Stream Seepage and Groundwater Levels, Wood River Valley, South-Central Idaho, 2012–13
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Prepared in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources Stream Seepage and Groundwater Levels, Wood River Valley, South-Central Idaho, 2012–13 40 20 0 GLENDALE RD -20 -40 GANNETT RD -60 -80 BASELINE RD Total: Total: B08–B11 B02–B03 B03–B04 B04–B05 B06–B07 -8 B07–B08 B11–B12 B01–B12 BO1–B02 BO5–B06 Streamflow gain or loss by reach, in cubic feet per second Gannett C37 C46 -10 -12 -16 C41 -14 PRICE RD -18 Big Wood River C39 Grove Creek Mud Creek Chaney Creek -20 Wilson Creek C40 Willow Creek Patton Creek US 20 C38 US 20 C42 C43 Loving Creek -6 Cain Creek Buhler Drain C44 IDAHO 75 TIMMERMAN HILLS C45 -4 -2 Silver Creek 0 1 2 MILES PICABO HILLS 0 1 2 KILOMETERS Scientifictac14-0942_fig03 Investigations Report 2014–5151 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Graph showing measured streamflow gain or loss by reach and map showing changes in potentiometric-surface altitude of the confined aquifer, Wood River Valley aquifer system, south-central Idaho. Stream Seepage and Groundwater Levels, Wood River Valley, South-Central Idaho, 2012–13 By James R. Bartolino Prepared in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5151 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, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 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://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, 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: Bartolino, J.R., 2014, Stream seepage and groundwater levels, Wood River Valley, south-central Idaho, 2012–13: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5151, 34 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145151. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................3 Groundwater .................................................................................................................................4 Surface Water ..............................................................................................................................4 Previous Work .......................................................................................................................................4 Surface-Water Discharge and Seepage Measurements .....................................................4 Water-Level Measurements ......................................................................................................5 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................5 Surface-Water Discharge Measurement and Uncertainty ...........................................................5 Determination of Seepage and Uncertainty .....................................................................................5 Groundwater-Level Measurement .....................................................................................................6 Water-Level and 2006–12 Change Maps ..........................................................................................6 Groundwater-Level Trend Analysis....................................................................................................6 Stream Seepage.............................................................................................................................................6 Big Wood River ....................................................................................................................................10 Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge ...............................................................................12 Big Wood River Tributaries ...............................................................................................................12 Silver Creek and Tributaries ..............................................................................................................12 Canals ..................................................................................................................................................12 Water Levels In October 2012 and Change From October 2006 ..........................................................13 Conditions in October 2012 ................................................................................................................13 Unconfined Aquifer ...................................................................................................................13 Confined Aquifer ........................................................................................................................13 Change During October 2006–October 2012 ..................................................................................13 Unconfined Aquifer ...................................................................................................................13 Confined Aquifer ........................................................................................................................13 Probable Causes of Water-Level Declines .....................................................................................14 Groundwater-Level Trends ................................................................................................................14 Suggestions for the Groundwater-Level Network .................................................................................15 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................15 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................16 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................16 Appendix A. Surface-Water Data ............................................................................................................19 Appendix B. Groundwater Data ...............................................................................................................31 iv Plates [Available online only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2014/5151/.] 1. Map showing water-table altitude of the unconfined aquifer, Wood River Valley aquifer system, south-central Idaho, October 2012. 2. Maps showing potentiometric-surface altitude of the confined aquifer, Wood River Valley aquifer system, south-central Idaho, October 2012; and, changes in the potentiometric-surface altitude of the confined aquifer, Wood River Valley aquifer system, south-central Idaho, October 2006 to October 2012. 3. Map showing changes in the water-table altitude of the unconfined aquifer, Wood River Valley aquifer system, south-central Idaho, October 2006 to October 2012. Figures 1. Map showing locations of communities, selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages, weather stations, wastewater-treatment plant discharge points, and other features, Wood River Valley, south-central Idaho ................................................2 2. Map showing stream-discharge measurement sites, Wood River Valley, south-central Idaho, August and October 2012, and March 2013 ........................................7 3. Graphs showing measured streamflow gain or loss by reach, Big Wood River, Wood River Valley, south-central Idaho, 2012–13 .................................................................11 Table 1. Stream discharge measurement sites and measurement conditions, Wood River Valley, south-central Idaho, August 2012, October 2012, and March 2013 .........................8 v Conversion Factors, Datums, and Abbreviations and Acronyms Conversion Factors Inch/Pound to SI Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Flow rate cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s) Datums Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.