The Reese River is a

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...

of the

Humboldt River The Humboldt River is an extensive river drainage system located in north-central Nevada. It extends in a general east-to-west direction from its headwaters in the Jarbidge, Independence, and Ruby Mountains in Elko County, to its terminus in the ...

, located in central

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

in the western United States. The Reese rises in the southern section of the

Toiyabe Range The Toiyabe Range is a mountain range in Lander and Nye counties, Nevada, United States. Most of the range is included within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The highest point in the range, near its southern end, is Arc Dome (11,788 ...

, on the flanks of Arc Dome. In its upper reaches, the Reese River is a fast-flowing mountain stream surrounded by relatively lush growth, including

Aspen Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the ''Populus'' genus. Species These species are called aspens: *'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China ...

groves and cottonwood trees. It then flows north between the Toiyabe Range and the

Shoshone Mountains The Shoshone Mountains, in west central Nevada, make up one of the longest mountain ranges in the state. The range runs in a general north-south direction in Nye and Lander counties. The range has a length of about and a width of about with ...

for approximately half its length. The river then passes through a low point in the Shoshone Mountains and continues north between that range and the

Fish Creek Mountains The Fish Creek Mountains are a mountain range in Lander County, Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona ...

. Once it exits the Toiyabe Range, it becomes a slow, muddy stream, and its waters are used for irrigation by scattered farms and ranches along its lower reaches. Although considered a

of the Humboldt, in most years, the Reese dwindles into a chain of shallow pools long before it reaches the

main stem In hydrology, a mainstem (or trunk) is "the primary downstream segment of a river, as contrasted to its tributaries". Water enters the mainstem from the river's drainage basin, the land area through which the mainstem and its tributaries flow.. A ...

. Only during infrequent floods does the Reese contribute water to the Humboldt, entering near Battle Mountain.Horton, Gary A. (2000)
Humboldt River Chronology: an Overview
Carson City, Nev.: Nevada Division of Water Planning. pp. 55-59.

Nevada State Route 305 State Route 305 (SR 305) is a state highway in Lander County, Nevada. It is the only state highway to connect the southern and northern areas of the county. It runs north from U.S. Route 50 at Austin to Battle Mountain, where it crosses Inters ...

parallels the lower, usually dry portion of the channel from the Austin area to Battle Mountain. The river is named after John Reese, who explored the area in 1854 as part of the expedition of

Colonel Edward Steptoe Edward Jenner Steptoe (November 7, 1815 – April 1, 1865) was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War and the Indian Wars. He is primarily remembered for his defeat at the Battle of Pine Creek during the Spok ...

, and who later served as a guide to Captain

James H. Simpson James Hervey Simpson (1813–1883) was an officer in the U.S. Army and a member of the United States Corps of Topographical Engineers. Early years He was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey on March 9, 1813, the son of John Simpson and Mary Bru ...

's survey of a military road through central Nevada. The mining boomtown of

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

, located in the upper reaches of the Reese River, names its long-lived newspaper the ''Reese River Reveille''."Reese River Reveille Newspaper, Austin, NV." Goaustinnevada.com. 2010. Web. 09 June 2012. .

Reese River excitement

The Reese River excitement took place in 1862 and 1863 in the river valley. During this period, the area was explored and settled. After

was founded, prospectors went south to explore the

and crossed the border of Lander County and Esmeralda County. Three mining districts were organized in the Toiyabe Range in Esmeralda County, namely Marysville, Twin River, and Washington. Also, several villages and ranches were established in the county. After the Toiyabe Range, the

were found, and in 1863 silver was found on the western side of the mountain range. At that place, Union District was organized, and the village Ione was founded.

Nye County Nye County is a county in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,591. Its county seat is Tonopah. At , Nye is Nevada's largest county by area and the third-largest county in the contiguous United States, behi ...

was established as a result of the Reese River excitement: inhabitants of Union District signed a petition in which they said the district was far from

Aurora An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...

and Austin, the county seats of respectively Esmeralda and Lander County. Nye County was created by the

Nevada Legislature The Nevada Legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of the lower house, the Assembly, with 42 members, and the upper house, the Senate, with 21. With a total of 63 seats, the Legislature is the third-smallest bicameral state legislature in ...

on February 16, 1864.

References

{{authority control Pony Express stations Rivers of Nevada Tributaries of the Humboldt River Rivers of Lander County, Nevada Rivers of Nye County, Nevada Rivers of the Great Basin