Hydrology of the Black Hills Area, South Dakota
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Hydrology of the Black Hills Area, South Dakota By Daniel G. Driscoll, Janet M. Carter, Joyce E. Williamson, and Larry D. Putnam ABSTRACT systems within the Madison and Minnelusa aquifers also is presented. The Black Hills Hydrology Study was initi- ated in 1990 to assess the quantity, quality, and distribution of surface water and ground water in INTRODUCTION the Black Hills area of South Dakota. This report summarizes the hydrology of the Black Hills area The Black Hills area is an important resource and the results of this long-term study. center that provides an economic base for western The Black Hills area of South Dakota and South Dakota through tourism, agriculture, the timber Wyoming is an important recharge area for several industry, and mineral resources. In addition, water orig- regional, bedrock aquifer systems and various inating from the area is used for municipal, industrial, local aquifers; thus, the study focused on describ- agricultural, and recreational purposes throughout ing the hydrologic significance of selected bed- much of western South Dakota. The Black Hills area rock aquifers. The major aquifers in the Black also is an important recharge area for aquifers in the Hills area are the Deadwood, Madison, Minnelusa, northern Great Plains. Minnekahta, and Inyan Kara aquifers. The highest Population growth, resource development, and priority was placed on the Madison and Minnelusa periodic droughts have the potential to affect the quan- tity, quality, and availability of water within the Black aquifers, which are used extensively and heavily Hills area. Because of this concern, the Black Hills influence the surface-water resources of the area. Hydrology Study was initiated in 1990 to assess the Within this report, the hydrogeologic frame- quantity, quality, and distribution of surface water and work of the area, including climate, geology, ground water in the Black Hills area of South Dakota ground water, and surface water, is discussed. (Driscoll, 1992). This long-term study has been a coop- Hydrologic processes and characteristics for erative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey ground water and surface water are presented. For (USGS), the South Dakota Department of Environment ground water, water-level trends and comparisons and Natural Resources, and the West Dakota Water and water-quality characteristics are presented. Development District, which represents various local For surface water, streamflow characteristics, and county cooperators. responses to precipitation, annual yields and yield The specific objectives of the Black Hills efficiencies, and water-quality characteristics are Hydrology Study included: presented. Hydrologic budgets are presented for 1. Inventorying and describing precipitation amounts, ground water, surface water, and the combined streamflow rates, ground-water levels of selected ground-water/surface-water system. A summary aquifer units, and selected water-quality charac- of study findings regarding the complex flow teristics for the Black Hills area. Introduction 1 2. Developing hydrologic budgets to define relations October 1 through September 30. Discussions of time- among precipitation, streamflow, and aquifer frames refer to water years, rather than calendar years, response for selected Black Hills watersheds. unless specifically noted otherwise. 3. Describing the significance of the bedrock aquifers in the Black Hills area hydrologic system, with an emphasis on the Madison and Minnelusa aquifers, Description of Study Area through determination of: a. aquifer properties (depth, thickness, structure, The study area for the Black Hills Hydrology storage coefficient, hydraulic conductivity, Study consists of the topographically defined Black etc.); Hills and adjacent areas located in western South b. the hydraulic connection between the aquifers; Dakota (fig. 1). Outcrops of the Madison Limestone c. the source aquifer(s) of springs; and Minnelusa Formation, as well as the generalized d. recharge and discharge rates, and gross volu- outer extent of the Inyan Kara Group, which approxi- metric budgets; and mates the outer extent of the Black Hills area, also are e. regional flow paths. shown in figure 1. The Black Hills are situated between 4. Developing conceptual models of the hydrogeo- the Cheyenne and Belle Fourche Rivers. The Belle logic system for the Black Hills area. Fourche River is the largest tributary to the Cheyenne River. The study area includes most of the larger com- munities in western South Dakota and contains about Purpose and Scope one-fifth of the State’s population. The Black Hills uplift formed as an elongated The purpose of this report is to summarize the dome about 60 to 65 million years ago during the Lara- hydrology of the Black Hills area and present