The Walker Basin Project is a comprehensive, research-based
project to sustain the basin's economy, ecosystem and lake.
| Walker Basin Project: Preserving a desert treasure  The complete Walker Basin Project is captured in this 16-page publication. (Digital edition) |
Report of Research Findings
 Review the 1100 page final report of the Walker Basin Project research findings. (PDF 52 mb) - A summary report of the findings is also available. (PDF) |
International Symposium on Terminus Lakes in
Reno, Nevada, USA, October 26-29, 2009
 The University of Nevada, Reno and Desert Research Institute invite you to the 2009 International Symposium on Terminus Lakes. (more) |
Walker Lake waters originate as the East and West Walker Rivers in California, which then flow into Nevada and combine to form the Walker River in Mason Valley and ultimately flow into Walker Lake near Hawthorne in central Nevada. These waters support agriculture, recreation and wildlife within the ecosystem of the Walker Basin, which includes the river and its tributaries, the lake and related water bodies and habitats. It is a closed lake system, meaning that Walker River ends at Walker Lake and no water flows from the lake. Walker Lake is one of only three desert, closed lakes with a fresh water fishery in North America.
This federally funded project involves collaborative environmental and economic research conducted by researchers with the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the University of Nevada, Reno. It also involves the acquisition of water and water rights from willing sellers under the coordination of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The research will explore the best means by which to get additional water to the lake while maintaining the Basin's economy and ecosystem. The research is also anticipated to have application to other arid and high desert regions.
The role of two research institutions as collaborators and project leaders, coupled with the project's scope and complexity, make this a unique undertaking.