DEPART~IENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WIATER-SUPPLY I 

AND 

·IRRIGATION PAPERS 

01? THE 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

No. 68 

WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1902 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR 

WATER STORAGE 

IN THE 

TRUCKEE BASIN, CALIFORNIA -NEVADA 

BY 

L.·H. TAX:~LOR 

\V ASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1902 

CONTENTS. 

Letter of transmittaL ___________________________________________________ _ 

Location of basin _____________________________________________________ ~ __ 

Precipitation ________________________________________ -- - - -- -- -- -- - - -- - ---

Drainage areas _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ . _____________________________________ - -- - -- - - - --

Run-off and stream flow _________________________________ .. ______________ _ 

Evaporation ____________________________________________________ ---------

Investigations of 1889 and 1890 __________________________________________ _ 

Reservoir sites ______________________________________________________ _ 

Canal" routes _______________________________________________________ .. _ 

Investigations of 1900-1901 ___________________________ c __________________ _ 

Reservoir sites _________________________________________ - _ ---- --------

Impracticable sites _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________ ·- _________ _ 

Lake Tahoe _____________________________________________________ _ 

Donner Lake ____________________________________ -· ______________ _ 

Independence Lake _________ ·- ___________________ ~ ________________ _ 

Twin Valley _____________________________________________ - ------ - -

Little Truckee __________________________________________________ _ 

Henness Pass Valley ____________________________________________ _ 

Dog Valley _____________________________________________________ _ 

Present uses of water and existing water rights ______________________ _ 

Po>ver ______________________________________ ~ ___________________ _ 

Irrigation ______________________________________________ -- ------ -

Summary_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __________________________________________ _ 

Irrigable lands _____________________________________________ -· ________ _ 

Ownership of lands _____________________________________________ _ 

Duty of water ___________________________ ~ _____________ . ________ _ 

Quantity of water required and available ________________________ _ 

Proposed distribution canals _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____________________________ .. __ _ 

Truckee River Highline canal ___________________________________ _ 

Branch canals ____________________ .. _ _ _ _____________________ _ 

Lower Truckee canal ______________________ . _______ . ____________ _ 

Possible uses of water for power development ____________________ .. __ _ 

Necessity for national control of water ______________________________ _ 

General conclusions and recommendations ___________________________ _ 

Financial summary _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______________________________ _ Index __________________________________________________________________ _ 

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89 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

PLATE I. Portion of Lake Tahoe _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10 

II. A, Truckee River at Stateline Mills, Cal.: B, Truckee River at 

Vista, Nev., gaging station___________________________________ 18 

III. Truckee Ri:ver at Reno, Nev., during low water in July, 1900___ 32 

IV. A, Dam in Truckee River at Lake Tahoe; B, View looking eastward from head of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 42 

V. A, Donner Lake; B, Falls of Little Truckee River a half mile 

below Webber Lake _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 50 

VI. A, Dam of Floriston Pulp and Paper Company in Truckee River; 

B, Truckee River Canyon, looking downstream from Floriston 

Pulp and Paper Company's dam __________________________ . _ _ _ 72 

VII. A, Flume of Truckee River General Electric Company on side hill 

above Mystic, Cal.; B, Headworks of flume of Truckee River 

General Electric Company at Floriston, Cal___________________ 74 

.VIII. A, Power house of Truckee River General Electric Company at 

Mystic, Cal.; B, Interior of power house of Truckee River General Electric Company. _________________ . ________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 76 

Fm. 1. Map of the Truckee Basin, showing minor drainage basins and 

location of rainfall stations _______________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9 

2. Contour map of Webber Lake and profile of dam site_____________ 41 

3. Map of Squaw Valley reservoir site ____ -------------------------- 42 

4. Contour map of Squaw Valley dam site__________________________ 42 

5. Map of Lake Tahoe _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 44 

6. Contour map of Lake Tahoe dam site _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 48 

7. Contour map of Donner Lake reservoir site ___________ . _____ ._____ 52 

8. Profile of Donner Lake dam site _________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 54 

9. Contour map of Independence Lake reservoir site _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 56 

10. Profile of Independence Lake dam site ____________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 57 

11. Contour maps of Twin Valley reservoir and dam sites------------ 59 

12. Contour map of Little Truckee reservoir site No. 1_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 61 

13. Contour map of dam site of Little Truckee reservoir No. L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 62 

14. Map of Boca reservoir site. _____________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 64 

15. Map of Henness Pass Valley reservoir site and supply canal ___ . _ _ 67 

16. Con tour map of Henness Pass Valley dam site_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 68 

17. Contour map of Dog Valley reservoir site _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 69 

1R Profile of Dog Valley dam site _________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 70 

19. Map showing location of irrigation canals in western portion of the 

Truckee Basin ______________________________________________ . _ 7 4 

20. Map showing location of irrigation canals in eastern portion of the 

Truckee Basin ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ___ . _____ . ______ .: . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7 5 

6 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 

DIVISION OF HYDROGRAP~Y, 

Washington, D. 0., April15, 1902. 

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a paper prepared by 

Mr. L. H. Taylor, entitled Water Storage in the Truckee Basin, California-Nevada, and to request that it, be published in the series of 

Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers. It relates to surveys and 

examinations made by :Mr. Taylor, as resident hydrographer of this 

Survey, and in cooperation with the State of Nevada, in order to ascertain the extent to which the waters of rrruckee River can be conserved and utilized in the development of the arid lands of that State. 

Mr. Taylor shows that by constructing various dams and other 

hydraulic works a large amount of water which now runs to waste 

·can be saved and conducted out upon vacant public land, furnishing 

a supply also to some of the landR now in private ownership. This is 

one of the most important of the interstate irrigation problems which 

have been carefully examined. The construction of the works 

described by Mr. Taylor would do much toward increasing thecultivated area and the population of Nevada, and would cause the State 

to rise rapidly in agricultural rank. 

Very respectfully, F. H. NEWELL, 

Hydrogr·apher in Charge. 

Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, 

Director United States Geolog·ical Survey. 

7 

;-~ 

.:i,.,_~, 

WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN, 

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA. 

By I~. H. TAYLOR. 

LOCATION OF BASIN. 

The region drained by Truckee River is em braced between meridians 119° 10' and 120° 28' west longitude and parallels 38° 42' and 

FIG. 1.-Map of the Truckee Basin, showing minor drainage basins and location of rainfall 

stations. 

Rainfall stations: 

1. Wadsworth. 

2. Reno. 

3. Verdi. 

4. Boca. 

5. Truckee. 

6. Summit. 

7. Lewers's ranch. 

8. Marlette Lake. 

9. Carson. 

10. Genoa. 

ll. Virginia. 

40° 20: north latitude, being partly in the State. of California and 

partly in Nevada. (See map of Truckee Basin, fig. 1.) The upper 

!) 
10 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

or western portion of the basin lies immediately east of the summit 

of the main Sierra Nevada, and embraces a high, forest-clad region 

ranging in altitude from 5,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level, on which 

the precipitation, which is mainly in the form of snow, is heavy. 

The greater part of the area is in the State of California. The eastern or lower part of the basin, ~which is entirely within the State of 

Nevada, is essentially different in character, being made up of broad, 

open valleys and barren hills, clistinctly typical of the Great Basin. 

The river flows northward and enters I..ake Tahoe at an elevation of 

6,225 feet above sea level. This lake is the largest body of fresh water 

at that altitude in the United States, its area being 193 square miles. 

(A portion of the lake is shown in Pl. I; see also fig. 5, p. 4+.) As the 

boundary line between Nevada and California passes through the lake, 

a portion of it is in each State. The outlet of the lake is at Tahoe, Cal. 

After leaving the lake the river has a general northward course until 

it reaches Verdi, Nev., a short distance from the State line, and about 

40 miles from the lake. In this part of its course it receives a number 

of important tributaries which augment its flow. There are a number of lakes at the headwaters of the branch streams. After passing 

Verdi the river, entering what has been called the lower portion of the 

Truckee Basin, flows eastward a distance of 45 miles, passing through 

the Reno Valley and the Lower Truckee Canyon to Wadsworth, 

whence it t,urns northward, flows about 20 miles farther, and discharges into Pyramid and Winnemucca lakes. 

PRECIPITATION. 

Precipitation records have been kept at eight places within t~he basin 

of Truckee River, and at three stations-Virginia, Uarson, and 

Genoa-immediately adjacent to the so11th and east, as shown in 

fig. 1. At a majority of these stat~ions, in fact at all except Reno and 

Lewers's ranch, in the Truckee Basin, the observations were made by 

the agents and telegraph operators of the Southern Pacific Railroad 

Company. The records afford the only data available, and probably 

furnish means approximating the truth. 

The following table gives the annual precipitation at all of the stations referred to ex~ept Marlette Lake, where observations were made 

during only twelve months, from July 1, 18H4, to June 30, 1895: 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 68 PL. I 

, 

PORTION OF LAKE TAHOE. 
TAYLOR.] PRECIPITATION. 11 

Annual rainfall, in inches, at ten stations on eastern slope of Sierra Nevada in 

and adjacent to basin of Truckee River. 

Wads-~ · . · I Sum- '.Lewers's 1 Vir- Year worth Reno . Verdi Boca T1 uckee mit I ranch Genoa Carson ginia ___ ·_ (4,

077).a (4,497).a (4,895).a (5,541).a (5,819).a (7,

017).a, (

5,

177).a (4,824).a (4,670).a (6,242).a 

------------,------. ---------

1870_____ 2.30 --------- --------- 13.46 23.28 34.29 ---------- -···----- ------·-- --------- 1871_____ 4.04 4.86 16.87 36.71 60.60 ------------------------------------- 1872----- 0. 70 4.11 R. 40 27.29 37.90 ---------- --------- --------- --------- 1873_____ 1.84 2.75 11.65 26.16 40.95 ------------------------------------- 1874_____ 4.13 5. 70 21.85 35.69 18.85 i __________ --------- --------- ---------

1875_____ 3.96 6.06 10.66 27.50 33.86 ---------- --------- 17.73 --------- 1876_____ 2.27 3.59 17.73 28.85 46.90 ---------- --------- 9.06 --------- 1877----- 4.27 5.68 8.89 16.13 26.73 ---------- --------- --------- --------- 1878 ----- 4. 85 6. 32 15.81 25.81 32.69 

1879 -- .. - 3. 88 4. 0'2 21. 08 27. 86 73. 67 1880_____ 3.31 6.70--------- 16.79 37.61 64.50 

188L ____ 5. 01 5.89

1

_________ 2.42 21.28 30.95 ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ===ig~~=[~~~~~~~ 1882_____ 3.56 5.48 _________ 21.00 30.50 I 62.12 

1883_____ 2.82 3.95 --------- 11.30 16.80 23.57 

1884_____ 4.79 6.17 _________ 28.60 I 4.''!.81 60.47 

1885----- 3.59 2. 95 8.38 14.91 25.41 

1886_____ 5.30 4.82 17.60 18.55 ·

1 

41.00 

1887----- 6.70 5.78 ---------1 20.39 25.95 49.97 1888_____ 3.78 4.60 --------- 11.23 8.851 38.02 

1889_____ 5.19 6.43 17.87 38.40 19.161 51.42 

1800_____ 6.78 9.72' 15.63 32.07 39.45 58.83 

1891_---- 6. 2"2 10. 45 28.10 26. 85 26. 0.3 

1892_____ 4.65 11.92 i 18.33 29.05 31.10 44.70 

1893 _____ --------· 4. 74 '--------- 27.62 32.54 --------- 1894_ ____ --------- 7.27 27.64 00.45 I ________ _ 

1895_____ 4.51 5.53 20.97 16.47 23.39 i ________ _ 

1896----- 10.28 10.59 23.09 30.50 29.61 ! ---------

---------- --------- 11.29 ---------- --------- 6. 95 

17.82 

11.32 

10.93 

8.54 

7.12 

12.44 

13.80 

18.30 

14.25 

15.78 11.42 

12.50 12.78 

10.45 10.91 

14.64 

20.41 

15.91 

14.79 

19.78 

1897----- 7.25 8.00 13.13 26.0'2 27.33 --------- 1898_____ 4.27 6.41 3.91 14.81 12.21'. 31.46 

29.00 

26.29 

22.66 

25.69 

20.36 

00.50 

25.61 

14.32 

26.35 

23.72 

13.62 ---------

1899----- 5. 32 8. 50 18.06 32.47 33.86 : 73. 80 

1900..... 5.30 7.81 8.97 25.29 17.56! 42.52 ~:!j§ ~~====::::= =========j 10.131 ________ _ 

a Elevation above sea level, in feet. 

For the purpose of showing the distribution of rainfall throughout 

the year the following tables of the monthly precipitation during the 

last thirteen years at the eleven stations mentioned have been prepared. The tables have been arranged for the twelve months beginning September 1 and ending August 31 of the following year, as the 

latter date is near the end of the irrigating season and is the time 

when the streams reach their lowest stage. 

Jl<fonthly precipitation, in inches, at Wadsworth, Nev. 

[Elevation, 4,077 feet.] 

Season. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. 1Mar.\Apr.IMay.[June. July. Aug./Total. 

1~::::::::::::: --o:oo --•. -,.--• .-'"·no --1.-m --o.-;o --o.;s --• .-~ ~:W &:iit &:~ 3:~1---• .-07 

1890-91.------------ 1.55 0.50 0.05 0.61 ______ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------1------- 1894-95 _____________ a0.35a0.39a0.57a0.62 0.75 0.55 0.20 0.20! 1.06 0.00 0.05 0.051 

b4.79 

1895-96_____________ 0.05 0.05 0.45 0.10 3.22 0.00 0.22 0.35 0.64 0.00 2.04 1.201 8.00 

1896-97.. ___________ 0.41 0.10 2.05 0.05 0.89 2.33 0.23 0.00 0.30 0.20 0.00 0.00 6.56 

1897-98_____________ 0.25 1. 78 0.29 0.98 0.83 0.05 0.60 0.30 1.37 0.00 0.00 0.05, 6.50 

1898-99 _____________ 0.18 0.22 0.58 0.09a1.21 0.30 0.70 0.10 0.42a0.07 0.10 0.05 1 b4.0't 

1899-1900 ___________ 0.00 0.20 0.10 1.95 0.35 0.25 0.64 1.92 1.12 0.05 0.08 0.001 6.66 

1900-1901. •...•..... 0.34 ~ 0.50 0.05 0.51 1.18a0.41 0.30

1 

0.76 0.10 0.00 1.921_ 6.07 

Mean ________ 0.35 0.39 0.57 0.62. 1.21 0.67 0.41 0.40 0.771 0.07 0.25 0.36 6.07 

aNormal rainfall; record for month is missing. 

blncludes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. T. indicates trace. Records for missing years are not obtainable. 
12 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

]'Jonthly precipitation, in inches, at Reno, Nev. 

[Elevation, 4,497 feet.] 

___ se_a_s_on_. __ +s_e_p_t. Oct.J.Nov. Dec. Jan.IFeb. Mar. Apr. May.~une./July.IAug. Total. 

1888-89.---··· .. ---- 1889-90.------------

18?0-91. ------ ----·- 1891-92 ....... ------ 1892-93.------------

1893-94.------------

1894-95.------------

1895-96.------------

1896-97-------------

1897-98 .......•. ---- 1898-99 _______ ------ 1899-1900 _____ ----,-

1900-1901.------ --~-

QOO QOO Q99 Q~ QOO QE Q95 QOO QTI QOO QOO QOO &00 

0. 00 0. 75 1.10 2. 91 4. 20 1. 75 0. 80 0. 16 0. 31 0. 00 0. 00 0.16 12.14 

0. 90 0. 00 0.00 1. 00 0. 06 2. 69 0. 28 0.56 2. 72 0. 41 a 0.15 a 0. 38 b11.45 

0.54 a 0. 31 0.05 1.14 0. 58 1.40 0. 76 0. 09 0. 22 1. 27 0.00 0.00 b 6.36 

0. 07 0. 27 4. 65 2. 61 1. 51 1. 10 0. 58 0. 38 0. 13 0. 00 0. 00 0. 04 11. 34 

0. 24 0. 02 0. 42 0. 32 0. 89 1. 42 0. 22 0.10 0. 91 1.06 0.31 0.11 6.02 

QW QW QOO L~ a& Q~ QM Q~ QM QOO QOO QOO ~« 

0. 24 0.10 0.17 0. 83 2. 87 0. 00 1.15 1. 31 1. 2.3 0. 00 L 03 0. 79 9. 71 o. 93 o. 08 o. 89 o. 31 1. 05 2. 10 o. 12 o. 03 1. 73 o. 20 o. oo o. m s.n 

0. 02 0. 96 0.16 0. 87 0. 99 1. 47 0. 65 0. 41 0. 95 0. 00 0. 00 0. 16 6. 64 

0. 31 0. 24 0. 63 0. 60 a 1.52 0. 65 1.03 0.12 0. 41 0.40 0.22 L37 b7. 49 T. 0. 72 0. 47 1. 69 0. 50 0. 27 0. 59 L 75 0. 39 1. 08 0.18 a 0. 38 b 8. 02 0. 67 0. 44 L 48 0. 46 2.48 & 24 0.39 0.32 1. 60 T. 'r. L 60 12.68 

Mean ________ J 0.32 0.311 0.8.5 1.18. 1.52 1.28 0.78 -'"0,43 0.87 0.34 0.15 0.38 8.41 

ctNormal rainfall; record for month is missing. b Includes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

T. indicates trace. 

~Monthly precipitation, in inches, at Verdi, Nev. 

[Elevation, 4,895 feet.] 

Season. I 

1 

• , I 

1 

\ I 

~~:::::::::::::'j"::~~~;:r;:i_D:c00 J;~~ F;~ 7:~ A;~;;:;; J~·; A~l::: 1890-91 _____________ 0.00 0.72! T. 1 0.38 ------1------~------ ------ ------ ------ ~----- _____ , ______ _ 1894-95 _____________ , ______ ------'------'------ 10.06 2.20· 0.73 1.06 1.10 0.55 0.00 0.07-------

189')..96 _____________ 1.97 0.001 0.76 2.47 9.40 0.08 2.18 2.46 2.29 0.00 1.11 0.74 23.46 

li'96-97 _____________ 1.00 0.18 2.05 1.60 1.35 4.99 2.75 0.00 0.40 0.20 0.00 0.20 14.72 

1897-98 _____________ 0.00 0.45 1.62 1.17 0.50 0.91 0.24 0.10 0.91 0.35 0.00 0.10 6.35 

1898-99_____________ 0.19 0.05 0.20 0.36a4.29 0.55 4.60 0.50 1.09 0.0Ba0.16 1.60 bl3.62 

1899-19()() ___________ 0.00 2.10 0.90 2.05 0.74 0.00 1.35 0.20 0.41 0.75 0.19 0.22 9.21 

1900-1901.---- ..... _ 0. 00 1.10 2. 75 1.15 3.10 5. 40 0. 60 0. 60 0. 50 T. 0. 00 0. 50 15.70 --r------------------------- Mean ________ 0.40 0.77 1.46 1.90 4.29 1.84 1.94 0.56 1.25 0.24 0.16 0.39 15.20 

a Normal rainfall; record for month is missing. b Includes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

T. indicates trace. Records for missing years are not obtainable. 

Monthly precipitation, in inches, at Boca, Cal. 

[Elevation, 5,541 feet.] 

Season. Sept. Oct.: Nov.] Dec. Jan.[ Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June.[July.IAug.ITotal. 

1888-89_____________ 0.12- o.ool 0.95~--1.45 4.E: 3.10 1.15 0.10 3.90 o.oo o.oo o.oo 15.00 

1889-90 _____________ 0.00 1.5014.55 19.8514.60 5.40 5.45 1.28 0.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 58.3.3 

1890-91. ____________ 0.00 0.70 0.00 3.65 1.2511.80 2.50 1.70 1.40 0.25 0.05 0.00 23.30 

1891-92 _____________ 0.60 0.00 0.25 8.00 0.70 3.35 1.70 2.70 3.10 0.70 0.00 0.00 21.40 

1892-93_____________ 0.00 1.5018.35 6.95 4.55 8.90 4.00 1.90 1.35 0.00 0.00 0.05 .37.55 

189.3-94 _____________ 0.55 0.25 2.42 3.70 5.10 7.55 0.75 1.00 0.~ T. 0.00 T. 21.65 

1894-95 _____________ T. 0.61 0.51 11.80 8.36 1.20 0.45 0.70 0.90 T. 0.00 T. 24.53 

1895-96 _____________ 0.97 0.11 0.71 3.07 7.75 0.50 6.30 6.65 &10 0.2511.15 0.18 30.« 

1896-97.------------ 0.35 0. 00 2.47 1. 80 2.20 6. 35 8.35 0.10 0.50 0. 40 0.00 0.50 23.00 

1897-98 _____________ T. 2.10 2.80 2.72 1.55 2.90 2.50 1.00 0.85 1.00 0.00 0.00 17.42 

1898-99.____________ 0.01 1.~ !.84 1.58 6.80 1.~51 7.95 0.85 2.40 0.10 0.00 0.98 27.64 

1899-1900___________ 0.00 4.42 2.59 4.58 1.57 O.tiO 3.52 0.60 1.10 2.67 T. 1.22 22.82 

1900-1901. __________ 0.66 &04 5.73 4.58 7.17 6.761 2.24 2.04 1.86 0.001 0.00[ 0.081 34.16 

Mean. ___ .___ 0. 25 --u9 2.55 '5.69;5.07 4:64/3.6011.61 1. 65 --o.41Jo:o9;Q.23i26,98 

T. indicates trace. 
TAYLOR.] PRECIPITATION. 

Monthly precipitation, in inches, at Truckee, Cal. 

[Elevation, 5,819 feet.] 

Season. Sept. Oct.[Nov. Dec.J Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.JMay. June. July. I --;-~- --,--------------

1888-89 .... --------- 0.12 0.00 2.38 1.581 0.80 1.40 2.51 I 1.01 4.51 0.00 0.00 

1889-90.-----------· 0.00 3.13 3.29 2.51 16.20 8.90 7.29 0.20 1.44 0.00 0.00 

1890--9L ..... , ------ 0.80 0.45 0.00 3. 7011.22 8.36 3.92 2.17 2.90 0.46 0.00 

1891-92.------------ 0.98 0.05 0.45 6.34 2.65 2.80 3.00 2.96 4.20 0.95 0.00 

1892--93.------------ 0.29 0.37 5. 73 8.15 5.H 8.02 5.18 3.73 1.79 0.00 0.00 

1893--94.------------ 1.22 0.38 3.96 2.82, 8.06 0. 73 2.65 2.15 1.05 T. aO.Ol 

1894-95 ______ -- ----- 0.13 1.12 0.60 13. 95j 11. 73 1. 92 1. 72 0.50 2.40 0.00 0.00 

1895-96 .. ____ -- ----- 1.32 0.34 0.50 2.961 7.07 0.40 4.67 9.36 0.54 0.00 0.15 

1896-97------------- 0.32 0.40 3.86 2.50, 2.35 7.97 9.50 0.30 T. 0.18 0.00 

1897-98.------------ T. 0.55 3.20 3.65 2.05 0.25 0.30 0.00 0.00 

1898--99.------------ 0.40 0.06 2.95 1.50 7.80 2. 70 9.50 1.10 0. 75 0.00 0.00 

1899-1900 ______ ----- 0.00 6.49 2.80 

3.1511.05 

1.80 2.63 0.80 4.20 1.90 0.80 1.01 0.00 

1900-1901.----------

Mean ________ 

0.00 1.02 2.50 2. 70 5.00 7.97 2.50 1.80 0. 70 0.00 0.00 -- 1.101 2.48 -,--1- 0.43 4.14i 3. 541 4. 20 4. 36 2.11 1.64 0.201 0.01 I 

a Normal rainfall; record for month is missing. bincludes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

T. indicates trace. 

Monthly precipitation, 1:n inches, at Surnrnit, Cal. 

[Elevation, 7,017 feet.] 

13 

Aug. •rotal. 

-----

0.00 14.31 

0.22 43.18 

0.00 2.3.98 

0.00 24.38 

0.00 38.70 

0.00 b23.03 

0.00 34.07 

0.34 27.65 

aO.ll b27. 49 

0.00 14.20 

0.92 27.68 

0.00 22.43 

0.00 24.19 ----

0.11 24.42 

Sept. Oct. I Nov. I Dec. I Jan. Feb. Mar.[Apr. I I May.June. I I 1July.!Aug. Total. 

-------l-----------------------1-------

Season. 

1888--89_____________ 0.00 0.00 3.37 5.26 1.00 1.50 9.5511.90 6.30 0.22 0.00 0.00 29.10 

i==:i~====~======= 8:~ 8:~ 8:~ 1~:~ 1i:?2 1i:~ 1~:ro ~:~a~:~ 8:~ 8:~ 8:~b ~:~ 

1897-98 ir~:============= _____________ ------

--~~~ ------ l~ --~~~ ------ -------~~~~ --~~~~-~:-~ 4.00 7.10 -~~~~l--~~~~-~~~ 5.20, 0.80 2.90 --~~~~-~:-~ 0.90 0.04 --~~~~-~:-~~ 0.00. _____ _ 1898--99 _____________ 0.15 4.40 2.50 3.6012.70 5.2015.7511.75 3.60 0.7.0 0.00 1.00b51.35 

1899--1900___________ 0.00 16.05 9.15 7.90 5.25 4. 75 8.15 4.80 3.97 0.50 0.25 T. 60.77 

1900-1901. __________ 1 0.95 3.50 6.90 3.50 11.30 14.20 4.50 5.50 1.00 0.001 0.00 0.00 51.35 

Mean________ 0.15 3.46 4.07 8.141 7.43 6.14 9.351 3.67 3.60 0.28 0.04 0.11 46.44 

aNormalrainfall; record for month is missing. b Includes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

T. indicates trace. Records for missing years are not obtainable. 

Monthly precipitation, in inches, at Lewers's ranch, Nevada. 

[Elevation, 5,177 feet.] 

Season. I Sept. Oct. I Nov. Dec. Jan. I Feb.IMar.IApr.IMay.IJnne.July. Ang. ToW. 

1889-90. ____________ ------------------------------------ 4.39\ 0.281 1.04 0.00 0.00 1.42 ______ _ '1890--91. ____________ 1.28a1.71 0.29 3.55 0.31 9.30 4.65, 1.72, 3.04 0.19 0.11 0.47b26.62 

1891-92 _____________ 0.96 0.07 0.72 7.46 0.60 1.92 2.16' 2.04[ 1.69 1.53 0.03 0.00 19.18 

1892--93 _____________ 0.26 0.93 9.62 5.51 4.75 3.67 3.05 1.68[ 1.22 0.00 0.01 0.00 30.70 

1893--94_____________ 2.22 0.34 3.81 1.91 5.53 5.39 1.80 0.56 1.86 1. 77 0.40 0.09 25.68 

1894-95_____________ 0.14 2.51 0.36 5.28 7.92 3.08 1.22 0.98 1.56 0.21 0.00 0.10 23.36 

1895--96 _____________ 1.95 0.26 0.01 3.07 10.70 0.30 3.99 3.99 2.83 0.00 0.58 0.94 28.62 

1896-97 _____________ 0.68 0.68 3.70 2.11 2.13 5 35 4.34 0.2/J 0.20 0.55 0.00 0.43 20.42 

1897-98 _____________ 0.08 4.41 3.66 4.21 0.86 1.75 --1..57 1.18 1.07 0.23 0.01 0.27 19.30 

1898--99 _____________ 0.18 1.41 3.39 2.40[c~4.17 0.69 8.'51. 0.65 0.15i 0.06 0.01 1.21 b2'Z.83 

1899-1900 ___________ 0.00 2.45 3.41 5.46

1 

0.96 1.13 2..411 4.16al.67a0.46 1.25 0.15,b23.51 

llm-l:::::::::::i~~~~~~ ~::1 ::: ~~ :.·00 :::1 ::: a Normal rainfall; record for month is missing. b Includes the months for which rainfall has l:ieen estimated. 

T. indicates trace. 
14 WATER STORAGE IN THE -TRUCKEE BASIN. 

Monthly precipitation, in inches, at Marlette Lake, Nevada. 

[Elevation, 7,800 feet.] 

[NO. 68. 

Sea .. m. ISept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. I Mar. Apr.,May.,June. July. Aug. To1al 

~::1:::::::::::::/··o:;s --"~::: ~:,,::: :.,:"[~••r~l:::j::: ~ ~ ;:; 

Records for other years are not obtainable. 

JJfonthly precipitation, in inches, at Virginia, Nev. 

[Elevation, 6,242 feet.] 

_ Season. I Sept. Oct. I Nov. I Dec. I Jan.j Feb. Mar. I Apr. I May.:June.l July. Aug. Total. 

1890-91_ ____________ ~= =r~= =t· 0.311 .. ,., 2.311 ui 3.00 0.821 0.00---:;- ... :::: 

1891-92 ............. 1.68 T. 0.05 5.97 0.32 0.93 1.64' 0.76 1.24 1.15

1 

T. a0.09 bl3.8.'3 

1892-93 ......... ____ 0.20 1.11 6.06 2.411 2.5.'3 4.74 1.08 1.45 0.82 T. T. 0.02 20.42 

i~~t~========~~::: 6:-~ t~ 6:~ ~:HI __ ~--~--~--~~--~~~--~--~--~--~--~--~~--~--~--~--~--~--~~ Mean ________ 0.91 0.55 1.85 3.051 1.67 3.7511.6ll 0.98 1.82 1.311. 0.13 0.09 17.71 

a Normal rainfall; record for month is missing. 

bincludes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

T. indicates trace. Records for other years are not obtainable. 

Monthly precipitation, in inches, at Carson, Nev. 

[Elevation, 4, 670 feet.] 

Season. Sept. I Od. ! Nov. 

