South Fork Band Environmental Department

The South Fork Indian Reservation is located on the south fork of the Humboldt River in Elko County in north central Nevada, approximately 30 miles south of the city of Elko. The Indian Reservation includes the base reservation, Odgers Ranch Indian Reservation, and the Ruby Valley allotments.   The combined total area is 17,000 acres.  The majority of the Reservation is open range which is used for open cattle grazing and agricultural. Approximately 9,300 acres are used for spring, summer, and fall cattle grazing.

There are also a number of non-Indian free land interests within and around the Reservation as well.

The Tribal land base is used primarily for residential, agriculture and ranching purposes with some land reserved for Tribal administrative and community purposes.

The South Fork Indian Reservation is made up of land held in trust for the South Fork Band of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone. The population of the Reservation is 260 enrolled Tribal members. The center of the Reservation community is called South Fork. The non-Indian communities near the Reservation are Jiggs, Spring Creek, and Elko. Other areas include the South Fork of the Humboldt River and adjacent riparian/wetland areas.  There are approximately 260 tribal members, with 165 living on reservation lands. A majority of residents are ranchers or farmers. The Reservation Children attend elementary and high school in the city of Elko or Spring Creek. These schools are operated and maintained by the county of Elko. There are no educational facilities on the Reservation.

Tribal Government

The South Fork Band Council was organized under the Constitution and By-Laws of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act. There are three branches of government – the legislative, executive, and judicial.

Each council is composed of 7 members that are elected by vote of the people for a term of three years. Two members are selected, by the council, to be placed on the Te-Moak Council to represent the band at the top level.


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