Pyramid Lake NV Jackie Cano Brief Background Pyramid

Pyramid Lake, NV Jackie Cano

Brief Background • Pyramid Lake is named for its tufa rock formation located on the eastern shore. The large rock is natural stone formation standing five stories high and is both older and larger then the pyramids of Egypt.

• Its surrounding environment has supported human life for at least 4, 000 years. • Has originated different cultures around the lake, plants, and animals have lived around the lake. • Pyramid Lake has always been known as an Indian Reservation

Lake Lahontan • Pyramid Lake is only the ancient remains of Lake Lahontan • Giant inland sea • Pleistocene Era • 70, 000 years ago in the last days of the ice age. • Pyramid, Walker, and some smaller lakes.

• surface of approximately 174 sq miles and a depth of 331 feet • 35 miles Northeast of Reno, Nevada. • regular flow from the Truckee River; its main headwaters located in Lake Tahoe. • Sixty-two miles up the river are the cities of Reno, Sparks, Fernley, and Fallon, • 40 million gallons of treated wastewater

Derby Dam • The derby dam, which was built on the Truckee River in 1905 • 31 feet high and it was the source to allow water to reach the Truckee and arid Carson division lands. • The Newland’s project became the nation’s first water transfer project. • 1918 -1970, the Pyramid Lake area lost 50% of its total flow

• two native fish species became severely endangered • the cui-ui and the Lahontan cutthroat trout. • The Truckee River depleted the waters, and the fish were no longer able to reproduce naturally. • The Newland’s Project • Congress pass the Endangered Species Protection act in 1966.

Cui-ui, Chasmistes cuju • large sucker fish that is found only in Pyramid lake • able to survive the construction of the dam • one of the few surviving members of its genus • critically endangered species.

Lahontan cutthroat trout • Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi • largest subspecies of cutthroat trout • State fish • 1, 000’s of pound of fish, they caught every last one. • Extinct in the • late 1930’s

Prominent People • governed by 10 tribal council members • elected every two years in December. The tribe operates under • Indian Reorganization Act Constitution • 2, 253 enrolled members • median age being 22 years old. • 56% employment rate and a 44% unemployment rate

Anaho Island • four miles east of the community of Sutcliffe • Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge • second largest pelican colonies • President Woodrow Wilson in 1913 • 8, 000 to 10, 000 Pelicans • humans and boats are not allowed within 500 feet

Needle Rocks • The Tribe uses this spot as a place to offer prayer • vandalize it, by burning fire, and tagging • only tribe members are allowed to visit the area • Marble Bluff and Bee Hive area.