
PACIFIC FLYWAY 
NEVADA 
Weather and Water Conditions - 
Weather conditions through May and early June remained cold and 
stormy in the western and northern part of the State. Snow fell throughout 
this general area as late as June 1. The available water in all production trend 
areas has been drastically reduced due toa poor winter snow pack and all 
reservoir trend areas are expected to be completely dry by late summer. The 
Humboldt-Toulon Sink is almost completely dry and is considered a total loss 
for waterfow1 production this year. This same condition applies to Franklin 
Lake in the northeastern portion of the State. Water levels in west-central 
Nevada are considerably lower than last year and has resulted in a marked 
decrease of waterfowl nesting habitat. This condition was predicted last year, 
if stored water reserves were greatly reduced, and it certainly appears to be 
a reality. 
Production Information - 

Ducks: Production on the reservoir trend areas in northern Nevada 
appears to be down nearly 60 percent from last year. Drought conditions, 
during the past two years, have so reduced nesting habitat on these normally 
high productive areas that this year's production will add very little to the 
over-all picture in Nevada. 
Based ona 20 percent increase in nesting pairs on the Stillwater 
Wildlife Management Area, production is expected to be somewhat higher this 
year than in 1954. Brood counts, on this area to date, have shown large 
increases in the production of redheads and cinnamon teal. Ruddy ducks are 
showing an increase over last year while gadwall and pintail broods are down 
38 and 80 percent respectively. Throughout other trend areas in west-central 
Nevada, duck production appears to be down about 50 percent from last year. 
Reports on production for the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge indicate a 
slight increase over last year. 
Geese: Goose production appears to be down about 70 percent in 
the Washoe Lake area. Low water levels almost completely reduced the 
attractive nesting islands used in the past and the birds were forced to nest in 
the less desirable meadow land surrounding the lake. The Canada goose nest- 
ing pair count on Stillwater Marsh showed an increase of 62 percent over last 
year, however, only a slight increase in production was observed in this area. 
The population of non-breeding, molting geese at Pyramid Lake showed a 
definite increase compared to last year. This increase was probably due to 
a decrease in nesting birds at Honey Lake, Washoe Lake and other surround- 
ing nesting areas. | | 
Conclusions - 
This year's production will, in all probability, reach a low ebb 
for Nevada since the initial studies of 1950. 
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