1 

Dec. Jan. Feb.[ Mar. Apr ·I Ma;. June. July ·I Aug.f..:om~ 

1888-89 _____________ 0.59 0.00 2.00 0.61 0.10 0.27 1.6.3 0.03 1.91 0 . .33 0.001 0.00 7.47 

U~i:i::::::::::::: ~:~ 6:R~ ~:ti ~:~i 3:i5 ~:f'J ~:~ ~:~ gJg 8:~ 8:~~ 6:63 ~~:~ 1891-92 _____________ 0.89 o,oo 0.00 5.4.'3 0 . .'35 1.39 1.71 0.48 0.54 1.46 0.00 0.02 12.27 

189'2-9.'3. ____________ 0_.26 0.3015.85 1.89 3.18 2.42 1.47 1.01 0.37, 0.00' 0.00 0.11 16.86 

1893-94_____________ 0.98 0.15 1.49 0.24 2.33 2.8.'3 0.97 0.36 1.07 1.14 0.2.'3 (}.05 11.84 

1894-95 _____________ 0.05 0.29 0.22 3.24 4.59 1.96 0.32 0.40 0.7.'31 0.02 0.00 0.04 11.86 

1895-92------------- 0.20 0.711 0.56f 1.~ 4.8~ 0.10 ~-2.'3 1.47 1.06 0.12 0.6.3 1..'30 1~-?8 1896-9/.____________ 0 . .'38 0 . .'30 1.53, 0.10 1.41 4.17 2.8.'3 0.04 0.20, 0.12 0.27 0 . .'34 12.31 

1897-98 _____________ 0.01 1.56 0.88• 1.72 0.58 0.95 1.00 0.5.'3 0.321 0.00 0.07 0.25 7.92 

1898-99............. 0.15 0.67 1.391 0.13a2.09 0.35 2.29 0 . .'30 0.521 0.07 T. 0.471. b8.4.'3 

1899--19()0 ___________ 0.00'1 0.6.'3 1.14 1.92 0.28 0.38 0.88 2.791 0.55 0.59! 0.14 0.1.'3' .9.4.'3 

1900--190L_________ 0.09 ~ 2.41! o.69 2.0B 2.93 o.61_ o.92_l 1.68; o.2a: o.o2 o.44j 1.'3.24 

Mean. ___ :___ 0. 36 0. 5.'3 1. 541 1. 91 2. 09 1. 87 1. 51 0. 79l 0. 94! 0 . .'341 0.12 0. 33l 12 . .33 

Season. 

a Normal rainfall; record for mouth is missing. b Includes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

T. indicates trace. 

Jtfonthly precipitation, in inches, at Genoa, Nev. 

[Elevation, 4,824 feet.] 

ISept.j Oct.jNov.l Dec. I Jan.! Feb. Mar. Apr. I May.:June. July. 1Aug.,Total. 

-------•--·--1-----'--------------.--__ . __ I __ 

l888--89 ............. /ao.51 o.ool 0.21 0.65 0.76 o.oo 4.45 0.05 1.25: o.o7 0.00

1

1 

o.ooj b8.01 1889-9() _____________ 1 0.00 2.92'1 5.45 7.85 6.0'.2 2.3.'3 3.80 0.00 0.70'1 0.00 0.00 0.15 29.22 

1890--9}-------------, 0.46a0.7.'3a2.70 0.00 9.00 _4.64 2.95 1.13 .'3.6.3 0.00 1.00 0.00b17.24 

1891-92 _____________ 1 0.80 0.00 0.00 8.46aB.38 0.31 2.451 1.35 0 . .'30a0.02a0.25.a0.20 bl7.54 

1892-9.'3 ... ---------- a.0.51a.0.731

• 8.75a.'3.02 3.95 1.60 2.13, 1.40al.1.'3.a0.02a0.25f 0.67 b24.16 

1tl93-94 _____________ i 0.54 0.201 3.44 0.45 2.90 2.82 0.70, 0.00 0.42'a0.02a0.25l 0.20 bl1.94 

Ul94-95 _____________ ,a0.51 1.2.'3, 0.45. 3.00 6.65] 0.45 0.401 0.25 0.50

1

· o.oo1 o.oo:ao.20 bl3.64 

·-"'~::::::::::J~i~l~i~l~i~l~1"~:;,;~14~1~~ aNormalraiufall; record for month is missing. b Includes the months for which rainfall has been estimated. 

Records for other years are not obtainable. 
TAYLOR.] PRECIPITATION. 15 

Monthly precipitation at Glenbrook, Nev. 

[Elevation, 6,240 feet.] 

1901- Inches. 

January 15 to 3L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0. 60 

February_____________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5. 10 

March__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. 23 

T'he records at Reno and Wads worth, in the lower portion of the 

basin, are generally applicable to the valley areas, where the water 

will be chiefly employed for irrigation, and show the need of an artificial supply. The records at the other stations give an idea of the 

rainfall in the higher portions of the basin, and serve as a basis for 

estimating the probable run-off from the various portions of the 

watershed. 

The following table shows the increase in precipitation with increase 

in elevation: 

Table showing increase in precipitation with each 100-foot rise in elevation, with 

Wadsworth, Nev., as a base. 

Station. 

II Elevation Incre.a~e in Constant Eleva- above Mean l?re- precipita- increase 

tion. Wads- cipitatwn. tiWa~~~r foreac~100 worth. worth. feet rise. 

Le~Fth 

record. 

I Years. Feet. Feet. Inches. Inches. Wadsworth _____________________ ! 28 4,077 0 4.48 0 

Reno_____________________________ 29 4,497 420 6.17 1.69 Verdi____________________________ 8 4,895 818 16.37 11.89 Lewers'sranch__________________ 9 5,177 1,100 24.53 20.05 Boca_____________________________ 30 5,54-1 1,464 20.31 15.83 Truckee_________________________ 30 5,819 1,742 26.65 22.17 

Summit------------------------- 25 7,017 1,94-0 43.55 39.07 

~;;~~~!:_~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~:~~~:~~: ! ~·~ r:i~ ~:~~ ~:~ Carson ___________________________ 22 4;670 593 11.92 7.44 

Genoa---------------------------: 6 4,824 747 16.84 12.36 

~~~~ :: ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~: ~ ~ ~ = ~ ~: ~: ~: ~ ~!: ~ ~:::::: ~ : =::~:~~::I:::~:: ::: ~ ~ ~ :::: ~ ~ :: ~ ~:: :: ~ ~ ~: :::::: 

Inches. 

-----·-·o:m 

1.45 

1.82 

1.08 

1.27 

2.01 

0. 76 1.14 

1.25 

1.65 

12.83 

1.28 

In the foregoing table, in computing the mean increase in precipitation per hundred feet rise, the same weight has been given to the 

record at Marlette Lake, though it covers only twelve months, as to 

each of the other stations. The reasons for this are: (1) For the period 

covered by this record the precipitation at most of the stations where 

observations were made was but slightly above the normal; and (2) 

the effect upon the mean, which is designed to serve as a basis for 

estimating the rainfall on various subdivisions 9f the Truckee Basin, 

is in the direction of conservatism. 

DRAINAGE AREAS. 

The map of the Truckee Basin (fig. 1, p. 9) was prepared from the 

topographic atlas sheets of the United States Geological Survey. The 

outlines of the various subdivisions of the basin, including the areas 

directly tributary to reservoir sites which are described in this report, 

were marked upon the topographic sheets and the areas measured by· 

planimeter. 
16 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE B.ASIN. [NO. 68. 

The following table classifies the basin of the Truckee above Pyramid and Winnemucca lakes into four parts: (1) The area above the 

outlet to Lake Tahoe, including the lake surface of 193 square miles, 

which would be tributary to that basin if utilized as a reservoir; (2) 

intermediate basins, including that of Little Truckee River between 

Lake Tahoe and Stateline Mills; (3) the area between Stateline Mills 

and Vista, including Steamboat Creek anq Washoe Lake; and (4) the 

drainage area below Vista: 

Drainage areas of T1·uckee River. 

Tahoe Basin, exclusive of Marlette Lake drainage: Sq. m. 

In California ____________________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 382 

In ~evada _______________________________________________________ 137 

Total______________________________________________________________ 519 

Above Stateline Mills and below Lake Tahoe: 

Squaw Creek-~--------------------------------------~----------- 8 

·Donner and Cold creeks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 31 

Martis Creek _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 42 

JProsser Creek·--------------------------------~------------------ 56 

Little Truckee River ___________________________________________ ~ _ 179 

Juniper Creek _________________________________________________ • _ 10 

Joe Gray Creek _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18 

Alder Creek _________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18 

Other small tributaries between Lake Tahoe and Stateline Mills.__ 74 

Total---------------------------------------------------~---------- 436 

Total above Stateline Mills_________________________________________ 955 

Dog Valley Creek above dam site_____________________________________ 16 

Hunter Creek______________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 12 

Steamboat Creek above Steamboat Springs ___________________________ 123 

Other areas between Stateline Mills and Vista ____________________ -_ _ _ _ 413 

Total______________________________________________________________ 564 

Total above Vista _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 519 

Total below Vista____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 611 

Total drainage area ___________ · _____ ~ _______________________________ 2, 130 

Total in California_________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 790 

Total in ~ evada _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 340 

RUN-OFF A.ND STREA.J\I FLOW. 

During the spring of 1889 measurements of stream flow in the 

Truckee Basin were begun by the United States Irrigation Survey, a 

branch of the United States Geological Survey. This season is remembered throughout the State of Nevada as the second and drier of two 

dry years preceding the winter of 1889 and 1890, known as '' t,he hard 

winter," from which all subsequent occurrences are dated by the 

people of the region, who consider it the drier season ever known. 

During the early part of that year the precipitation at the headwaters 
TAYLOR.] RUN-OFF .AND STRE.A:M FLOW. 17 

of Truckee River was very light, but about the middle of May there 

was a heavy snowstorm, followed by warm weather, causing floods 

of short duration, which were followed by unusually low water during 

the summer and fall. The results of the measurements made by the 

Irrigation Survey are here given, beginning at the outlet of Lake 

Tahoe and taking the various tributaries in order: 1 

Discharge measurements of Truckee River at outlet of Lake Tahoe during 1889. 

Sec.-ft. 

July 9------------------------------------------------------------- 136 August 8 _______________________________________________________ •.. _ 75 

August 14 _________ '" ________________ -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 56 

August 18 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 49 

The maximum for the year is estimated at 170 second-feet. 

A stream entering the Truckee from the west about halfway between 

Lake Tahoe and Truckee, known as Squaw Creek, on June 3, 1889, 

was discharging 92 second-feet, and on June 22, 1889, 15 second-feet. 

The creek near Tahoe tollgate was discharging 74 second-feet on 

June 3, 1889. 

Donner Creek is the outlet of Donner Lake. About three-fourths 

of a mile below the lake it is joined by Cold Creek, which flows in from 

the south. The following measurements wore made during 1889: 

Discharge measurements, in second-feet, of Donner and Cold creeks during 1889. 

Stream. June 28.1 July 3.1 July 6. I July 11., July 16. Aug. 7 Aug. 10., Aug. 17. 

Donner Creek ...... ---------- 8 51 2

1

1 1 0.9 0.21 0:3 

ColdCreek .... "-··- 111 10 51 1 ---------- 1.0 1.0 I 0.7 

Total ......... ~=--18 ____ 1_0 ---3 =-::=1--1-.9---U--1-.0 

More detailed measurements were made of Prosser Creek, the outlet of Twin Valley, and of Little Truckee River, which receives the 

drainage of Independence and Webber lakes and joins the Truckee 

at Boca. (See tables of ~onthly discharge on pages 19 to 22.) Other 

small tributaries were measured during the year, when they were at 

about their maximum, except Dog Valley Creek and the second 

measurement of :Martis Creek, the results being aJ follows: 

Discharge measurements of small tributaries of Truckee River during 1889. 

Dat Stream. I Poin~ of measure- ..,_ ment. 

. I June 1 ............ Martis Creek ..•.••..••••••••••• ~ ••••.•••••...........••••••••••••..... June 22------------ ____ .do ______ -------------------------- .......... · ...... --·-·--·--····--·- -May 30------------ Juniper Creek ....... -------------------------- Clinton --------------

~:~ ~i ~~~~==~~~~== ~~~~:k~::~~~==~~~~==::~=~~~~~~:~~=~===: v~~~~-~~==~~~~:::::: I Eleventh Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II. 

IRR GS-0~--~ 

Discharge. 

Sec.-ft. 

19 

7 

2'2 

~·8 

42 

7 
18 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

:Measurements on the main stream were begun in May, 1889, at 

Essex, Nev., about 12 miles above Reno, the results•being as follows: 

Discharge measurements of Truckee River at Essex, Nev., during 1889. 

Sec At. 

May 20 _________________________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 330 

May 21 ___________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 570 

May 22 __________________________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 510 

May 29 _________________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 716 

June 20 ___________________ . _________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 350 

The maximum flow for the year was on May 21. The mean for the 

last ten days of 1\'Iay was 2,134 second-feet, for June 771 second-feet, 

for July 278 second-feet, and for At1gust and September 200 secondfeet; the latter results, however, are doubtful. In the spring of 1890 

the Essex station was abandoned and gagings were made a mile below 

Boca, also at I .. aughton's, G miles above Reno, and at Vista, 8 miles 

east of Reno. 

On July i3, 1895, the United States Geological Survey began keeping 

a record of the flow of Truckee River where it issues from Lake 

Tahoe, 1 for the purpose of obtaining data regarding the value of that 

lake for storage purposes, it being certain- that the volume of water 

flowing out of the lake from year to year would be the amount yielded 

by the watershed, less evaporation, and consequently the quantity 

available for storage. Unfortunately lack of funds necessitated the 

discontinuance of these observations. \Vhile the conditions were not 

the most favorable for accurate measurements, the results exhibited 

in the following tables of monthly stream discharge approximate the 

truth. 

In the month of August, 1890, a station was established on Truckee 

River at Vista (see Pl. II, B), below the Truckee Meadows, for the 

purpose of measuring the stream discharge at that point; and in the 

following month a similar station was established at Stateline Mills 

(see Pl. II, A), above all the irrigating canals diverting water from 

the river. Observatio~s at these stations have been made daily up to 

December 31, 1901. On 1\'Iay 31, 1900, measurements of the flow of 

Steamboat Creek, the outlet of the Washoe Lake basin, were begun 

at Steamboat Springs, where the stream enters the Reno Valley. 

During the early part of the year 1900 the outlet of Lake Tahoe 

into Truckee River was kept closed, ·but from the time the gates in the 

dam there were opened, in the latter part of June, a daily record of 

the outflow has been kept, the results of which are given, as are those 

of the gagings at the three other stations mentioned in the accompanying tables (pa-ges 22 to 31 ). The tables also give the run-off in 

acre-feet, in second-feet per square mile of drainage area, and in 

depth in inches f01; each month. 

I Bull. U.S. Geol. Survey No.140. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 6B PL. II 

A . TRUCKEE RIVER AT STATELINE MILLS, CALIFORNIA. 

B . TRUCKEE RIVER AT VISTA, NEV., GAGING STATION. 
TAYLOR.] RUN·OFF .AND STREAM FLOW. 19 

Estirnated rnonthly discharge of Truckee River at Tahoe, Cal. 

[Drainage area, 519 square miles.] 

Discharge in second-feet.. 

Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. 

Total in acrefeet. 

Run-off. 

Secondfeet per Depth in 

square inches. 

mile. 

i~:uii=~~=:::~~~;~==~=======:::::: September---·--.................. '!~ 392 357 ~~ 374 ~I ~:iW 22,244 0. AJ~A 721 0. A:~~ 803 

October---------·-·--·-·-····-···· 496 344 415 25,538 0.800 0.923 

November--------·--------------- 471 408 437 26,00'Z 0.842 0.940 

December ................... _ ..... ~~-~ ___ 24_1!_ __ 250_·_ ==1=5:='=:38=:8:::.[c::===O=. 48===2=: ==~0=. 556:::::::= 

January ...... ~~~~~---------------- 293 244 ~~ 16,102 0.500 [' 0.582 

February ..... oo~ ................ ___ 29_2_ ---~ ==290===',==1=6=, 6=7~7=l===o=·~560===:=~o~. 002== 

June............................... 236 0 52 3,106 0.1011 0.112 

July------------------------------- 260 0 214 13,131 0.412 0.474 

August·---------.................. 260 211 232 14,261 0.447 0.532 

September........................ 224 177 196 11,667 0.378 0.434 

October--------------------------- 177 155 159 9,781 0.307 0.364 

November........................ 200 o

0 J 135 8,047 0.261 0.291 

December ... __ ............... -·-··l====99==-l====,:===8=1 4, 981 0.156 0.180 

~?::::E~:::::::::::::::: ill ~I ,~ ==i=:=m=J===s=:l=~=8=-J===8=:r:=~ Aplil. ..................•...... :... 30 0 1 9 565 0.018 0.020 

f:le:::::::::::::===::::::=:::::::: 17~ 81 38 1,7~ o.or2 o.~ July ............. _................. 293 156 225 13,809 0.433 0.499 

August................... .. ..... 55.') 293 419 25,760 0.807 0.931 

September ........................ 390 117 326 19,395 0.628 0.701 

October ..................... :..... 308 251 21'2 17,308 0.542 0.62~ 

November........................ 293 189 247 14,678 0.475 0.53J 

Decemter......................... 189 100 111 6,841 0.214 0.247 

The year .................... ~--555-.--l~---0-1 155 112, 730 0. 299 J 4. 073 

Estimated monthly dischm·ge of Truckee River at Stateline Mills, Cal. 

[Drainage area, 955 square miles.] 

Run-off. 

Month. 

I Discharge in second-feet. 

Total in acrefeet. square inches. 

mile. 

Maximum. Minimum. I Mean. Pe~to~; . Depth in 

~~~~~~~~~~~~- -~~--11-~----1-~--~-~-------

September7to30 1899. I ................. 338 267 276 16423 0.288 0.322 

g~~~~ber:::=:::==:::::=======:::: 1,~~ ~~ ~ ~:~~ 8:~~ 8:l: 

December _ ....... ___ . __ . __ .... _ .. ·l===30==1=l====23=5=,,==26===7 1==16='==429===!===0=. 280==:==~0==. 323== 

~:~~~1y:::::~~~:::::::::::~=::: ~ ~I ~~I ~:~~ 8:~S 8:t~ March.---------------------------- 1,171 267 810 49,833 0.849 0.978 

April------------------------------ 1,429 741 9'Z7 55,133 0.970 1.084 

~~~~~~===~~==~========~~==~~~=====~ ~:i~ ·~ 1·m ~~:m i:~~ tm August ________ --------------------~ 470 ~ I 373 2'Z,929 0.390 i 0.4.")1 

g~~~!~z=====~~~~==========~=~=== ~~ 1 

December-------------------______ 1,171 ~~~18_0_:---~38_0_ ~ m 23,346 ~:~ s:m 0.280 0.323 8:~ Theyear_____________________ 1,840 180 i 614 -445-,6-1-7-l---0-.633~!---s.615 

1901. 1====1 

January--------------------------- 559 230 'I 314 19,308 0.329 0.379 

t~~~~·~~:==:====================~ ~:~~ ~~ i'~~ ~:m f:~ till 

July------------------------------- August 

f:11================~=~==~=~======= ____________ --------________ 1;194 ;:~ 795 1,~ 421 349 ~~~~ 686 4B6 1~:~~ 42,181 29,884 0.718 t~ 0.509 0.823 t~ O.L8t! 

September------------------------ 559 247 472 28 086 0.494 0.552 

October------------·-------------- 559 247 470 28;900 0.49'Z 0.566 

November--------------·--------- 613 383 469 27,908 0.491 0.549 December_________________________ 1,194 247 445 27,347 0.466 0.533 

The year-------------------- 4,370 j 230 938 677,521 0.982 13.300 
20 W .ATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

Estimated monthly discharge of Truckee River near Vista, Nm.,, 

[Drainage area, 1,519 square miles.] 

Month. 

------~-------1----1----1--- I 

~~~-~~-~~-~==~~~~~~~~~:~~=~=~===: ¥:g}g ~:~~ g;~ ~:~l~ ~:~ ~:~ June.------------------------------ 6,710 3,115 4 162 247,639 2.74 3.06 

i~~ust·:~--~~=-_::::=·-~~===~--=======~~ r:i~g -~~g ;~~ ~:~~ A:~ A:~~ September------------------------~ 825 570 682 40,579 0.45 0.50 

November ....... --------- .... ____ 825 400 765 45,517 0.50 0.56 

October ______ --------------------- 1,030 490 7421 45,633 0.49 0.56 

December .... ____ ........... ------]------------ ...... ______ a750 46,125 0. 49 0.57 

January .... __ ~~~- ~ __ ........ _ .. _ .. __ ...... _ ... ____ .. ___ ... a 700 I 43, 050 0. 46 0. 54 

February _______ ...... ----------- __________ .... __ .... _ _____ a l).j() 36,075 0. 43 0. 44 

March.----- ____ .... _____ ------ _____ ...... __ ___ _ ______ _____ a650 39,975 0. 43 0. 50 

April26 to 30 ________ -------------- 3,115 570 1, 523 90,618 1. 00 1.12 

May---------·--------------------- 3,285 1,990 2,765 170,047 1.79 2.10 

~~r;::::===-===========:=========== ------~·-~~- ------~·-~~- '~ ~~:ro~ 5:~ A:~ August---------------------------------------------------- 485 27,423 0.32 0.37 

September----·-------------------------------____________ 558' 33165 0.36 0.41 

October--------------------------- ............ ------------ 561 34;696 0.37 0.43 

November------------------------------------------------ 503 29,929 0.33 0.37 ·December ____________________ ............ ___________ .. ____ 508 32,137 0. 31 0. 39 

The year .... ---------------- ------------ ...... ...... 980 I 708,570 ~~i~ 

~~~;~m~Ti:::~:~-:j::H- j~:~:(:~:t~m:~~-~~ I H!i i:B i:l 

1899. 

August, 18 to 31 ------------------- 188 74 114 .......... ------------ ----------

~~~;~=-::::~::::::~==~~:::::::: 1.6~ 1~ 1¥~ 2.~:~r November .... __ ............... __ _ 1, 09

23 3.'55 516 30,713 December __ ........... ________ .... , 331 456 2S, 019 

0.100 

0.249 

0.340 

0.300 

0.111 

0.287 

0.379 

0.346 1=======1=======1======1======1========:===== 1900. January ___ .... ______ .. ____ .... ____ 1,210 380 479 29,445 0.315 0.363 February ________ .. __ .. ______ .. ____ 529 380 426 28,671 0.2S1 0. 29'~ March ___ .. ____ .. _ .. ___________ , ___ 1,094 454 857 52 668 0.564 0.650 

~~~ :::::::::::::::::: = ::::::::::: 1,239 479 756 44:982 0.498 0.555 

1,477 843 1,257 77 2S9 0.827 0.954 June .. ___ ................ __________ 1,~ 259 709 42:~1 0.467 0.521 

July ....... _ .... _ ............ ______ 74 110 6, 746 0.072 0.083 

~~~~'bei.-:: =:: ::::::::::::: =:: ::: 2S3 61 12'2 7,513 0.080 0.093 283 105 192 11,449 0.127 0.141 October _ ...... __ .... ________ .. ____ 1,123 21ili 4BO 26,456 0.2S3 0.826 

November 1,298 331 566 33,660 O.B72 0.415 

December.:::::::::::::::::::::::: 1,268 429 554 34,049 0.004 0.4~ 

The year ____ .. ____ .... __ .... 1,477 I 61 538 390,129 0. B54 I 4.813 

1901. January_ ......... _ ...... _ ... ______ 1,505 418 661 40,644 0.435 0.502 

ifa~~~a-~:: :::::::::: ~ :::::::::: :~:: 4,213 418 1,486 82,529 0.978 1.019 2,~9 938 1,3'28 81,657 0.874 1.008 

~~~- ::::::::~=~ ::::: ======~:: ::::: 

1,942 747 1,380 82,117 0.908 1.014 

4,213 1,410 2,145 131,894 1.412 1.628 June ...... _ ..... _ ...... _ ...... _____ 1,942 854 1,263 75,155 0.881 0.92S July .... ____________ . __ .... ________ 995 146 425 26,133 0.280 0.323 August ______ .... _ ......... ________ 492 128 315 19,369 0.207 0.227 September __ .... __________________ 467 2.')1 329 19,577 0.217 0.242 October ______ ...... _________ .. _ .. _ 720 370 477 29.330 0.314 0.362 November ______ ...... ____________ 1'82 467 557 33,144 0.367 0.409 December .... ______ ......... ______ 1,287 3;?~~ 510 31,357 0.336 0.387 

The year_ .. ----------- __ .... 

I 

-------,--- 4,213 123 I 

906 652,906 0.597 I 8.049 

a Estimated. 
TAYLOR.] RUN-OFF .AND STREAM FLOW. 21 

Estimated monthly discharge of Steamboat Creek at Steamboat Springs, Nev. 

[Drainage area, 123 square miles.] 

Run-off. 

Month. 

Discharge in second-feet. I I 

I Total in SecondMaximum.! Minimum. Mean. I ~~~t I ~~~~: ~~~~~~~ I mile.· ------------------:----1----

1900. 

r:ze~-~~~~~ ~ ~~:~~ ::::::::::~~::~ ~: 6 ~: 6 ~:6 ----i~497" ----··o::?&· ---··o:228 July _______________________________ 14.0 5.0 7.3 448 0.059 0.068 

August____________________________ 4.0 2.0 3.0 174 0.023 0.026 

September------------------------ 4.0 1.0 2.5 147 0.020 0.023 October __________ --·--____________ 14.0 2.0 5. 4 333 0.044 0.051 

Novembe1· ------------------------ 75.0 8.0 11.4 670 0.093 0.103 · December_________________________ 14.0 8.0 8.2 506 0.066 0.077 

56.0 

72.0 

20.5 

11.5 

29.5 

39.0 

3.0 

3.0 

5.0 

3.0 

11.5 

17.0 

7.6 

15.6 

10.8 

7. 7 

21.4 

29.6 

~r 0;061 

0.126 

664 I 0.087 ,,ffsl 0.062 

0.174 

1, 761 0.240 

Estimated nwnthly d·ischarge of Prosser Creek near Boca, Cal. 

[Drainage area, 56 square miles.] 

I Discharge in second-feet. Run-off. 

0.071 

0.132 

0.101 

0.069 

0.200 

0.268 

Month. I acre- fSecond- th . 

. 

------------~·Maximum. Minimum. __ M_e_a_n_. -l--f-e_e_t_. -l--e-et_pe_r-II-De-p--l-n 

Total in 

square inches. 

mile. 

1889. 1 April ________________________ ------ _ ...... ----- ------ _ ----- a 100 5, 950 1. 79 2.00 

r::Je:::~::: ~~:::: :~:::~ :::::: ::::::~'~::::: ::::::!':::::: :~:::: it8 lE1 t~ ~::1 

eb:::~~~:~:::~::::~:::::~~,S:2~~:2~:~::~ -- __ ) c--,~- -- J:_~_ 8:~ 1E9J. May 19 to 31. ______ ______ ____ ______ 1,230 615 

June ........ ----.--'--------------- ------------ ------------

i~lu:si:~:::::::::::::::::: :::::::: ~~ ~g 

a. Estimated. 

817 

580 

382 

102 

50,245 

34,510 

23,493 

6,273 

14.45 

10.40 

6.82 

1.82 

Estimatecl monthly discharge of Little Truckee River near Boca, Cal. 

[Drainage area, 179 square miles.] 

Discharge in second-feet. I 

Total in 

Run-off. 

16.34 

11.67 

7.86 

2.10 

Month. 

Maxim=- Minimum. Mean. I f.!;t 

Second- i 

feet per · Depth in 

square : inches. 

mile. I 

1890. 

April ...... ------------------------

r:Je:: :::::: ::::~ :::::::::::::::::: July ______________________________ _ August ___________________________ _ 

S~¥~b~r~:-: _-::::: _-:: :::::::::::::: i 

2646 

2'867 

1:840 

1,330 

390 

150 

108 

2761--:1_5_7-,066--l---5.-36-i 

1, 000 1' 998 122,914 11. 15 

1, 005 1, 491 89, 438 8. 33 

295 749 45, 975 4. 18 

110 200 12, 300 1. 12 

87 97 5, 771 0. 54 

70 86 5,289 0.481 

5.90 

12.85 

9.36 

4.81 

1.28 

0.60 

0.55 
22 WATER S'.POR.AGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. fNO. 68. 

Estimated monthly discharge of Truckee Rit•e1· near Boca, Cal. 

[Drainage area, 902 square miles.] 

Month. 

------------------------ 1890. March 24 to 3L ___________________ _ 

r:£1~: -~~~ ~ ~: ~ ~~~ ~~ = = =~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~= July-------------------------------

~~~1)~~~ =:: ~ =~ ~ = ~=== ~ ==== = = =: ~~ ~ 

Discharge in second-feet. 

Maximum.~ Minim~m. Mean. 

755 

5,716 

7,172 

5,092 

2,596 

9::0 

~I 

545 

580 

2,908 

2,596 

930 

510 

495 

490 

637 

2, 751 5,275 

4,291 

1,870 

736 

513 

555 

Total in acrefeet. 

39,175 

163,684 

324,412 

255,314 

115,005 

45,264 

30,523 

34,132 

Run-off. 

feet per Depth in Second- . 

square inches. 

mile. 

0. 71 

3.05 

5.85 

4. 76 2.07 

0.82 

0.57 

0.62 

0.81 

3.40 

6. 74 

5.30 

2.39 

0. !J4 0.63 

0.71 

Estimated 1nonthly discharge of Truckee River near Essex, Nev. 

[Drajnage area, 991 square miles.] 

Month. 

Discharge in second-feet. I 

I 

Total in acre· 

Run-off. 

Secondfeet per Depth in 

square inches. 

mile. 

Maximum.i Minimum. Mean. I feet. 

-------------------------1-------- -------1--------1------

May ••..••..•.. "':'~--- ...•..................... :. ..... .. .... a 2.31< ''il:W, 2.15 2.48 

i~~~~~~~:== =~~=:~: :~ ==~==~~ ~~~~~ = =~~:~ = ~~:~r~:== ~ :~~~: ~m 1 1u~ 0. 78 0.87 0.28 0.32 0.20 0.23 0.20 0.22 

a Estimated. 

