Estimated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs to the Fish Creek Watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15
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Prepared in cooperation with Teton Conservation District Estimated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs to the Fish Creek Watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15 Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5160 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Aerial image of the Fish Creek watershed in Wyoming. Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright © 2014 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved. Estimated Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs to the Fish Creek Watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15 By Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Roy Sando, Michael J. MacDonald, and Carlin E. Girard Prepared in cooperation with Teton Conservation District Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5160 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2016 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Eddy-Miller, C.A., Sando, Roy, MacDonald, M.J., and Girard, C.E., 2016, Estimated nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to the Fish Creek watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5160, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165160. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous assistance of landowners, State and local agencies, and business owners who provided the data used in the report. Their efforts provide the foundation for the analyses of the area. Assistance with data collection and analysis was provided by Dan Leemon, Friends of Fish Creek. The authors also acknowledge assistance with analyses, report reviews, and report prepara- tion from U.S. Geological survey colleagues Jerrod Wheeler, Christopher Ellison, Janet Carter, Steven Sando, John Kilpatrick, Keith Lucey, Rebekah Davis, and Suzanne Roberts. v Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................iii Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................4 Methods..................................................................................................................................................4 Delineation of the Study Area ....................................................................................................4 Identifying Nutrient Inputs from Each Source ........................................................................4 Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs ................................................................................................................6 Atmospheric Deposition ......................................................................................................................6 Fertilizer Application.............................................................................................................................8 Septic-System Effluent ......................................................................................................................12 Sewage Treatment Plant Effluent .....................................................................................................14 Livestock Waste ..................................................................................................................................17 Diversions from Snake River .............................................................................................................20 Explosives Used for Avalanche Control ..........................................................................................22 Cumulative Nitrogen and Phosphorus Inputs ................................................................................24 Summary........................................................................................................................................................27 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................28 Figures 1. Maps showing location of study area (Fish Creek watershed), Teton County, Wyoming.........................................................................................................................................3 2. Maps showing study area with 10-acre grid cell overlay, Teton County, Wyoming.........................................................................................................................................5 3. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from atmospheric deposition, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–13 .....................7 4. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from fertilizer application to golf courses, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015...............................................................................................................................9 5. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from fertilizer application to lawns and parks, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015 ...................................................................................................10 6. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from fertilizer application to planted or ornamental woodlands, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015 .............................................................................11 7. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from septic-system effluent, Teton County, Wyoming, 2012, 2013, and 2015 ....................................................................................................................13 8. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to Fish Creek watershed from sewage treatment plant effluent as liquid injectate, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015 ...................................................................................................15 vi 9. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to Fish Creek watershed from sewage treatment plant effluent as biosolid application, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015 ..............................................................................................................16 10. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from horse waste, Teton County, Wyoming, 2011, 2013, and 2015 ....................................................................................................................18 11. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from cattle waste, Teton County, Wyoming, 2011, 2013, and 2015 ....................................................................................................................19 12. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient input to the Fish Creek watershed from Snake River diversions, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–10 ......................................................................................................................20 13. Map showing location and quantity of estimated nitrogen input to Fish Creek watershed from explosives used for avalanche control, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015.............................................................................................................................23 14. Maps showing location and quantity of estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from all sources, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–15 ......................25 Tables 1. Estimated nutrient inputs from atmospheric deposition for the Fish Creek watershed, Teton County, Wyoming, 2009–13 ..........................................................................7 2. Estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from fertilizer, Teton County, Wyoming, 2015 .....................................................................................................8 3. Estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed from septic-system effluent, Teton County, Wyoming, 2012, 2013, and 2015 ........................................................12 4. Estimated nutrient inputs to the Fish Creek watershed