Drainage reversals in Mono Basin during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2002 Drainage reversals in Mono Basin during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene Marith C. Reheis; Marith C. Reheis 1U.S. Geological Survey, M.S. 980, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Scott Stine; Scott Stine 2Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, California State University, 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, Hayward, California 94542, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrei M. Sarna-Wojcicki Andrei M. Sarna-Wojcicki 3U.S. Geological Survey, M.S. 975, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Marith C. Reheis 1U.S. Geological Survey, M.S. 980, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA Scott Stine 2Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, California State University, 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, Hayward, California 94542, USA Andrei M. Sarna-Wojcicki 3U.S. Geological Survey, M.S. 975, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 27 Jun 2001 Revision Received: 18 Feb 2002 Accepted: 04 Mar 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2002) 114 (8): 991–1006. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0991:DRIMBD>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 27 Jun 2001 Revision Received: 18 Feb 2002 Accepted: 04 Mar 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Marith C. Reheis, Scott Stine, Andrei M. Sarna-Wojcicki; Drainage reversals in Mono Basin during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene. GSA Bulletin 2002;; 114 (8): 991–1006. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0991:DRIMBD>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Mono Basin, on the eastern flank of the central Sierra Nevada, is the highest of the large hydrographically closed basins in the Basin and Range province. We use geomorphic features, shoreline deposits, and basalt-filled paleochannels to reconstruct an early to middle Pleistocene record of shorelines and changing spillways of Lake Russell in Mono Basin. During this period of time, Lake Russell repeatedly attained altitudes between 2205 and 2280 m—levels far above the present surface of Mono Lake (∼1950 m) and above its last overflow level (2188 m). The spill point of Lake Russell shifted through time owing to late Tertiary and Quaternary faulting and volcanism. During the early Pleistocene, the lake periodically discharged through the Mount Hicks spillway on the northeastern rim of Mono Basin and flowed northward into the Walker Lake drainage basin via the East Walker River. Paleochannels recording such discharge were incised prior to 1.6 Ma, possibly between 1.6 and 1.3 Ma, and again after 1.3 Ma (ages of basaltic flows that plugged the paleochannels). Faulting in the Adobe Hills on the southeastern margin of the basin eventually lowered the rim in this area to below the altitude of the Mount Hicks spillway. Twice after 0.76 Ma, and possibly as late as after 0.1 Ma, Lake Russell discharged southward through the Adobe Hills spillway into the Owens–Death Valley system of lakes. This study supports a pre- Pleistocene aquatic connection through Mono Basin between the hydrologically distinct Lahontan and Owens–Death Valley systems, as long postulated by biologists, and also confirms a probable link during the Pleistocene for species adapted to travel upstream in fast-flowing water. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.