At Vista observations of the flow of Truckee River were carried 

on during fift,y-five months extending through six years. During 

four of the years records were kept for the months of January, February, J\'Iarch, June, and July, while for the remaining months observations were made during five yem~s. The results of the observations 

for several months of the years 1890 and 1891 are claimed to be only 

rough approximations, so, while the record is not sufficient to show 

the normal discharge of the river at Vista, the following table, compiled from the data already given, is of 'Talue in connection with· the 

study of irrigation possibilities farther down the st,ream: 

Estimated mean monthly, ann1wl, and mean annual discharge of Truckee River 

at Vista, Nev. 

[Drainage area, 1,519 square miles.] 

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. 

DISCHARGE IN SECONDFEET.· 

1890 __________________________ ------------ ------------ ------------ 4,496 5,990 4,162 

1891._________________________ a700 a650 a650 1,523 2,765 1,905 

1892__________________________ 593 5().5 723 854 937------------

~=~ ~~~~~ = ~~~~~ ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ --------479" --------42tf ------- "8.57" --------756_1_ -----i;257_1_ ------ --70~ 1901._________________________ 661 1,486 1,328 1,380 2,145 I 1,263 

Mean __________________ ----~--_!67 ------~ 1,802j---2~j 2,010 

RUN-OFF. -------- I 

R:~~~ ~lf~~~~~~~~--~~~-~ 0.400 0.5051 0.586 1.186 1.724 1.323 

Run-offininc}J.es .... ---~---1 0.461 0.526 0.676 1.324 1.988 1.476 Acre-feet------------------- 37,385 42,598 54,725 "107,2'48 1 161,038 119,560 
TAYLOR.] RUN-OFF AND STREAM FLOW. 23 

Estimated mean monthly. annual, and mean annual discharge of Truckee River 

at Vista, Nev.-Continued. 

July. Aug. Sept. Qct. Nov. Dec. Annual. 

~---------1--- ---------------·1----

DISCHARGE IN SECONDFEET. 

1890 .. ________________________ 2,198 952 682 742 765 a750 ----------- 1891._________________________ 945 485 558 561 503 508 979 

ii ====== ==::== ====:: =======: ===:== ii~= ---- --tMT _____ f~- ------t~- ------~- ------~-~==:=:: :=~~ 1901·------------------------- 425 315 I 329 477 557 510 906 

Mean __________________ ~.--ooBJ- 383 -517---ssl~i-1.004 

RUN-OFF. =1== I 

Run-off, second-feet per I I 

square mile ______ ---------- 0.606 0.262 0.252 0.340 '0.382 0.366 0.661 

Run-off in inches ______ ------ 0.698 0.00'2 0. 281 0.392 0.427 0.42'2 8. 973 

Acre-feet------------________ 56,569 24,472 22,780 31,790 34,572 34,188 726,950 

a. Approximate. 

The following tables show the daily mean discharge of Truckee 

River at the three stations where observations have been carried on 

by the United States Geological Survey during the years 1895, 1896, 

1899, 1900, and 1901. 

Daily mean discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River at Tahoe, Cal., for 1895 

[Drainage area, 519 square miles; observer, P. Wehrman.] 

' I I naY .July.~~~~~~~~~ 

! ===~~=====~===~~~=:=~~~~~~:~~~~~~~~=~:~: ::::i~i~: m m 1 m m I m • ---·-- ____ _ ___ ______ ________ _ _____ _ _____ '·'"' ... ,,, ,., 450 I .. , 

~t~H:~;::~~::~~=:~~~~~~uu~:u~ t·!~ m m m m i m 

13-------------------- -------------------- 1, 180 432 379 34.5 441 248 14________________________________________ 1,180 I 431 377 344 438 248 

H ~=:::~::=~~~~=:~~~~~~=~~~~~~:~~:~:~~~~=~ H~ , m m m m m 

19----------------------------------------. 1,167 426 372 426 427 249 2() ________________________________________ 1,159 425 371 496 426 251 

21---------------------------------------- 266' 424 371 4941' 424 253 

22---------------------------------------- 587 : 423 368 493 423 253 

i = ::::~ _:~ =~~~ :=~==~ ~~~~ =~=~ ~~~~~: ~ ~=~~~ m :m m, m i m m 

27---------------------------------------- 4471 40!::! 359: 4821 416 2~1 

~:~:~==~~::~~~~~=:~::~~~=:=~=:=~=~~~=~~~: __ m 1 a -=~-~--*' ~----~- m 

Total______________________________ 26,5111 13,164 i 11,215j 12,875 i 13,109 7,758 

Mean·-------------·---------------------' 914.2 

1 

425 ' 374 I' ·415 . I 437= 250 

Run-off per square mile ____ ------------ 1. 761 0. 819 .

1 0. 721 0.800 I 0.800 0. 842 

Run-off in inches.----------------------- 1.897 0. 943 I 0.803 0. 923 0. 940 0.556 

Total in acre-feet _________________ ~~~~243T25,'537\~~ 
24 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River at Tahoe, Cal. ,jo1·1896. 

[Observer, P. Wehrman.] 

_Da_y. _

1

_Ja_n., Feb. II 

L -------------- 248 I 292 15-------------- 244 290 

Day. I Jan. I __ F_eb __ . -II~----D_a_y_. ___ J_a_n_. __ F_eb_._ 

2--------------- 248 I 292 ltL_____________ 245 290 3. _ ----- _____ --- 247 1 292 17 _ _ ____ ____ ____ 246 290 

3() 29-------------- _____________ _ 

31--------------

293 290 

293 -------- 292 -------- 4. ____ ____ _ _ ____ 246 1 291 18 253 290 

5--------------- 246 , 291 119 =====~===~=::: 264 289 TotaL ... [~118 8,408 

6--------------- 246 291 20-------------- 271 289 

7--------------- 246 291 21. .... ________ 276 289 Mean ..... -----1 262 290 

8..... _____ I 245 291 22.............. 281 288 Run-off per 1 

9 ..... ::::: _____ 1 245 290 123 284 288 squaremile .. 1 0.50 0.56 

10 .. _____________ 245 290 24::==:::::::::: 284 288 Run-off in 1 

11. _ ....... _..... 245 290 I 25 ____ .. ______ --~ 284 289 inches . __ .. --I~ 5£2 -~· 602 

12 ___________ c ___ 

1 

245 290 l26______________ 286 289 ___ , __ 

13-----------·--- 544 290 27-------------- 290 289 Total in I I 14. _ --------- ____ 244 • 290 28 __ __ ____ __ ____ 292 [ 289 acre-feetf16, 102 16,677 

------------~----------------~----~----------------~----

Esti1nated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River at Tahoe, Cal., for 

1900. 

[Observer, J. U. Haley.J 

Day. . June. July. Aug. I Sept. I Oct. I Nov. Dec. 

---------------------,---1------

t~~~~~~::===~=~~~~===~~~~~~~=~ ~~~~=:===~ ------=- ~~ ID I l~i l~ = 

4----------------------------------------- 0 248 200 lt5 155 72 

5 .... -- ------------------------ ---------- 236 260 200 177 155 72 

6_- ---------------------------- ---------- 236 248 200 177 155 99 7------------------------------ ---------- 236 248 224 165 155 99 

8_----------------------------- ---------- 0 248 211 165 155 99 

i~====:::::::==~~~===~~~::::::::~=~~::~:::: ; ; till i~ i~ ~ 12 .. ---------------------------- i- .: --- ---- 236 236 200 155 155 99 1:L ------ _ .. ____ -------.. _ .. ___ ! _____ . .... 236 236 200 155 155 99 

it:::::::::::::::=:=::::::::=:::l:::::::::: ~~ ~sg ~ igg i~ : 16 .. ____________________________ 1 __________ 248 2E6 188 155 155 99 

U:::::===::::::=:::::==::::::::l ~~ §~, 'f~ ~H 155 i~ f~ 19 .. ____________ ~- ______________ ! 92 236 224 200 i~ I 155 72 

~~=:::::::::::::::::::::::::=:=:! _______ :~. ~ ~~~ &:JJ i~ i~ ~~ 22.----- _ .... ----- ____ .. ----. ___ I 99 248 2'24 200 155 200 72 

23.------------------------- ____ !_- -------- 248 224 177 155 116 72 24 _________ , ____________________ ---------- 248 224 177 155 116' 72 

25------------------------------' 155 248 224 177 155 116 72 26------------------------------ ---------- 248 224 177 155 116 72 27. _____________________________ 1 9.36 236 2'241 177 155 116 72 

28 ______________________________ ; 236 236 224 177 155 0 72 

~:::::::~~::::~:::::::::::~:::: ~~ ~!~ ~ii iH i~ 8 ~~ 31.----------------------------- ---------- 260 211 ,---------- 155 72 

Total ____________________ :-1,562 ~~~-5,882[~~-4-,057 -2,511 

Mean ___ ... -.-.-------~---- .. :. 52.' 2 214 231.9 ~- 1£6.1 159.1 I 135.23 81 

Rnn-offpez: Equaremile ______ l 0.106 0.474 0.532 i 0.434. 0.3f41 0.291 0.156 

Run-offmmches ............. '. 0.101 0.412 0.447 1 0.378 0.307 1 0.261 0.180 ------------------------------

Total in ac:re-feet ........ --3,106 13,131 1l4,26U/l1,666.9 9, 780.6/8,04foo ~980.6 
TAYLOR.] RUN·OFF .AND STREAM FLOW. 25 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River ut Tahoe, Cal. ,for 1901. 

[Observer, J. U. Haley.] 

Day. Jan.) Feb.J Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

!_____________ 85 100 30 30 ------- ------- 178 293 390 293 293 1d!} 

2------------- 85 100 30 30 -------------- 178 293 390 293 279 125- 3_____________ 85 100 30 30 -------------- 178 293 390 293 279 12& 

4_____________ 100 100 30 30 ------- ------- 178 293 390 293 279 12() 

5------------- 100 100 30 30 ----·-- ------- 178 339 390 293 279 12·3 6------~------ 100 100 30 30 -------------- 178 339 390 293 279 125- 7------------- 100 117 30 36 ------- ------- 178 407 372 279 279 1.2() 

8_____________ 100 117 30 36 -------------- 156 407 372 251 279 12() 

9------------- 100 117 30 36 ------- ------- 156 407 372 308 279 126 

10------------- 117 100 30 36 ------- ------- 178 531 372 308 279 126 n_____________ 117 100 30 36 _______ _______ 178 555 372 293 279 126 

12------------- 117 117 30 36 ------- ------- 189 55.'i 323 000 279 100 

it============ - n~ iH ~ ----~- ======= ======= 1~~ ~ m = ~~ 18& 15_____________ 117 117 30 --------------------- 1.89 555 225 293 279 100 

16------------- 100 117 30 ------- ------- ------- 189 555 308 279 279 100 

17------------- 100 117 30 189 555 308 279 279 100 

~~~iil~\llli~; !I'll iiiiiiili~i!iiili~~".~ 111111 ~ ============= i~ 30 

~ ====:=t:::::: H~ = ~ ~ ~g i~~ i8j 29------------- 100 ------- 30 _______ [_______ 178 293 390 293 293 189 100 30 _____________ 100 ------- 30 _______ ! _______ 178 293 390 293 293 189 100 

L--~~-~~-~~~ 3,~: ~-~.-~;~~ 9: ---~t--~-,---~~~- 6,: 12,: -~:;;~- 8,:- -;.-~-- 3,~: ======= =======- ======= =======·~ ====== ======= ======- ====== ====== ~ ======= Mean _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 10'Z 81 30 14 000 30 225 419 326 282 247 lll 

Run-off per 

square mile. 0.196 0.156 0. 058 0. 027 

Run-off in 

inches------ 0.226 0.163 0.067 0.030 

000 0. 058 0. 499 0. 931 0. 701 0. 625 0. 530 

000 0. 064 0. 433 0. 807 0. 628 0. 542 0. 475 

0.247 

0.2H 

Total in acre- =====·=[=~================= . feet---------16,262 4,502 1,845j 833 000 j 1,765 13,809 25,760 19,395 17,30814,678 6,841 
26 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

Estirnated daily discharge, in second-feet, of the Truckee Rit,er at Stateline Mills, 

California, for 1899. 

[Drainage area, 955 square miles; observer, H. A. Grant.] 

Day. I Sept. 

~:: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::=::=::: ~-==-==-=-==-=-= =-=-=1 ----

Oct. Nov. Dec 

267 338 267 

267 338 267 

267 301 267 

4 -----------------------------------------------------'----------·-- 267 301 267 5 ________ , ____________________________________________ 1 ___________ _ 267 301 267 

6----------------------------------------------------------------- 267 573 235 

7----------------------------------------------------- 301 267 684 235 

g _________________________ ---------------------------- 301 267 921 235. 

9 .. --------------------------------------------------- 267 

10------------------- ------------------------------ ---- 267 

u ~ ~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~: ~ ~:: ~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~~~:: ~~~==~~ ~~== ==== = =:::=1, a~ 

11 ~ ~ ~H _H---==~w-==-~ ~::::-=-m~·:::::=-m=m~ m 

~ ~ ~::: ~~: ;: ; :::::;: ~:: ::::::::: ~:::: ~=::: ~:: ~ ~:~::::::I Bl 2'2- ------------------------- ~------ -------------------- 267 

267 1,299 267 

267 1,429 267 

267 1 562 267 

301 1:108 267 

301 800 301 

001 628 301 

267 741 301 

267 628 267 

267 628 267 

267 520 267 

267 520 267 

470 423 267 

520 ~I 267 

628 267 

23----------------------------------------------------- 267 520 301 267 

24----------------------------------------------------- 301 470 301 267 

25'- -------------------- -·----- -------------------------- 267 423 301 267 

26----------------------------------------------------- 267 379 301 267 

fa----------------------------------------------------- 267 338 301 267 

28------------------------------- --·--- ---------------- 267 301 301 267 

29----------------------------------------------------- 267 301 267 267 

30----------------------------------------------------- 267 338 267 267 

31 _________________ ------------------------------------ ------------ 338 ------------ 267 

Total __________ ,--------- _____ .. ________________ 6,615 

1====1===== 

Mean ----------------------------- ____ ------ ____ ------ 275.6 Run-off per square mile ___________ ._________________ 0.289 

Run-off in inehes .... ____ ____ ____ ____ _ ____ ____ ________ · 0. 32 

10,2'21 11,oss 1 8,283 

329.7 --..... 1 267.2 

0.345 0.596 0.280 

0.398 0.665 0.323 

Total in acre-feet ___________________________ _. ________ I==1=6,=400=Ii====!===== ----

20,273.351 33,894.051 1tl,429.33 
TAYLOR.] RUN-OFF AN:Q STREAM FLOW. 27 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee Rit,er at Stateline Mills, 

California, for 1900. 

Day. 

1----------------------------

2 ----------------------------

4 3---------------------------- __________________________ __ 

.5 ----------------------------

6 ----------------------------

7----------------------------

8----------------------------

9------ ---· ------------------ 10 ----------------------------

u~ ~ ~ ~ = = = = ~ ~ = = =: =~: === :::::: ~ ~ 13 ---- -- --~- ------ ---- ---- ---- 14---------- ·----------------- 15---------------------------- 1 m~~~-:=::m~~mmmm~ i ;\= ;;! ! !~l ~ ~:: :!;;;; ii~;:-:-1 28 ____________________________ j 

29 __________________ . _________ I 

00------ ----------------------' 31 ...... ______________________ I 

Total __________________ I 

[Observer, H. A. Grant.] 

Jan. 

267 

301 

684 

921 

684 

628 

423 

338 

301 

301 

301 

301 

338 

423 

379 

379 

379 

379 

379 

379 

301 

301 

267 

267 

267 

267 

267 

267 

267 

267 

267 

Feb. 

267 

267 

267 

:a67 

267 

235 

235 

235 

235 

235 

235 

267 

301 

301 

301 

301 

301 

301 

301 

338 

338 

338 

338 

338 

338 

338 

338 

338 

Mar. Apr. May. 

301 1,045 1,429 

267 921 1, 429 

267 800 1,299 

001 800 1,429 

001 921 1,600 

001 921 1,429 423 921 1,495 

470 741 1,600 

573 741 1,699 

573 800 1, 840 

573 800 1,840 

741 1,045 1,429 800 1,171 1,299 

1,045 1,171 1,299 

1,171 9'21 1,630 

1,0451 9'21 1,699 1,045 921 1,699 

9'21 860 1. 769 

1,045 BOO 1, 769 

1,045 . 741 1,840 

1 171 I 74} 1,699 

1:108 1,108 1, 769 

1,045 860 1,699 

1,045 BOO 1,429 

1,045 983 1,429 

1,171 1,108 1, 429 

1,171 860 1,299 

1,045 BOO 1,299 

1, 045 1, 045 1, 299 

1,045 1,429 1,235 

1,045 ------------ 1,235 

June. 

1,235 

1,235 

1,171 

1,171 

1,108 

1,235 

1 235 1:429 

1,429 

1,235 

1,235 

1,171 

1429 

1:235 9'21 

921 

001 

921 

860 

800 

800 

741 

800 

301 

628 

628 

573 

573 

573 

573 

u, 490 8, 161 25,124 1 21, 796 47. 403 28,987 

=======l=======i======l=======l======= M~.-an ------------ ____________ ! 370.7 291.46 .810.45 926.53 1,529.13 966.23 

Run-off pe:r: square mile .... I 0. 453 0. 318 0. 978 1. 084 1. 846 1.129 

Run-off m mches __________ -~--o._._39_3_ 1 ___ o_._31_o_1 ___ o_._84_9_1 ___ o_. _97_01 __ I __ • 60_1_1 ___ 1_._01_2 

Total in acre-feet___________ Z1,099.84 16,187.34 49,833.45 55,133.37 94,023.85 57,495.71 

L::::: :::~Y~::: ::::::::::1 July~ Aug I: l--se_v_t_~-~-l--o_c_t~-~- 1 __ N_o_v 423 _~_ 1 __ D_e_c._l-~ 

i ~~~~~~~~~=:=:~~~~~~~~~~==~J !f8 m i it8 m ~& m 

lEmm--mmmmmJ ~~ i 1 i m m i il==;~;:~~:;):))=;;;;;~:;:;;l ~ I i I i i I ~ 23---------------------------- ~~~========~~~~:=~==~=====~~~ i~ 423 470 ~~8 ! 301 ~I 741 800 ~ ,~ 741 24 --------------·-------------- 423 470 180 741 684 001 

25---------------------------- 4.23 470 180 684 520 379 26---------------------------- 37Sl 301 ll:!O 684 520 379 

21 -----: -------- ------ -------- 379 379 301 628 423 301 

28---------------------------- 379 379 206 628 301 301 29____________________________ 379 470 267 470 301 301 

30---------------------------- 379 4i01 338 301 301 379 

31 ---------------------------- 379 470 1 ... --.------ 338 .. .... .. .... 301 

Total .... -------------- _ _23,66.'3 1 11,560 f 10,8'20 --1·4·,--33-1-l---13-,-00-1-l---1-1-, 7-70 

Mean ________________________ --440.74 372.9~-=- 344 ---462 . .'3. 463.37 379.7 

Run-off per square mile----~ 0.532 0.451 I 0.40'Z 0.558 0.541 0.458 

Run-off iu inches .. ________ . 0. 462 1

; 0. 300 0. :360 0. 484 0. 485 0. 397 

Total in acre-feet .. ____ ----. 27 ~~·56! 2'2, s-29.'26J- 20,469. 72 =28=,=425:=J =. 5=4=l==27=,=57=2=. 63:=l==23=:,=345===. 8
28 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [N(). 68. 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River at Stateline Mills, Cal., 

for 1901. 

[Observer, W. A. Pennell.] 

Day. Jan. 

I 

Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. 

1 ---------------------------- 29'2 247 2,069 859 1,870 2,173 

2 -------------·----····----·- 292 247 2,280 1,123 1,594 2,391 

3 ---------------- --·--- ---··· 383 268 1, 775 924 1,508 2,505 

4---------------------------- 421 268 1, 775 732 1,594 2,391 

5---------------------------- 559 t47 1, 775 989 1,715 2,173 

6---------------------------- 247 268 1,775 732 2,173 2,009 

7---------------------------- 349 29'2 1,870 732 2,623 2,173 

8---------- ~----- ------ ----·- 319 292 1,594 732 2,623 2,173 9 ____________________________ 319 268 1,683 732 2,745 1,870 

10---------------------------- 319 247 1,425 613 2,391 1,594 

11 ----------------------------- 319 268 1,345 732 2,623 1,425 

12---------------------------- 383 247 1,194 1,1~ 4,370 1,345 

13---------------------------- 29'2 292 1,055 4,153 1,268 

14 --·--- ---------------------- 268 292 859 1,425 4,153 1,123 

15 --------------···----------- 292 319 989 1,683 3,768 1,268 

16---------------------- -----· 29'2 319 989 1,683 3, 768 1,341) 

17---------------------------- 268 989 989 1,594 3,953 1,268 

18---------- ----····-- -------- 268 1,194 73'2 1,870 4,153 1,425 

19---------------------------- 292 1,194 924 1,968 3,002 1,508 

20---------------------------- 268 3,C02 989 2,173 2,505 1,508 

21 ------------ -----·. --------- 319 3,435 989 2,173 2,069 1,508 

2'2- --------- -·-··------- •• ---- 319 1,968 1,268 2,173 1,775 1,508 

2'J ---- -·--·- ------------------ 292 2,623 1,194 1,968 1,683 1,508 

24 ·--------------------------- 292 2 391 1,123 1,968 1,683 1,345 

25---------------------------- 319 2:173 1,123 2,505 1,683 1,123 

26 ____ --··-------------------- 292 2 280 1,194 2 280 1,683 1,000 

27---------------------------- 292 2:391 1,123 1:968 1,594 989 

28---------------------------- 319 2,280 1,055 2,069 1,775 1,194 

29------------ -----· ---------- 349 ------------ 859 2,173 1,683 1,268 

30---------------------------- 268 ------------ 795 1,968 1,870 1,34.1) 

31---------------------------- 230 ------------ S59 ------------ 1,968 ------------

Total------------··---- 9, 733 30,301 39,668 44,277 76,810 47,838 

Mean ________________________ 314 1,082 1,280 1,4761 2,478 1,591) 

~~~=~~ r:l:~~~~-~~ -~ ==== 

0.329 1.133 1.340 1.545 2.595 1.670 

0.379 1.176 1.544 1. 728 2.992 1.862 

Total in acre-feet----- ------1 19,308 60,092 I 78,706 87,8291 152,370 94,910 

Day. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

1---------------------------- 1,194 463 463 463 559 613 

2---------------------------- 1,194 509 509 463 509 613 

3---------------------------- 1,12.'3 421 509 509 383 1,055 4---------------------------- 924 383 509 509 421 1,194 

5---------------------------- 732 349 559 509 463 791) 6 ______ ---------------------- 732 46'3 509 463 509 F59 

7---------------------------- 732 509 509 463 463 61H 

g ----------------------------- 671 509 383 463 463 509 

9---------------------------- 671 421 383 509 463 509 

10---------------------------- 73'2 463 509 559 421 463 11 ______ -----· ------ ---------- 671 421 509 559 463 349 

12---------------------------- 671 421 509 463 463 292 

13---------------------------- 732 421 559 247 509 208 14---------------------------- 671 421 421 463 463 383 

15---------------------------- 671 421 247 463 463 319 

16---------------------------- 613 383 34!l 463 463 2!l'l 

17---------------------------- 617 732 463 421 421 29'l 

18---------------------------- 613 795 463 421 463 292 

19---------------------------- 559 795 463 463 463 319 

20---------------------------- 613 509 

5091 

29'2 463 292 21 ____________________________ 509 [)()9 

~ 421 46'd 268 22 ____________ : _______________ 6l'd 383 421 421 'd49 

23---------------------------- 613 421 463 I 421 421 383 24---------------------------- 613 463 509 421 421 383 25 -----------------------· ---- 613 509 559 463 463 319 

26----------------------- 613 463 463 463 509 247 

27 ----------------------- -~=== 559 509 463 559 463 292 

28---------------------------- 463 559 463 559 463 29'2 

29---------------------------- 613 463 46.'3 559 559 29't 

30 ·----- ---------------------- fi()9 463 509 559 613 349 

31 ••.... ---------------------- 421 509 .............................. 559 ---------·-- 292 

