Water Resources of Teton County, Wyoming, Exclusive of Yellowstone National Park
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WATER RESOURCES OF TETON COUNTY, WYOMING, EXCLUSIVE OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 105° 104° U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4204 Prepared in cooperation with the WYOMING STATE ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES OF TETON COUNTY, WYOMING, EXCLUSIVE OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK by Bernard T. Nolan and Kirk A. Miller U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4204 Prepared in cooperation with the WYOMING STATE ENGINEER Cheyenne, Wyoming 1995 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GORDON P. EATON, Director The use of trade, product, industry, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center Water Resources Division Open-File Reports Section 2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 -5662 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose and scope....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Climate........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Generalized geology................................................................................................................................................... 4 Water-right administration.......................................................................................................................................... 6 By Richard G. Stockdale. Wyoming State Engineer's Office Acknowledgments.................................................................................................._ 6 Surface water.. .......................................................................................................................................................^ 7 Streamflow data........................... ............................................................................................................................... 7 Streamflow characteristics.......................................................................................................................................... 7 Flow duration.................................................................................................................................................... 11 High flow........................................................................................................................................................... 11 Low flow........................................................................................................................................................... 13 Ground water......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Ground-water data network ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Relation of ground water to geology........................................................................................................................... 26 Quaternary unconsolidated deposits ................................................................................................................. 26 Thickness................................................................................................................................................ 38 Ground-water use and yield.................................................................................................................... 40 Quaternary and Tertiary volcanic rocks............................................................................................................ 40 Tertiary rocks.................................................................................................................................................... 40 Mesozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 41 Paleozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 41 Precambrian metamorphic rocks....................................................................................................................... 42 Recharge, movement, and discharge........................................................................................................................... 43 Changes in water levels............................................................................................................................................... 46 Water use............................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Water quality......................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Surface-water quality.................................................................................................................................................. 54 Ground-water quality.................................................................................................................................................. 54 Quaternary unconsolidated deposits ................................................................................................................. 56 Quaternary and Tertiary volcanic rocks............................................................................................................ 56 Tertiary rocks.................................................................................................................................................... 56 Mesozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 67 Paleozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 67 Precambrian metamorphic rocks....................................................................................................................... 67 Agricultural chemicals in surface and ground water.................................................................................................. 69 Summary............................................................................................................................................................................... 71 References............................................................................................................._^ 73 Glossary................................................................................................................................................................................ 75 Plates (in pocket) 1. Geologic map of Teton County study area, Wyoming 2. Map showing surface-water, ground-water and geophysical-data networks, Teton County study area, Wyoming 3. Map showing water-level contours for alluvium, colluvium, and gravel, pediment, and fan deposits in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, July 12-21, 1993 CONTENTS IV Figures Page 1. Map showing location and physiography of Teton County study area, Wyoming................................................... 3 2. Map showing mean annual precipitation for Teton County study area, Wyoming, 1951-80................................... 5 3-5. Graphs showing: 3. Daily mean discharge for selected nonregulated and regulated perennial and intermittent streams in Teton County study area, Wyoming, water year 1992 ........................................................................... 10 4. Flow-duration curves for selected surface-water stations in Teton County study area, Wyoming................... 12 5. Annual peak discharge on the Snake River near Moran, Wyoming (site 2), water years 1904-92.................. 14 6. Diagram showing systems for numbering wells and springs.................................................................................... 37 7-13. Graphs showing: 7. Comparison of specific conductance and daily mean discharge in the Snake River above Jackson Lake, at Flagg Ranch (site 1) in Teton County study area, Wyoming, water year 1992............................ 55 8. Principal chemical constituents in ground-water samples collected from representative wells completed in and springs issuing from Quaternary unconsolidated deposits in Teton County study area, Wyoming.................................................................................................................................. 57 9. Principal chemical constituents in ground-water samples collected