The Walker Basin Conservancy issued a press release last week about a report that raises concerns about groundwater usage in the basin. Despite the recent storms supplying rainfall to rural Nevada’s drought-ridden areas, the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) found that the groundwater pumping through Smith and Mason valleys have dropped to levels that even major precipitation events cannot replenish. Pumping groundwater through the valleys is also affecting the river flows as pulling more water from Walker River to replenish it depletes the water source from reaching Walker Lake.

“Reliance on supplemental groundwater pumpage has resulted in widespread groundwater storage decline and decreased stream efficiency. With each successive drought cycle, the ability of Walker River to sustain stream flows and convey water downstream has diminished,” the USGS report shows.

“Like everyone else in the Walker Basin, we are very excited about this winter’s precipitation. However, as the report by the USGS makes clear, the current levels of groundwater pumping means that big snow years haven’t been enough to prevent declining groundwater tables,” says Walker Basin Conservancy Executive Director Peter Stanton.

“Looking at groundwater, streamflow, and climate data from over half a century, it is clear that we are running into a water deficit,” says USGS Hydrologist Gwendolyn Davies, who was the lead author of the report. “Groundwater is like a bank account, and when you take more out than you are putting in, at some point the account runs dry.”

For more information and specific data about this report, visit www.usgs.gov and click on the December 28 article in “State News Releases”. The Walker Basin Conservancy is a nonprofit that works to restore and maintain Walker Lake by purchasing water rights to protect in-stream flows in the hopes of bringing back a vibrant fishery and wildlife/bird habitat to the area. The Conservancy helped create the Walker River State Recreation Area thanks to its land conservation program and continues to work with water sellers to bring back an ecosystem that is viable for all.

For more information about the Walker Basin Conservancy and its efforts, visit https://www.walkerbasin.org/.