Total __________________ 21,275 15,060 14,152 14,570 14,084 13,787 

Mean ........................ tii\6 

I 

486 472 470 4-b~ 44b 

~~~:~~ r:rn~~~~:~-~~~~-~~== 0.828 0.588 O.il52 0.566 0.54.9 O.li~ 

0. 718 0.509 0.494 0.492 fJ.49l II. 406 

Total in acre teet. ____ ..... _ 4~, 181 I 1!9, 884 ;!8.0S6 28.900 t7, 008 ~7,347 
TAYLOR.) RUN-OFF AND STREAM FLOW. 29 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River at Vista, Net•. ,for 1899. 

[Drainage area, 1,519 square miles; observer, Sam Nelson.] 

Day Ang. I Sept. 

--------,1--------1~-------1--------

1 • I 

L ------ _ ----- _ ----- ____________ ------ ____ '------ ------' 89 

Oet. Nov. Dec. 

144 4~ 355 2 _______ ---------------------------------- : ______ ------' 7'4 166 429 381 

l ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~:~ ~~ ~~~= = =: ::: = =::::1 }~ 166 380 380 166 380 404 166 380 380 

Q_ ---------------------------------------- ------ ------' 105 166 31:!0 380 

7.---------------------------------------- ------ ______ ' 105 161.1 429 380 

8----------------------------------------- ------------ 105 166 ~>9 331 

15==~~~==~~===~~~==~--~~==~~~~===~~~==~~~:== ====== ===:==i u~ ]66 479 331 166 479 380 11.------. ___ . ___________________ .. _______________ .. , .. i 119 

1~= = = ==~~====~= = = ==== = = = === = = ==~ === = ===: ==: = = ====::: :==! ~!! 

166 580 380 235 1,123 6!31 331 953 529 

14.--------------.------------------------- ------------ 119 380 683 478 

15 _____ ---------------------.-------------- ------------! 166 3.31 6&'3 709 

i¥= ===: === == = =::::: ===~ =====~~ ==: = = = :== ==== = =: :::======I ~: 331 89ti 631 380 843 529 

~:=~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:::~:::~==~~:::::: i~~ I i* 380 6&'3 478 331 631 478 331 529 478 

21.-------------------.. ------------------- 10.') 1±4 22----------------------------------------- 144 144 

1,066 479 38D 

898 4:...79 380 

23.----------.----------------------------- 105 144 580 380 381) 

24----------------------------------------- 144 144 529 4:...J9 i 404 

25----------------------------------------- 119 144 479 421'1 I 40! 

26----------------------------------------- 10.5 144 21----------------------------------------- 105 144 

28----------------------------------------- 741' 144 29-------------------.--------------------- 89 144 

~= =~~====~==========~~==~~ ~====~~::::~:=== i~ ~ --~~- TotaL______________________________ 1,.'>90! 4,574 

==='=======!=======!====~~= 

479 ~I 4tH 479 4:M 479 380 1 5~ 

479 3.'>5 6_;8 - 479 355 I 5S0 429 ------------1 580 

n, 72'2 1 15, 484 1-~14, 126 

:ns.ta I 516. 131·---4.')5. 68 0.249 0.340 0.300 0.287 0. 379 ' 0. 3!6 

23,250.59 i 30,712.51 1 28,019.3 
30 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Truckee River at Vista, Nev. ,for 1900. 

[Observer, Sam Nelson.] 

Day. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr May. June. 

1 ---··· -··---··-- ------------ 504 429 454 898 1,417 789 

2 ---··· --·------- ------------ 479 429 479 953 1,417 898 

3---------------------------- 1,210 429 479 898 1,477 843 

4---------------------------- 1,094 380 479 789 1,298 1,152 

5 ------------------------·--- 816 380 479 789 1,123 898 

6 --·-·- ------·-·- ------ ----·· 683 404 529 736 1,417 898 

7 ---·-·---------------------- 657 429 580 736 1,447 898 

8 -----~ -------·-- ------------ 631 429 657 736 1,477 1,239 

9 --···· -------------------·-- 479 380 762 683 1,387 981 

10 ---·-------------·---------· 479 380 789 631 1,477 898 

11 ---·------ ------------ ----·- 529 429 816 631 1,477 870 

12 ------------·-------·· ----·- 529 429 843 631 1,477 870 

13 -----------------------····· 580 454 925 580 1,009 898 

14---------------- 15 ____________________________ ---------··· 529 454 1,009 529 981 1,§~ 554 479 1,009 529 1,210 

16---------------- ----·· --···· 529 504 1,009 529 1,447 736 

17 ----·----------- --------···- 504 529 1,066 479 1,357 631 

18---------------------------- 479 380 1,066 479 1 268 631 

19---------------------- ---·-- 479 380 1,066 479 1:357 529 

20---·---------------------··· 479 380 1,066 529 1,447 580 21 ____________________________ 479 429 1,094 1 239 1,327 504 

22---------------------------- 504 429 1,094 1'239 1,327 454 

23---------------- ---------·-- 479 454 1,066 7

84.3 1,268 429 

24 ------------------------·-·- 429 454 1,009 789 1,123 429 

25---------------------------- 429 429 1,009 789 1,037 w 26---------------------------- 429 429 1,009 789 1,009 404 

27---------------------------- 380 429 953 843 1,~ 404 

28 ------------------------···- 380 454 953 898 404 

fl :::;~~ :::::::::::=::::::1 

380 ------------ 953 843 1,009 25\) 

429 ------------ 953 1,123 1,009 300 404 ------------ 898 ------------ 843 -----·------

14,845 11,934 26,553 22,678 38,966 21,27~ 

N~~ii{ie1: squa-re m.n~:: :::I 478.87 426.21 

I 

856.55 75.5.93 1,256.97 709.2 0.315 0.281 0.564 0.489 0.827 0.467 

Run-off mmches ••.... ---·-- 0.363 0.29-Z 0.650 0.555 0.954 0.521 

Totalin acre-feet.----- __ --·-1 29,445.06 23,671.09 I 52,667.88 44,981.8 77,289.06 42,200.94 

Day. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

1----·--··------------------- 307 61 144 166 479 529 

2---------------------------- 259 61 105 258 504 580 

3 ---·------------------------ 188 74 144 283 529 504 4---------------------------- 188 61 283 331 331 471) 

5---------------------------- 188 74 283 454 360 529 

6---------------------------- 188 48 283 454 380 529 

7---------------------------- 166 61 211 429 404 429 

8---------------------------- 144 61 188 429 429 504 9 ____________________________ 144 61 188 429 429 504 10 ~_ --------------------------- 105 74 166 283 479 479 11 ______ ---------------------- 105 74 144 331 479 471) 

12---------------------------- 105 74 188 360 479 479 

13---------------------------- 74 74 235 380 479 479 

14---------------------------- 74 105 166 331 429 w 15 ---··- ---------------------- 90 125 188 331 479 471) 

16 --·-··---------------------- 74 144 188 360 580 471) 

17 --·-··---------- ------------ 105 125 235 380 529 479< 

18 ----··---------------------- 74 74 188 4.")4 529 429 

19------ -------··- ----------·- 48 188 188 429 504 504 

20 -----------···-------------- 38 144 259 1,123 529 554 21 ____________________________ 38 144 235 580 1,123 1,268 

22---------------------------- 38 211 188 580 1,298 1, 123. 23 _: ________ ------------------ 48 235 188 554 1,066 736 

24---------------------------- 144 235 144 504 736 580 

25---------------------------- 74 283 144 479 631 479 

26---------------------------- 90 188 144 454 709 605 

27---------------------------- 74 188 144 454 580 529 

28---------------------------- 74 

I 

144 235 380 529 429 29 ____________________________ 48 105 188 429 479 504 

30---------------------------- 48 144 188 454 479 504 

31 ••••.• ---~------ ------------ 61 144 ------------ 454 ------------ 683 

Total ____________ ----·- 3,401 I 3,788 5, 772 13,338 16,970 17,166-

Mean ________________________ 109.71 

I 

122.19 192.4 430.3 565.7 553.7 Run-off :pe~ square mile. ____ 0.072 0.080 0.127 0.283 0.372 0.364 Rnn-off mmches. ___________ 0.083 0.093 0.141 0.326 0.415 0.00 

Total in acre-feet _______ ----· 6, 745.88 I 7,513. 4 11,448.65 I 26,456 33,660 34,048.76-
TAYLOR.] RUN -OFF AND STREAM FLOW. 31 

Estimated daily discharge, in second-feet, of Tr·uckeeRiver at Vista, Nev., f9'1'1901. 

[Observer, Sam Nelson.] 

Day. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. 

1---------------------------- tl54 442: 2,209 938 2 ---------------------------- 854 467 2,015 1,110 3____________________________ 1,505 467 2 052 995 

4---------------------------- 1,348 467 1:836 1,081 5---------------------------- 1,257 418 1,871 938 6---------------------------- 1,227 492 1,733 910 7 ---------------------------- 1,052 442 1,666 882 8 -· -------------------------- 694 467 1,801 882 9____________________________ 617 418 1,537 747 10____________________________ 617 467 1,473 747 11____________________________ 617 442 1,168 854 

12---------------------------- 668 446~77 1,197 938 13---------------------------- 541 1.473 1,110 14____________________________ 541 467 1,052 1,348, 

15 ---------------------- __ :___ 541 467 1,052 1,537 16____________________________ 467 1,537 1,081 1,634 

17 ---------------------------- 442 2,385 967 1,634 18---------------------------- 418 1, 871 967 1, 666 19 ---------------------------- 418 1,871 995 1, 733 20---------- ------------------ 467 1, 906 938 1, 942 

;L~--~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~::~ g!~ ~: ~ra ~:~i ~:~~ 23 ------ _ ----. _ -----.-----.--- 442 2, 780 1, 287 1 1, 733 24---------------------------- 442 2,652 1,110 1, 733 . 25 ---------------------------- 516 2, 780 1,168 1, 733 26---------------------------- 492 3,079 1, 227 1, 942 27---------------------------- 418 2,922 1,110 1,871 28 ---------------------------- 467 3,079 1,081 1, 733 29____________________________ 541 ------------ 9951 1,801 

30 ---------------------------- !>16 ------------ 967 1,634 31 ---------------------------- 442 ------------ 995 :------------

May. 

1,666 

1,601 

1,473 

1,473 

1,473 

1,601 

1 942 1'942 

2:537 

2,537 

4,213 

3,640 

3,251 

3,539 

3,011 

3,165 

2,537 

2,1681 2168 

2:168 

2,090 

1,666 

1,537 

1,410 

1,410 

1,410 

1 442 

1;811 

1,906 

1,906 

1, 733 

June. 

1,871 

1,942 

1,942: 

1,871 

1, 733 

1,537 

1,733 

1,733 

1,666-

l:~~ 1,168 

1,168-

1,110 

1,~~ 

967 

967' 

1,197 

1, 110< 1,024 

1,110 

1,110• 

1,024 

854 

854 

1,024 967 

910· 

995 

-------1--------1--------

Total ------------------ 20,503 41,680 41,1561 41,410 66,486 37,884 1--------1====-====l========:========l========i======== Mean------------------------ 661 1,486 1,328 i 1,380 2,1451' 1,263 Run-offpersquaremile____ 0.435 0.978 0.8741' 0.908 1.412 0.831 Run-off in inches____________ 0.50'Z 1.019 l.Ou8 1.014 1.628 0. 9'Z8 

Totalinacre-feet___________ 40,644 82,5291 81,6571 82,117 131,894-1 75,155-

Day. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 

1 ___________________ :________ 910 207 274 418 566 720· 

2---------------------------- 995 185 322 418 566 720 3 ---------------------------- 668 251 322 418 566 773 4_ _____ ---------------------- 720 274 322 467 566 882 

5---------------------------- 747 49'Z 322 442 566 1,287 6 ____ . _____ ... __ _ _ __ _ _ ___ ____ 694 418 32'Z 467 566 720 

7 ---------- --·-- ------------- 516 346 322 442 566 566 8____________________________ 400 370 298 467 516 566 

9---------------------------- 49'Z 274 322 418 516 566 10------------------·--------- 541 2'Z8 298 442 516 566 11---------------------------- 49'Z 146 298 566 516 566 12---------------------------- 643 185 274 516 516 418 13 ____________________________ 566 251 274 467 516 418 

14---------------------------- 467 346 274 442 516 467 15 -----------------~---------- 370 128 251 418 541 442 16---------------------------- 370 492 274 467 516 418 17---------------------------- 346 492 346 442 541 370 18---------------------------- 394 492 274 467 516 370 19____________________________ 346 492 274 442 516 370 

20---------------------------- 346 492 274 467 541 418 21--------~------------------- 146 346 274 467 541 418 22---------------------------- 166 346 274 370 541 418 23---------------------------- lPG 346 274 370 541 442 24----~---------------------·- 185 322 467 418 467 370 25---------------------------- 185 32'Z 467 467 541 370 26 ---------------------------- 185 228 467 467 617 370 27---------------------------- 2'Z8 251 467 49'Z 541 370 28____________________________ 185 298 418 720 566 370 

29 ------- -·--- ---------------- 228 251 418 668 882 418 30---------------------------- 207 228 418 643 720 418 31 

---~~-t~; ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l--13-,-~:-:-l---9-, ~-~-: 1:·=· =·--=-~:~=88---:~=-·ll~-=-=-=1-4:,=~-:=:~i[=-·=·=· -=~~=.-.=;~=~=-1 ====·=15==, ~=09 i 

Mean------------------------ 425 3151 329 477· 557 510~ Run-offpersquaremile .... 0.323 0.2'Z7 0.242 0.362 0.409 0.387 Run-off in inches............ 0.280 0.207 0.217 0.314 0.367 0.336. 

Total in acre-feet .•. __ ••••••• 26,133 19,369 1====19=,=57=7=I====29=,=330=I===33=,=144=I===31==, 35==7' 
32 W .A.'rER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

The observations have not extended over a. sufficient period to show 

the mean flow of the streams, but the data are of special value, for, 

having been collected during extremely dry seasons (the years 1898, 

1899, and 1900 were years of exceedingly small water supply on 

Truckee River), they show very nearly the minimum run-off from the 

watersheds. 

The discharge measurements at Vista, taken in connection with 

those at Stateline Mills and with the measurements of the irrigating 

ditches which have been made during the season of 1900, with the 

knowledge that during August and part of September, 1899, and a 

considerable portion of .July and August, 1900, the entire flow of 

Truckee River was being diverted above, furnish a basis for estimat~ 

ing the volume of the seepage or return water from irrigation in the 

Reno Valley. 

Besides the measurements and observations made at the regular 

stations mentioned, the results of which are given in the foregoing 

tables, a number of measurement~ of t,he principal tributaries of 

Truckee River were made with a view to estimating the relative 

run-off from different portions of the basin. The results of these 

measurements, in order downstream, are as follows: 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Truckee Ri'IJer. 

Date. Stream. Point of measurement .. 

1900. June 16 ...... ______ Deer Creek ___________________________________________________________ _ 

June 5 ....... ______ Squaw Creek ______________ -------------- .......... --------------------

~~~s:::~~ iJ"!I' ;Cr~i \\\:\!!!!!;!; it~~j;~;[~~t~,~i~~!f~!~~::~;;~:;;; i 

June 12 ...... ------ ..... do ...... ---------- ........... do ________ .... ______ ------ .... _______ _ 

~~~t!!b"e::r·ia =~~~: ·coi3"creti:k~ ==~= ~~ ~~:= =: :::= : ~ ~~ =~~- ~~~: = ~ ::::: = = =~ ~ ~: :: :~:: = :~~= ::~~:== 

f:le 21_ = ===== = ::::: -~~~j~s-~~-~~~-===~::::~: :::: ::::::: ~~~== ~ ~ ~ ~:: ~ ~~ ~:~:=== ~ ~ =::=:: :::::::: September 14 .......... do-------------- ______________ .... ________________ ...... ________ ... . June 3 ... : .•• ------ Truckee River. ____________ One-half mile below Truckee ...... ___ _ June 12 ...... ------ ..... do---------------------- ..... do ...... _____________________________ _ June 4 ............. Prosser Creek------------- At mouth ...... ---------------------- ___ _ July 27 ______ ------ ..... do---------------------- ______ ---------------- _____________________ _ 

September 9------ ..... do------------------ -···t····---------------------- ------------------

~~~i~t~ ~ ~ ~ ~ j ~[2}~il~~k ~~er! ~ j :; ~I;~';~;;;~: i \ ;~; i ~; ~ ~ [ i~ ~ ~ i:;;;; ~ i ~ i ~iii r~~ ~: ::::::::::: -~~~a.~?.~~~~-~==::==::~~=::: :::::: :=~=~~==~~=::: ====~~==:= :=====~:~~~~=: September 10 __________ do ________ -----------------------------------·----------------------

~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ -::~\~;~~:::-~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~: ~~~~~~ == ~~~~ September 12 .......... do .......... ______ ............ _ ..... ---------------- ...... _________ _ , I 

a Estimated. 

Discharge. 

Sec.-ft. 

25.19 

81.39 

46.01 

2.76 

127.8 

73.42-

1.09 

69.00 

19.19 

3"Z4.48 

126.97 

98.89 

14.69 

1.35 

24.51 

17.52 

8.54 

364.00 

264.00 

145.112 

24.67 

9.54 

a600.00 

49'Z.OO 

8.94 

27.14 

aOO.OO 

1.33 

aOO.OO 

00.28 

12.28 

aOO.OO 

12.63 

10.29 

0.40 

0.79 

40.7 

5.93 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATE.R-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 68 PL. Ill 

TRUCKEE RIVER AT RENO , NEV., DURING LOW WATER IN JULY, 1900. 
TAYLOR.] RUN ·OFF AND STREAM FLOW. 33 

In the early part of May, 1900, measurements were also made of the 

principal streams flowing into Lake Tahoe, with results as follows: 

Discharge measurements of strearns flowing into Lake Tahoe. 

Date. Stream. 

1900. 

May 5 --------"---- Ward Creek ________________ -------------------------------------------- May 6 ------ .. _____ Blackwood Creek------------ _____________ . ____ ------------------------ Do ______ ------ Three small streams between Idlewild and McKinneys ..••... -------

May~~~~~~~~~~~::~ ~~~~~ecr~~~~~ ~: ~ ~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~ ~== = =~~ ~ = ~ ~ ~ =~== 

::ft~:~~~~~:~;~l itf~1£TEi~~nJ:I:l:mt]~~B:_;~:~: a Estimated. 

Discharge. 

Sec.-ft. 147 

140-

a12 

10.1) 

100 

130 

a12 

60 

30 

160 

350 

a15 

Owing to severe wind storms, making it impossible to go on the lake 

in a small boat, it was not practicable to meastire the streams en~ering 

from the east and north between Glenbrook and Tahoe, though some 

of them were discharging considerable water. 

During August and S~ptember, 1901, another series of measurements of the various streams emptying into the lake was made, with 

the object of checking as closely as practicable the measured evaporation from the lake surface. Following are the results of these measurements, beginning with the first stream south of the lake outlet 

and following in regular order around the lake from right to left: 

Discharge 1neasurements of streams jlmm:ng into Lake Tahoe. 

D te 

I I 

Dis- I D I Dis- a . Stream. charge. I ate. Stream. charge. 

1901. I : Sec.-ft. I 1901. Sec.-ft. August 19 ..... Ward Creek---------- 3.20 I September10. Unnamed creek------ a0.15 

September 8 _______ do----------------- 1. 72 1 August23 .......... do----------------- a0.20 

August19 •.... Blackwood Creek ____ I 3.91 September10. _____ do_________________ a0.20 

September 8 _______ do----------------- 2.99 August23 _____ ..... do _____ ------------ a0.20 

August20 ...•. McKinney Creek_____ 0.891 September10 ...... do----------------- a0.15 

September 8 _______ do.---------------- 0.65 August24 ..... Glenbrook Creek_____ 0.38 

August2L .... General Creek________ 1.50 September10 ...... do _________________ , 0.40 

September 8 _______ do._.______________ 1. 08 Do----____ Spooner Creek._______ 0. 91 

August2L •... 1 MeiggsCreek_________ 1.29 Do ________ [ Unnamedcreek ------ a0.80 

September 8 --:-----do _______ ---------- a0.04 August27 .•..•..... do----------------- 0. 71 

August 21. .... , Unnamed creek______ 0.85 September1L _____ do----------------- a0.50 ~eptember 8 __ l _____ do ----------------- 0.42 August27 .••. .1 ..... do _____ ---·-. ------ 2.00 

August 22-----\ Rubicon Creek_______ 2.23 September 1L\-----do ----------------- 2.46 

September 8 _______ do-------__________ 1.90 August27 .•... 1 ..... do ----- ______ ------ 2.80 

August 22 ..... Unnamed creek------ a0.50 September1L ..... do_________________ 2.54 

September 9 _______ do _______ ------.... a0.40 August27 .... .1 ..... do ------- ,_________ a0.20 

August 22 ___ ._I Emerald Creek ____ .. _ 5. 76 September 1L 1- __ ._do ________ ... _..... aO. 20 

September 9 --,-----do-----------------! 1.24 August27 __________ do ___________ ---·-- · 1.52 

August 22 ..... ! Cascade Creek .. ______ ' 2.37 Septemberll.l ..... do ----- _ ----· _ ..... 1.04 

September 9 __ l _____ do _________________ I 0.80 August27·----~-----do ___________ ---·-- 1.14 

August22 _____ 1

1 

TaylorCreek _________ l 8.641 September1L _____ do_________________ 0.53 

September9 .. _____ do _________________ ! 3.33 August27 ..... _____ do_________________ a0.60 

August 22-----i Upper Truckee River I' 47.12 September1L _____ do--.--------------- a0.40 

September 9 __ , _____ do----------------- 35.14 August26 _____ Hot Sprmgs Creek___ 1.90 

August 22 •..•. j Trout Creek__________ 32.76 September1L _____ do----------------- 1.26 

September9 .. 1-----do .• ---------------~ 23.37 August25 _____ Unnamed creek------ a0.20 

August 23 _____ 1 Unnamed creek------ aO.lO September7 .. _____ do----------------- a0.20 

i~;:;~ -~~~ i ==~= =~~ = ==== ~ ~ =~=~ = =~=== rl ~ 8: gg ~~!t':'!~-rKl====~~ ~ ===~ =~~~ = =~~ ~~~~ ~: ~ 

a Estimated. 

IRR 68-02--3 
34 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [No.68. 

EV .APOR.ATION. 

Evaporation has received less attention than any other subject 

bearing upon water supply in the West, and as a consequence it is a 

factor of great uncertainty. 

On ~lay 17, 1900, a galvanized-iron tank 2 feet square and 2 feet in 

depth was placed in Lake Tahoe at its outlet, where it was protected 

from the heavy waves of the lake, for the purpose of measuring the 

evaporation from the lake surface. A finely divided scale was placed 

in the tank, and daily readings were taken about the same hour each 

day by :Mr. J. U. Haley, general freight and passenger agent of the 

Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company. The tank was at 

all times kept filled to within 1 or 2 inches of the top, and was floated 

by means of a t,imber frame, which also served as a protection from 

waves and drift, so that the water level inside and outside was about 

the same. The depth of water in which the tank was anchored was 

about 6 feet, and the water in the tank was fully exposed to wind and 

sun. The following table gives the monthly evaporation from :May 17, 

1900, to December 31, 1001, with the exception of the month of July 

of the latter year, when no record was kept, the tank having been 

damaged: 

Evaporat,ion in Lake Tahoe at Tahoe, Cal. 

a No record. 

As has been stated, during a portion of the months of August and 

September, 1901 (from August 19 to September 18, inclusive), a sedes 

of measurements of all of the streams discharging into Lake Tahoe was 

undertaken, with a view to checking the evaporation records kept at 

Tahoe. Two measurements were made of each stream. At the same 

time a careful record of the outflow fr0m the lake was kept and daily 

observaticms of evaporation were 1nade. 

For the purpose of approximating the mean discharge of the various affiuents during that period the mean of the two measurements 

of each stream was taken, this being deemed proper under the conditions, and the sum of the means was assumed to be the mean daily 

inflow to the lake. The following table gives the results of this study: 
TAYLOR.) EVAPORATION. 35 

,. Results of hydrographic investigations at Lake 'Tahoe from August 19 to September 

18, inclusive, 1901. 

Inflow: 

Mean daily discharge of streams into lake ______ . _______ second-feet __ 106.04 

Total addition to lake supply ________________________ .. ____ acre-feet__ 6, 310 

Equivalent depth on lake surface ____________________________ inches__ 0. 606 

Outflow: 

Mean daily discharge through Truckee River ___________ second-feet __ 356.68 

Total outflow from lake ______ . ___________________________ acre-feet_ _ 21, 931 

Equivalent depth on lake surface _____________________ ~ ______ inches __ 2.105 

Net outflow: 

T'Otal outflow less total inflow ____________________________ acre-feet __ 15, 621 

Equivalent depth on lake surface ____________________________ inches__ 1. 50 

'l'otal measured evaporation ____ . _________________________________ do____ 5. 71 

Net reduction of lake level ________________________________________ do. _ _ _ 7. 21 

Observed reduction of lake level, fixed gage_-~- ___________________ do __ ~_ 7. 20 

During the period over which t.hese o hservations ext.ended there 

were no ra~ns which could interfere with their accuracy. It is therefore believed that the observed evaporation at Lake Tahoe since May 

17, 1900, will very closely approximate the actual loss from the lake 

surface from that source, as well as the probable evaporation in other 

lakes or in storage reservoirs situated at about 6,000 feet altitude in 

this portion of the Sierras during the period over which the record 

ext,:mds. Of course, evaporation is not constant from year t.o year, 

but the variation should not be great in this region, and as the summer of 1900 and the summer and fall of 1901 were unusually dry and 

windy, the evaporation during that period can probably safely be 

considered a maximum. 

During the year 1894, from ~lay 11 to November 30, the writer 

conducted a series of observations at Reno, Nev., with a view to 

determining approximat.ely the depth of evaporation at that place. 

For this purpose a small galvanized-iron tank, 18 inches square and 

18 inches deep, was sunk in the ground until the rim was but half an 

inch above the surface. This was at all times kept filled to within 

less, than 1 inch of the top, and was so placed that it was fully 

exposed to sun and wind. The earth immediately around the tank 

was kept wet. The results are believed to be a fairly close approximation to the loss that would occur in a lake, reservoir, or canal at 

Reno; and since the conditions influencing evaporation-te.mperature, humidity of atmosphere, winds, etc.-over the lower portion of 

Truck~e Basin are nearly identical with those at Reno, they should be 

roughly applicable to other points in that portion of the basin. In 

estimating the evaporation from proposed storage reservoirs or canals, 

however, conservath;e judgment would dictate the addition of a lib:.. 

eral percentage for safety, especially since the results are for only a 

part of one season. 
36 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

Evaporationfrorn tank in earth at Reno, Net•., during 1894. 

Depth in inches. 

May 11 to 31. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. 80 

June _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5. 35 

July _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8. 45 

August_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9. 12 

September _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7. 44 

October _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. 31 

November____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. 75 

Total____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 40. 22 

If the evaporation during the remaining five months of the year 

amounts to 12.78 inches in depth, or an average of about ::?t inches a 

month, which would appear from the foregoing table to be a fair estimate, the total for the year "\Vould amount to 53 inches. 

It is possible that the evaporation from the surface of Pyramid and 

Winnemucca lakes may he a trifle greater than thiR, though a comparison of the following data with the result.R of discharge measurements of Truekee River at Vista, remembering that t.he run-off from 

t.he portion of the drainage area below that place is merely nominal 

and that the precipitation at the lakes is probably less than 6 inches, 

would indicate the reverse. 

Estirnated et•aporation from Pyramid and fVinnenwcca lakes, based on obseM•ations at Reno, Net•., in 1894. 

Depth of annual evaporation___ _ _ _ ____________________ inches__ 53 

Combined area of lakes_~-- _____________________ square miles__ 345 

Total evaporation _________________________________ .acre-feet __ 975,200 

'ro compensate for this loss and maintain the water-surface level in 

the lakes would require a mean annual inflow of 1,347 cubic feet per 

second. 

Comparison with the results of measurement.s given in the table of 

estimated mean monthly, annual, and mean annual discharge of 

Truckee River at Vista (pages 22-23) would indicate that the mean 

annual evaporation is less than the foregoing estimate, or that the 

normal run-off from the Truckee Basin is greater than indicated in 

the table referred to. 

INVESTIGATIONS OF 1889 AND 1890. 

RESERVOIR SITES. 

During the years 1889 and 1890 surveys were made to ascertain the 

most feasible and economical mode of utilizing the waters of Truckee 

River, and the results of the field examinations were reported upon 

by Mr 'Villiam Ham. Hall, supervising engineer. 1 Surveys were made 

1 Eleventh and Twelfth Ann. Repts. U. S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II, and Thirteenth Ann. Rept., 

Pt. III. 
TAYLOR.] RESERVOIR SI'l'ES. 87 

of the reservoir sites enumerated in the table on page ?8, and the 

reports included a discussion of the mode of diverting and utilizing 

the waters. 

Two projects for the utilization of the waters of Lake Tahoe were 

investigated. The first contemplated driving a tunnel through the 

Tahoe Range from what is known as Boundary Bay, in the southeastern part. of the lake, near the Nevada-California boundary line, to 

Haines Creek Canyon, on the west side of Carson Valley, a distance 

of 17,331 feet, and tapping the lake 20 feet below the low-water plane. 

The second project had in view the construction of a dam in the lake 

outlet at Tahoe, for the purpose of raising the lake surface arid drawing off the surplus water through 'rruckee River for use along that 

stream. 

Two projects for water storage in the Donner Lake basin were also 

considered and estimated upon. One of these provided for storage 

in the lake alone, by means of raising, and closing a gap in, an ancient 

glacial moraine immeuiately below and to the east of the lake, thus 

r~jsing its surface 20 feet above low-water plane and impounding 

2*,205 acre-feet of water, the surface area of the reservoir being 1,337 

a~res. The other contemplated the construction of two dams, 98 and 

3$ feet in height, respectively, and impounding the waters of the 

Donner Lake and the Cold Creek basins. This reservoir would have 

a surface area of 2,006 acres and a storage capacity of 42,827 acre-feet. 

'llhe cost of the first project was estimated at $54,810 and of the sec-

')nd project at $279,245. No provision was made in these estimates 

for cost of rights of way and damages to property, which in the case 

of the second and larger reservoir would be very great, as the track 

of the Central Pacific Railroad would have to be removed for a considerable distance. 

At Independence Lake it was proposed to build a dam across the 

outlet channel about 1,800 feet below the lake, the dam to have a 

maximum height of 40 feet,, raising the lake surface 25 feet above 

ordinary low water and impounding 2:3,707 acre-feet over a total area 

of 984 acres. The estimated cost of the dam ·alone was $56,844. 

Tile Webber Lake reservoir was to be formed by means of a dam 

having a maximum height of 30 feet., estimated to cost, exclusive of 

rights of way and damages, $23,927, if built of earth. This dam 

would raise the lake level 20 feet, flooding a total area, including lake 

surface, of 778 acres and impounding 11,152 acre-feet. 

Estimates were made of the cost of the dams for the I~ower Truckee 

reservoirs (Nos. 1 and 2), but since they did not include rights of way 

and cost of moving the track of the Central Pacific Railroad, which 

traverses both sites, they are not quoted. 
38 WATER f:5TORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

The following table gives the areas, storage capacities, and heights 

of dams for each of the reservoirs surveyed and reported upon: 

Resert•oir sites snrt•cy-ed-i1_~_1_8_8_9_a_n_d~18-\f,---o_. ----,----.,-----

Name of reservoir. Height 

of dam. 

-·Feet. 

Tahoe_ ...... ------------ ____________ ------------------------------____ (a) Donner Lake. ________________________________ .________________________ 26 

Donner-Cold Creek. ______________________________ ------ __________ .... ;fl8and 33 

ii~l~~·;; ~ ~;;;:;;; ;;; ~; ~;;; ;;;;;; ;; l; ;; ; ~;; ~ ~;;;;;:;;; j ;; ; I i ~ffiti~iiri iT~:~~:~~::~~~~~:~~~~:::::~:::~:::::::::~:~:~~::: I i . a Not reported. 

CANAL ROUTES. 

The following canal routes were also suryeyed: 1 

Area. 

Acres. 

(a) 

1,337 

2,006 984 

778 

2'25 

206 

450 

120 

310 

350 

160 

350 

400 

395 

Capacity. 

Acre-feet. 

(a) 

22,205 

~ 827 23:707 

11,152 

1,350 

(a) 

10,100 

2,250 

3,480 

6,500 

4,800 

4,000 

7,5!10 

7,400 

(1) Commencing about 20 feet, below the t,op of the proposed Truckee reservoir dam, a little less than a mile above the town of Truckee, 

survey was made of a canal line on t,he south side of the river to command the lands extending from immediately below Truckee into 

Martis Valley. This line was run on a grade of 0.4 foot to 1,000 feet, 

and was extended 74,400 feet. No data as to the amount of land 

commanded are supplied, nor are any estimates of cost furnished. 

(2} A canal line was surveyed from a point in the gap traversed by 

the wagon road to the northwest of the town of Truckee and about 

2 miles east of Donner Lake, extending ar~und to the north of 

Truckee, to command lands lying between Truckee River and Prosser Creek. The grade elevation of the head of this canal line was 30 

feet below the proposed high-water plane of the projected Donner 

Lake reservoir. It was run to Prosser Creek, a distance of 29,000 

feet, on a grade of 0.2 foot to 1,000 feet. 

(3) Surveys were made for canals to divert water to the lands in 

the neighborhood of Reno, but no report of the results of these surveys was made. 

(4) Lower Truckee canals.-Caual sutTeys were also made from the 

dam sites of the proposed Lower Truckee reservoirs (Nos. 1 and 2}. 2 

In each case the lines were run from points near the tops of the proposed dams. Line No. 1 was started on the south side of the river 

about 4:i miles above- the .town of 'Vadsworth, and extended a total 

1 Eleventh Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II. 

2 Thirteenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. III. 
TAYLOR.] CANAL ROUTES AND RESERVOIR SITES. 39 

length of 50,700 feet, or to the commencement of Warm Springs Valley, 5f miles past t,hat town, commanding about 10,500 acres of land. 

Line No. 2 was started a few feet below the crest of the proposed dam 

for Lower Truckee reservoir No. 1, being at about 100 feet greater 

elevation than the head of line No. 1 and about lOt miles above the 

town of 'Vadsworth, and was run along the mountain side south of 

the river to a point just above the town, thence was swung around to 

the south, commanding a wide valley and mesa country to the eastward. It was continued a distance of 90,000 feet, far enough to 

establish the fact thafit could be carried into the Lower Carson or 

Carson Sink Valley. From the main line a branch was surveyed 

from just below the head of canal line No. 1, with the object of crossing Truckee River by pressure pipes. This line was carried northward, on a grade of 1 foot to the mile, a distance of 45,000 feet, to 

command lands on the high plateau north of Wadsworth. The main 

canal would co~mand more than 100,000 acres of good land east of 

'Vadsworth and in the Carson Sink Valley. It was given a grade of 

It feet to the mile and a cross section of 200 square feet, making its 

capacHy about 600 second-feet. 

INVESTIGATIONS OF 1900-1901. 

RESERVOlR SITES. 

In the latter part of April, 1899, the writer, acting under instructions from :Mr. F. H. Newell, chief of the division of hydrography of 

the United States Geological Survey, began a general study of the basin 

of Truckee River for the purpose of ascertaining its water supply and 

the extent to and the means 9y which it can be utilized for irrigation 

and other purposes. 

Previous investigations had established the fact that in order to use 

the water of the Truckee to the fullest extent and the best advantage 

it would be necessary to construct storage reservoirs for the purpose 

of conserving the flood waters, thus regulating and controlling the 

stream flow. This was more fully demonstrated by the results of measurements made during the years 1899 and 1900, as will be seen by reference to the tables of stream measurements and discharge. 

A general study of the various storage sites known to exist within 

the Truckee Basin was begun, with a view to ascertaining the volume 

of the run-off from the drainage area tributary to each and the extent 

to which it might economically be impounded. 

