
WATERFOWL BREEDING GROUND SURVEY, NEVADA 
1954 
Fred E. Wright 
Introduction 
The 1954 waterfowl breeding ground survey is the fourth year that the key 
Sample areas have been covered, however, the number of sample areas and the 
amount of time that has been spent on the production survey has decreased each year. 
Methods 
The sample areas are checked by boat, by car, or on foot, and an attempt is 
made to check each area two to three times during the period, June through August. 
No aerial transects were run. To date it has not been possible to adequately sample 
the State to determine estimated total production. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Weather conditions were not adverse to waterfowl production during the period 
May through August. In all trend areas there was less water available and the snow 
water runoff was 50 to 75 percent of normal in the main drainage basins. All 
reservoirs checked were lower this year with the most critical draw-down occuring 
across the northern part of the State. Water conditions in west-central Nevada, while 
below last year, did not adversely affect production this year; but a poor Snow pack 
this winter will mean less nesting habitat next year. 
Duck Production 
Across northern Nevada, the drought has taxed the water supply to where many 
of the reservoirs were nearly dry by the latter part of the summer and many streams 
were dry along certain reaches. The net result was a 43 percent drop in the number 
of young recorded on the reservoir check areas. The Sheldon National Antelope Refuge 
shows a 54 percent drop in the number of broods seen. Ruby Lake National Wildlife 
Refuge reports that water levels were good at the beginning of the period but deteriorated 
rapidly during the latter part of summer season. Production is reported as normal for 
the Ruby Lake area, however, Franklin Lake, just to the north of Ruby Lake was 
highly productive last year but was about totally dry this year, as it is a highly inter- 
mittent water area. 
