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Measuring water quality at Paiute Pit OutletMeasuring water quality at Paiute Pit Outlet.

First wetland formed by the first beaver dam, prior to it entering the Truckee River.First wetland formed by the first beaver dam, prior to it entering the Truckee River.

 

Chris checking the height of the last beaver dam, which has created the wetland at Paiute Pit Outlet just prior to it entering the Truckee River.Chris checking the height of the last beaver dam, which has created the wetland at Paiute Pit Outlet just prior to it entering the Truckee River.

 

Redtail hawk above the first wetland.Redtail hawk above the first wetland.

 

Purple Loosestrife cluster. This exotic, invasive plant is becoming more abundant in this area.Purple Loosestrife cluster. This exotic, invasive plant is becoming more abundant in this area.

Monitoring Map >> Paiute Pit Outlet

Paiute Pit Outlet - Non-point Source Water Quality Site


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Location: Latitude N: 39.65086
Longitude W: 119.27985
Elevation: 4038 ft.
Washoe County, NV, Near Hill Ranch Rd., Wadsworth, NV 89442
Monthly water samples and in-situ stream measurements are taken when site is accessable.
Equipment: A YSI 6920 multiparameter water quality sonde is used to obtain temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, tds, and turbidity.
Period of Record: 1999 to present.

Paiute Pit was named after "Paiute Pit Aggregates, Inc." who began 'mining' gravel near the Truckee River in the  late 1980's. Mining activity went below the water table level allowing water to fill a large gravel pit. This ground water comes from flood irrigation practices within the Fernley bench area, whose soils are high in pH, alkalinity, and other minerals. As a result, this water is higher in TDS, specific conductivity (ions), and nitrogen than that of the Truckee River.

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Links to networking web site(s):

  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Water Quality Network - Visit this experimental interest network project that encourages web site users to exchange ideas, stories, images and place based map locations.
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