EIVEES OF THE LAHONTAK BASIX. 45 



formed channel is still occupied, and is known as "New River." This dis- 

 tribution of the waters of the Carson still continues, but is regulated, at 

 least in part, by slight willow dams at the points of bifurcation. Since 

 1862 the slough connecting the two lakes is reported to have reversed its 

 current in some instances, according as the water in the North or South 

 Lake was the higher. In June, 1859, the water in the slough was reported 

 by Captain Simpson to be 60 feet wide and 3 or 4 feet deep, and flowing 

 northward with a strong current." In September, 1866, Lieut. R. Birnie^" 

 states that the waters were sluggish, with scarcely a perceptible flow. In 

 June, 1881, I found the volume of water about the same as reported by 

 Simpson in 1859, and flowing northward with a well-marked current. In 

 September, 1883, the slough was low, and did not exhibit any motion ; 

 South Carson Lake at the same time was very shallow, much of it present- 

 ing the appearance of a swamp. 



While viewing the Carson Desert from the surrounding mountains one 

 may trace, as on a map, the various branches of the river meandering 

 through the monotonous plain, by the lines of vivid green cottonwood 

 trees that mark their courses. 



WALKER RIVER. 



This stream rises on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in two 

 main branches between which there is a grand mountain mass known as 

 the Sweetwater Range. The east fork of the Walker River receive? the 

 drainage from the eastern slope of the Sweetwater Range, and from the 

 western slope of the less picturesque Wassuck or Walker River Range. 

 The west fork flows at the base of the main range of the Sierra Nev ida, 

 and once formed a chain of small lakes, probably of Tertiar}- age, w'lich 

 cut deep channels of discharge and were drained dry. These basins 

 are now level-floored valleys, connected by narrow and almost impas- 

 sable canons. The two branches of Walker River unite a little b(4ow 

 the point where they forn>erly entered Lake Lahontan, and thence (low 

 through Mason and Walker River valleys to Walker Lake. At the north 



'9 Exploration Across the Great Basin of Utah, Washington, D. C, 1876, p. 85. 

 -" Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., 1877, p. 1264. 



