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This Satellite image displays the contrast between the geographical locations of Lake Tahoe, nestled high in the Sierra Nevada mountain range at approximtaley 6200 feet, and the high desert isolation of Pyramid Lake at around 3700 feet. You can also see they are comparable in size but differ in volume, Tahoe is 1600 feet deep and Pyramid is 356 feet deep. The Truckee River is the arterial connection between these two bodies of water fed by the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This only source was partially diverted by the Derby Dam project in 1905 and you can see the results in the graph above. Reservoirs along the Truckee's route capture run off assisting with the annual flow. During severe drought the Truckee river has been known to run dry. During the winter of 1997 an unusally warm winter storm dumped rain onto the snowpack causing a massive runoff into the Truckee river raising the lake to a level not seen since the late 40's.


 
Pyramid Lake from Space
 

 
  • Source: Pyramid Lake is a natural body of water fed by the Truckee River, which flows from Lake Tahoe. There is no oulet, but evaporation amounts to almost four feet per year
  • Size: 27 miles long, 4 to 11 miles wide.
  • Surface Elevation: 3,806 feet above sea level (Oct 2004)
  • Surface Area: 183 Square miles
  • Maximum Depth: 356 Feet
  • Perimeter: 69 miles
  • Salinity: 1/6 as salty as the ocean
  • Average August Air Temperature: 86°
  • Average Summer Water Temp: 75°
  • Average January Air Temp: 45°
  • Average Winter Water Temp: 43°
  • Lake Turnover: Typically occurs between December and January
  • Blue-Green Algae Bloom: (mistakingly called a turn over) Typically occurs between August and September

Fish Species:

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Pyramid Lake holds the world record for this species), Cui-ui (kwee-wee), Sacramento Perch, Tui-chub and Tahoe Sucker
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Cui-ui

 

Birds:

Double-crested Cormorants, Western Grebe, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Common Snipe, Canadian Goose, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Killdeer, Osprey, Red-tail Hawk, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, Chukar, Sage Grouse, California Quail, California Gull, Morning Dove, Common Barn-Owl, Western Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl, Burrowing Owl, Common Night Hawk, White-throated Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay, Black-billed Magpie,Common Raven, Bank Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, AmericanRobin, Yellow Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, WesternMeadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird,Bullock's Oriole, and many more.
American White Pelican
American Bald Eagle
Common Barn Owl

Reptiles:

Gopher Snake, Western Rattler, Ground Snake, Black-collardLizard, Western Whiptail, Desert Spiny Lizard, Longnose LeapordLizard, Short-horned Lizard.
Gopher Snake

Mammals:

Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, Coyote, Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Black Bear, Badger, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Jack Rabbit, Desert Cottontail, Ground Squirrel and Bats.
Bob Cat (Juvenile)

Amphibians:

Great Basin Spadefoot Frog, Bull Frog.

For More Information Go To: pyramidlakefisheries.org