THE WALKER RIVER SYSTEM 



The Walker River is formed by two branches East and West forks which rise 

 on the eastern slopes of the Sierras. The latter traverses Antelope and Smith valleys 

 and unites with the West Fork in Mason Valley, thence flowing into Walker Lake. 

 In Antelope Valley is a natural reservoir site capable of impounding depending on 

 the height of the dam from 105,000 to 240,000 acre feet of the flood waters of 

 the stream. There are also several storage sites on the East Fork. On both rivers 

 are a number of power sites. For a reclamation company possessing the necessary 

 capital to quiet certain conflicting water rights and put in the storage and canal systems 

 requiring about $1,000,000, there is no more profitable and feasible undertaking in 

 the West than the consummation of what is known as the Antelope Valley Project 

 which is still open. The acreage subject to reclamation by this project is estimated 

 at 80,000, including lands now in private ownership but with an uncertain water-supply 

 due to the variation in the river flow. The annual run-off of the East Fork is 1 54,000 

 acre feet and of the West Fork 222,000 acre feet, a total sufficient to reclaim 135,000 

 acres, aside from the lands which, under the topography of the valleys, are reclaimed 

 by seepage, aggregating probably 50,000 acres more. Elevations: Smith Valley, 

 4,800 feet; Mason Valley, 4,350 feet. Climate mild. 



The present acreage under cultivation in these two valleys, including East Fork 

 Valley which is a continuation of Mason, is about 75,000. In Smith Valley artesian 

 water is demonstrated at depths ranging from 100 to 300 feet, with strong flows, and 

 there is much activity at present in artesian reclamation. Electric power is available 

 for pumping in both valleys, and in many places surface-waters in abundance can be 

 obtained under twenty feet pumping lift. The Nevada & California Railway, a 

 branch of the Southern Pacific, beginning at Hazen and now being extended to connect 

 with Los Angeles, passes through Mason Valley at Wabuska, from which the Nevada 

 Copper Belt Railway extends through a portion of Mason Valley and into Smith 

 Valley, terminating at Hudson. At Wabuska is located a copper smelter to reduce 

 the great bodies of copper ores in the vicinity of Yerington. 



The Carey Act project of the Walker River Power Company proposes to impound 

 the flcod waters of the East Fork and to carry the stream by a high-line canal to reclaim 

 50,000 acres of fine sagebrush lands in Mason Valley, as well to generate ultimately 

 about 30,000 hydro-electric horsepower. This project is well under way and will 

 probably be largely colonized by Mennonite farmers from Pennsylvania. 



From an agricultural standpoint Smith and Mason valleys are two of the most 

 fertile areas in Nevada and capable of supporting a very large farming population. 

 About the same variety of farm crops thrive here as at Fallen and in Carson Valley. 

 There are splendid local markets. The country is also tributary to the rich mining 

 districts of Tonopah, Goldfield, etc. For the intending settler these two valleys offer 

 special opportunities at the present time. The principal towns are Mason, Yerington, 

 Wabuska, Nordyke, and Wellington. 



SMALL STREAM SYSTEMS: NORTHERN NEVADA 



Aside from the river systems mentioned there are in the State innumerable cultivated 

 tracts varying from a quarter-section to several thousand acres reclaimed from the flow 

 of springs and mountain creeks. The total irrigated area of this character, owing to 

 the immensity of the State, is not likely less than 1 00,000 acres. Wherever there 

 is a brook or spring in nearly every case will be found some occupant of the land. 



The White River, so-called in east-central Nevada, length about seventy-five miles, 

 flows about 28,000 acre feet of water per annum. It is fed from four great thermal springs 

 at Preston and Lund. The White River Valley contains a large acreage of arable 

 lands, only about 5,000 of which are cultivated. Owing to the limited water-supply, 

 about 9,000 acres would represent the maximum that is feasible of reclamation by 

 storage. 



Steptoe Valley, in White Pine County, is about 100 miles in length and from 

 six to twelve miles in width, elevation 6,000 feet. It is traversed by Duck Creek flowing 



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