Swan Lake Nature Study Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swan Lake |
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A molting male yellow-headed blackbird and a male red-winged blackbird perch among the reeds. Birding is a main attraction of the Swan Lake Nature Study Area.
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 Swan Lake
Location in Nevada
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| Location | Washoe County, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 39°39′34″N 119°50′40″W / 39.659517°N 119.844439°W |
| Type | Endorheic |
| Primary inflows | Cottonwood Creek, sewage treatment, and washes |
| Primary outflows | Evaporation |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. depth | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Surface elevation | 4,915 ft (1,498 m) |
The Swan Lake Nature Study Area is a special place in Lemmon Valley, Nevada. It used to be called Lemmon Valley Marsh. This area helps protect nature and is home to many plants and animals.
Here you can find different types of land. There are wet marsh areas, flat muddy spots, and dry desert parts. The Lahontan Audubon Society says it's a beautiful wetland. It's surrounded by houses and buildings, but it's still very natural.
This area is known as a Nevada Important Bird Area. This means it's a great spot for birding! More than 150 different kinds of birds have been seen here.
Contents
What is the Swan Lake Nature Study Area?
The Swan Lake Nature Study Area covers a lot of land, more than 1,800 acres (7 km2). Water for the wetland comes from the nearby Reno/Stead Sewage Treatment Plant. The size of the wet areas changes during the year. It depends on how much rain falls. It can be anywhere from 100 to 1,000 acres (4 km2) big.
How the Area Was Created
This special nature area was officially opened in 1999. Before that, people worked for many years to plan it. A writer and photographer named Bob Goodman helped a lot.
The Nevada Army National Guard was a main group that helped create the area. They gave about 360 acres (1.5 km2) of land. They also studied the plants and animals there.
Many other groups helped too. These include the Bureau of Land Management, the City of Reno, the Lahontan Audubon Society, and the Nevada Division of Wildlife. The Nevada Land Conservancy, Washoe County Parks and Recreation Department, and Washoe County School District also played a part.
Exploring the Study Area
When you visit, you can walk on a special boardwalk. This boardwalk goes out into the marsh. There are also signs that teach you about the local nature.
History of Swan Lake Area
Swan Lake is located near the growing towns of Stead and Lemmon Valley. It's also close to Peavine Peak, which is north of Reno.
People have lived in this area for a very long time. Studies from 1995 show that humans were here as early as 400 AD. Native American tools and items have been found near Swan Lake. These items suggest that the Washoe people used this area as a winter home.
Images for kids
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Peavine Peak can be seen from the observation boardwalk.
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A coyote on alkali mud flats in the nature study area
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An arrowhead found near Swan Lake
