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White Sulphur Springs Ranch
Hydrological Study Program

Posted 3-9-15


The Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC), stewards of historic White Sulphur Springs Ranch (WSSR), was awarded a grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy in 2011 to assess springs and other water features on the Ranch and to develop a plan to protect water quality.

The WSSR lies at the headwaters of the Middle Fork Feather River watershed, within the Sulphur Creek subwatershed. The Feather River watershed is located in California's northern Sierra Nevada and encompasses a broad variety of terrain, climate, historic use, and flora and fauna. This watershed has long been recognized for its recreational, water and aesthetic values. An abundance of montane rivers, lakes and reservoirs dot the landscape, creating both summer and winter recreational opportunities. Water originating from these drainages represents a significant component of the State Water Project and provides high quality water for hydro generation, agriculture, industry and cities in the south.

WSSR sits on a fault line at the divide between the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and the Great Basin. In addition to WSSR’s 39 acres of forested ecosystems, numerous warm springs bubble up from beneath the earth’s crust and provide unique habitats as well as a water source for the swimming pool. WSSR has historically been used as a community gathering place for weddings, family reunions, pic nics, school functions and public swimming in the warm springs pool.  These uses will continue once the property is restored. 

The MVSC, in partnership with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, conducted several years of water quality and quantity monitoring of springs at WSSR, so that these unique water features can be protected while restoring the property and warm springs pool back to historic uses and for the benefit of our community.

The GOOD NEWS is the studies document that water quality from the springs at WSSR is very good, waters are alkaline and warm and suitable for continued use in the swimming pool. The studies also document that the pool will require more water than the springs can supply, thus a domestic warm water well was drilled in 2013 to augment warm water supplied to the pool from the natural springs.

The slide show below is a summary of that study.

  • A blue background with the words hydrologic features at white sulphur springs ranch

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  • Sierra nevada conservancy is funding for the protection of water resources

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  • A book is open to a page that says the story of water in the mohawk valley

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  • A blue background with the words spring monitoring on it

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  • A map of the streams in mohawk valley

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  • A map of geothermal springs is shown on a blue background

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  • A poster about geothermal springs with a picture of a building

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  • A picture of a geothermal spring with a concrete collection box and flow has only varied between 4 and 7 gpm over time.

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  • A picture of a geothermal spring and a picture of a hole in the ground.

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  • A picture of a pond with the words cold springs on it

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  • A monitor showing variability in spring flows next to a map

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  • A poster for seasonal water flow routes shows a forest and a stream.

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  • Wetlands are the water that surfaces from springs and seasonal streams.

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  • A map of the depositional fan with a picture of a house

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  • A black and white photo of the white subhur springs ranch house

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  • A poster for the historic plunge pool with a house in the background

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  • A poster that says bringing the past to life on it

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  • Water needs at wssr in 2013 a well was drilled at wssr to provide a domestic water source

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  • A blue background with text that says plumas geo-hydrology well sitting investigation findings

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  • A blue background with the words geo-hydrology investigations indicate the sources of warm water at wssr

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  • A poster that says protection of water resources on it

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  • A poster about careful water use with a picture of a house

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  • A slide that says thanks to our water resources team

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