Independence Lake: 4.2015
Independence Lake, 7,000' elevation, is the major contributor of clean, High Sierra dinking water to the Truckee Meadows, Newlands Reclamation area in Fallon and Pyramid Lake. The preserve is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy after its purchase from NVEnergy which owned it as the provider of water to the Truckee Meadows as Sierra Pacific, the area's utility provider of both energy and water, now owned by Warren Buffett's, Berkshire Hathaway Holdings.

The Nature Conservancy manages the preserve in cooperation with the Northern Sierra Partnership in partnership with two dozen stakeholders which still includes the for-profit corporation NV Energy and Senator Harry Reid.

A wild (even the lone Sierra wolverine has been spotted here) and unique spot in the High Sierra, Indepdendence Lake is at risk of invasions by non-native species and wildfire.

Independence Creek flows from the lake into the Little Truckee River just after it diverges (man-made) into Cold Stream to help irrigate the draught-stricen alfalfa crop in Sierra Valley.
Scant snow above and in the area of Independence Lake, perhaps Reno's last major fresh drinking water source.

Abandoned gauge in Independence Creek channel in Independence Lake.		Dry, high shore visible at Independence Lake in early spring.
Only snow visible on the lake shore in early spring.		Little snow on peaks above Independence Lake.

High Sierra Carson Range including western face of Mt Rose above Independence Lake.
The pristine and isolated area around Independence Lake holds extremely high wildfire potential. A large scale fire producing smoke and airborne charcoal particulates in the Truckee River's most important source could prove catastrophic to Reno's drinking water.