In pursuing these investigations recourse was had to the preci,Pitation data collected. by the United States Signal Service and the Weather 

Bureau (the results being given on previous pages of this report), 

numerous stream measurements were made, and a number of the reservoir sites (including most of those surveyed in 1889 and 1890 and 
40 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO.6$. 

three new ones) were examined, some of them instrumentally and 

others only superficially. It was not practicable, however, to give to 

these the careful, detailed examination requisite to supply data for 

working plans for the dams required, upon which final estimates of 

capacity and cost might be based. rrhE:l estimates giYen are merely 

preliminary in character, though where doubtful they are believed to 

be on the side of safety. 

Following is a list of the reservoirs consider~d worthy of construction and upon which estimates have been made: 

Practicable reservoir sites. in the Truckee Basin. 

Date of survey. 

Lake Tahoe. _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1889-90 and 1900 

Donner Lake __________________________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ 1889-90 and 1900 

Independence Lake _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1889-90 and 1900 

Twin Valley ______ . ______ . ___ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18S9-90 and 1900 

Little Truckee ________________________________________ 1889-90 and 1900 

Henness Pass Valley_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1900 

Dog Valley _ . __________________________ . ____ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1900 

The waters which would be impounded in eaeh of the foregoing 

reservoirs would be permitted to flow through t,heir natural channels 

into the main Truckee River, there to be employed for the purpose of 

developing power for industrial uses, or to be dive!ted for the irrigation of the arable lands in the valleys in and adjacent to the lower 

portion of the Truckee Basin, where they could most economically 

and profitably be used. 

IMPRACTICABLE SITES. 

The Monument Peak and Grass Lake sites, in the Tahoe Basin, 

were not considered, for the reason that the waters which might be 

impounded there could be used only in the high, cold lake valley, 

where forage plants only can profitably be grown; and sinee, in order 

to convey them to the lower valleys of the Truckee Basin, they must 

pass through Lake Tahoe, it would be more economical to store them 

in the latter lake. 

The Truckee reservoir, never an economical project, can no longer 

be considered, on account of the recent construction, through the entire 

length of the site, of the railroad from Truckee to Tahoe. 

The site at Stampede Valley (reservoir No. 35 of the survey of 

1889-90) is also partly traversed by a railroad. However, if that were 

not the fact, the cost of its utilization would be disproportionate to 

the storage capacity. 

As already stated, the Lower Truckee reservoirs (Nos. 1 and 2) could 

not be considered, because they are traversed by the Central Pacific 

Railroad, which would make the cost of utilization prohibitory. 

Consideration of Webber Lake as a storage site was abandoned for 
TAYLOR.] IMPRACTICABLE RESERVOIR SITES. 41 

the following reasons: (1) The water which would be impounded can 

be more economically stored in the Little Truckee and the Henness 

Pass Valley reservoirs, to which they are also tributary; and (2) its 

FIG. 2.-Contour map of Webber Lake and profile of dam site. The site occupies portions of 

sees. 21, 28, 29, 32, and 33 in T. 19 N., R. 14 E., M.D. M. 

construction would involve the destruction of considerable private 

property, necessitating large expenses for damages, and it is deemed 

better, as a broad public policy, to incur expense for construction 

rather than destruction, especially if it be pract.icable to accomplish 
42 W .ATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO, 68. 

the former without the latter. A contour map of Webber Lake and 

.a profile of the dam site are shown in fig. ·2 (p. 41 ). 

The Squaw Valley site (see figs. 3 and 4), although calling for but 

FIG. 3.-Map of Squaw Valley reservoir site. The site occupies portions of sees. 28, 29, and 32 in 

T. 16 N., R. 16 E., M.D. M . 

.a nominal outlay for construction, ·will, by reason of its small capacity, 

involve too great an expense, relatively, for watchmen, maintenance, 

etc., to justify its inclusion in a general water-storage project. 

FIG. 4.-Contour map of Squaw Valley dam site. 

The Boca reservoir project is abandoned on account of relatively 

high cost and the introduction of the silt problem, the solution of 

which is both difficult and expensive, and also on account of some 

uncertainty as to the water supply. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURV~Y WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 6a PL. r\1' 

A. DAM IN TRUCKEE RIVER AT LAKE TAHOE. 

B. VIEW LOOKING EAST FROM HEAD OF EMERALD BAY, LAKE TAHOE. 
TAYLOR.] LAKE TAHOE. 43 

On Martis Creek, 4 miles east of the town of Truckee, is a site with 

an ample water supply, but examination has demonstrated that it 

would be too expensive in proportion to its storage capacity. 

In Little Valley, to the west of 'Vashoe Lake and immediately east 

of the crest of the Tahoe mountain range, is a very good site, having 

a capacity of about 6,500 acre-feet, where t,he cost of construction 

would not be great. However, the ·water stored would be employed 

only to increase, and insure in dry seasons, the supply for lands now 

under irrigation in the \Y as hoe Valley, and would have no bearing 

upon the general project of reclamation of arid lands in the Truckee 

Basin. 

At Sardine Valley, about 9 miles north of Boca, in the basin of 

Little Truckee River, is a very good reservoir site, where about 16,000 

acre-feet of water could be stored, but unfortunately a railroad has 

Tecently been built through it, and the cost of its removal would be 

greater than the value of the water for many years to come. 

LAKE TAHOE. 

Lake Tahoe (shown in Pl. I and in fig. 5) is the greatest natural 

lake of the Sierra Nevada and one of the largest mountain htkes in 

America. .Its maximum length from north to south is 21t miles and 

its extreme width from east to west 12 miles. Its area is 193 square 

1niles and its altitude above sea level about 6,225 feet at mean low 

stage. ·Its greatest depth is about 2,000 feet. The tributary watershed, including its own surface and excluding the drainage area of 

Marlette Lake, whose waters are divert,ed from the basin for the supply 

of Virginia, Nev., is 519 square miles. Its natural outlet is Truckee 

River, which leaves the lake at Tahoe. 

The boundary line between the States of California 'and Nevada 

passes through the lake, leaving about two-thirds of its area in the 

former State and one-third in the latter State. With the exception 

<>f Lake Valley, at its southern end, almost the entire watershed is 

composed of rugged, precipitous mountains, which rise from 1,500 t,o 

4,700 feet above its surface and generally descend abruptly to the 

water's edge. Originally these mountains were densely timbered, but 

during recent years those to the east of the lake have been almost 

denuded of their forest,s for lumber and fuel. 

In the channel of Truckee River, about 500 feet back from the lake, 

is a crib dam of timber and stone (see Pl. IV, A), which for the last 

twenty years or more has been controlled by the Truckee Lumber 

Company, which has used the lake waters for flushing logs down the 

Tiver and for supplying power t~o its sawmills at Truckee when the 

natural flow of the stream is insufficient for those purposes. For 

the last five years the waters have not been employed for flushing 

logs, but they are still used for power purposes. The dam has three 

openings, with 10.7, 10.5, and 9.3 feet clear width, which are closed 
44 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

by timber gates. The two wider openings have in the center vertical posts 8 inches in width, which have been deducted in the 

Scale 1 3mlles 

! 

! 

i 

! 

. ~--·-··-·--tt-·-·t----;-

LAKE TAHOIE 

j 

! 

