Fish Lake Valley, Nevada

Fish Lake Valley is located in the US state of Nevada, and was originally settled when the Palmetto Mining District was formed. It is just east of the White Mountains (California), the highest range entirely within the Great Basin at convert|14252|ft|m. There is sufficient rain and snow at high elevations to feed permanent streams from the mountains, providing irrigation for alfalfa and other crops, although the valley's elevation, in excess of convert|4000|ft|m, is a serious constraint.

History

In 1866 the Palmetto Mining District in Esmeralda County was formed, and settlement in Fish Lake Valley began. During the 1870s two companies, Griffing & Nyman's and Pacific Borax Works were extracting borax at Fish Lake. The Carson and Columbus Stage Line ran north from Fish Lake Valley to Aurora and Carson City, also connecting with Logsprings in the Sylvania Mining District as well as Lida. Local ranches supplied food to the freight industry and mining communities such as Fish Lake Valley. A post office opened in Fish Lake Valley in 1881. Today a historical marker near the site commemorates the life of W.O. Harrell, known as "Harrell, the Irrepressible, Citizen Extraordinaire of Fish Lake Valley in the 1870s. [ [http://dcnr.nv.gov/markers/mark_133.htm Fish Lake Valley] , Nevada Division of Water Planning, Nevada Historical Markers Index.]

References