By Gary Johanson
This past winter of 2022-2023 has been a phenomenal snow year in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Snowfall is 300-percent of normal. The East and West Forks of the Walker River, which begin in the icy, sawtooth Sierra peaks and flow East to Walker Lake, are swollen with runoff.
During a typical year, much of the Walker River water is intercepted by upstream irrigators and never reaches the lake. During the past 140 years, Walker Lake has dropped over 175 vertical feet and the Tui Chub and Lahontan Cutthroat which inhabited the lake are gone. As the lake went down and the amount of total dissolved solids went up, the fish could no longer survive. Many of the birds that visited the lake are also gone or greatly reduced in number. Scientists estimate Walker Lake needs to rise approximately 50 vertical feet before the native fish can be successfully reintroduced.
The good news is that, as of May 24, 2023, Walker Lake has risen five feet. Estimates vary, but Walker Lake might rise as much as 15 to 20 feet this year. This is a phenomenal increase.
When one takes into consideration additional streamflows that will result from water purchases the Walker Basin Conservancy has bought from willing upstream sellers and the ongoing Public Trust Doctrine litigation championed by the Walker Lake Working Group, there is cause for optimism. It is possible that in less than a generation, Walker Lake can be restored to a healthy ecosystem with a robust native fish and bird population.
For more information, please contact Walker Lake Working Group.