i 

~FL::::;I~ft:"·:-~---·---------~ 

~i :z's 

~~~ 

~!~ ~i 

Fro. 5.-Map of Lake Tahoe. 

widths of the openings given. The dam has a waste way of 72 feet 

clear length and 6 feet above the floor of the gates. 
• 

TAYLOR.] LAKE TAHOE. 45 

The following data regarding the fluctuations in the lake's surface 

are taken from the Eleventh Annual Report of the United States 

Geological Survey, Part II. On July 19, 1889, the elevation of the 

lake surface was taken at 6,225 feet. As subsequently found, the 

water afterwards fell during that summer about 1.2 feet, reaching 

extreme low water in the autumn. At the time of the survey, July 

19, the wasteway crest was 5.05 feet above the water surface of the 

lake. As afterwards ascertained by Mr. William Ham. Hall, supervising engineer of the United States Irrigation Survey, the lowest known 

water plane of the lake was in October, 1889, when, as already stated, 

the surface was about 1.2 feet lower than at the time of the survey. 

The highest observed elevation of the lake's waters at Tahoe occurred 

in the spring of 1886, and was from 5.3 to 5.5 feet above the extreme 

low water of 1889. The high water of 1888 was observed on September 8, 1. 85 feet, and that of 1889 in the early spring of that year, 1. 55 

feet above the same datum. The high water of the spring of 1890 

was very nearly as great as that of 1886, notwithstanding the fact that 

the outlet gates of the dam remained open during the rising period. 

:From 1890 to 1895 no data of the fluctuations of the lake level are 

obtainable, but on July 3 of the latter year t,he write·r began a series 

of observations of the outflow from the lake. At that time the water 

surface in the lake was 5. 95 feet, higher than the above datum. The 

outlet gates then and for a considerable time previously were open 

and more than 1,100 cubic feet per second were flowing out. The 

maximum stage was reached on July 7, when the water stood at 5.97 

feet, but on July 11 it began to reced~, reaching the lowest point on 

December 17, when it was 4.5 feet. On February 29, 1896, when 

observations were discontinued, the water stood 4. 98 feet higher than 

the datum mentioned. From that time until April 28, 1900, no reliable record of the variations in the lake level was kept. On the latter 

date the writer began the investigations described herein, and found 

that the water level was then 3.30 feet above the extreme low-water 

level of 1899, or 3.05 feet above the floor of the outlet gates in the dam 

at the lake outlet. The water continued to rise gradually until June 

17, when the outlet gates were first opened, having ~hen reached a 

height of 3.95 feet. After that date it remained stationary until July 

1, when it began to fall gradually, until on October 17 it was 2.82 feet. 

After that time, until November 30, it fluctuated between 2.82 and 2.98 

feet, standing at 2.95 feet on the latter date. From November 30, 1900, 

to July 27, 1901, only occasional observations were made. On the latter 

date the water in the lake reached the highest stage during the year5.38 feet above extreme low water of 1889, or 5.13 feet above the floor 

of the outlet gates. From July 27 until August 4 the water level 

remained stationary, but on the latter date it began to decline, reaching the lowest stage on November 30, when it was 3.86 feet above the 

floor of the outlet gates. During December it rose as high as 4.06 

feet, but on the last day of that month it stood at 3. 98 feet. 
• 

46 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN~ (NO. t.l8. 

The following table shows the height of the lake surface above the 

floor of the outlet gates in the dam as observed daily from April28 to 

November 30, 1900, and at. inteevals from that. date until December 

31, 1901. 

Observed heights of water surface in Lake Tahoe above floor of outlet gates. 

1900. 

Day. I Apr. I May. r June./ July., Aug. Sept. i Oct. Nov. 

1

-·-:------

1 .. --- .... --·-·- ---------- ·-·· ------ ----. ·-- 3. 09 3.54 3. 70 3. 39 2. 89 2. 63 2.61 2-----------------------------~----- ________ I 3.10 3.55 3.69 3.38 2.88 2.62 2.61 

3- ----·· --------- .. ------- ----- -----~---- ---- 3.11 3.56. 3.67 3. 36 2.87 2. 62 2. 61 

4----------------------------------- -------- 3.15 3.57 3.67 3.34 2.90 2.63 2.60 

,} ----------------- -----· ------------ -------- 3.16 3. 58 3. 66 3.33 2. 90 2. 64 2. 60 6----------------------------------- -------- 3.17 3.59 3.65 3.32 2. 89 2.65 2.60 

7 - ----.- - --.-- --. ----- ------ ---- ---. -------- 3. 18 3. 60 3. 64 3. 30 2. 88 2. 64 2. 59 8 ___________________________________ 1 _______ 3.19 3.61 3.63 3.28 2.87 2.64 2.64 

9----------------------------------- -------- 3. 20 3.62 3. 61 3.27. 2.86 2. 63 2.64 10 ___________________________________ -------- 3.22 3.63 3.60 3.25 2.84 2.62 2.65 

11. __________________________________ -------- 3.24 3.64 3.59 3.24 2.83 2.61 2.65 

12----------------------------- ______ , ____ ---- 3. 26 3. 65 3. 58 3. 22 2. 82 2.60 2.65 

13 -- --- - .. --- ---- ---- - -.. -- - -• --- ---_I_ --- ---- 3. 28 3. 66 3. 59 3. 20 2. 81 2. 60 2. 65 

i~~~~~~=~=~~~==~~~~====~~==~~==~=~~={======= ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ ~j~ ~:~ ~:~ ~:~ 16 ---.- -- .. -------- ---- -..... ---- -- -- ---- -- -- 3. 34 3. 69 3. 56 3. 15 2. 77 2. 58 2. 64 

17------------------------------------------- 3.36 3.70 3.55 3.13 2.76 2.57 2.69 

20 ~t==~===~===~========~==~==~~~====== ___________________________________ --------

======~= 3.40 *:~ 3.70 ~:~8 3.52 g:~ I 3.08 ~JA 2.73 2.63 ~:~~ ~:~ 2.70 ~:~ 21. __________________________________ -------· 3.41 3.70 3.51 3.07 2.72 2.63 2.72 

2'2 - - -.. -- ---- - -.. -- - -. --- - -. --- - ----- ---- --- - 3. 43 3. 70 3. 50 3. 05 2. 71 2. 62 2. 73 

23----------------------------------- -------- 3.44 3.70 3.49 3.03 2.69 2.61 2.73 

24. ------ ------ ------ --.... --. --- ---- -------- 3. 45 3. 70 3. 48 3. 0"2 2. 68 2. 61 2. 72 

25 ... ---------------------------------------- 3.46 3.70 3.47 3.00 2.67 2.60 2.71 

26.---------------------------------- -------- 3. 47 3. 70 3.46 2. 98 2.67 2.59 2. 72 

27----------------------------------- -------- 3.48 3.70 3.45 2.96 2.66 2.59 2.72 

28 ----- ------ - -.. -- ------ ----.- ------ 3. 05 3. 49 3. 70 3. 44 2. 94 2. 65 2. 62 2. 71 

29 --... -- --... - ---- - ----. ----.- ------ 3. (l6 3. 51 3. 70 3. 43 2. 93 2. 64 2. 62 2. 71 30 - - - . -.- - -... - - c ---- - ---.- - ----- • -- . 3. 07 3. 52 3. 70 3. 42 2. 91 2. 63 2. 61 2. 70 31. __________________________________ -------- 3.53 3.41 2.00 2.61 

1901. 

Day. Jan. Feb.:Mar. Apr.[May.June.IJuly.,Aug.fSept.l Oct.,Nov. Dec._ 

------------ --·--- ------'------ 4.03 ------'------ 4.02 ------------------

------ 4. 04 ------

iiiii~ i::l:::i~ 26 _________________________ ------------------------ ------ 5.01 ------ 4.93 4.47 ~~~~~~ ~~~~~}~~~~~ 

iHm~~~::nmm~::: ~F =~-~: :~-Hn·~ :i:~~ _H: ;:H i:l J~)-:~~ T~fl~~ 
TAYLOR.] LAKE TAHOE. 47 

Observations of rainfall, evaporation, elevation of lake surface, and 

discharge should be continued at Lake Tahoe, in order that the records 

may be perfected and the estimates herein given be verified and 

checked. In considering these conditions doubtful features have 

been decided on the side of safety, so as to decrease the estimated 

supply. The estimates are therefore believed to be conservative, and 

it is expected that further physical studies, although deemed neces~ 

sary, will demom;;trate a greater and cheaper water supply. 

No rainfall observations have ever been made within the Tahoe 

Basin, excepting those at Marlette I~ake during 1894 and 1895 and at 

Glenbrook during the early part of 1901, and these extend over too 

short a time to be of much value. It is believed, however, that if 

the precipitation due to the elevation at the lake surface, computed 

from t.he table of increase of precipitation with each 100 feet. rise, 

with Wads worth as a base, or 31.97 inches, be taken as the normal 

for the entire Tahoe drainage area, it will be well on the side of safety. 

This amount of rainfall upon the lake surface will ordinarily compensate for all losses from evaporation, and the run-off from the remainder of the catchment. area (326 square .miles in extent), computed 

from the Newell curve; would be equal to a depth of 19t inches, or 

339,000 acre-feet in an average year, which can be impounded and 

drawn off as required. 

During the seasonal year ending August 31, 1901, the mean precipitation at five stations in the upper part of the Truckee Basin was 

about 17 per cent in' excess of the normal, though at Summit it was 

only 10 per cent above and at Truckee it was slightly below. 

The run-off measured at Vista for the same period was only 645,112 

acre-feet, being about 11 per cent less than the normal, as deduced 

from measurement~ made up to the present time, and in the writer's 

judgment, still below the normal run-off for the entire basin, after 

making allowance for the water impounded in Lake Tahoe, which 

would otherwise have been added to the measured run-off. 1 

During the seasonal year under consideration the volume of water 

discharged from Lake r.rahoe through Truckee River was as follows: 

Volume of water, in acre-feet, discharged from Lake Tahoe through Truckee River 

.from September, 1900, to September, 1901. 

Sept./ Oct. Nov. i Dec._[ Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. I June. I July. Aug. Total. 

11, 6671 9, 781 8, onj 4, 981 16,262 4,50'.a 1,845 565 ~11,765113,801 25,760 88,97 6 

On August 31, 1900, the water surface in the lake stood 2. 90 feet 

above the floor of the outlet gates in the dam in Truckee River. On 

August 31, 1901, it stood 4. 83 feet above, the difference being 1. 93 feet., 

representing 241,250 acre-feet of water which had been impounded 

during the year. This, added to the 88,976 acre-feet discharged 

1 This conclusion is based upon the discussion of evaporation and run-off on pages 47-48. 
48 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

through Truckee River, gives 330,226 acre-feet as the total run-off 

of the Tahoe Basin in excess of evaporation for a year when the run-off 

from other parts of the Truckte Basin appears from data at hand to 

have been Romewhat below the normal. Hence it is believed that the 

mean annual run-off will closely approximate that estimated on page 

47, or 339,000 acre-feet. 

Of course the watershed will not yield this volume of water every 

year, but it will be seen from the figures given that frequently the 

run-off is greater; and by building in the lake outlet a clam of sufficient height to hold back two or three times that amount of water, 

which is entirely feasible, it is certain that sufficient water can be 

FIG. 6.-Contour map of Lake Tahoe dam site. 

drawn off each season to materially augment the flow of Truckee 

River during low-water periods. It is estimated that fully 200,000 

acre-feet can thus be dr.awn annually. 

On making a survey of the outlet of Lake Tahoe, where the existing dam is located, it was found that the bed of the channel above 

this clam is in its deepest part from 1! to 2 feet below the floor of the 

outlet gates, and that the general level of the ground a few feet back 

from the south or left bank is about 10 feet above the same datum, 

while the right bank rises quite abruptly to a height of 12 or 13 feet, 

and then more gradually for a considerable distance. This is shown 

in the contour map of the Tahoe dam site, fig. 6. On this map the 
TAYLOR.) L.AKE TAHOE. 49 

elevat.ion of the floor of the outlet gates is assumed at 6,223.8 feet, 

and in the further discussion of this storage project that elevation is 

used. By reference to the map it will be seen that a dam could readily 

be built to a height of 8.15 feet above. the floor of the outlet gates, 

which would raise the water to the 6,232-foot contour and yet not be 

excessively long nor flood a large area of land around the outlet. 

Investigation, however, developed the fact that if the water should be 

raised much above the 6,230-foot contour it would necessitate raising 

the many landing piers on the lake, besides doing considerable damage 

at several of the summer resorts upon its shores. Inasmuch, therefore, as the storage capacity at the 6,230-foot contour would be nearly 

750,000 acre-feet, or almost four times the amount contemplated to be 

drawn off annually, which would appear to afford a sufficient reserve 

to tide over any dry period likely to occur, this contour has been fixed 

upon as the highest flow line of the proposed reservoir; and in order 

that the water may not be lowered to such an extent as to interfere 

with navigation, the 6,224-foot contour is the ultimate low-water line 

provided for in this report. The capacities and areas of the reservoir 

within these limits are estimated as follows: 

Area and capacity of proposed Lake Tahoe reservoir at different elevations. 

Contour. Area. I Capacity. Contour. I Area. Capacity. 

Feet. Ac1·es. 

1-A·'~~~= Feet. I A~M. Acre-jeet. 

a6,224 123,500 6,228 124,700 495,600 

6,226 123,700 6,230 125,100 74.5,400 ['11,'' 

a Level of outlet. I 7 !J ·. ). ..J J ·~~ 

From the discussion of the water supply on the preceding pages it 

appears that two or three times in a decade there occurs a season 

when the drainage area yields nearly, if not quite, sufficient water to fill 

the reservoir, besides making up evaporation losses; while, so far as is 

known, there never has been a year when some water did not flow out 

of the lake in addition to that lost by evaporation. The precipitation 

tables given in the first part of this report show that at Truckee and 

Summit, the two stations which from their situation and surroundings should give results most nearly applicable to the Tahoe Basin, 

with thirty and twenty-five year records, respectively, there never 

have been more than two years of extremely light rainfall in succession, and never more than three in which the mean at these two 

stations was below the normal. This being true, it would appear reasonably safe to assume the same conditions to exist in the Tahoe watershed. It is upon this assumption and those previously stated, together 

with the known facts that during some years the water supply is 

equal to and possibly in excess of the proposed reservoir capacity and 

that the run-off from the drainage area is always in excess of the 

IRR 68-02--4 
50 W .A.TER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

losses from evaporation, that t~e estimate of 200,000 acre-feet available annually from a reservoir holding nearly four years' supply is 

based. 

It may b6 that by impounding the water to a greater height the 

reservoir could be made to supply a larger amount than is here estimated, but in the absence of definite data it is not safe to rely upon 

it. If, however, a dam be built of sufficient height to raise the water 

to the 6,220-foot contour, a few years would suffice to determine the 

fact, and provision could then be made for the increased capacity 

before there would be pressing demand for the additional water. 

The site selected as the most favorable one for the location of a 

permanent dam is a few feet above (toward the lake front) the existing 

dam. Here, at about the level of the lowest part of the river bed and 

extending across the .channel, is a firm conglomerate which would 

afford a very good foundation. On this it is planned to erect a concrete 

dam having a maximum height of 13 feet and a top length of 220 feet. 

In this structure will be 20 gates or sluiceways, each having a clear 

width of 5 feet and a height of 3 feet. These will be closed by castiron or steel gates working on bronze bearings, which will be opened 

and closed by means of screw stems working in capstan head female 

screws at the top. No wasteway will be required in this dam, as the 

surplus water can at all times be drawn off through the outlet gates 

or can safely pass over its crest. The following estimate of cost has 

been prepared : 

Dam: 

Estirnate of cost of Lake Tahoe reservoir. 

2,100 cubic yards of concrete, at $10. _____________ . _________________ $21,000 

Cofferdam for foundation _______ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 500 

Excavation for foundation, 700 cubic yards, at $1 ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 700 

Outlet works, 20 gates complete________________________________________ 2, 500 

Deepening channel from lake to dam, distance 500 feet, excavation 5,000 

cubic yards, at $0.60 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3, 000 

Deepening channel below dam for 2,000 feet, bed width 100 feet, excava- tion 10.000 cubic yards, at $0.20_ _ __ _ _ ____ _ _ ____ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ 2, 000 

Damages for lands flooded: 

Upper Truckee marsh, 1,240 acres, at $4. ____________ .. ______ $4,960 

Taylor Creek marsh, 110 acres, at $.5_ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ _ _ __ 550 

Grounds at Tallac _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 250 

At Tahoe, 7t acres, at $100 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 750 

7,510 

Engineering _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5, 000 

Legal expenses _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3, 000 

Contingencies, 10 per cent _________________________________________ -_____ 4, 521 

Total ____________________________________________________________ 49,731 

It will be seen that in this est,imate provision is made for damages 

to lands flooded. At the southern end of the lake, at the mouth of 

Upper Truckee River, is a considerable area of low, marshy ground, 

much of which is under water at even ordinary stages of the lake, 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVE.Y WAtER-SUPPLY PAPEI~ NO. 6G PL. V 

A. DONN E R LAKE. 

B . FALLS OF LITTLE TRUCKEE RIVER, ONE- HALF MILE BELOW WEBBER LAKE. 
TAYLOR.] DONNER LAKE. 51 

but iR dry at extremely low stages. A survey was made of this area, 

and it was found that approximately 1,240 acres lay between the 

6,225-foot and the 6,230-foot contours and outside of a narrow sand 

bar which marks the boundary of the lake proper. The higher portions of this marsh are used for pasturage purposes in the summer 

and autum·n. The sum of $4 an acre, or $4,960, is considered a liberal 

price for this land; 

At the mouth of Taylor Creek, to the west of Tallac, is a similar 

tract of land, part marsh and part meadow, a little higher than that 

of t,he Upper Truckee, also used for pasturage. Of this area, 110 

acres are below the 6,230-foot contour. A valuation of $5 an acre, 

which is believed t,o be fair, has been placed upon this land. 

At Tallac about 1 acre of the improved grounds immediately adjacent to the hotel buildings is slightly below the 6,230-foot contour. 

The damage to this .Property is estimated at the cost of filling in this 

low ground to a height of 1 foot above the high-water line in the reservoir, which would be cheaper than moving the buildings to higher land 

and would really constitute an improvement of the grounds. 

At Tahoe a small area of land would be flooded on each side of the 

lake outlet, amounting to about 7f acres in the aggregate. That to 

the south is unimproved and not very valuable; part of that to the 

north is used by the Lake Tahoe Railway and rrransportation Company. An average price of $100 an acre, or $750, which is thought 

reasonable, has been placed on this. In addition, $3,000 has been 

added to cover probable legal expenses. 

DONNER LAKE. 

Donner Lake, a view of which is shown in Pl. V, A, occupies a 

glacial basin lying close under the crest of the main Sierra Nevada 

and lengthwise between two spurs which jut eastward therefrom. Its 

ordinary water surface is almost 3 miles long, with a nearly uniform 

widt,h of approximately a half mile, and is about 13,095 feet above sea 

level. It is about 3 miles west of the town of Truckee and immediately north of and below the line of the Central Pacific Railroad, 

where it ascends the Sierra from the east. (See fig. 7.) 

The old glacial basin of Donner Lake extends eastward as a valley 

about 1! miles beyond the limits of the lake, thence its outlet is to 

the south, through a gap in a granite ridge, into Truckee River 

Valley. Cold Creek, flowing in from the south, joins Donner Creek, 

the lake's overflow channel, about three-fourths of a mile east of the 

lower end of the lake, and after flowing eastward through the valley 

turns to the south, through the gap mentioned, and joins Truckee 

River. The project for the utilization of the Donner Lake basin for 

a reservoir contemplates the construction of a long, low dam following 

an ancient terminal moraine nearly a half mile from the lower end of 

the lake, and impounding not only the surplus waters of the Donner 
52 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

DONNER 

Serr.IJ. 

LAKE 

Lake watershed, hut those of the 

Cold Creek drainage basin also, by 

leading them into the reservoir by 

means of a canal about 3,000 feet 

;:: 

p:i in length. rrhe drainage area of 

z Donner Lake above the dam site 1:-

..-1 

8 

;§ 

i 

1:-

..-1 

is 14 square miles, while that of 

Cold Creek above where the water 

will be diverted to the reservoir is 

13f square miles. Several years 

ago Hon. Francis G. N ewlands had 

constructed across Donner Creek, 

a few hundred yards below the 

lake, a timber dam of sufficient 

p:i height to rais~ the water 10 or 11 

z' feet above the low-water plane. 

""" 

~ This structure was not kept in re-

.S pair, however, · and it is now in 

; condition only to retain the water 

§ to a b.eight of f1t or 7 feet. No con- ~ 

...-~ tinuous record of the run-off from ~ a1 this watershed has ever been kept, 

~ but numerous measurements of the .... 

0 flow of both Donner and Cold creeks i 

p. 

rn 

1 

~ 

~ E-1 

aS ..., 

·m 

.::: 

were made during the years 1889 

and 1900, the results of which have 

been given on pages 17 and 32. 

The measurements during the year 

1889 were made after the season 

of high water, which occurred very 

early that year; hence they are not 

of special value, except to demonstrate the fact that the run-off 

from the combined Donner and Cold 

~ ~ Creek basins durjng the months of 

~ July and August of the driest 

~ years is sufficient to make up all ~ § loss from evaporation, if that loss 

1=1 be not very much greater than was 

~ found to occur at Lake Tahoe durm ing those months in 1900. It will 

be remembered that since these 

measurements were made below 

the lake, which has an area of 

about 840 acres, and fr.om which 

evaporation was then going on, 
TAYLOR.] DONNER LAKE. 53 

the water t.here found would only be required to compensate for the 

loss-from the increased area of the completed reservoir over that of 

the natural lake. 

About the middle of April, 1900, the gates in the dam across the 

lake outlet were closed, and the water was held back until May 12, 

when it had risen to a height of 5t feet above the floor of the outlet 

gates. On that date the gates were partly opened, and on May 16 the 

water surface had fallen 0. 5 foot. There was then passing the gates 

128 cuhic feet per second. The gates were afterwards closed down 

somewhat, so as to maintain t.he water level at about the same height 

as on the 16th, but were not entirely closed until May 30, when the 

lake surfacewas5.2 feethigher than the datum mentioned. The issuing stream was measured on J\'fay 29 and was found to amount to 73 

second-feet. After that date the water continued to rise slowly, until 

on June 25 it had reached the height of 6t feet. During that period, 

however, and until the gates were again opened, about August 15, 

there was a leakage through them of from 1 to 10 second-feet. On 

May 21 a measurement of the discharge of Donner Creek was made 

just above where it enters Truckee River, and showed 324 secondfeet, of which nearly 200 second-feet were supplied by Cold Creek. 

On June 3 another measurement at the same point gave a result of 

127 cubic feet per second, all but about 2 second-feet of which was 

supplied by the latter tributary; and again on June 12 the flow was 99 

second-feet, practically all of which was supplied by Cold Creek. On 

July 13 the combined discharge of Donner and Cold creeks a short 

distance above the confluence with Truckee River was 15 second-feet. 

No additional measurements were made until August 20, after the gates 

in the lake outlet were opene~, when the discharge, measured immediately below the dam, was 69 second-feet. On September 13 there 

was flowing out of Donner Lake a stream of 19 second-feet, while 

Cold Creek was discharging 1.35 cubic feet per second. The lake 

surface on that date was 3. 7 feet above the floor of the outlet gates. 

Since Donner Lake was filled to a height of 5. 5 feet, or to a capacity 

of more than 4,200 acre-feet, between the middle of April and the 12th 

of May, it is apparent tha,t during that time the ·mean run-off from 

the watershed was at least 70 cubic feet per second, and from the 

known character of the Cold Creek basin it must have yielded very 

nearly the same amount. After May 12 and until May 30, a period of 

eighteen days, the combined flow of Donner and Cold creeks is estimated at an average of 280 second-feet, or a total run-off of about 

10,000 acre-feet. During the month of June the average discharge of 

Cold Creek was about 60 second-feet, equal to 3,500 acre-feet, and 

about 1,300 acre-feet were impounded in Donner Lake, 250 acre-feet 

more escaping through the outlet dam by leakage. Thp.s the total 

amount of water yielded by the Donner and Cold Creek basins between 

April 15 and June 30, 1900, was approximately 23,000 acre-feet. 
54 

\ 

!\ 

\ 

( 

I 

\ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

\ 

) 

/ 

WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE 13ASIN. [NO. 68, 

Qj 

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lll 

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) ~ 

: 

I) 

I) ~ 

~ 

D 

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(~ vD 

~ 

2 

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!!! 

ot 

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g 

0 

~ 

<li 

""" 'fil 

s 

a'l 

"0 

<t> 

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~ 

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<t> 

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0 

Cl 

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0 

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Cl:: 

0 

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P-i 

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00 

0 

~ 

While no data of the run-off in the earlier part of 

the year are at hand, it is certain that it was great 

enough to bring the total up to 28,000 or 30,000 

acre-feet; and it is equally certain, as already 

stated, that the run-off after June 30 was ample to 

compensate for all loss from evaporation·. Hence 

it has been deemed safe to plan for the storage in 

this basin of 26,900 acre-feet of water. 

To accomplish this it will be necessary to build 

an earth dam or embankment along the crest of 

the ancient glacial moraine previously referred 

to, having a t,otallength of 2,630 feet and a maximum height of 38 feet in the narrow gap through 

which Donner Creek flows. (See fig. 8.) The 

dam estimated upon would have a slope on the 

inner or water face of 3 horizontal to 1 vertical, 

and on the outer face a slope of 2 to 1, the inner 

slope to be paved with broken stone to protect it 

from the eroding action of the water, the width 

of the dam at its crest to be 30 feet. As previously stated, it will also be necessary to construct a canal 3,000 feet long from a point in 

Cold Creek nearly east of the south end of the 

dam, to lead the water of that stream into the 

reservoir. 

A survey was made for this canal, and with the 

exception of about 200 feet of its length, where it 

passes around the point of the mountain and 

where a little rock will be encountered, it will be 

in earth, with nearly level cutting. The line was 

run on a grade of 1 to 1,000, and the canal planned 

to have a sectional area of 50 square feet, making 

the capacity 200 second-feet. For headworks all 

that is required is a dam or fill across the channel 

· of Cold Creek and a w_aste and regulating gate 

near the head of the canal. 

At the south end of t,he dam there is a favorable location for a wasteway, the width of which 

should be about 50 feet and the crest 6 feet below 

that of the dam. The outlet works estimated upon 

consist of two 36-inch cast-iron pipes laid side by 

side, incased in Portland-cement concrete and 

slightly curved upward at the intake end, where 

they will be fitted with hingeq gates or valves, 

which will 8e operated from the top of the dam 

by means of rods working in collars set in its face. 
TAYLOR.] DONNER LAKE. 55 

Each pipe will also be fitted with a low-pressure screw valve at its 

discharge end. 

The area of the Donner Lake reservoir site at different elevations 

above the low-water plane in the lake, given in the following table, 

was found by plotting the contours from the data of the surveys of 

1899 1 and subsequent surveys by Mr. T. K. Stewart, a civil engineer, 

of Reno, Nev., and determining the area inclosed by planimeter. 

The lowest part of the bed of Donner Creek at the dam site is assumed 

to be at an elevation of 6,088 feet, and the low-water plane in the lake 

at 6,095 feet . 

. Area and capacity of proposed Donner Lake resert,oir at different elevations. 

Contour. Area. Contents. Contour. Area. Contents. 

"• 

Feet. Acres. Ac}·e-feet. Feet. Acres. Acre-feet. 

6,095 840 0 6,115 1,260 20,400 

6,105 980 9,100 6,120 1,340 26,900. 

6,110 1,140 H,400 

The lands which would be flooded by the construction of this dam 

are all private property. They are almost entirely unimproved, 

though at the head of the lake there is a dairy farm which is occupied 

during the summer, and on the north shore there is a small summer 

resort. The buildings of the latter, however, are small and cheap, 

probably costing not more than $2,500, and could readily be moved 

to higher ground-the shore being quite abrupt where they are situated--:-and the value of the resort be very slightly impaired_. The 

existing dam at the lake outlet is also private property, but it has 

never been put to any beneficial private use, and has become greatly 

impaired since its construction. To provide for the damage to these 

lands and improvements the sum of $20,000 has been included in the 

estimate, and this provision is believed to be very liberal. The following is the estimated cost of the Donner Lake reservoir· 

Dam: 

Estirnate of cost of Donner Lake reservoir. 

Earth embankment, 134,000 cubic yards, at $0.25 ____________________ $33,500 

Foundation __________ . _______________ . _____ 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 000 

Riprap revetment, 14,400 square yards, at $0.65 ______ . ___________ . _ _ _ 9, 360 

Outlet works: 

400 feet of 36-inch cast-iron pipe, at $8.75 laid __________ . _____ $3, 500 

200 cubic yards of concrete incasing pipe, at $8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 600 

Valves, gates, and hoist 0 ____________________________ ~ ______ • 1, 400 

Wasteway_ o. __________________________________________________________ _ 

Supply canal from Cold Creek, complete __ 0 ___________________________ _ 

Damage to land and improvements ________________ . ___________________ _ 

Engineering ______________________ -.- _______________ ~ __________________ _ 

Contingencies, 10 per cent _________________________________________ . __ _ 

6,500 

2,000 

1,500 

20,000 

4,000 

7,886 

Total ____________________________________________________________ 86,746 

The cost per acre-foot stored is $3.225. 

!Thirteenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. III. 
56 W ATF.R STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

INDEPENDENCE LAKE. 

Independence Lake (see contour map, fig. 9) is almost an exact 

counterpart of Donner Lake, of glacial origin, immediately under 

the Sierra's crest, and held lengthwise between high, precipitous 

spurs projecting at right angles to it. The natural dam between 

these spurs, which forms the lake, is an old terminal moraine, but is 

not so plainly defined as that proposed to be utilized in forming the 

Donner Lake reservoir. It lies 9 miles, in a direct line, a little west. 

of north from the latter lake. Its ordinary water surface is about 

2-! miles in length, somewhat less than a half mile in width, and 

.A 

FIG. 9.-Contour map of Independence Lake reservoir site. The site occupies portions of sees. 

83, 34, and 35 ill. T. 19 N., R. 15 E., and sees. 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 in T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M.D. M. 

covers an area of 709 acres. It is about 7,000 feet above sea level. 

Its waters escape through Independence Creek, flow northward, and 

become tributary to the Little Truckee, a main branch of Tr~ckee 

River. 

A survey for a storage reservoir was made at this site in 1889. 1 

The dam section was chosen at a narrow part of the valley, 1,800 

feet beyond the end of the lake, where the bed of the outlet creek is 

12 feet below the reference water plane. {See fig. 10.) The margin 

of the lake and a contour 25 feet above were meandered, and a number of cross sections of the valley were measured, supplying the data 

lEleventh Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. 8urvey, Pt. II. 
TAYLOR.) INDEPENDENCE LAKE. 57 

from which the area and capacity of the reservoir were computed. 

The area embraced within the .. J.t.ighest contour was 984 acres, and the· 

eapacity, not allowing for lowering the lake, was 23,707 acre-feet. In 

the autumn of 1900 this site and the drainage basin tributary to it 

were examined; and while the construction of a reservoir of the 

capacity ment.ioned appears feasible, and the probable cost not excessive, the water supply, except in seasons of abnormal precipitation, 

would not be sufficient to fill it, the catchment area, including the 

lake surface, being only 8f square miles. 

While no rainfall records have ever been kept in this neighborhood,. 

the precipitation is known to be much greater than at Truckee, and 

probably the mean over the entire basin is greater than at Summit, 

on the Central Pacific Railroad. The normal at the lake-level elevation (7,000 feet), computed from the table on page 15, would be 41.89 

inches. With this precipitation the annual run-off, computed from 

the Newell curve, would amount to 32 inches in depth, or a total of 

14,500 acre-feet in volume, from 8f square miles of watershed. 

It is the common belief that the ordinary run-off from this basin is 

much greater, but in the absence of definite knowledge it has not been 

FIG. 10.-Profile of Independence Lake dam site. 

deemed safe to rely upon so great a supply. Therefore a reservoir 

of 11,725 acre-feet capacity, contemplating raising the lake surface to 

a maximum height of 10 feet above the ordinary low-water plane and 

ultimately drawing it down to a depth of 5 feet below the same plane, 

has been estimated upon. To accomplish this will require the construction of a dam of 27 feet maximum height and a top length of 960 

feet at t.he site surveyed in 1889, which appears to be the most favorable location. (See fig. 10.) 

The bed of Independence Creek at this point is 12 feet below the 

plane of reference mentioned. To draw the water down 5 feet lower 

it will be necessary to excavate the channel to a depth varying from 

zero to 5 feet for a distance of 1,200 feet below the lake, removing 

about 5,000 cubic yards of earth, sand, and gravel. 

rrhe dam estimated upon is of the same type as that described for 

the Donner Lake reservoir, having the same slopes, a top width of 20 

feet, and provided with the same type of outlet works. The material 

available for its construction, a loam containing a slight mixture of 

fine gravel and clayey matter, is plentiful near the site and can be 

cheaply put in place by scrapers. No investigations were made to 

ascertain the character of the substrata at the dam site, but the indi-
58 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

cations are that they are not such as to either eudanger the stability 

of a dam of this type or permit the passage and loss of a volume of 

water that would be of consequence with the comparatively low head 

which will be behind the dam. 

The elevation of the creek bed at the dam site has been assumed 

at 6,988 feet and that of the ordinary low-water level in the lake at 

7,000 feet above the sea. The area of the reservoir 5 feet below the 

latter level is estimated. 'rhe areas embraced within the 7,005-foot 

and the 7,010-foot, contours were determined by plotting those contours as closely as possible from the surveys of 1889 and measuring 

them with a planimeter. The following table gives the areas and 

capacities of the reservoir: 

.Area and capacity of proposed Independence Lake reservoir at different elevations. 

Contour. Area. Capacity. I Con«>ur. Area. Capacity. 

Feet. Acres. Acre-feet. , Feet. Acres. Acre-feet. 

6,995 700 0 i 7,005 820 7,500 

7,000 740 3,600 ! 7,010 870 11,725 

I 

Only about 160 acres of land, all in private ownership, outside of 

that occupied by the pr~sent. lake would be flooded by the const~uction of this reservoir, and none of this is in itself of special value. 

Part of it is occupied by the Independence Lake summer resort, which 

would have to be moved to a higher and somewhat less attractive 

location. To defray the cost of this removal and the compensating 

damages, as well as the damages to lands flooded, the sum of' $12,000, 

which is considered ample, has been included in t.he estimate. 

Estimate of cost of Independence Lake reservoir. 

Dam: 

Earth embankment, 25,600 cubic yards, at $0.25 ______________________ $6,400 

Foundation_____________________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 000 

Riprap revetment, 3,600 square yards, at $0.75 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 700 

Outlet works: 

Excavating channel to drain lake to depth of 5 feet, 5,000 cubic 

yards, at $0. 20 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $1, 000 

300 feet of 30-inch cast-iron pipe, at $8 laid _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 400 

140 cubic yards of concrete incasing pipe, at $8.50 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ 1, 190 

Valves, gates, and hoist______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 200 

5,790 

Wasteway, complete_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 000 

Damage to land and summer resort._________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 12, 000 

Engineering _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 000 

Contingencies, 10 per cent ____ ·- _________________________________________ -· 3, 089 

Total _____________________________________________________________ 33,979 

The cost per acre-foot stored is $2.898. 
TAYLOR.] RESERVOIR SITES. 59 

TWIN VALLEY. 

This reservoir site (see fig. 11) is on theN orth Fork of Prosser Creek, 

one of the main branches of Truckee River, about 4 miles, in a direct 

line, a little east of south. of Independence Lake, and at an approximate altitude of 6,300 feet above sea level. The drainage area above 

the site is 12 square miles in extent, in character similar to and having 

about the same precipitation as the Independence Lake Basin. No 

measurements of discharge of the North Fork of Prosser Creek have 

ever been made, though during a portion of the years 1889 and 1890 

the· main stream was gagec} immediately above its junction with 

FIG •. 11.-Contour maps of Twin Valley reservoir site and dam site. The site occupies portions 

of sees. 23 and 24 in T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M.D. M. 

Truckee River, the results of the gagings being given in the tables of 

monthly discharge on page 21, and again in 1900 three measurements 

of discharge were made near the same point. However, since the 

reservoir planned for this location will have a capacity of but 7,818 

acre-feet, there can be no question about the water supply being 

ample to fill it. 

A survey of the reservoir site was made during the fiscal year 

1889-90,1 a cross section at the dam site being measured, a contour 

30 feet above the lowest point at the dam site meandered, and several 

cross sections of the reservoir site surveyed to supply data for calcu1 Twelfth Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II. 
60 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [N0.68. 

lating the capacity. It was found that the area inclosed by the 30-

foot contour was 310 acres, and the contents between that contour 

and the base of the dam approximately 3,480 acre-feet. During the 

month of August, 1901, a more detrailed ·survey of this site was made 

by the writer, and it was developed that water could with economy 

be impounded to a height of 50 feet above the lowest point in the 

stream bed at the dam site, or 15 feet higher than was contemplated 

by the original survey, the so-called 30-foot contour of that survey 

being really 35 feet higher than the above datum. (See fig. 11.) 

The dam site is at a na.rrow place in the valley, which has been partially closed by an ancient glacial moraine, between which and the 

high granite ridge to the southwest the creek flows. It is proposed 

to raise this moraine somewhat and to dam the gorge now occupied 

·by the stream by means of an earth embankment to be put in place 

by scrapers. The maximum height of the embankment will be 55 

feet and the top length over all 760 feet. A contour map of the dam 

site is shown in fig. 11. 

The ass.umed elevation of the lowest point at the dam site is 6,300 

feet. The outlet gate will be at an elevation of 6,3q5 feet, and the 

high-water flow line in the reservoir at 6,350 feet. The various contours between these elevations were plotted and the areas determined 

by means of a planimeter. The areas and capacities are as follows: 

Area and capacity of Twin Valley reservoir site at different elevations. 

Contour. Area. Capacity. Contour. Area. I Capacity. 

Feet. Acre-s. Acre-feet. Feet. Acre-s. Acre-feet. 

6,305 3 0 6 330 221 2,105 

6,310 23 65 6:335 266 3,323 

6,315 

·~r 248 6,340 292 4,718 

6,320 I 585 6,350 328 7,818 

6,325 151 1,175 

1 I 

rrhe dam estimated upon is of the same type as that described for 

the Donner I~ake and the Independence Lake reservoirs, with the 

same slopes and a top width of 20 feet. Matierial for its construction, 

of fair quality, is to be found in the valley above, the average haul 

being about 1,000 feet. As designed, the outlet works will consist of 

a tunnel through the glacial moraine referred to, about 225 feet east 

of the creek bed, in which will be laid a single 30-inch cast-iron pipe 

encaRed in Portland-cement concrete and surrounded by proper cutoff rings of the same material. To this·pipe will be fitted valves and 

gates similar to those described for the Donner Lake reservoir outlet. 

The wasteway will be located at the north end of the dam. It will 

consist of a concrete weir with a wooden discharge flume lined with 

sheet iron. to convey the water to the creek channel below the dam. 

The lands which will be flooded by this reservoir are all in private 

ownership, a~d nearly all are excellent pasture lands, though they 

can be used for this purpose only in summer time. The only improve-
TAYLOR.] LITTLE TRUCKEE RESERVOIR SITE. 61 

ments upon them consist of a small frame dwelling and a dairy house 

of very cheap construction. The sum of $3,200 has been allowed in 

the estimate for right of way over flooded lands and damages to 

improvements. Following is the estimate of cost: 

Dam: 

Estimate of cost of Twin Valley reservoir. 

Preparin~ foundation_. ___________ .. _______________________________ _ 

Earth embankment, 72,000 cubic yards, at $0.25 ______ . ___ . _________ _ 

Riprap revetment, 7,800 square yards, at $0.50 .. _.. ________ . ___ . ___ . 

Outlet works: 

250-foot tunnel with approaches. __ . ________ . ______ . _. __ . ____ . $1, 250 

260 feet of 30-inch cast-iron pipe, at $8, laid _____ ... ___ . __ . _. _. 2, 080 

Concrete encasing pipe, cut-off walls. and tunnel portals, 160 

cubic yards, at $0.10. __________________ .. ____ . ___ ______ ____ 1, 600 

Valve, gate, and hoist. ___________ . ___ .... _._._ ..... _____ .. _.. 820 

Wasteway, complete ____ . _ . __ ... _____ .. ________ .. ______ . _____ . ___ ... _ ... 

Right of way over flooded lands and damages._ ... __ .. _ .. _______ . _. ___ .. _ 

Engineering __ . ______________ . ____ ... _ . __ . _. _ .... _ .. __ . __ . _____ . ___ . _ .. _ 

Contingencies, 10 rer cent ... ___ . __ . ___ .. __ . _ .. ___ .. __ .. _ .. ___ . ___ .. ___ .. 

$1,000 

18,000 

3,900 

5,750 

2,600 

3,200 

3,000 

3,745 

TotaL . _____ . _____ . ___ . _ . ________ .. __ . ______ . __ . _. _. _. _________ ... 41, 195 

Cost per dcre~foot, stored, is $5.27. 

LITTLE TRUCKEE. 

This reservoir site, surveyed during the season 1889-90 and designated reservoir No. 34 t, is on Little Truckee River, between Webber 

FIG. 12.-Contour map of Little Truckee reservoir site No. 1, in sees. 24 and 25, T. 19 N ., R. 14 E., 

and sees. 16 and 17, T. 19 N., R. 15 E., M.D. M. 

Lake and its junction with Independence Creek, and is shown in fig. 

12. It occupies a Yalley of irregular width, extending about 3 miles 

up from a narrow canyon through which the stream flows, and where 

1Twelfth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. II. 
62 W .ATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

it is proposed to construct the impounding dam. The altitude of the 

stream bed at this point is about 6,460 feet above sea level. The 

tributary drainage area, including the watershed above Webber Lake, 

is 33 square miles in extent, lying to the north and west of Mount 

Lola, the highest peak in this part of the Sierras. The major part of 

the area has an altitude of more than 7,000 feet. A view of the river 

a half mile below Webber Lake is shown in Pl. V, B. 

The survey which was made during 1889-90 consisted of the measurement of a cross section of the canyon at the dam site, the meandering of a contour 60 feet above the base of the proposed dam, and the 

measurement of several cross sections of the valley below this contour. The height of the dam proposed was 60 feet, the area inclosed 

Fw. 13.-Contour map of dam site of Little Truckee reservoir No.1. 

by the GO-foot contour -!50 acres, and the approximate contents 10,100 

acre-feet. An examination of this site made in 1900 demonstrated 

the feasibility and economy of raising the water 18 feet higher than 

was contemplated by the earlier survey, by constructing the clam a 

little farther down the canyon and raising it to a height of 87 feet, 

the crest being 7 feet above the highest flow line in the reservoir, and 

the base 2 feet lower than at the site previously selected. A contour 

map of the dam site now proposed is shown in fig. 13. A rough preliminary survey was made for the purpose of determining approximately the area and capacity of the reservoir which would be formed 

by the higher dam. The area was found to be about 710 acres, and 

the capacity about 20,540 acre-feet. 
rAYLOR.] LITTLE TRUCKEE RESERVOIR SITE. 63 

No definite data of the amount of the water supply are in existence. The precipitation is known to be greater than at Independence 

Lake, but no measurements of the run-off from the basin of Little 

Truckee Riyer have ever been made, except at a point near it.s mouth, 

where the drainage from its entire watershed, 179 Equare miles in 

extent, is concentrated. During the year 1890 a continuous record 

of discharge was kept at this point from April to October, inclusive, 

the total run-off for the period being 338,753 acre-feet, equivalent to 

a depth of 35f inches over the entire watershed. The run-off from 

the portion of the drainage basin above the reservoir site under consideration, where the precipitation is far greater than on the lower 

part, which is also less precipitous, was of course much more than 

tlie average. During the same period the discharge of Truckee 

River below Boca, where the Little Truckee joins ·the main stream, 

was 968,334 acre-feet, from a total drainage area of 902 square miles, 

or 1,071 acre-feet per square mile. 'l.,he year 1890 was one of abnormally large water supply, but, no record of the discharge of Little 

Truckee River having been kept during drier years, it is impossible 

to make a direct comparison between the run-off from its watershed 

and that from other portions of the Truckee Basin for such years. 

Yet if, as seems reasonable, somewhere near .the same relative proportion of the total run-off from the upper portion of the drainage 

basin (above Stateline Mills) is supplied by the Little Truckee during 

the same months of each year, it is possible to. roughly approximate 

the total discharge of that stream during that neriod in 1900, and 

this has been don~. 

The run-off above Boca from April to October, inclusive, 1890, being 

1,071 acre.-feet per square mile, the total run-off above Stateline Mills 

during the same period-the area being 955 square miles and the additional drainage area being high and precipitous-would be about 

1,022,800 acre-feet. Of this total Little Truckee River supplied 33! 

per cent. During the same months of the year 1900 the total flow of 

the Truckee at Stateline Mills was 305,578 acre-feet. The probabilities are that even a larger proportion than in 1890 was furnished by 

Little Truckee River, inasmuch as during a considerable portion of 

the time no water was flowing from Lake Tahoe, while· during 1890 

the gates in the outlet to that lake were not at any time closed. However, if not more than 33! per cent came from that basin,. the run-off 

must have amounted to 100,84:0 acre-feet. Owing to the diminished 

precipitation over the drainage area, it is certain that a much greater 

proportion of the run-off was from the upper portion of the watershed, 

where the rainfall and snowfall are heaviest, than was the case in 

1890. In the forme1.· years the 33 square miles of watershed above 

the proposed Little Truckee reservoir No. 1 probably yielded onefourth of the total supply, while during 1900 it is likely that fully 

one-third, or more than 33,000 acre-feet, came from the same area, and 
64 WATER ·sTORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO.. 68. 

during the remaining five months of the year it is safe to estimate 

that not less than 6,000 acre-feet of water flowed past this point. 

'"fhus if the foregoing reasoning be correct, and it is certainly within 

.Sec 2B 

the realm of pro bability and is the 

only foun9-ation upon 

which to base even 

an approximate estimate, it appears to . 

be, and the writer believes it is, perfectly 

safe to rely on this 

reservoir being filled 

annually, even during 

dry years, and to count 

on there being, besides, 

a surplus of from 

18,000 to 19,000 acrefeet available for storage at other points, 

while during years of 

average rainfall there 

will ·certainly be a 

much larger supply 

than that estimated. 

The dam estimated 

upon is of earth, of the 

hydraulic-fill type, 

the conditions being 

favorable for that 

method of construction. On either side 

of the canyon is earth 

of a sandy loam character, with a sufficient 

percentage of clayey 

matter to render the 

embankment watertight when deposited 

in that manner; and 

the grades from the 

FIG. 14.-Map of Boca reservoir site, in sees. 16, 21, and 28 of T. base of the moun18 N., R. 17 E., M. D. M. tains, a considerable 

distance back from the edge of the canyon, are ample for sluicing. 

By constructing from a creek on the south side of the valley a 

ditch having a length of about 2-1- miles and traversing ground through 
TAYLOR.] LITTLE TRUCKEE. RE::;ERVOIR. SITE. 65 

which construction would be comparatively easy, it will be possible 

to deliver at the dam, and at a considerable elevation above its 

crest, whatever volume of water may be required for handling the 

material. While extremely fiat slopes are not essential in an earth 

dam constructed by this method, to be on the side of safety the slopes 

allowed in the structure estimated upon are 3 to 1 and 2 to 1 on the 

inner and outer faces, respectively. The former slope is designed 

to be paved with broken stone and cobbles to protect it from wave 

action. The crest of the dam will be 24 feet wide and 490 feet in 

length. 

The arrangement of the outlet works, which are designed to be 

located 7 feet above t.he base of the dam, is identical with that described 

for the Donner Lake reservoir. The wasteway will be around the 

nort.h end of the dam, discharging back into the stream several hundred feet beyond its lower t.oe. It is designed to have a discharging 

capacity of 2,500 second-feet with the water in the reservoir 2 feet 

below the top of the dam, its crest, arranged as a weir, being 10 feet 

below that of the dam. 

The estimate contemplates the construction of a concrete waste 

weir and a woaden discharge flume. The character of the substrata 

at the dam site is unknown, but it is believed that the provision in 

the estimate for preparing foundations is sufficient to cover th~ cost 

of properly connecting the artificial fill with approximately impervious material beneath the surface of the ground. 

The assumed elevation of the lowest part of the stream bed at the 

dam site is 6,458 feet. above sea level. The outlet gates are designed 

to be placed at an elevation of 6,465 feet, and the ordinary highwater flow line in the reservoir will be at 6,528 feet. The 60-foot 

contour of the earlier survey referred to corresponds to the elevation 

of 6,520 feet, and the area embraced within and the capacity up to 

that contour are accepted at the figures given by that survey. 1 r.rhe 

6,528-foot contour was plotted approximately (see fig. 12, p. 61) and 

the area determined by planimeter. The areas and capacities are as 

follows: 

Area and capacity of proposed Little Truckee reservoir at different elevations. 

Contour./ Area. Capacity.,, Contour. Area. Capacity. 

j II 

Feet. Acre-feet. 

I 

Acres. -<lm-/eet.ll Fed. Acres. 

6,465 alO (b) 6,528 110 20,540 

6,520 450 10,100 

a Estimated. b Level of outlet. 

Nearly all of the land which would be flooded by this reservoir is 

in private ownership, and· part of it is under fence, though it is used 

only for pasture during the summer. There are also upon the land a 

1Twelfth Ann. Rept. U. 8. Geol. Survey, Pt. II. 

IRR f:i8-02--5 
66 W .ATl!:R STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE B.ASIN. [NO. 68. 

small frame house and barn. These, however, are cheap structures, 

and while they are within the basin and would have to be paid for 

with the right of way over the land, they would not very greatly 

increase the cost. In the following estimate the sum of $10,000 is 

allowed for right of way and damages to property, anfl this sum is 

deemed ample. The following is the estimate which has been 

prepared: 

Estimate of cost of proposed Little Truckee reservoir. 

Dam: 

Hydraulic filling, 150,000 cubic yards, at $0.10----------------------

2! miles of ditch to supply water for fill _______________ - ___ --- __ ---. Preparing. foundation _____________________________________________ _ 

Riprap revetment, 8,000 square yards, at $0.75 _________ - ___ --- __ ----

Outlet works: 

900 feet of 30-inch cast-iron pipe, at $8 laid _______________ ~ ___ $7,200 

330 cubic yards of concrete incasing pipe, at $8.50_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 805 

160 cubic yards of concrete for gat~ tower, at $10 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 600 

Valves, gate, and hoist complete ______________________ -_ _ _ _ _ 1, 250 

Cable-suspension footbridge and gate house _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 845 

Wasteway _________________ 1 ___________________________________________ -

Damages to land and improvements __________________________________ --

~~~~:;;~~Ie~ ~ -; 0- ~~~- ~~~ t- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ _- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

$15,000 

1,500 

1,000 

6,000 

13,700 

4,000 

10,000 

5,000 

5,620 

Total _____ . _________________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 61, 820 

The co~t per acre-foot ·of storage capacity is $:3.01. 

A map of Boca reservoir site is shown in fig. 14 (p. 64:). 

HENNESS PASS VALLEY. 

This reservoir site, which is shown in outline in fig. 15, occupies a 

small basin immediately to the north of the valley of Little Truckee 

River, opposite the junction of that stream and Independence Creek, 

from which it is separated by a narrow, rocky ridge. About 200 acres 

of the floor of this basin are perfectly level, somewhat marshy in character, and on the west and south are bounded by the narrow ridge 

mentioned, which rises from it abruptly, while to the north and east 

the ground rises very gradually. The elevation is about 6,367 feet 

above sea level. The immediate drainage area consists of 4i square 

miles of undulating ridges almost bare of timber. The main water 

supply for the reservoir will be drawn from Little Truckee River, by 

means of a canal about 4 miles in length, having a capacity of LOO 

cubic feet per second, heading a short distance below the dam for 

Little Truckee reservoir, last described. The total drainage area, 

including that of the reservoir mentioned and the territory whose 

drainage would be intercepted by the supply canal, is 41 square miles. 

The discussion of the water supply for the I .. ittle Truckee reservoir, 

showing, so far as is practicable in the absence of complete data, the 

volume available at that point, indicates a surplus su_fficient to fill 

the reservoir contemplated, even in dry seasons, so that there can be 

no question about its sufficiency in years of normal precipitation, 

while the run-off from 8 square \niles of additional catchment area 
TAYLOR.] HENNESS P .ASS VALLEY RESERVOIR SITE. 67 

· will still further tend to insure this, though the precipitation on the . 

latter area is lighter. 

The dam site, shown in fig. 16, is in the canyon leading out of the 

valley to Little Truckee River. The maximum height of the dam 

will be 56 feet, its length on top 720 feet, and its· top width 24 feet. 

