Finding common ground, locals revive a Nevada river

For thousands of years, the ancestors of the Walker River Paiute Tribe fished for trout in Nevada’s Walker Lake. Since the late 19th century, fertile farm fields grew hay and alfalfa, feeding cattle that roamed across ranches in the Walker River Basin. In recent years, however, longer droughts, hotter temperatures and decades of water overuse have decimated the once-vibrant fishery at Walker Lake and turned lush pastures into bare ground. 

But now, the river basin is recovering — thanks to an unusual collaboration. Local farmers, ranchers, tribal members and restoration ecologists have joined the Walker Basin Conservancy to put aside disagreements and work toward a more sustainable future. 

Today, the Conservancy works with 156 farmers and ranchers to support sustainable water management and plant native habitat, revegetating over 5,000 acres of former hay and alfalfa fields with native plants. As the river’s flow returns and public access expands — inviting fishing, birding, camping and river rafting back to the water — the collaboration showcases a pragmatic path forward. By working together to find solutions, people can restore a depleted landscape so that it can withstand climate pressures and continue to provide for future generations.