Water Resources of Fremont County, Wyoming
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WATER RESOURCES OF FREMONT COUNTY, WYOMING 106° 105° 104° U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4095 Prepared in cooperation with the WYOMING STATE ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES OF FREMONT COUNTY, WYOMING By Maria Plafcan, Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, George F. Ritz, and John P.R. Holland II U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4095 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 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....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Climate........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Generalized geologic history ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Water-right administration By Richard G. Stockdale. Wyoming State Engineer's Office........................................................................... 7 Acknowledgments..............................................................................................._^ 8 Streamflow............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Streamflow data........................................................................................................................................................... 8 Streamflow characteristics.......................................................................................................................................... 9 Average annual runoff....................................................................................................................................... 28 Flow duration.................................................................................................................................................... 29 Low flow........................................................................................................................................................... 29 High flow........................................................................................................................................................... 32 Ground water......................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Ground-water data....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Relation of ground water to geology........................................................................................................................... 33 Quaternary deposits........................................................................................................................................... 35 Tertiary rocks.................................................................................................................................................... 36 Mesozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 37 Paleozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 38 Precambrian rocks............................................................................................................................................. 38 Recharge, movement, and discharge........................................................................................................................... 39 Water-level changes.................................................................................................................................................... 40 Water use............................................................................................................................................................................... 44 Water quality......................................................................................................................................................................... 46 Quality assurance and control..................................................................................................................................... 50 Quality assurance.............................................................................................................................................. 50 Quality control.................................................................................................................................................. 52 Streamflow quality...................................................................................................................................................... 52 Ground-water quality.................................................................................................................................................. 53 Quaternary deposits........................................................................................................................................... 56 Tertiary rocks.................................................................................................................................................... 57 Mesozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 79 Paleozoic rocks................................................................................................................................................. 87 Precambrian rocks............................................................................................................................................. 96 Summary and conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 96 References...................................................................................................................................................^ 98 Glossary................................................................................................................................................................................ 101 Supplemental data..........................................................................._ 103 PLATES [plates are in pocket] 1. Geologic map of Fremont County, Wyoming 2. Map showing locations of selected wells and springs in Fremont County, Wyoming 3. Map showing locations of selected streamflow-gaging stations and miscellaneous Streamflow sites in Fremont County, Wyoming CONTENTS III FIGURES Page 1. Map showing location of Fremont County and the Wind River structural basin in Wyoming............................ 3 2. Graph showing mean monthly air temperatures at Dubois and Sand Draw, Wyoming....................................... 5 3. Map showing mean annual precipitation, 1951-80, in Fremont County, Wyoming............................................ 6 4. Sketch showing procedure for collection of streamflow data at a gaging station................................................ 10 5. Hydrographs of daily mean discharge for an ephemeral stream, a perennial stream, and a perennial stream affected by glaciers for water year 1953.............................................................................................. 27 6. Graph showing flow-duration curve of daily mean discharge for site 106, Badwater Creek at Bonneville; site 1, Wind River near Dubois; and site 18, Bull Lake Creek above Bull Lake, Fremont County, Wyoming............................................................................................................................. 30 7. Federal township-range system for numbering wells and springs....................................................................... 34 8.-10. Graphs showing: 8. Intermittent (1951-72) and minimum daily (1973-87) water levels in well !N-4E-33ddb01, which is completed in the Wind River Formation and is located near Riverton, Wyoming ................. 41 9. Minimum daily (1981-86) water levels in well !N-4E-33ddb01............................................................... 42 10. Minimum daily water levels in well !N-4E-33ddb01................................................................................ 43 11. Box plots showing distribution of dissolved-solids concentrations in water samples from