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The Trip: Today, one of Fallon's "claims to fame" is the community's well known Heart of Gold Cantaloupes. The city's agricultural roots can be traced to the Reclamation Act of 1902. Commonly called the Newlands Project, the Act's goal was to turn this portion of the Great Basin desert into lush agricultural land. The dusty crossroad hamlet that was Fallon dramatically changed into a budding farming community. Cattle, turkeys, alfalfa, sugar beets and other crops became stable sources of income for area farmers. The Churchill County Courthouse was built in 1903, five years before the city was incorporated! In 1908, the historic Overland Hotel opened and quickly became a main stopping point for travelers, ranchers and politicians. And by 1912 Fallon was incorporated and electrified. In the 1920s, Fallon farmers had a near monopoly on the cantaloupe crop for Nevada and northern California. The jumbo-sized melons were unmatched for flavor and quality. Hotels of distinction proudly served Fallon's Heart of Gold melons. During World War II, Fallon became home to the Naval Air Station and since 1972, the base has specialized in training Navy pilots. Unlike many rural towns in Nevada , Fallon continues to grow and prosper. Today, Fallon remains a prime agricultural and farming hub for the region. It is also an oasis for cultural and recreational activities. Some of Fallon's attractions include Grimes Point Petroglyph Trail, located just a few miles east of town, where visitors can view the remnants of ancient civilizations that inhabited the area more than 8,000 years ago. For outdoor enthusiasts, the 600-foot high Sand Mountain beckons. This enormous, two-mile long sand dune was created by sand blown from beaches of a prehistoric inland sea. And, no trip to Fallon would be complete without a visit to the Churchill County Museum . Dubbed the "Best Little Museum on the Loneliest Road in America", this museum has exhibits, research facilities, collections and educational programs.
Large tufa mounds, which are chemical sedimentary rocks composed of calcium carbonate, have been discovered on the margin of Big Soda Lake . These tufa mounds are rooted below the current lake surface and are actively forming from groundwater seepage. The age of the tufa mounds are well known because prior to the development of the Newlands Irrigation Project in 1907, the water level was considerably\ lower than the current lake level. Therefore, the tufa mounds are less than 100 years old and have grown at a rate of dramatically each subsequent year. The Newlands Project, which irrigated the surrounding area, brought disaster to Eugene Griswald's soda factory which was located on the bank of the soda rich lake. Nearby canals caused the water in the lake to rise some three feet, flooding many of the vats in the Big Soda. By 1984, the lake was more than 200 feet deep - 50 feet above the 1885 measurement by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Our next stop on this Fallon-based trip is the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge lies about five miles east of Fallon on Highway 116. Its wetlands attract more than a quarter million waterfowl, as well as over 20,000 other water birds including American white pelicans, Double-crested cormorants, White-faced ibis, and several species of egrets, herons, gulls, and terns. The summer of our visit, the water level in the wetlands is high as a result of a very wet winter. Droughts and agricultural activities have taken their toll on this rich and diverse area. In 1990, landmark federal legislation was enacted that give the refuge to ability to purchase water rights. And this has allowed the Stillwater to stabilize its wetlands. The Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex encompasses more than 163,000 acres and consists of Stillwater Refuge, Fallon Refuge and Anaho Island Refuge at Pyramid Lake.
Waiting for us is Craig de Polo of the Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology. Craig shares a good deal of information about the fault and Nevada 's very active seismology with us.
The earthquake faults are a fascinating feature of Nevada 's geology. And thanks to Craig, we have a better appreciation of their significance, and for a greater respect for the "active" landscape all around us. Our last stop on this trip is the Big Den area just east of Eastgate. We have heard about a beautiful waterfall hike and are anxious to give it a try. We head east again on Highway 50 for about ten miles. To get to Big Den trailhead, we take a dirt road just outside Eastgate for about five miles.The trail starts out clearly marked and easy to follow. As we hike, the canyon walls rise about 300 feet above us. And the vegetation is lush and dense. We can hear the cascading water off to our right so we're confident that we'll find our waterfall. The canyon begins to narrow and we become aware of one hike hazard — Stinging Nettle! This is a bothersome weed that can cause a stinging sensation and even blistering on the skin that comes in contact with it. About a mile into the hike, the trail becomes less visible. The canyon has narrowed substantially and the overgrowth has become a bit hindering. When, the trail narrows even more and we're forced into a small but very active creek that runs along the canyon wall. But, we can hear what sounds like the waterfall just ahead of us so we push on, and when we reach the falls we realize the hike was very much worth the sight. Wow! Thanks to the advisors and contributors of Wild Nevada, Program #304:
More about Earthquakes:
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On this trip, we explore some of the natural wonders found in Churchill County. We use Fallon, Nevada, as the base for this adventure. Fallon is located about 60 miles east of Reno.
