Marlette Lake Water System

The Marlette Lake Water System was created to provide water for the silver mining boom in Virginia City, Nevada. These structures are now listed as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, and are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The listed area included two contributing buildings and 12 contributing structures on 135.4 acres (54.8 ha). It has also been known historically as the Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company Water System.[1][2]

Marlette Lake Water System
Marlette Lake above Lake Tahoe.
LocationRoughly, from Marlette Lake to Virginia City, Nevada
Nearest cityVirginia City, Nevada
Area135.4 acres (54.8 ha)
Built1873
EngineerHermann Schussler, civil engineer
NRHP reference No.92001162[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 16, 1992

The mines required large amounts of water and timber to supply the houses and mines in Virginia City and Gold Hill. To feed these mines, the dam at Carson Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company's Marlette Lake was increased, and Hobart Reservoir was created, and a number of flumes and pipelines were built to transport water down to Virginia City. This included a 3,994-foot-long tunnel through the watershed basin divide, and an ingenious inverted siphon pipe to get water through Washoe Valley. The Virginia and Gold Hill Water Company Marlette flume location is now a trail for mountain biking and hiking.

The collection portion of the water system is now located inside Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Don Abbe (September 11, 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Marlette Lake Water System / Virginia City Gold Hill Water Company Water System". National Park Service. and accompanying 11 photos


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