Chapter 9 Looking to the Future

Karl Taboga, Paul Taucher, Keith Clarey, Lisa Lindemann

9-363 he purpose of this chapter is to discuss • Hydrogeology (Chapters 5, 6, and 7, future water use opportunities in the Platte Figure 7.2 and Plates J, K, M, S, T, U, X) River Basin. This issue was thoroughly • Groundwater chemical characteristics examinedT in the 2006 Platte River Basin Water (Chapter 7 and Appendices E,F,G,H) Plan (Trihydro Corporation and others, 2006a). • Recent and historic development patterns Technical Memorandum 5.1 (Trihydro Corporation, specified by beneficial use, obtained from 2005j) examined the hydrogeologic, political, the State Engineer’s Office E-Permit financial and regulatory factors that limit future Database (Chapter 8) water development projects in the basin. Technical • Studies published by the USGS (Chapter Memorandum 5.2 (Trihydro Corporation, 2005g) 7) and Wyoming Water Development discussed 19 specific water use opportunities in Commission (Appendix B) that examine detail. This update will present brief reviews of a the development potential of specific select few of these previously discussed opportunities aquifers as well as provide brief descriptions of recent • The 2006 Water Plan for the Platte Wyoming Water Development Commission River Basin (Trihydro Corporation and (WWDC) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) others, 2006a) and associated Technical water development studies completed after the Memoranda, as well as the 2007 State 2006 Platte River Basin Water Plan. This approach Water Plan (WWC Engineering and others, provides the most current information available 2007), identify potential groundwater about the future focus and direction of Platte River development projects considered prior Basin groundwater development projects. to the completion dates of those studies. The discussions of technical concepts Many of the opportunities examined in and Laramide geology previously covered in those publications may be under current this study provide the background needed to development or will become more viable understand the practical considerations that shape in the future as financial factors and the conceptualization, design and successful technological improvements allow. completion of a water resource development • The Water Resources Data System Library, project. Chapter 5 opened with the definition specifically the WWDC Projects and of several elementary hydrogeologic concepts that Studies Web page, contains hundreds of are crucial to understanding basic groundwater water development reports for projects science. Section 5.1.3 introduced the dynamics completed over the last 40 years for of groundwater recharge, discharge and flow localities throughout Wyoming. and hydrogeologic settings that are characteristic of Laramide-age structural basins. Future In this chapter, only development projects that are groundwater development in the Platte River designed with the primary objective of producing drainage is not only physically limited by Laramide fresh groundwater suited to their intended basin hydrogeology but is also legally bound by beneficial uses are discussed. Projects which may the judicial restrictions imposed by the 2001 produce groundwater as a value added byproduct Modified North Platte River Decree and the of other activities, such as oil and gas production or Platte River Recovery Implementation Program in-situ mineral extraction, are not considered. (PRRIP); the hydrogeologic principles of these policies are summarized in Appendix D. Specific 9.1 Issues affecting future groundwater groundwater development projects are discussed development (Trihydro Corporation and others, below in Section 9.1, and recommendations for 2006a) future updates of this Groundwater Determination Technical Memorandum in Section 9.2. • Water availability –A groundwater resource Additional supporting information for the must meet the water quality and production project assessments contained in this chapter can volumes of the proposed beneficial use(s) be found in several previous chapters of this study: and be legally, economically and physically

9-364 available. In the Platte River Basin, Interior and the States of Colorado and groundwater availability is controlled by Nebraska. The purpose of the PRRIP is the hydrogeology of the Laramide-age to ensure continued use and development structural basins as well as the Modified of Wyoming’s water in the Platte River North Platte Decree and the PRRIP (see basin while maintaining compliance below). under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). • Funding – Groundwater development To define the water use covered by the projects are expensive and most Wyoming PRRIP, Wyoming’s Depletions Plan was municipalities do not have the funds developed. In the plan, water use covered required to plan, carry out and complete by the PRRIP is based on a depletion development programs. Funding for these baseline that occurred from 1992 through projects, therefore, has to be obtained from 1996. Under the PRRIP, Wyoming must governmental agencies. The primary water annually measure and compare its current development funding agencies in Wyoming water use (depletions) against the thresholds are the WWDC, Wyoming Department for depletions that were quantified for of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the that 1992-1996 period.” SEO contact U.S. Department of Agriculture. information for the Interstate Streams • Stakeholder involvement – The successful Program and links to other documents completion of any groundwater related to the PRRIP can be found online project requires the involvement of the at: Platte River Basin - Wyoming State stakeholders who have interests in the Engineer’s Office. development or preservation of the water • Water quality – The successful completion resource. Stakeholders include current of a groundwater development project and future water users, landowners, depends on whether the quality of the business representatives, attorneys, water produced from the targeted resource scientists, engineers, environmentalist meets the requirements of the intended groups, sportsmen, holders of competing beneficial use(s). State and federal laws may water rights, municipal, state and federal mandate water quality requirements for regulatory agencies and others. Stakeholder certain beneficial uses or may, alternately, be support for or opposition to a water used as a reference measure for others. For development project depends on the nature, example, the National Primary Drinking benefits, costs and perceived impacts of Water Regulations (Table 5-2) established the particular project. The project will by the Environmental Protection Agency likely incur substantial cost increases and (EPA) under provisions of the Safe time delays if legal challenges are filed by Drinking Water Act are legally enforceable stakeholders opposed to development. standards for public water systems (PWS) • Court decrees - The 1945 North Platte River but do not regulate water quality in private Decree, the 2001 Modified North Platte River groundwater wells that serve less than 25 Decree, and the Laramie River Decree have people. Still, water quality in smaller private significantly affected water use in the Platte wells is frequently evaluated in comparison River Basin. The provisions of these decrees to the Maximum Contaminant Levels are primarily administered by the SEO. (MCLs) contained in the EPA regulations. • Platte River Recovery Implementation • Environmental regulation – Water Program (PRRIP) – The SEO Interstate development projects in Wyoming are also Streams website describes the PRRIP as subject to regulation under the provisions follows: “On January 1, 2007, the State of state and federal environmental laws of Wyoming entered into the Platte which include: River Recovery Implementation Program o Wyoming Environmental Quality Act (PRRIP) with the U.S. Department of the – the principal state environmental law