It will be of earth, of the hydraulic-fill type, with the same section 

as the dam last described._ The water for making this fill will be 

furniRhed by the reservoir-supply canal from the Little Truckee, 

which can be brought in about 25 or 30 feet higher than the proposed 

crest of the dam. The material for the structure is a clayey earth 

containing some gravel, cobbles, and bowlders. The outlet works 

estimated upon are of the same type as those described for the Donner Lake and the Twin Valley reservoirs, and will be located 5 feet 

above the base of the dam. A very small wasteway, located at a 

depression in t,he rocky ridge at the south side of the reservoir, will 

FIG.15.-Map of Henness Pass Valley reservoir site and supply canal. The site occupies portions 

of sees. 7, 8, 18, and 19 in T. 19 N., R. 16 E., M.D. M. 

be required, as almost the entire water supply comes from Little 

Truckee River and can be shut off at will. 

This reservoir site was surveyed by 1\'lr. T. K. St,ewart, for Hon. 

Francis G. Newlands, in 1890, a contour 50 feet above the floor being 

meandered and a few cross sections of the basin measured, from which 

data the area and capacity were computed. The former was given as 

590 acres, which is accepted as correct for the purpose of this report; 

but the latter, as demonstrated by measurements made in October, 

1900, was overestimated. rrhe later survey, while furnishing sufficient information to determine the approximate capacity of the reservoir up to the 50-foot contour mentioned, was not close enough to 

permit accurate plotting of contours intermediate between that and 

the base of the dam. The elevation of the floor of the canyon at the 

dam site is taken at 6,360 feet above sea level. The outlet works are 

planned to be at 6,365 feet and the highest flow line in the reservoir 

at 6,410 feet. The estimated capacity is 17,000 acre-feet. The lands 
68 WATER STORAGE IN THE TR.UOKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

which would be flooded by this reservoir are all in private ownership, 

but are entirely unimproved. They furnish some grazing in the 

summer, but are valuable for no other purpose. In the following 

estimate the sum of $3,000, or a little more than $5 an acre, is allowed 

FIG. 16.-Contour map of Henness Pass Valley dam site. 

for the cost of right of way over them, and this ·amount is considered 

liberal. The following is the estimate which has been prepared: 

Dam: 

Estimate of cost of proposed Henness Pass Valley reservoir. 

Hydraulic filling, 108,800 cubic yards, at $0.10 ____________________ _ 

Preparing foundation _____________________________________________ _ 

Riprap revetment, 8,400 square yards, at $0.50 _____________________ _ 

Supply canal, complete, 4 miles, at $3,000 _____________________ -- ___ _ 

Outlet works: 

620 feet 30-inch cast-iron pipe laid, at $8 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $4, 960 

260 cubic yards concrete, encasing pipe, at $8.50_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 210 

Gates and hoist, complete ______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 000 

Right of way, complete _____________________ .. ________________ -- ---- ----

Engineering ____ . ____________________ .. ____ ,_ ___________________________ _ 

Contingencies, 10 per cent ____________________________________________ _ 

Total _______________________________________________________ - ___ - _ 

The cost per acre-foot of storage capacity is $2.80. 

$10,880 

1,000 

4,200 

12,000 

8,170 

3,000 

4,000 

4,325 

47,575 
TAYLOR.) RESERVOIR SITES. 69 

DOG VALLEY. 

This reservoir site, shown in fig. 17, occupies a small valley situated 

between outlying spurs of the Sierra Nevada just west of the boundary line between California and Nevada, and about 4 miles northwest 

of the town of Verdi, Nev. The elevation is about 5,700 feet above 

sea level. The catchment basin comprises 16 square miles, ranging 

in altitude from that of the reservoir to 8,500 feet, most of which is 

covered with pine and fir timber, and is quite precipitous. This site 

Sec.30 

FIG. 17.-Contour map of Dog Valley reservoir site, in sees. 24 and 25 of T. 20 N., R 17 E., and 

sees. 30 and 31ofT. 20 N., R. 18 E., M.D. M. 

was surveyed by the writer in 1895, the topography of the lower portion of the valley being taken by means of transit and stadia, and the 

contours plotted as shown in fig. 17. A cross section of the outlet 

canyon immediately below the valley, at what appeared to be the 

most favorable site for a dam was also measured (see fig. 18), and it 

was found that by the construction of a dam to a maximum height of 

65 feet with a top length of 235 feet, a reservoir having a surface area 

of 274 acres and a capacity of approximately 5, 785 acre-feet would 

be created. No exact data of the water supply for this reservoir have 
70 WATER. STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

been collected, only three measurements of the discharge of Dog 

Valley Creek, the outlet of the basin, having been made. The first of 

these was on :May 22, 1889, 1 at the point where the creek join~ 

Truckee River, opposite the town of Verdi, when the discharge was 

7 cubic feet pm· second. The last two were on July 26 and September 

10, 1900, when 0.40 and 0. 80 second-foot, respectively, were found a 

short distance above where the earlier measurements were made. The 

discharge at the reservoir site, except at flood stage, is always greater 

than at the points described, which are about 3 miles below. A considerable loss occurs by absorption in t,he bed of the canyon, which 

is filled with gravel and bowlders to an unknown depth, and there 

are no afiiuent streams t,o compensate for this loss. The measurements were all made after the flood season had passed, the snow falling on this watershed melting much earlier than on other parts of the 

Upper Truckee Basin. Usually the greatest run-off fro_m the Dog 

Valley drainage area occurs during the latter part of :March and 

through the month of April. 

Feet 

65 

60 f""'-.... 

50 

40 

30 

eo 

•O 

0 

0 

~ 

'- ~ 

~ 

" / 

~ / 

50 100 150 

FIG. 18.-Profile of Dog Valley dam site. 

/ 

I 

/ 

7 

/ 

t:!OO 235 feet 

In the absence of definite data on which to base an estimate of the 

water supply available for storage in the proposed Dog Valley reservoir, a rough approximation can be reached by computing the precipitation which should occur at this altitude, from the table of "Increase 

in precipitation with each 100-foot rise in elevation, with "\Vadsworth, 

Nev., as a base," page 15, and the probable run-off from a watershed 

composed almost, entirely of precipitous mountains. The mean precipitation at an elevation of 5, 700 feet, the altitude of the lowest point 

in the basin, which is taken in order to be on the side of conservatism, 

would be 25.25 inches, and the run-off, computed from the Newell 

curve, a trifle more than 11 inches, or a total of 9,420 acre-feet from 

the 16 square miles of drainage area, which is more than 60 per Cfint 

greater than the reservoir capacit~y. Therefore, the writer, who has 

been acquainted with the Dog Valley Basin for the last ten years and 

has observed the creek quite frequently during that period, believes 

that the water supply will be ampie even in dry seasons-and it certainly will be ample during seasons of normal rainfall-to fill the proposed reservoir, and that the flow of the creek at the lowest stage in 

the summer will nearly offset the loss from evaporation, which at t,his 

point will be greater than from the reservoirs previously described. 

I Eleventh Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. Survey, Pa1·t II. 
TAYLOR.] DOG VALLEY RESERVOIR SITE. 71 

To form this reservoir, as already stated, will require a dam having 

a maximum height of 65 feet and a top length of 235 feet. It should 

be of the rock-fill type, with an ear~hen face on the upstream side. 

The slope of the rock fill on the lower side will be li horizontal to 1 

vertical, and on the line of contact with the earth it will be vertical. 

The earth will be obtained from the bed of the reservoir and be placed 

with scrapers. It will have a slope of 21- to 1 on the upper face, which 

will be pitched with stone to protect it from wave action. The top 

width of the dam will be 10 feet. The outlet will be by means of a 

cast-iron pipe embedded in concrete in a tunnel run through the bed 

rock in the projecting abutment. · The assumed elevation of the stream 

bed at the dam site is 5, 700 feet above sea level. rrhe outlet works 

will be at 5, 710 feet elevation, the highest flow line in the reservoir at 

5, 760 .feet, and the crest of the dam at 5, 765 feet. The wasteway will 

be arranged as a weirdischargingoveraporphyryledgeat the south end 

of the dam_, the crest of which will be 5 feet below the crest of the dam. 

The reservoir contours were plotted to scale, as shown in fig. 17, and 

the areas inclosed were determined by planimeter. The areas and 

capacities thus determined are as follows: 

Area and capacity of Dog Valley 1·esen.'oir site at different elevations. 

Contour. Area. Capacity. / Contour. Area. Capacity. 

Feet. Ac1·es. Ac1·e-jeet. Feet. AcTes. Ac1·e-jeet. 

5, 700 (a) 0 5, 73.5 110 1,240 

5, 710 b 10 0 5,750 188 3,475 

5, 720 36 230 5,760 .274 5,785 

5,730 74 780 

a Base of dam. b Level of outlet gates. 

The land which would be flooded by the construction of this dam is 

all in private ownership and most of it under fence, but it is used only 

for pasturage. In 1895 $1,800 was the price placed upon it, and as its 

value has not-been enhanced since that time this sum has been included 

in the estimate to provide for its purchase for reservoir purposes. The 

following is the estimate of cost: 

Dam: 

Estimate of cost of Dog Valley reservoir. 

Rock filling, 13,380 cubic yards, at $0.75 ____________________________ $10,035 

Earth embankment, 25,500 cubic yards, at $0.25. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6, 3i5 

Riprap revetment, 2,800 square yards, at $0.50 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 400 

Preparing foundation ____________ . ___________ . ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 500 

Outlet works: 

300-foot tunnel, 3t by 5 feet, at $6 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $1, 800 

300 feet of 24-inch cast-iron pipe, at $5. ___________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1, 500 

110 cubic yards of concrete incasing pipe, etc., at $10 ____ ____ 1,100 

Gates and hoist, complete.------ __________________ ---------- 500 

4,900 Wasteway, complete _______________________________________________ . _ _ _ 1, 250 

Rights of way _____ . ______________ . ___________ . ___________ . __________ . _ 1, 800 

Engineering ________________ . _ . ________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3, 000 

Contingencies, 10 per cent ______ . ______ . ____ . ________________________ . _ 2, 926 

Total ... _____ . ___ .. _ .. ________ . _ . __ . __ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 32, 186 

The cost per acre-foot of storage capacity is $5.564. 
72 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

PRESENT USES OF WATER AND EXISTING. WATER RIGHTS. 

In the foregoing pages an effort. has been made to show the extent 

of the water supply of the Truckee Basin and the means by which it 

can be conserved to the best ad vantage. Before proceeding to the 

consideration of the possibilities of and the means for its use for irrigation and other purposes, it is necessary to inquire into the existing 

rights to the waters of the stream which have become vested and can 

not be disturbed. 

POWER. 

At the present time the waters of Truckee River are employed by 

eight companies, at as many localities on the stream, for the generation of power, as follows: Truckee Lumber Company, at Truckee, 

Cal.; Floriston Pulp and Paper Company, at Floriston, Cal.; Truckee 

River General Electric_ Company, at :Mystic, Cal.; Verdi Mill Company, at Verdi, Nev.; Reno Electric Light and Power Company, a 

short distance above Reno, Nev.; Riverside Flour Mill Company, at 

Reno, Nev.; Reno Reduction Works, a short distance below Reno, 

Nev.; and \Vadsworth Light and Power Company, at Wadsworth, 

Nev. ' 

At Truckee the Truckee Lumber Company operates a sawmill and 

a door, sash, and box factory. To supply power for these the water 

is diverted directly from the main river a short distance below the 

mouth of Donner Creek by means of a timber dam and a short canal. 

The sawmill is run by a turbine working under an effective head of 

21 feet, and requires about 160 second-feet. of water to generate the 

300 horsepower necessary to run it to its full capacity. The factory 

is located below the sawmill, is operated by a turbine working under 

a head of 26 feet, and requires about 110 second-feet of water, which 

is taken from the sawmill tailrace to run it to its full capacity. It is 

operated the year round, but the mill is always closed down from 

December 1 to about May 1. 

The Floriston Pulp and Paper Company, the next user of water 

for power purposes below Truckee, is engaged in the manufacture 

of paper from wood pulp. For the operation of the plant the water 

is diverted from the river by means of a timber dam (see Pl. VI, A) 

and is conveyed to the mill through a wooden stave pipe 9 feet in 

internal diameter and 2,000 feet long (see Pl. VI, B). Six turbines, 

varying in capacity from 100 to 1,000 horsepower and aggregating 

2, 700 horsepower, are employed to run the machinery, the water being 

delivered to each wheel under a head of 51 feet. It is estimated by 

the owners of this plant that 1,500 horsepower is required to run it to 

its full capacity, to generate which about 320 cubic feet per second of 

water is needed. The flow of the river during the fall and ·winter, 

however, is frequently less than that amount, and as a consequence 

the company is now preparing to install steam power for supplemental use. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

- - A. DAM OF FLORISTON PULP AND PAPER COMPANY IN TRUCKEE RIVER. 

B. TRUCKEE RIVER CANYON, LOOKING DOWNSTREAM FROM F LORISTON PU L P 

AND PAPER COMPANY'S DAM, 
TAYLOR.] POWER. 73 

Less than 2 miles below Floriston is the power plant of the Truckee 

River General Electric Company, which is engaged in the development of power for transmission, electrically, to Virginia, Nev., for use 

in mining operations. (See Pls. VII and VIII.) T!J.e water employed 

for this purpose is taken from the river immediately below the Floriston paper mills, and is conveyed by means of a wooden flume (Pl. VII) 

8,500 feet in length to the power house, where it is delivered to the 

wheels under a head of 85.6 feet. The inside dimensions of the flume 

are, width 10 feet and depth 7 feet. Its carrying capacity when filled 

to a depth of 6 feet is estimated at 300 second-feet. 

Several years ago water from Truckee River was employed at Marmol, about 3 miles above the town ·of Verdi, to supply-power for cutting and dressing marble, but this plant has not been in operation for 

more than three years past, and it was not possible to ascertain either 

the amount of water claimed or the power required for its operation. 

The Verdi :Mill Company requires and uses a short distance above 

the town of Verdi about 90 second-feet of the river water, under a head 

of 24 feet, to supply power for its door, sash, and box factory. 

About It miles above Reno the Reno Electric Light and Power Company diverts water from the river to supply power for lighting the 

town. For this purpose it is estimated by the electrician in charge that 

200 horsepower is now employed, and as the net head on the water 

wheel is about 38 feet, approximately 60 cubic feet per second are 

necessary. The capacity of the canal and flume from the river is 

probably double this, however. 

In the town of Reno is the RiYerside flour mill, requiring 56 horsepower to run to its full capacity, to supply which about 40 second-feet 

of water are diverted from the river and delivered to the wheel under 

a head of 16 feet. 

A short distance below the Riverside flour mill the Reno reduction 

works diverts water for the development of power to operate the orecrushing machinery in the plant, to run which requires about 75 

horsepower. The turbine for developing this power is run under a net 

head of about 13 feet, and approximately 56 cubic feet of water per second are required. 

The last power plant on Truckee River, that of the Wadsworth Light 

and Power Company, is operated to light the town of Wadsworth with 

electricity. For this purpose about 17 second-feetof water are diverted 

from the river above the town and led, by a canal6 miles in length, to 

the power station, where it is delivered to the wheels under a working 

head of 44 feet. 

From the foregoing it will be seen that the existing rights to the 

waters of Truckee River for power purposes amount to 160 cubic feet 

per second during part of the year, and to 110 cubic feet per second 

during the remainder of the year, which comprises the most of the period 

of low water at Truckee, and a maximum of 320 second-feet at Floriston, which is more than sufficient to supply all of the requirements of 
74 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [No. 68. 

existing power plants below that point. It would therefore appear that 

if 160 and 320 second-feet of water be supplied at rrruckee and Floriston, respectively, from !lay 1 to December 1, and the minimum discharge from December 1 t,o 1\'lay 1 be maintained at 110 and 300 secondfeet, not only will the existing rights be supplied but the companies 

owning them will be greatly benefited. 

IRRIGATION. 

Within the basin of Truekee River there a,re under irrigation at the 

present time about 42,384 acres of land, ;)f whieh 28,288 acres are 

supplied with water diverted directly from the main river by means 

of canals; 2,130 acres are supplied from seepage water collected, by 

FIG. 19.-Map showing location of irrigation canals in western portion of the Truckee Basin. 

1. Steamboat canal. 11. Merrill ditch. 

2. Mayberry ditch. 12. Highland ditch. 

3. Truckee Meadows ditch. 13. Hogan ditch. 

4. South Side irrigating canal. 14. Mayberry & Carr ditch. 

5. Indian Flat ditch. 15. Mayberry Northside ditch. ti. Cochran ditch. 16. Orr ditch. 

21. (?) 

22. North Truckee irrigating ditch. 

23. Sessions ditch. 

24. Mitchell & Carmac ditch. 

25. Glendale ditch. 

7. Scott's ranch ditch. 17. Countryman ditch. 

8. Abbey ditch. 18. Chisholm ditch. 

9. Wtlson ditch. 19. Sullivan ditch. 

26. Crane & Bullock ditch. 

27. Alexander ditch. 

10. Pioneer ditch. 20. Auburn ditch. 

( 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 68 PL. VII 

A. FLUME OF TRUCKEE RIVER GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY ON SIDE HI LL 

ABOVE MYSTIC, CAL. 

H. H EADWORKS OF FLUME OF TRUCKEE I~IVER GENERAL ELECTRIC 

COMPANY AT FLORISTON, CAL. 
TAYLOR.] IRRIGATION. 75 

means of drain ditches, before it reenters t,he river, and 11,966 acres 

are supplied from various tributary streams. (See figs. 19 and 20.) 

Of the latter area, 10,621 acres are irrigated from Steamboat 

Creek and its tributaries, though the supply is sometimes short. All 

of these lands are in the State of Nevada, about 959 acres being 

R 21 C:. R 2'2 £ R. 23 e: R24£. 

FIG. 20.-Map showing location of irrigation canals in eastern portion of the Truckee Basin. 

1. (?) 6. Fellnagle ditch. 11. Hill ditch. 

2. (?) 7. O'Brien ditch. 12. (?) 

3. (?) 8. Wadsworthirrigatingditch. 13. (?) 

4. (?) 9. Olinghouse ditch. 

5. Herman ditch. 10. Proctor ditch. 

between the California-Nevada boundary line and the junction of 

Hunter Creek with Truckee River; 30,000 acres are in the Reno Valley; 8,500 acres are in the Washoe, Pleasant, and Steamboat valleys, 

to the south of the Reno Valley, and 2,925 acres are along the river 

below Vista, 500 acres of which are on the Pyramid Lake Indian 

Reservation and are cultivated by the Piute Indians. 

A number of discharge measurements were made of the principal 

canals diverting water from Truckee River for the irrigation of these 

lands, but no attempt was made to ascertain the amount of water 

taken from the river by the numerous small ditches, nor were any of 
76 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

the ditches below the Reno Valley measured. During the time that 

the measurements were being made and for some time afterwards the 

entire flow of the river was diverted. The following are the results 

of the measurements: 

Measurements of flow of irrigating ditches taking water from Truckee River in 

Nevada. 

SOUTH SIDE. 

Date. Name of ditch. Dis- Length. charge. 

NORTH SIDE. 

I 

~rr~~~:~t7::: ::::::::::: l:~~~ar:~~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::!<~ I 

1889, I 

September 4 .... _________ . _ .. _ _ Orr _______________ ... ______ ..... _______ . _______ . __ .... _ .... 

1900. 

July 6----·--------------------- Orr ...... -------------------------- ...................... .. July 30 ................... ______ ..... do ........... _______ ........ _ .. ___ .............. ____ .. .. 

~~}~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~~== = ~ =~~==~ ~~==~ ~;:1?~~~1 ~ ~ = ==~~ = ~~~=~====~~ ~===~===~=== == ==~~ ~=== ------"3t July 31. ....... ____ ......... ____ ..... do .... ___________ ......... ______ ....................... . 

JulylO ......................... North Truckee--------------------------------- 7 August 1 .... ______ ..... __________ ... do ... ___ .... ______ .... ________ ...... ____ . ___________ .... 

July 8 .................. __ ...... Sessions .... _ ..... ___ .... .... .. .. .. . .. ... .. .. .. .. 1 

August I ................. _ ..... ___ .. do. ______ .. _____ .... _ ..... _____ ........... __________ .. .. 

July iL ______ .................. Mitchell & Carmac _______ ------------- ......... ! 

August 1 .......... __ .. _____ ......... do ...... _ ..... _ ......... ______ ........... _____ ...... ___ _ Do .. ____ ... --- ... _ ...... _. Glendale . ..... ... .. .. ... .... . .. ... ..... ..... .... 3t 

Sec-ft. 

51.2 

8.4 

46.9 

41.7 

39.7 

58.4 

36.4: 

14.5 

26.7 

29.6 

13.5 

3.6 

4.4 

4.2 

3. 7 12.7 

21.1 

16.7 

11.8 

17.5 

42.0 

8B.8 

60.6 

15.8 

24.7 

25.0 

Bl.4 

18.8 

5.4 

8.0 

14.0 

6.8 

2.7 

--------------------------------'-------'-'----

At the time of making the foregoing measurements an attempt was 

made to segregate the lands supplied from each ditch, with a view to 

approximating the duty of water under each, but owing to the fact 

that many of the farms were supplied ·from more than one ditch this 

was found to be impossible. 

In the lower part of the Reno Valley, called t,he Truckee Meadows, 

several drain ditches have been constructed to carry off the seepage 

from the higher irrigation. These discharge into Truckee River a 

short distance above the United States Geological Survey gaging 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SU RVEY WATER - SUPPLY PAPER NO. 68 PL. VIII 

A. POWER HOUSE OF TRUCKEE RIV E R GENERAL ELECTR IC COM PANY AT 

MYSTIC, CAL. 

B. INTERIOR OF POW ER HOUSE OF TRUCKEE RIVER GENERAL ELECTRIC 

COMPANY. 
TAYLQR.] IRRIG ABLE LANDS. 77 

station at VIsta, but a portion of the water collected by them is 

employed for irrigation, which explains the fluctuations in t,he discharge of the stream at that station during July and August, the 

entire flow during the greater part of those months coming from that 

source. 

No attempt was made to ascertain the amount of water employed 

for irrigation on the lands along Steamboat Creek and in the Washoe 

Valley, but it is certain that the average quantity per acre is materially less than in other parts of the Truckee Basin. 

SUMMARY. 

From ·the foregoing. it will be seen that the vested rights to the 

waters of Truckee River are as follows: For power purposes, 300 cubic 

'feet per second at Floriston and Mystic during the period when the 

; river, unaided by storage, dischargeR that volume; and for irrigation 

purposes below those points sufficient water to irrigate 27,493 acres of 

land in the Reno Valley. With reasonable care and economy in its 

use the latter quantity should not exceed 275 second-feet, or 1 secondfoot for each 100 acres. Thus the water employed for generating 

power at Floriston and Mystic, which ca:n be applied to the lands 

below, is more than ample to supply existing water rights for irrigation. This volume, with the surplus from the power plants mentioned, will supply the requirements of the power plants at Verdi and 

Reno, as many of the irrigating canals- are taken out below them, and 

the water which will necessarily return to the river from seepage is 

ample for the irrigation of the lands below Vista and for the purpose 

of the Wadsworth Light and Power Company. Thus it appears that 

the waters of Truckee River in excess of 300 cubic feet per second are 

available for use in the extension of the irrigated area or for other 

p~rposes. But since that volume of water {300 cubic feet per second) 

is at all times required for power purposes, the river should never be 

permitted to fall below that stage. 

IRRIGABLE LANDS. 

While almost the entire water supply of Truckee River comes from 

the upper portion of the basin, where all of the projected storage 

reservoirs would be located, it is in the lower part of the basin that 

the best agricultural lands are found, and where practically all of the 

water will, be used in irrigation. There is a considerable area in 

Martis Valley and along Prosser Creek, also along Little Truckee 

River in California, which is favorably situated for irrigation, but 

the climate is not adapted to any but the lowest class of farm products, hence it is not deemed advisable to devote to their irrigation 

water which. is needed and can be so much more profitably employed 

in the valleys farther east and at lower altitudes. 
78 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. [NO. 68. 

Within the Reno Valley and to the east of the Nevada-California 

boundary line, including the areas already under cultivation, are 

42,000 acres of land suitable for farming purposes, which are already 

commanded by canals from Truckee River. Lying along the foothills to the north and northeast of the town of Reno, and in the Lemmons. Prosser, Spanish Springs, and Warm Springs valleys, are fine 

tracts of sagebrush land, aggregating about 75,000 acres, which are 

within reach of the Truckee's waters. On the lower stretches of the 

river, in the canyon below the Reno Valley and in the vicinity of 

Wadsworth and Pyramid lakes, are, approximately, 30,000 acres of 

good land, about 20,000 acres of which are embraced in the Pyramid 

Lake Indian Reservation, while to the east and southeast of Wadsworth, but over a low, flat divide from which the drainage is toward 

Carson River, and including a part of the Lower Carson or Carson 

Sink Valley, are more than 100,000 acres which can be reached by ~ 

canals from Truckee River. 

Besides these there are not less ·than 3, 000 acres of land along the 

foothills bordering the Reno Valley, to the south of the river, 1,345 

acres of which are already irrigated, which can be supplied with water 

from the numerous small streams which flow down from the northern 

part of the Tahoe Range; while still farther south, in the Steamboat, 

Pleasant, and Washoe valleys, are more than 12,000 acres of good 

land which could be reached by ditches from Steamboat Creek and 

the streams flowing into the Washoe Valley from the west. The latter, however, being beyond the reach of the stored water under consideration, and no study of the supply for their irrigation having 

been made, are left out of the estimates of irri~ation possibilities. It 

is believed that, reenforced and regulated by storage'reservoirs, the 

water supply will be sufficient, not only to maintain the flow of 

Truckee River at a minimum of 300 second-feet, but with economical 

methods of distribution and application, to properly irrigate 219,000 

acres of the foregoing lands, as follows: 

From small tributaries south of river _____________________ . ____ _ 

In the Reno Valley, from Truckee River-----------~----------­

On foothills north of Truckee River, and in the Lemmons, Prosser, Warm Springs, and Spanish Springs valleys _____________ _ 

Below the Reno Valley and north of Wadsworth ______________ _ 

East and southeast of Wadsworth _____________________________ _ 

Acres. 

3,000 

42,000 

75,000 

24,000 

75,000 

Total ___________________________________________________ ~ 219, 000 

OWNERSHIP OF LANDS. 

No attempt was made to ascertain in detail the ownership of all of 

the lands included in the foregoing table, but from the maps in the 

United States land office a·nd in the offices of the assessors of Washoe, 
TAYLOR.] DUTY OF W .A TER. 79 

Lyon, Churchill, and Storey counties, in Nevada, in which the lands 

are situated, the following general information was obtained: 

All of the lands, except about 9,000 acres in the northern end of the 

Warm Springs Valley and perhaps a part of those ir the Carson Sink 

Valley, are within the limits of the grant to the Cent,ral Pacific Railroad Company, and consequently half of them-the odd-numbered 

sections-are, or originally were, the property of that company. The 

42,000 acres in the Reno Valley are all in private ownership, as ar'e 

also the 3,000 acres of foothill lands south of Truckee River. 

Of the 75,000 acres of irrigable lauds north of Truckee River, not 

more than 20,000 acres still remain the property of the Government, 

the rest being in private ownership or the property of the railroad 

company. The title to the land in the vicinity of Wadsworth is 

approximately as follows: 

) Acres. 

Public domain ____________________________________________ -_ _ _ _ _ 37, 000 

Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20, 000 

Central Pacific Railroad grant __________________________________ 37, 000 

Private individuals _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5, 000 

TotaL______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 99, 000 

Thus it appears that, of the total area which it is estimated can be 

irrigated, about 25 per cent, or less than 60,000 acres, still belongs to 

the public domain. · 

DUTY OF WATER. 

Under present methods of irrigation in the basin of the Truckee, 

especially in the Reno Valley, where a large portion of the lower lands 

have been converted into marshes, the duty of water is extremely low, 

averaging, probably, not more than 50 acres to the cubic foot per 

second .. It is certain, however, that this can at least be doubled, so in 

making an estimate of irrigation possibilities with the available water 

supply, 1 second-foot of water measured in the river is allowed for 

each 100 acres in the Reno Valley, or 420 cubic feet per second for 

42,000 acres. These lands in the main comprise soils of a clayey and 

loamy nature, varying in depth from a little more than a foot to 4 or 

5 feet, underlain by gravel and bowlders; and as the grades are generally heavy the water sinking through the surface stratum drains off 

very rapfdly. 

In the valleys to the north of Truckee River and in the neighborhood of Wadsworth the soils are of a different character, and the duty 

of water will be higher. For the Lemmons, Warm Springs, Spanish 

Springs, and Prosser valleys an average duty of 150 acres to the secondfoot is estimated, after making allowance for losses in transit through 

the main canals. On the mmm north of Wadsworth, which is partially drained by deep ravines and borders Truckee River, whose 
80 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

channel is from 50 to 200 feet below the irrigable lands, the duty is 

estimated at 120 acres to the second-foot. rro the east of Wadsworth 

.and in the Carson Sink Valley an average of 150 acres to the secondfoot is believed to be a fair duty, assuming reasonable economy in the 

application of the water. In each of the last two cases it is assumed 

that the water will be measured where taken out from the main canals. 

QUANTITY OF WATER REQUIRED AND AVAILABLE~ 

To supply 75,000 acres of land to the north of Truckee River it will 

be necessary to construct a canal of sufficient capacity to divert 550 

cubic feet per second, it being assumed that 50 second-feet will be 

lost in transit. 

The main canal to supply 99,000 acres in the vicinity of Wadsworth 

must have a capacity of 750 cubic feet per second, or 50 second-feet \ 

in excess of the requirements of the land to be served, in order to 

provide for losses in the main canals. It must not be understood 

that the 50 second-feet allowed in each case will represent the entire 

loss from the main canals referred to, but when it is remembered that 

probably not more than 70 or 80 per cent of the total area assumed to be 

supplied with water will ~e actually under irrigation during any season, 

this allowance in fixing the canal capacities appears to be sufficient. 

For the supply of 42;000 acres of land in the Reno Valley, with the 

duty assumed, 420 cubic feet per second will be diverted from the 

river. 

