The Carson River runs approximately 150 miles from its headwaters in Alpine County in the northern Sierras to where it terminates in the Carson Sink in northwestern Nevada. The watershed is nearly 4,000 square miles.
The East Fork starts in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and the West Fork’s headwaters begin near Carson Pass. The two forks join in northwestern Nevada, east of Lake Tahoe.
The Carson River is a popular angling destination in the Eastern Sierras because of the diverse types of fish in the river.
The East Fork was designated an Aquatic Diversity Area because it contains 8 types of native fish species. Along with the native Lahontan cutthroat trout, you can also find wild populations of brook, rainbow and brown trout.
Related Projects: Restoring Paiute Cutthroat Trout to their Historic Range, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery, Meadow Restoration to Sustain Stream Flow and Native Inland Trout, Forest Service Plan Update
Mark Drew, PhD
