Nevada Marshes Are Latest Victims of 6-Year Drought

One of Nevada’s most important wildlife habitats has become the latest victim of the lingering drought.

Jeff Mackay, a wildlife biologist for the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, said the Ruby marshes in northeastern Nevada have dwindled from 12,000 acres to 2,900 acres, their lowest level in 31 years.

The marshes, flanked against the majestic Ruby Mountains about 40 miles southeast of Elko, virtually dried up after similar droughts in 1961 and in the 1930s.

“This is the third time in 90 years that we’ve gone through a drying-out period,” Mackay said. “It’s sad because it has caused a loss of the fishery here and has left wildlife in tough situations.

“A continuing drought for two more years could dry up the marshes as we know them.”

A recent state Department of Wildlife report estimated the six-year drought has caused a 75% loss of major wetlands in northeastern Nevada, where the Ruby marshes are located.

The dry cycle has left alkali deposits scattered across the Ruby refuge. Only 1,400 acres of wetlands remain at the refuge’s South Sump and 1,500 acres at its so-called Dike Units.

“The marshes are now 1 1/2 to 2 feet deep in the South Sump, down from the normal depth of 6 to 7 feet,” Mackay said. “There’s a concern that the South Sump will dry up completely if we don’t return to normal precipitation patterns. The drought could dry up water for the Dike Units, too.”

But the refuge’s condition is not quite as critical as that of the Stillwater marshes near Fallon, which have shrunk from nearly 15,000 acres to 200 acres, said Ron Anglin of the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area.

A state Department of Wildlife report said the drought has caused a 95% loss of major wetlands in northwestern Nevada, where the Stillwater marshes are located.

The Stillwater wetlands are situated near the west end of the Pacific Flyway and the Ruby marshes at the east end. The flyway is one of the country’s four major migratory routes for birds.

The Ruby marshes also are important because they’re located at the west edge of the Central Flyway.

“The Ruby marshes are critically important to wildlife,” Mackay said. “We have over 200 bird species. It’s one of the few refuges where you can see that kind of mixture.

The region’s dry cycles have come about once every 30 years over the last century.