2014 Map of Pintail Bay

About this map

Pintail Bay and the vast Carson Sink define this Churchill County landscape, where complex water management systems intersect with natural wetlands. This 2014 survey documents a network of shallow lakes and marshlands, including Swan Lake, Willow Lake, and Tule Lake. The presence of the Lead Lake Canal and features like Swan Check illustrate the engineered hydrology required to manage water in this desert environment. Small roads and specialized access points, such as Navy Cabin Rd and the intriguing Conradts Lndg, provide the only infrastructure in an area dominated by the distinctive vegetation of North Nutgrass and West Nutgrass. This map captures a specific moment in the shifting boundaries of the sink before seasonal changes or larger climatic shifts alter the shoreline of Big Water.