2018 Map of Salt Marsh

About this map

The arid Washoe County basin is defined by the expansive white expanse of the Salt Marsh and the northern reaches of the Smoke Creek Desert. This 2018 survey reveals a landscape shaped by intermittent water and high-desert infrastructure, where long-distance routes like Surprise Valley Rd and Smoke Creek Rd traverse the flat basin floor. Water sources are sparse but critical to the area's history, marked by the Dewey Parker Reservoir and Buffalo Spring, which feed into the ephemeral Buffalo Slough. To the west, the topography rises toward Burro Mountain Rd, while Smoke Cr meanders through the southern portion of the quadrangle. The map captures the distinct Public Land Survey System boundaries, including the intersections of townships T31N and T32N across ranges R19E and R20E, illustrating the precise sectioning of this remote Nevada interior.