ten to 13 inches of rain fell in the headwater basin and the snow level reached 8,500 feet in elevation. The National Weather Service Yerington precipitation gage (4,377 ft) recorded over 3 inches of rain during the storm period. Locals nicknamed the December 1955 flood the "Christmas flood" (Rigby and others, 1998). Anecdotal information suggests flooding was limited to areas along the river. Floodwater was reported to be flowing over the top of the bridge on Bridge Street (A. Page, oral commun., 2013).
Selected Streamflow Peaks
| Site ID | Gaging Station | Peak (cubic feet per second) |
|---|---|---|
| 10289000 | Virginia Creek near Bridgeport, CA | 1,300 |
| 10289500 | Green Creek near Bridgeport, CA | 307 |
| 10291500 | Buckeye Creek near Bridgeport, CA | 700 |
| 10292000 | Swauger Creek near Bridgeport, CA | 585 |
| 10293500 | East Walker River above Strosnider Ditch near Mason, NV | 1,640 |
| 10295200 | West Walker River at Leavitt Meadows near Coleville, CA | 1,910 |
| 10295500 | Little Walker River near Bridgeport, CA | 994 |
| 10296000 | West Walker River below Little Walker River near Coleville, CA | 5,180 |
| 10300000 | West Walker River near Hudson, NV | 2,700 |
Photos
No photos available.
