2011 Map of Salt Marsh

About this map

Salt Marsh dominates the eastern basin of this high-desert landscape in Washoe County, where ephemeral water patterns dictate the geography. The map documents a sophisticated water management system for this arid region, featuring the Dewey Parker Reservoir, Parker Reservoirs, and the specialized Dewey Parker Reservoir Number Two. These catchments, along with Buffalo Spring and the drainage of Buffalo Slough, highlight the importance of water rights and ranching infrastructure in the Great Basin. In the south, Smoke Creek cuts through the terrain, tracked by the path of Smoke Creek Rd, providing a primary transit corridor through the valley. This 2011 survey illustrates the precarious balance between natural alkali flats and the engineered water features necessary for habitation and agriculture in the Nevada desert.