The water supply of these lands will be derived from the main 

Truckee River, supplemented by that which will be stored in the 

seven reservoirs situated above the town of Verdi, in the State of 

California, which will discharge directly into it. The irrigation season in this region is generally considered to begin about April1 and 

to end about September 1, but in the lower portion of the basin some 

water can be used with profit during the month of March and some 

will be required for garden irrigation later than September 1. 

From the foregoing, from a study of the records of stream discharge 

given on previous pages of this report, and from the storage possibilities, the following table, showing, by months, the probable mean 

available flow of Truckee River at Floriston during the driest year 

(after deducting the proportion which will be held back by reservoirs), 

the total mean quantity which will be required for irrigation and for 

power purposes, the mean quantity expected to return to the river 

by seepage above Vista, the mean flow required at Floriston, which, 

added to the seepage water during the irrigating season, will supply 

· all requirements, and the volume which must be drawn from the 

reservoirs to maintain the requjred flow at, Floriston, has been 

compiled. 
' 

TAYLOR.) PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION CANALS. 81 

Table showing quantity of water required and available. 

Month. 

a~~~~~~===:~~====:~~====== April _______________________ _ 

May------------------------- June ________________________ _ 

July------------------------- August_----- _________ -------

~~~t:.~~-=~~~===~~=~~=~==== 

Mean a ":aila- Total mean ble diS- t't f charge of quan I Y 0 

·k~ waterre- ~I~~r t 9.ui:ed for 

Florist n IrrigatiOn (dry years). and power. 

Mean vol- ume of 

seepage or return 

water at Vista. 

Mean flow, 

required at Floriston. 

Amount 

necessary 

to draw 

from 

reservoirs. 

Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. 'Ac1·e~ft. 

225 300 50 300 75 4, 612 

200 300 50 300 100 5,5'>4 

450 400 75 400 (){) 000 

700 1,100 100 1, ()()() 300 17,851 

1, 200 1 720 120 1, 600 400 24, 5!l5 

600 1: 750 150 1, 600 1, ()()() 59,505 

200 1,400 200 1,200 1,000 61,489 

150 1,100 200 900 750 46,117 

150 500 150 400 250 14, 876 

300 300 100 300 00 000 

November------------------ 280 300 60 300 20 1,190 December___________________ 225 300 50 300 751 4,612 

Total necessary to draw from reservoirs ________ ---------------~---------------------- 240,401 Total net capacity of reservoirs ______________ -------------------------- ______ ---------------- 2S8, 767 

Reserve capacity of reservoirs providing a margin of safetY..: ........ --------------~~ 

PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION CANALS. 

During the year 1889-90 a line was run from Truckee River, 1 

beginning near Clarks station, on the Central Pacific Railroad, which 

demonstrates the feasibility and furnishes the basis for approximate 

estimates of cost of delivering water to the lands in the vicinity of 

Wadsworth. This survey, with later ones made by Mr. T. K. Stewart, C. E., supply the data for the estimates herein contained. In 

1892 the author and Mr. Morris Hacker, C. E., now of Chevy Chase, Md., 

made surveys for and estimates of cost of a canal from a point in 

'.rruckee River, where the Floriston Pulp and Paper Company now 

diverts the water for the operation of its mills, to the divide between 

the Reno and the Lemmons valleys, with branches thence to distribute 

water to the other valleys lying to the north of the river. This was 

then known as, and will here be designated, the Truckee River Highline canal. To snpply water to the lands in the Reno Valley and the 

~ruckee Meadows several of the existing canals can be employed, 

notably the Highland canal on t,he north and the Steamboat canal on 

the south side of the river. 

No data are at hand concerning canals or ditches required for the 

delivery of water from the small creeks to the foothill lands south of 

Truckee River, nor for distributing purposes in the Washoe Valley 

and on Steamboat Creek. ·In neither case, however, will these be of 

great magnitude, nor will their construction be expensive. 

TRUCKEE RIVER HIGHLINE CANAL. 

As p:;:oeviously stated, the survey of this canal line was made in 1892. 

It was designed to head in the left bank of Truckee River at the 

I Thirteenth Ann. Rept. U.S. Geol. Survey, Pt. III, pp. 393-394. 

IRR 68-02--6 
82 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

place where the diversion dam of the Floriston Pulp and Paper Company has since been constructed. From that point the line as ::mrveyed runs in a general northerly direction-nearly all the way along 

precipitous and rocky mo,untain sides-for a di_stance of about 12 miles, 

. to a point west of the town of Verdi, where it turns, crosses Dog Valley 

Creek, and runs in a general direction a little north of east, over less 

precipitous and rocky ground, to the divide between the Reno and the 

Lemmons valleys, a total distance of 163,950 feet, or a little more than 

31 miles. In its course the line traverses a great deal of ground-· 

about 10 miles in the aggregate, more than 8 miles of which are above 

Dog Valley Creek-through which the construction of a water-tight 

canal would be so expensive that it was decided to use lumber flumes, 

to be built on benches cut in the mountain side, it being estimated 

that the interest on the additional cost of a canal through this ground 

would at least maintftin t.he flumes. Besides this, the line traversing 

the mountain sides crosses numerous lateral drainage lines which 

would be passed by means of flumes supported on timber trestles. 

Dog Valley Creek, a little more than 14 miles from the head of the 

canal, flows in a deep canyon, which it is proposed to cross by means 

of a double line of pressure pipes 66 inches in diameter and about 

1, 700 feet in length. There are nine tunnels on the line, varying in 

length from 150 to 2,200 feet and aggregating B,312 feet. The grades 

on which the canal is designed to be constructed, also its dimensions, 

vary with the character of the ground, as follows: Canal in earth on 

comparatively flat slopes, grade 0.4 in 1,000, bed width 16 feet, top 

width 30 feet, depth of water 7 feet; canal in rocky or clayey soil, . 

generally on steeper hillsides, grade 0.6 in 1,000, bed width 16 feet, 

top width 23 feet, depth of water 7 feet; tunnels, grade 1.25 in 1,000, 

width 15 feet to a height of 7 feet, with arched roof, crown of arch 10 

feet high; flumes, grade 0.6 in 1,000, inside dimensions 12 feet wide 

by 7. 5 feet deep, depth of water 7 feet. The estimated capacity is 550 

cubic feet per second. 

BRANCH CANALS. 

From the lower terminus of the main canal just described surveys 

were made of two main branch lines, one to the west, known as Branch 

canal No. 1, around the south and west sides of the Lemmons Valley, 

to supply about 17,000 acres of land in that valley, having a total 

length of 2± miles and a capacity at its head of 130 second-feet; the 

other, Branch canal No. 2, designed to supply about 53,000 acres in 

the I~enunons, Prosser, Spanish Springs, and Warm Springs valleys, 

was located around the east side, a distance of 21 miles, to the head 

of a canyon leading to the valley last mentioned, its capacity, where 

it leaves the main canal to be 400 cubiefeet per second. Both of 

these lines were run on a grade of 0.6 in 1,000. 

The foothill lands between theN evacla-California boundary and the 

terminus of the main line, comprising about 5,000 acres, can be sup-
TAYLOR.) PROPOSED' DISTRIBUTION CANALS. 83 ' 

plied directly from the main canal. No attempt was made to locate 

the minor ditches for the distribution of water from the main canal~, 

but with a few exceptions these would be entirely in earth and quite 

easy and cheap of construction. · 

The surveys of this canal system, especially of the main diversion 

line from Truckee River to the divide north of the Reno Valley, were 

made with all the care .and attention to details deemed requisite for 

the final location of so important a work, and the estimates, of which 

only a summary is here given, embraced as close a classification of 

the material to be excavated as could be made in advance of actual 

·construction. The prices ranged from a minimum of 12 cents per 

cubic yard for earth to a maximum of 90 cents for solid rock in open 

cuts. The estimates for tunneling ranged from $10 to $25 per foot. 

So far as could be judged, the material to be encountered in the tunnels is nearly all comparatively soft rock, but, as evidenced by tunnels 

already in existence through similar material, is of such character that 

it would rarely req_ uire timbering or other support. In making up the 

estimates an allowance of 15 per cent was made in all cases for engineering and contingencies. Following is the estimate of cost of this 

canal system, being a slight modification of that made in 1892, to fit 

somewhat altered conditions·: 

Estimate of cost of proposed Truckee River Highline canal, branch canals, and 

Main canal: 

distributing ditches. 

Dam and regulating gates ________________________________ $10, 000 

Canal excavation _________________________________________ 216, 000 

Nine tunnels, 8,312 feet_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 117, 000 

Flumes, 5,000 M feet B. M., at $28 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 140, 000 

Dog Valley Creek inverted siphon, 1,700 feet _ _ ____ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ 27,000 

--- $510,000 

Branch canal No. 1 ______________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 46, 000 

Branch canal No. 2 __________________________________________________ -· 104, 000 

Minor distributing ditches _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 90, 000 

Total ___________________________________________________________ 750,000 

The cost per acre for delivering water to 75,000 acres of land is $10. 

LOWER TRUCKEE CANAL. 

The Lower Truckee canal line, surveyed by the engineers of the 

United States Irrigation Survey in 1889-90, and already referred to, 

was designed to take water from near the crest of a dam across the 

river and about 50 feet above its bed. The location of this proposed 

dam is about 3 miles below Clarks station, on the Central Pacific 

Railroad. In order to obviate the necessity for this high dam, which 

would be very expensive, and yet gain the required elevation to command all of the irrigable lands, the writer proposes a canal to head in 

the right bank of the river a short distance above Clarks station, 

about 4 miles, by the canal route, westerly from the site of the dam 
84 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. (NO. 68. 

first mentioned; from that point the line to follow along the mountain side, close to the river, for a distance of about 10 miles, to a point 

approximately 5 miles above the town of vVadsworth, where it would 

divide into two main branches, designated A and B. Up to that point 

the main canal would have a uniform grade of 0.4 in 1,000, a sectional 

area of 205 square feet, and a carrying capacity of 750 second-feet. 

Branch canal A, designed t,o supply the lands southeast of Wadsworth, to continue along the mountain side to the south of the· river 

for about 7 miles, to a point east of south from Wadsworth, where it 

would enter the plain; thence to run in an easterly direction about 

13 miles, to the edge of Carson Sink Valley. This line was run on a 

grade of 0.4 in 1,000, the canal to have a sectional area of 160 square 

feet and a capacity of 5:?5 second-feet for the first 10 miles, after which 

its sectional area and carrying capacity would diminish as lateral 

ditches branch off from it. 

Branch canal B would run north ward from the terminus of the main 

canal, crossing Truckee River by an inverted siphon 66 inches in 

diameter, and extending to Pyramid Lake. It would have a total 

length of about 24 miles, and would furnish water to about 24,000 

acres of land lying west and north of "\Vadsworth. Except in the pipe 

line across the river, where the hydraulic grade is 3 in 1,000, this line 

is designed to be run on a uniform grade of 0. 3 in 1, 000. 'l,he sectional area and capacity at the head are 90 square feet and 225 secondfeet, respectively, but these would be gradually diminished to the 

north. 

The main distributing canals would be entirely in earth and cheap 

of construction. While no surveys have been made to furnish data 

for an estimate of their cost, it is believed that it will not exceed 80 

cents to the acre of irrigable land. 

The following preliminary estimate of the cost of the canal system 

has been prepared : 

Estimate of c?st of proposed Lower Truckee canal system. 

10 miles of main canal, with headworks _______________________________ $144,000 

Branch canal A, 20 miles_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 120, 000 

Branch canal B, 24 miles______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 52, 000 

Inverted siphon of branch canal B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20, 000 

Minor distributing canals _________________ ·-___________________________ 80, 000 

Total ___________________________________________ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 416, 000 

Engineering and contingencies are provided for in this estimate, as 

in that of the Highline canal. 

POSSIBLE USES OF WATER FOR POWER DEVELOPMENT. 

It has been shown that the minimum discharge of Truckee River 

at Truckee can be maintained at 110 second-feet and at Floriston at 

300 second-feet, the tributary streams entering between the two points 

(the principal of which is the Little Truckee, at Boco) helping to make 
TAYLOR.] NECESSITY FOR. NATIONAL CONTROL Ol!' WAT'ER. 85 

up the greater volume. Below Floriston there are a number of small 

streams entering the river, which will still further increase its flow, 

so that the discharge will probably never fall below 300 second-feet 

between Floriston and the head of the Highland ditch, about lt miles 

below Verdi. From that point to Rene an average minimum flow of 

not less than 250 cubic feet per second can be relied upon, for not 

more than 50 second-feet will be required by the intervening irrigation canals during the low-water periods. Below Reno, as far as 

Vista, the grade being comparatively light, no estimate of power possibilities will be made. From Vista to Clarks station the minimum 

discharge of the river will probably be in excess of 300 second-feet, 

but that volume is taken in order to be on the side of safety. On this 

basis the following table, which fairly exhibits the possibilities for 

power development on Truckee River, has been prepared: 

Possible power development on Truckee River. 

Between- Distance. 

Minimum 

water 

supply. 

Total 

fall. 

Actual 

Available power, 80 

fall. per cent of 

theoretic. 

Miles. Sec.-ft. Feet. Feet. H. P. 

TruckeeandBoca........................... 9.0 110 OCMl 250 2,500 

Boca and Floriston ______ -------------------- 4.5 250 200 150 3,400 Floriston and Mystic________________________ 2.0 300 143 136 a3,700 

MysticandHighlandditch_________________ li9g.:5g 300~ 4~10 I 180 bS,ID.l Highland ditch and Reno___________________ """" b5,000 

Vista and Clarks station---················- 4, 900 1---- Total. _______ ----- _________________ ----- _ ----- ••..•• ...• •••..• •..... .•.. .... ...• ••..•. 27,700 

Power now utilized between above points .....••••.••• ·························--··---·- 4,100 1---- Total possible and undeveloped __ ...• ____ --·· ___________ ... __________________ . _______ .••• 23,600 

a Utilized. b Two hundred horsepower utilized. 

NECESSITY FOR NATIONAL CONTROL OF WATER. 

Since almost the entire water supply of Truckee River comes from 

the upper portion of the basin, the major part of which is in Californ~a, and the irrigable lands are all in the lower portion, within the 

State of Nevada, it follows that the users of the water for irrigation 

purposes can never have entire control of the source of their supply, 

though such control is vital to the ultimate prosperity, and it may be 

said to the very existence, of communities dependent upon irrigation. 

If the irrigation of these lands be undertaken by private entm~prise 

or by the State of Nevada, it is certain that sooner or later interstate 

complications will arise which may result in at least the partial 

destruction of all that may be accomplished. It is a problem, therefore, with which the National Government only is competent to cope. 

So it is re~ommended that the entire upper portion of the Truckee 

Basin be segregated into a national forest and water reserve and the 

waters be dedicated to industrial and irrigation purposes within the. 

basin and upon such lands immediately adjacent thereto as can be 

supplied. 
. 86 WATER STORAGE IN THE TRUCKEE BASIN. 

Name of reservoir. 

Lake Tahoe .•...••••.............. --··-- ____________________ ------ Donner Lake _______ -------- __________________________ ------ _____ _ 

l~~~~;~~i~:=~~~=~~~ Henness ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~= = = = =~ ~ = == == ~ = ~ = = :: = = = =:: ~ ::: =: :::: Pass ______ ----- __________________________ ---------------- Dog Valley _______________________________________________________ ' 

Ac1·e-jeet. 

745,400 

26,900 

11,725 

7,818 

20,540 

17,000 

5, 785 

TotaL ____ -----_-----_----- ____________________________ ------! 835,168 

I 

Acre-feet. 

200,000 

26,900 

11,725 

7,818 

20,540 

16,000 i 

5, 785 ! 

288,7681 

(NO. 68. 

$49,731 

86,746 

33,979 

41,195 

61,820 

47,575 

32,186 ----

353,232 

(2) The watersheds tributary to the reservoirs mentioned yield 

sufficient water, even in seasons of minimum prec~pitatiou, as _that 

of 1899 and 1909, t,o fill each of them. 

(3) The water stored in the reservoirs mentioned, if employed 

to supplement the ordinary flow of Truckee River and used with 

moderat,e economy, is sufficient, even in dry years, to irrigate 185,116 

acres of land in excess of that now watered, or a total of 219,000 acres, 

and maintain.the minimum discharge of Truckee Riverat 300 cubic 

feet per second above Reno and Clarks station. 

(4) It is feasible, by utilizing the foregoing minimum discharge 

of Truckee River, to develop between r.rruckee and the head of the 

Lower Truckee canal at Clarks station over 20,000 horsepower in 

excess of that now developed. 

(5) It is feasible to construct an irrigating canal having a capacity 

of 550 second-feet, leading from Truckee River near Floriston, Cal., 

to supply 75,000 acres of arable lands above and to the north a·nd 

east of Reno, at a cost, including headworks and the main branches 

and distributaries, of $750,000. · 

(6) It is feasible to construct a canal having a capacity of 750 

cubic feet per second on the south side of Truckee River from above 

Clarks station to a short distance above Wadsworth, where a branch 

with 225 second-feet capacity can be t,aken across the river by pressure pipes and be led northward to-ward Pyramid Lake, while the 

main branch, with a capacity of 525 second-feet, can be continued to 

the southeast and east, of "\Vadsworth, the two branches Sl.lpplying 

water to 99,000 acres of land, about 30,000 acres of which are in the 

Truckee River Basin (more than 20,000 acres of this being in the 

Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation) and 69,000 acres in tli.e basin of 

Carson River (approximately 50,000 acres of this being in the Carson 

Sink Valley); and the cost of this canal system, including the principal distributing branches, will probably be about $4:.20 for each acre 

(commanded, or a total of $416,000. 
TAYLOR.) FIN.ANOI.AL SUMMARY. 87 

(7) The entire upper portion of the Truckee River Basin, embracing 

all of the drainage area above the town of Verdi, and the north and 

east slopes of the Tahoe Range, should be set. aside as a forest and 

water reserve or a national park. 

(8) The Lake Tahoe dam should be built as the first step in the 

storage of water on the Truckee, and all private rights in the other 

reservoir sites described should be acquired by the Government, so 

that when the time for their utilization arrives there will be no obstacles in the way of their construction. 

(9) "rhe portion of t.he public domain which can be irrigated from 

the stored waters of Truckee River should be withdrawn from entry, 

and after being provided with a system of canals for the delivery of 

water should be off~red for sale at a price commensurate with the 

cost of their reclamation as irrigable lands with water rights. 

(10) Measurements of stream discharge and evaporation in the basin 

of "the Truckee should be continued at important points, to supply 

more complete and reliable data on the water supply. 

FINANCIAL SUMMARY. 

Summarizing, the estimated cost of the projected storage works is 

as follows: 

Summary of cost of storage works. 

Seven reservoirs _ : ________ . _________________________________ . _______ _ 

Truckee River Highline canal system _______________________________ _ 

Lower Truckee canal system _______ . ________________________________ _ 

$353,232 

750,000 

416,000 

Total __________________________________________________________ 1,519,232 

There are 185,116 acres of land, public and private, which would be 

irrigated by these works in addition to the area already watered. 

Assuming that 7,116 acres, or 7,616 acres including the 500 acres 

already under irrigation, be irrigated for the Piute Indians-an area 

believed to be ample for the sustenance of that tribe without cost to 

th'.J" Government-there remain 178,000 acres to sustain the cost of 

these irrigation works, making the necessary charge per acre for water 

rights $8. 50. It is believed that these water rights and the remaining 

public lands could be sold at that rate within a very few years. The 

actual value of 178,000 acres of land with water rights would be not 

less than $30 an acre, or a total of $5,340,000. The increase in the 

value of town property which would necessarily follow, and the value 

of the water power made available, all of which would be without 

expense to the public, can not here be estimated. 

While the construction of the Lake Tahoe dam is recommended as 

thB first step in the storage of water on the Truckee, it must not be 

forgotten that in order to utilize the stored waters a system of main 

canals, costing not less than $416,000 for one or $750,000 for the other, 

must first be provided, and that without such canals to deliver the 

water to irrigable lands the construction of the Tahoe or any other 

reservoir is useless. 

INDEX. 

Page. 

Alder Creek, discharge of _________________ 17,32 

-drainage area of _____________ ---------- 16 

Blackwood Creek, discharge of___________ 33 

Boca, Cal., discharge measurements near_ 21-22 rainfall at ________________________ . _____ 11,12 

Boca reservoir site, map of_ _________ ------ 64 

objections to ______________ ------------- 42 

Canals, surveys, and plans for______ 38--39, 81-84 

Carson, Nev., rainfall at_ _________________ 11,14 

Cascade Creek, discharge of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 33 

Cold Creek, discharge of __________ -------- 17,32 

Cold and Donner creeks, drainage area of_ 16 

Dams in Truckee River, plates showing __ 42,72 

Deer Creek, discharge of ____________ ------ 3'.2 

Dog Valley, dam site in, profile of________ 70 

reservoir in, survey and plans for ____ 69-71 

reservoir site in, map of-------------- 69 

Dog Valley Creek, discharge of---------- 17,32 

drainage area of_ ________ ·______________ 16 

Donner Creek, discharge of___________ _ _ _ _ 17,32 

Donner and Cold creeks, drainage area of_ 16 

Donner Lake, dam site at, profile of______ 54 

reservoir at, survey and plans for ____ 51~55 

reservoir site at, map of_______________ 52 

view of, plate showing________________ 50 

water storage in basin of, projects for __ ·-·-________________________ 37 

Drainage areas, estimate of _______ -------- 15--13 

Elevation, increase of rainfall with _ _____ 15 

Emerald Bay, view from, plate showing_ 42 

Emerald Bay Creek, discharge of-------- 33 

Essex, Nev., Truckee River at, discharge 

of-------------------------------- 18,22 

Evaporation, measurementsqf_ _________ 34-36 

Floriston, Cal., flume near, plate showing head works of______________ 74 

water used near_______________________ 73 

Floriston Pulp and Paper Company, dam 

of, plate showing ______ -------- 72 

water used by··----------------------- 72 

Flume of Truckee River, General Electric Company, plate showing_ 74 

General Creek, discharge of-------------- 33 

Genoa, Nev., rainfall at_------------------ 11,14 

Glenbrook, Nev., rainfall at-------------- 15 

Glenbrook Creek, discharge of.__________ 33 

Grass Lake reservoir site, objections to._ 40 

Hacker, M., work of ____ --------------____ 81 

Hall, W. H., work of---------------------- 36 

Henness Pass Valley, dam site in, map of_ 68 

reservoir at, surveys and plans for __ 66-68 

reservoir site and supplv canal at, 

map of------ _____ .------------- 67 

Hot Springs Creek, discharge of. ___ ------ 33 

Hunter Creek, discharge of_-------------- 32 

drainage area of ____________ ------_____ 16 

IRR 68-02--7 

Page. 

Independence Lake, dam site at, profile of 57 

reservoir at, survey and plans for_ 37,56-58 

reservoir site at, map of _______ . ___ --.-- 53 

Irrigable lands, area of_ _____ ------ ________ 77-78 

duty of water on ____________ ---------- 79-80 

ownership of-------------------------- 78-79 

water required and available _________ 80-81 

Irrigating ditches, flow of_________________ 76 

Irrigation, water used for _________________ 74-77 

Irrigation canals in Truckee Basin, maps 

showing __________________ ------ 74,75 

Joe Gray Creek, discharge of. ____________ 17,32 

drainage area of_ ____________ ---------- 16 

Juniper Creek, discharge of ________ ------ 17,3'.2 

drainage area of.______________________ 16 

Lake Tahoe, dam at, plate showing_______ 42 

dam site of, map of ___________________ _. 48 

discharge of_ _________________ ------____ 47 

drainage area of.______________________ 16 

evaporation in.------ ____________ ------ 34-35 

fluctuations of_ ________________________ 45-47 

map of_ ____________ ------- ____ ---------- 4i 

measurements of Truckee River at 

outlet of ____ ------______________ 17 

reservoir at, survey and plans for ____ 48-51 

streams flowing into, discharge of____ 33 

utilization of waters of, projects for__ 37 

views of, plat~s showing _______________ 10,42 

Lewers's ranch, Nevada, rainfall at.----- 11,13 

Little Truckee River, discharge of _______ 21,32 

drainage area of_ ___________ ... -------- 16 

falls of, plate showing_________________ 50 

Little Truckee reservoir, map of_________ 61 

dam site of, map of ________ ------------ 62 

survey and plans for------ __ ---------- 61-66 

Little Valleyreservoirsite,objections to. 43 

Lower Truckee canal, survey and plans for _______________ ----- __________ sa-:84 

McKinney Creek, discharge of----------- 33 

Marlette Lake, Nev., rainfall at__________ 14 

Martis Creek, discharge of--------------- 17,32 

drainage area of. ____________ ------____ 16 

reservoir site at, objections to________ 43 

Melggs Creek, discharge of _________ ------ 33 

Monument Peak reservoir site, objections to_______________________________ 40 

Mystic, Cal., flume near, plate showing__ 72 

power house at, plate showing------- 76 

National control of water, necessity for__ 85 

Newell, F. H., letter of transmittal by___ 7 

New lands, F. G., reference to--------____ 52 

North Fork of Prosser Creek, reservoir 

on. See Twin Valley reservoir. 

Power, possible uses of water for-------- 84-85 

use of water for----------------------- 72-74 

89 
90 INDEX. 

Page. 

Power house of Truckee River General 

Electric Company, plate showing-----------------____________ 76 

Precipitation. See Rainfall. 

Prosser Creek, discharge of ____ ---------- 21,32 

drainage area of .. ,-------------------- 16 

Prosser Creek reservoir. See Twin Valley reservoir. 

Pyramid and Winnemucca lakes, evaporation from ...... -------------- 36 

Rainfall, increase of, with elevation._____ 15 

records of_ _____ -------------------- ____ 10-15 

Reno, Nev., evaporation at, measurements of.------------ __________ 35--36 

rainfall at. _____ . _______________________ 11,12 

Truckee River at, plate showing______ 32 

water used near----------------------- 73 

Reno Electric Light and Power Company, 

water used by ... _ ... _ ... ___ ... 73 

Reno reduction works, water used by___ 73 

Reservoir sites, surveys of_ .......... 36-38, 39-71 

Riverside flour mill, water used by______ 73 

Rubicon Creek, discharge of ________ ----·- 33 

Run-off and stream flow, measurements of.------. ___________ ...... ______ 16-33 

Sardine Valley reservoir site, objections 

to ___________ -------------------- 43 

Spooner Creek, discharge of. ... __ .. _. ___ . 38 

Squaw Creek, discharge of--------------- 32 drainage area of. _______ ..... __________ 16 

Squaw Valley, dam site in, map of_______ 42 

reservoir site in, map of-------------- 42 

objections to ....... ________________ 42 

Stampede Valley reservoir site, objections to._----- .......... ________ 40 

Stateline Mills, Cal., Truckee River at, 

discharge of---------------- 19,26-28 

Truckee River at, plate showing_____ 18 

Steamboat Creek, discharge of.______ _ _ _ _ 21 

drainage area of.------________________ 16 

Steamboat Springs, Nev., Steamboat 

Creek at, discharge of. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21 

Stewart, T. K., work of ___________________ 55,81 

Stream flow and run-off, measurements 

of. ______ ------------ ____________ 16-33 

Summit, Cal., rainfall at __________________ 11,13 

Tahoe, Cal., evaporation at-------________ 34 

Truckee River at, discharge of. ___ 19,23-25 

Tahoe, Lake, basin of, drainage area of__ 16 

dam at, plate showing_________________ 42 

dam site of, map of------------------- 48 

discharge of_. _____ .-----______________ 47 

drainage area of _______ ----------______ 16 

evaporation in .... --------"------- _____ 34-3-5 

fluctuations oL _ ----- ________ ---------- 45-47 

map of--------------------------------- 44 

0 

.Page. 

Tahoe, Lake, measurements of Truckee 

River at outlet of.______________ 17 

reservoir at, survey and plans for ____ 43-51 

streams flowing into, discharge of____ 33 

utilization of waters of, projects for. 37 

views of, plates showing ______________ 10,42 

Taylor Creek, discharge of--------------- 33 

Trout Creek, discharge of---------------- 33 

Truckee, Cal., rainfall at----------------- 11,13 

water used at__________________________ 72 

Truckee Basin, map of ______ -------------- 9 

irrigation canals in, maps showing ___ 74,75 

TruckeeLumberCompany,waterusedby 72 

Truckee River, course of ______ -----------· 10 

dams on, plates showing-------------- 42,72 

drainage area of _________________ ------ 16 

Highline canal on, survey and plans 

for----------------------------- 81-83 

measurements of---------------------- 17-32 

tributaries of, discharge of. __________ 17,32 

views of, plates showing._ .. _ 18, 32, 42, 50, 72 

Truckee Ri"ver General Electric Company, flume of, plate showing ____ -----------______________ 74 

powerhouse of, plate showing------- 76 

water used by.------. ___________ ------ 73 

Twin Valley reservoir, survey and plans for _. ______ . _____ ---~- __________ 59-61 

Twin Valley reservoir and dam sites, 

maps of------------------------ 59 

Virginia, Nev., rainfall at.------. _________ 11,14 

Vista, Nev., Truckee River at, discharge of __________ . ___________ 20,22-23,29-31 

Truckee River at, plate showing. ___ . 18 

Verdi, Nev., rainfall at------------------- 11,12 

water used near----------------------- 73 

Verdi Mill Company, water used by_____ 73 

Wadsworth, Nev., rainfall at_____________ 11 

water used near.---------------------- 73 

Wadsworth Light and Power Company, 

water used by.------------____ 73 

Ward Creek, discharge of------------____ 33 

Water, duty of _ _. ____ ------------------ ____ 79-80 

national control of, necessity for..... 85 

possible uses of, for power development--------------------------- 84-85 

present use of and existing water 

rights ______ ------------ ________ 72-77 

quantity required and av.ailable for 

irrigation ______ ------, ... ------ 80-81 

Webber Lake, map of and profile of dam 

site ... ____ . ____ -_---- .... --. __ .. 41 

reservoir at, objections to------------ <l0-42 

plans for------_-----------.-------. 37 

Winnemucca and Pyramid lakes, evaporation from-------------------- 36 

1