Water Resources of Bannock Creek Basin, Southeastern Idaho
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Water Resources of Bannock Creek Basin, Southeastern Idaho By Joseph M. Spinazola and B.D. Higgs U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4231 Prepared in cooperation with the SHOSHONE-BANNOCK TRIBES Boise, Idaho 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Mark Schaefer, Acting Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Information Services 230 Collins Road Box 25286 Boise, ID 83702-4520 Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction...................................................................................................._^ 1 Purpose and scope........................................................................................................................................................ 1 Previous studies........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Site-numbering system................................................................................................................................................ 3 Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Description of study area....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Geologic setting...................................................................... 5 Water resources...................................................................................................................................................^ 9 Precipitation and evapotranspiration ........................................................................................................................... 9 Surface water............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Streamflow......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Irrigation diversions and return flows................................................................................................................ 12 Springs.........................................................................................................................................................^ 14 Ground water............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Occurrence and movement................................................................................................................................ 15 Water levels................................................................................................................^ 18 Aquifer properties.............................................................................................................................................. 21 Underflow ...........................................................................................................................................^ 24 Water budgets....................................................................................................................^ 24 Arbon Valley...................................................................................................................................................... 25 Rattlesnake Creek drainage ............................................................................................................................... 26 West Fork drainage............................................................................................................................................ 26 Middle Bannock Creek Valley........................................................................................................................... 26 Lower Bannock Creek Valley............................................................................................................................ 27 Surface-water and ground-water relations................................................................................................................... 28 Water yield..........................................................................................................^ 28 Chemical characteristics of water.......................................................................................................................................... 30 Suspended sediment.............................................................. 33 Summary and conclusions..................................................................................................................................................... 35 References cited......................................................................... 36 Figures 1. Map showing location of Bannock Creek Basin, subbasins, and geographic features ......................................... 2 2. Diagram showing well- and spring-numbering system......................................................................................... 3 3. Map showing surficial geology in Bannock Creek Basin ..................................................................................... 6 4. Generalized geologic sections for Bannock Creek Basin...................................................................................... 7 5. Map showing average annual precipitation, 1930-57, and location of weather stations in Bannock Creek Basin............................................................................................................................................................. 8 6. Map showing location of selected sites where streamflow was measured in 1987 and location of springs measured in 1988, Bannock Creek Basin.............................................................................................................. 10 7. Graph showing daily mean streamflow at Bannock Creek near Pocatello (station 0762), 1985-89.................... 11 8. Map showing location of Bannock Creek minor and Michaud irrigation units.................................................... 13 9. Graph showing Portneuf River diversions to the Michaud irrigation unit, 1980-88 ........................................... 14 10. Graphs showing daily mean streamflow at Sawmill Creek near Arbon (station 07599910) and at West Fork near Pauline (station 07599660), 1988-89........................................................................................................... 15 Contents iii 11. Map showing water-table contours for valley-fill aquifer and location of wells in Bannock Creek Basin, fall 1987................................................................................................................^ 16 12-17. Hydrographs showing: 12. Water levels in selected wells in Arbon Valley, September 1987 to December 1988................................. 18 13. Water levels in selected wells in Rattlesnake Creek drainage, September 1987 to December 1988............................................................................................................................................ 20 14. Water levels in selected wells in middle Bannock Creek Valley, September 1987 to December 1988....... 20 15. Water levels in selected wells in lower Bannock Creek Valley, September 1987 to December 1988......... 21 16. Water levels in selected wells on Michaud Flats, September 1987 to December 1988.............................. 22 17. March water levels for two wells on Michaud Flats, 1955-88 ................................................................... 23 18. Graph showing cumulative streamflow gains between miscellaneous streamflow-measurement sites along Bannock Creek, August 26 and October 21, 1987...................................................................................... 29 19. Trilinear diagram showing chemical composition of water from selected wells, springs, and streams in Bannock Creek Basin, 1988.................................................................................................................................. 31 20. Graph showing 8deuterium and 818oxygen ratios in water from selected wells, springs, and streams in Bannock Creek Basin, 1988.................................................................................................................................. 34 Tables 1. Average annual precipitation for five subbasins in the Bannock Creek drainage, 1965-89................................ 9 2. Average annual streamflow discharge for 1988-89 and 1965-89 and average annual streamflow runoff for 1965-89 at selected streamflow-gaging stations in Bannock Creek Basin.................................................... 12 3. Discharge of springs measured in 1988, Bannock Creek Basin..........................................................................