Late Holocene sedimentary environments and lake-level fluctuations at Walker Lake, Nevada, USA

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2007 Late Holocene sedimentary environments and lake-level fluctuations at Walker Lake, Nevada, USA Kenneth D. Adams Kenneth D. Adams 1Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512-1095, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Kenneth D. Adams 1Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512-1095, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 26 May 2005 Revision Received: 06 Jun 2006 Accepted: 01 Jul 2006 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA GSA Bulletin (2007) 119 (1-2): 126–139. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25847.1 Article history Received: 26 May 2005 Revision Received: 06 Jun 2006 Accepted: 01 Jul 2006 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Kenneth D. Adams; Late Holocene sedimentary environments and lake-level fluctuations at Walker Lake, Nevada, USA. GSA Bulletin 2007;; 119 (1-2): 126–139. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25847.1 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 Walker Lake is a terminal lake located at the end of the Walker River in western Nevada. Lake-level lowering of ∼50 m during the past 100 yr has led to deep incision by the Walker River into the former lake bed. This incision has exposed a sedimentary record of lake-level fluctuations spanning at least the past 4000 yr. Fourteen new radiocarbon dates on plant material collected from diverse sedimentary environments, including fluvial, deltaic, beach, and offshore settings, have led to the refinement of the late Holocene lake-level curve for this basin. This new curve documents at least four highstands that have occurred since ca. 3500 cal yr B.P. between elevations of 1245 and 1255 m. The lake has also experienced several lowstands during this same period. Comparison of this outcrop-based record to existing lake-level curves and to an oxygen isotope curve for the past 1200 yr reveals many similarities between the records, but also some differences. Therefore, research should be conducted to integrate outcrop studies, where absolute water depth and lake volume can be estimated, with isotopic or other types of proxies from cored sediments that may have higher temporal resolution.The extensive and nearly continuous outcrops along the lower Walker River also provide valuable information on the relationships between various sedimentary features and their formative water depths in clastic-dominated lacustrine systems. The paleo–water depth relationships deciphered here can be applied in other basins, where outcrops are typically more limited, to arrive at better-constrained lake-level records. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.