Water Resources of Lincoln County, Wyoming
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WATER RESOURCES OF LINCOLN COUNTY, WYOMING SyCheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Maria Plafcan, and Melanie L. Clark U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4246 Prepared in cooperation with the Wyoming State Engineer Cheyenne, Wyoming 1996 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, WRD Branch of Information Services 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 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 ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Average annual runoff ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Flow duration ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Low flow .......................................................................................................................................................... 20 High flow .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 Ground water........................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Ground-water data ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 Relation of ground water to geology .......................................................................................................................... 24 Quaternary deposits .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Tertiary rocks ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Mesozoic rocks ................................................................................................................................................ 28 Paleozoic rocks ................................................................................................................................................ 29 Recharge, movement, and discharge .......................................................................................................................... 30 Water use .................................................................................................................................................................^ 31 Water quality ........................................................................................................................................................................ 32 Quality assurance and quality control ........................................................................................................................ 36 Quality assurance ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Quality control ................................................................................................................................................. 37 Streamflow quality ..................................................................................................................................................... 38 Ground-water quality ................................................................................................................................................. 45 Quaternary deposits .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Tertiary rocks ................................................................................................................................................... 46 Mesozoic rocks ................................................................................................................................................ 50 Paleozoic rocks ................................................................................................................................................ 52 Ground-water monitoring in Star Valley .............................................................................................................................. 52 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................................................................................... 54 References .........................................................................................................................................................................^ 56 Glossary ............................................................................. 59 Supplemental Data................................................................................................................................................................ 61 PLATES [plates are in pocket] 1. Geologic map of Lincoln County, Wyoming 2. Map showing locations of selected streamflow-gaging and reservoir-content stations and miscellaneous Streamflow sites in Lincoln County, Wyoming 3. Map showing locations of wells and springs inventoried in Lincoln County, Wyoming CONTENTS ii FIGURES Page 1. Map showing location and physiography of Lincoln County, Wyoming ................................................................. 3 2. Map showing mean annual precipitation for Lincoln County, Wyoming, 1951-80.................................................. 5 3. Graph showing mean monthly precipitation and air temperatures at Fontenelle Dam (1963-80) and town of Afton (1951-80), Lincoln County, Wyoming................................................................................................... 6 4. Sketch showing procedure for collection of streamflow data at a gaging station..................................................... 9 5. Graph showing daily mean discharge for an ephemeral/intermittent stream and a perennial stream, water year 1967 .................................................................................................................................................... 16 6. Graph showing flow-duration curves of daily mean discharge for Hams Fork below Pole Creek near Frontier, Lincoln County, Wyoming, and Pacific Creek near Parson, Sweetwater County, Wyoming................ 21 7. Diagram showing systems for numbering wells and springs.................................................................................... 25 8. Map showing location of the Green, Bear, and Snake River drainage areas in Lincoln County, Wyoming ............ 39 9. Map showing location of streamflow data collection sites on the Salt River and a tributary to the Salt River sampled July 18-23, 1994........................................................................................................................... 44 10. Box plots showing distribution of dissolved-solids concentrations in water samples collected from wells completed in and springs issuing from selected geologic units in Lincoln County, Wyoming ........................... 47 11. Modified Stiff diagrams showing major cations and anions in selected water samples collected from wells completed in and springs issuing from selected geologic units in Lincoln County, Wyoming ......... 48 12. Map showing general location of Quaternary deposits, Tertiary rocks, and Mesozoic and Paleozoic