Muddy River
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This article is about Nevada's Muddy River.
For the Muddy River in Boston, Massachusetts, see Emerald Necklace.
The Muddy River, formerly known as the Moapa River, is a short river located in the southern part of the state of Nevada, in the United States. Approximately 32 miles long, it is located about 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The river begins as a series of thermal springs in the Moapa Valley before continuing on its course to Lake Mead, where it drains into the northern arm of the lake near Overton, Nevada.
Near the town of Moapa the Muddy River collects the flow from the Meadow Valley Wash, forming the principal drainage system for southeastern Nevada.
The Moapa Valley area is home to various rare and/or endangered species, including fish (such as the Moapa dace), invertebrates, bird, and plants. These species can be found throughout the various springs, called the Muddy Springs, that supply the waters that are the Muddy River. To help protect and preserve the fragile habitats in the Muddy Springs area, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has created the Moapa National Wildlife Refuge.
"Moapa" is a Paiute word meaning "muddy"; although "Moapa River" was formerly the official name, local usage tended to translate the name, and it was made official in 1960 [1].
