Soldier Meadows hot spring system

Soldier Meadows hot spring system
Soldier Meadows hot spring system
	Soldier Meadows Warm Pond; Bathtub Spring; Soldier Meadows Hot Creek; Chukar Gulch
Location	near Gerlach, Nevada
Elevation	4,450 to 4,500 feet
Type	geothermal

Soldier Meadows hot spring system is a group of hot and warm springs near the town of Gerlach, Nevada.

Soldier Meadows Hot Spring

History

The springs were first used by Indigenous people who occupied the Great Basin area for more than 10,000 years. The band of Northern Paiute people in this area are called Aga'ipanadokado or "fish lake eaters."[1] The Soldier Meadows area gets its name from the time during the American Civil War when troops were stationed nearby.[1][2]

Features

Soldier Meadows contains several geothermal spring features including Soldier Meadows Warm Pond, Bathtub Spring, Soldier Meadows Hot Creek, and Chukar Gulch, among others.[3][4]

Soldier Meadows Warm Pond

Soldier Meadows Warm Pond is a large warm spring located in the middle of the meadow with a large [2] natural, two-foot deep soaking pool. The warm mineral water percolates up through the sand and gravel bottom. The temperature ranges from 90–102 °F. A half mile away is a second small warm pond with a temperature of 100 °F. Elevation 4,500 feet. GPS N 41 22.793 W 119.10.884.[4]

Bathtub Spring

Bathtub Spring is located .75 miles from the Soldier Meadows Guest Ranch.[4]

Soldier Meadows Hot Creek

Several rock dams have been built along Soldier Meadows Hot Creek to form three primitive soaking pools on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. The oderless water ranges in temperature from 112 °F to 106 °F. The elevation is 4,450. GPS coordinates N 41 21.531 W 119.13.502.[4]

Chukar Gulch

Several hot springs discharge into a small trench leading to a 20-foot diameter three-foot deep soaking pool with a sandy bottom. The water temperature is 104 °F.[4]

Area of critical environmental concern

Because of the high use of the various hot spring features in the area, it has been designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) by the Bureau of Land Management.[1] Use of sunscreen and other chemicals have compromised the water quality and impacted on the life forms it supports, including the Soldier Meadows Springtail snail, a species that only exist in this habitat. The building of rock soaking pool enclosures also impacts upon the springtail snail population.[1]

References

"Soldier Meadows Area of Critical Environmental Concern" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
Poole, Gary Andrew (1 November 2002). "JOURNEYS; Drawing a Hot Bath From the Center of the Earth". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
Berry, George W.; Grim, Paul J.; Ikelman, Joy A. (1980). Thermal Spring List for the United States. Boulder, Colorardo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Gersh-Young, Marjorie (2011). Hot Springs and Hot Pools in the Southwest. Santa Cruz, California: Aqua Thermal. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-890880-09-5.

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[BLM-BRDesert-1] "Soldier Meadows Area of Critical Environmental Concern" (PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved 31 August 2020.

[NYt-2] Poole, Gary Andrew (1 November 2002). "JOURNEYS; Drawing a Hot Bath From the Center of the Earth". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2020.

[NOAA-3] Berry, George W.; Grim, Paul J.; Ikelman, Joy A. (1980). Thermal Spring List for the United States. Boulder, Colorardo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[HSHP-4] Gersh-Young, Marjorie (2011). Hot Springs and Hot Pools in the Southwest. Santa Cruz, California: Aqua Thermal. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-1-890880-09-5.