The Yerington Pit from the West, facing East toward Yerington.  The far end of the pit in this picture is only a few hundred feet from the East Walker River, separated by Nevada Highway SR339 leading from Yerington to Smith Valley and Wellington.  The pit is approximately one mile in length West to East; the pit lake itself is approximately 4,000 feet long and approximately 500 feet deep, comprising over 45,000 acre-feet.  It is fed by seepage from shallow aquifers and surface water from the mine.  The water is nominally acidic, (6.2 to 8.6 pH),  contains copper and high amounts of sellinium, and is normally turquoise blue in color. 

When Don Tibbals owned the site, he introduced dead trees into the lake in an effort to create a natural habitat for fish.  As of April 2006 no known fish are able to inhabit the pit lake, although birds and other wildlife have been observed on its shores.  As of April 2010, it is not anticipated that the lake will ever be rehabilitated or reclaimed. 

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Tribal Support, LLC