Hydrochemical Data for the Truckee River Drainage System, California and Nevada

Authors

Larry V. Benson, University of Colorado, BoulderFollow

Document Type

Dataset

Date of this Version

1984

Citation

United States Geological Survey Open File Report 84-440

Denver, Colorado, 1984

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

Abstract

Surface-water samples were collected from the Truckee River drainage system during 1975, 1976, and 1981. Data resulting from chemical analyses of these samples, as well as certain other previously unpublished data, are tabulated in this report. The report contains the following hydrochemical data:

1. Chemical composition of 21 tributaries to Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River upstream from Farad, California (May and October 1971, and June 1972).

2. Chemical composition of the Truckee River at Tahoe City (January 1968-January 1975) and at Farad, California (January 1968-June 1980), and of the Little Truckee River upstream from Stampede Reservoir, California (January 1968-April 1980).

3. Chemical composition of the Truckee River at 11 sites from Tahoe City, California, to Nixon, Nevada (June 4 and September 3, 1975).

4. Historical chemical analyses of water from Pyramid Lake, Nevada (1882-1973).

5. Chemical composition (November 1975-December 1976), water temperature (January 1976-November 1977), and dissolved oxygen (January 1976- November 1977) at various depths in Pyramid Lake, Nevada.

6. Chemical composition of pore fluids from and carbonate mineralogy of sediment greater than 2 micrometers in five cores, Pyramid Lake, Nevada.

7. Chemical composition of the Truckee River at Farad, California (January-July 1981).

8. Chemical composition of tufa from the Pyramid Lake basin.

Introduction

The Truckee River drainage system, in the Basin and Range province, is located in northwestern California and west-central Nevada. The Truckee River originates as outflow from Lake Tahoe and terminates at Pyramid Lake, one of the largest desert lakes in North America.

The purpose of this report is to make available all hydrochemical data collected by the author in the Truckee River drainage since 1975 as well as previously unpublished data collected by colleagues since 1968. These data are a basis for continuing studies of the chemical evolution of closed-basin lakes.

The sampling program was designed to: (1) Obtain a general overview of the hydrochemistry of the Truckee River system; (2) define the effects of pollutant sources on the chemistry of the surface-water system; and (3) provide a database for future research into the chemical evolution of this closed-basin system. The 1981 sampling program was designed to supplement earlier data and, in particular, to provide data on the seasonal changes of river chemistry at a station located upstream from irrigation diversions.