Upper Carson River Watershed

The Carson River begins as two separate tributaries, the East Fork and the West Fork, in Alpine County, California. The West Fork begins near Lost Lakes at about 9,000 feet in elevation and ends near Genoa, Nevada. The East Fork of the Carson River originates south of Ebbett's Pass, California in part of the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (Wolf Creek and Silver King area) at an elevation of 11,460 feet and ends near Genoa.

The main stem of the Carson River begins at the confluence of the West and East Forks about a mile southeast of Genoa, Nevada. The river continues another 11 miles where it reaches Mexican Dam which marks the end of the upper Carson River.

Land use varies in the upper watershed from recreational to agricultural. Markleeville, Minden, Gardnerville and Carson City are the major population areas in the upper watershed.