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The Walker Lake Working Group, grassroots, non-profit organization working to restore Walker Lake, invites you to attend a Rehydration Celebration on Saturday, September 23. The event takes place at Walker lake’s Monument Beach, 12 miles north of Hawthorne, Nevada. This free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is cause for celebration. With record snowpack and runoff in the Walker Basin, Walker Lake has risen a whopping 15 feet. Historically, upstream agricultural diversions in Nevada and California dropped the lake 180 vertical feet and placed it on the brink of ecological collapse. This year’s increase has helped to stabilize the extremely high total dissolved solids that have prevented the re-introduction of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and Tui Chub. The level has also brought thousands of birds back. Pelicans, phalaropes, avocets and ducks have been sighted along the north shore of the lake.

File photo
Walker Lake Working Group will host an event on Saturday celebrating the higher water levels at the lake over the last year.

Festivities begin with a Fireman’s Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. at the Walker Lake Firehouse.

Free, interpretive canoe tours run from 9 a.m. to noon. The event officially kicks off at 10 a.m. at Monument Beach with the Rehydration Ceremony at the lakeshore. Participants are encouraged to bring a bottle of water to share with the lake.

As a family-friendly event, kids can choose from a variety of activities including face painting, rock decorating, kite flying and fish prints until 2 p.m.

An educational focal point of the event are presentations on the ecology and history of the lake. Those already scheduled to speak are Andrea Martinez, tribal chairman of the Walker River Paiute tribe, Dr. Phillip Garone, history professor at Cal State Stanislaus, Carlie Henneman from the Walker Basin Conservancy, Ned Bohman representing the Great Basin Bird Observatory and Mike Sevon, retired Nevada Division of Wildlife biologist.

Several raffles will be held during the event and food and beverages will be available.

For more information contact Penny Tator (408-476-5152) or Nancy Hadlock (760-258-6574)