Walker Lake has long been renowned for its Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and has been a favorite spot for anglers. In addition to the trout, Walker Lake supports Tui Chub, and other native fish species that are vital to the thousands of birds that visit the lake all year around, including Loons, Grebes, Pelicans, Waterfowl, Sea Gulls, Terns, various ducks, and others to name a few.
Since 1885, Walker Lake's surface elevation has dropped 140 feet. This drop translates into a loss of over 70% of the lake's volume. Less water simply means that the natural salts or TDS {total dissolved solids} are concentrating because there is less water to dilute them. {Walker Lake is a lake which has in flow of water but no out flow} The increasing salinity level has reached the point that it is close to lethal for Walker Lake's Lahonton Cuttroat Trout and Tui Chub.
The lakes fate is tied to upstream agriculture in California and Nevada. It is estimated by some that the waters of the Walker River are 30% overallocated. In other words, even in a "normal" rain & snow fall year, all of the water rights cannot be met. As agricultural acreage in Nevada and California has grown from 58,000 acres in 1909 to over 120,000 acres by 1972 less water has been reaching the lake. Since the early 1960's ground water pumping in the Walker River Basin has increased dramatically, thereby, increasing the draw on an already overallocated system. During the five-year period of 1988-1992, no surface waters from the Walker River entered Walker Lake.
In 1992 concerned citizens of Mineral County formed the Walker Lake Working Group. The Group is dedicated to working with all interested parties in the development and implmentation of a plan to restore Walker Lake, a lake of international status, through economically and environmentally sustainable solutions.
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