major mide orogeny (Darton and Paige, 1925). The dome findings pertinent to the objectives of the Black Hills trends north-northwest and is about 120 mi long and Hydrology Study. The information summarized in this 60 mi wide. Land-surface altitudes range from 7,242 ft report has been presented in more detail in previous above sea level at Harney Peak to about 3,000 ft in the reports prepared as part of the study. Because the Black adjacent plains. Most of the higher altitudes are heavily Hills area of South Dakota and Wyoming is an impor- forested with ponderosa pine, which is the primary tant recharge area for several regional, bedrock aquifers product of an active timber industry. White spruce, and various local aquifers, the study concentrated on quaking aspen, paper birch, and other native trees and describing the hydrogeology and hydrologic signifi- shrubs are found in cooler, wetter areas (Orr, 1959). cance of selected bedrock aquifers. The highest priority The lower altitude areas surrounding the Black Hills was placed on the Madison and Minnelusa aquifers because: (1) these aquifers are heavily used and could primarily are urban, suburban, and agricultural. be developed further; (2) these aquifers are connected Numerous deciduous species such as cottonwood, ash, to surface-water resources through streamflow loss elm, oak, and willow are common along streams in the zones and large springs; and (3) hydraulic connection lower altitudes. Rangeland, hayland, and winter wheat between these aquifers is extremely variable. The farming are the principal agricultural uses for dryland Deadwood and Minnekahta aquifers had a lower pri- areas. Alfalfa, corn, and vegetables are produced in ority because they are used less and have less influence bottom lands and in irrigated areas. Various other on the hydrologic system. The fractured Precambrian crops, primarily for cattle fodder, are produced in both rocks, Inyan Kara Group, and various local aquifers, dryland areas and in bottom lands. including minor bedrock aquifers and unconsolidated Beginning in the 1870’s, the Black Hills have aquifers, had the lowest priorities because: (1) the Pre- been explored and mined for many commodities cambrian and local aquifers are not regional aquifers including gold, silver, tin, tungsten, mica, feldspar, with regional flowpaths; and (2) the Inyan Kara Group bentonite, beryl, lead, zinc, uranium, lithium, sand, is not used as extensively in the Black Hills area as the gravel, and oil (U.S. Department of Interior, 1967). other priority units. Mines within the study area have used various tech- Hydrologic analyses within this report generally niques including placer mining, underground mining, are by water year, which represents the period from and open-pit mining. 2 Hydrology of the Black Hills Area, South Dakota o 104o 45' 103 30' Indian Horse o Belle Fourche 44 45' Reservoir Cr EXPLANATION Owl Newell BELLE Creek OUTCROP OF MADISON LIMESTONE Creek Nisland (from Strobel and others, 1999) F BELLE FOURCHE O UR CHE RIVER OUTCROP OF MINNELUSA FORMATION Hay Creek R (from Strobel and others, 1999) E BUTTE CO Vale R I V TER LAWRENCE CO MEADE CO REDWA APPROXIMATE EXTENT OF THE BLACK Cox Saint Creek HILLS AREA, REPRESENTED BY Lake Crow Onge Creek GENERALIZED OUTER EXTENT OF reek 30' Gulch Spearfish C INYAN KARA GROUP (modified Whitewood from Strobel and others, 1999) Gulch Bottom Creek e ls Bear a Creek F Whitewood Butte Higgins Cr Creek Squ STURGIS Spearfish a Central Tinton w Cr City li Iron Cr ka o ood DEADWOOD l Cr w A 15' 103 ad Beaver Cr e D Cr Lead Bear h nnie Cr s A erry i trawb f S r Cr Creek Tilford a e Whitetail p Elk S Little Creek Roubaix ek Creek N Elk re Elk Little . C 15' h F Boxelder fis o r r Piedmont a k e Ellsworth R p a S Air Force S. Fork Rapid Cr p i Base d Nemo C Creek r Blackhawk Cold S pri Cr ng ee s k Box Elder k For Rochford s adN o . For Rapid h k Ca R stle RAPID CITY Castle Cr Beav e Rapid r k Pactola Creek C C ree r C e re Reservoir e e Creek k k Castle V Deerfield ictoria Creek Reservoir Spring o S. Fork r 44 C l e Cast Rockerville Sheridan Creek Creek Lake Hill City Mt. Rushmore National Keystone Memorial yon an Spring Harney Hayward LIMESTONE PLATEAU C n Peak o x y n PENNINGTON CO n Battle o a y Spok Hermosa C n CUSTER CO an a e Creek Creek s C le o Grace Bear B French Creek CUSTER Gulch Redbird e Gillette idg Creek Cool 45' Jewel Cave CUSTER National Monument Beaver STATE French Fairburn PARK Canyon Creek gh Hi la Lame Canyon n Creek d Pringle Wind Cave National CreekPark WYOMING Wind Johnny Cave SOUTH DAKOTA SOUTH Dewey Beaver Red Creek Buffalo Gap RIVER 30' Hell Creek FALL RIVER CO H on ot roo ny B k Ca HOT SPRINGS Minnekahta Fall Oral R CHEYENNE Cascade Springs SOUTH DAKOTA Black Edgemont Horsehead Hills Mi Angostura ss ou o Creek Reservoir Creek r 43 15' d i oo w Area n o tt River o Igloo Creek shown C Provo Hat Base modified from U.S.