9-365 that created the Wyoming Department of tributaries for purposes of Decree and PRRIP Environmental Quality, repealed the state’s administration. Groundwater volumes extracted existing environmental laws (in 1973) and from wells located within the designated areas are replaced them with the provisions of the not subject to the requirements of these programs. new act. These designations of “not connected” do not affect o Endangered Species Act – a federal the appropriation of surface water.” environmental law designed to protect The potential for future development of imperiled species of plants and animals groundwater resources in the North Platte River from extinction. The ESA is administered drainage basin must be viewed within the context under the Endangered Species Program of the “not-connected” area maps because the of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and procedure with which the SEO reviews and approves the National Marine Fisheries Service of the application for a Permit to Appropriate Ground the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Water is determined by the location of the proposed Administration (NOAA). development. Applications for wells located within o National Environmental Policy Act – the these areas are typically approved by the SEO main federal law that established national whereas applications for groundwater development environmental policy. It requires federal outside of the “not connected” areas are usually agencies in the executive branch to write not approved. Wells that fall outside of these areas environmental impact statements (EISs) may or may not be hydrologically connected and and environmental assessments (EAs) may require a site specific hydrogeologic study to that examine anticipated impacts to the determine the presence and degree of connection to environment resulting from proposed the Platte River and its tributaries. federal agency actions. Appendix B contains a chronological o Clean Water Act – the principal federal summary of groundwater development related law that governs pollution in the nation’s projects sponsored by the WWDC in the Platte surface waters. The CWA does not regulate River Basin since 1973. Information contained groundwater pollution directly. The Water in the project reports from many of these studies Quality Division of DEQ regulates the was used to describe, in detail, the physical and discharge of pollutants to surface waters chemical characteristics of the basin’s hydrogeologic under the CWA. units in Chapter 7. Appendix B summarizes the o Safe Drinking Water Act – the primary following groundwater development information federal law that ensures safe drinking water for WWDC projects in the Platte River Basin: supplies for the public. The SDWA covers public water supplies but does not apply • References to the study(s) – full citations to private wells that serve less than 25 are included in the References people. The EPA administers and enforces • Location, including as appropriate: town, provisions of the SDWA. county, rural area, irrigation district, well site, etc. 9.1.1 Groundwater development potential in • Aquifers involved in the study areas of the North Platte River Basin that fall • Project descriptions of development within the jurisdiction of the 2001 Modified potential of area(s) and aquifer(s) and North Platte River Decree or the PRRIP development drilling project(s) • Summary of results Maps have been developed of areas determined • Current project status not to be “hydrologically connected” under the criteria of the Modified North Platte Decree 9.1.2 Future water use opportunities (Trihydro (Fig. 9-1). Wells located within these areas are Corporation, 2005g) considered to have no hydrologic connection at The previous Platte River Basin Water Plan any depth to the North Platte River or its perennial (Trihydro Corporation and others, 2006a)

9-366 provides a detailed discussion of future water complete discussions of the particular structural use opportunities in Technical Memorandum and nonstructural water use opportunities. This 5.2 (Trihydro Corporation, 2005g). The report examines two structural opportunities that opportunities, discussed, were considered with have generated particular interest at WWDC (K. the intention that their implementation would Clarey, oral commun.); new groundwater resource result in expanded water supplies that could be development and regionalization of public water used to meet current and future water demands. supply systems. Technical Memorandum 5.2 examined both structural and non-structural opportunities. 9.1.3 Potential new groundwater development Structural opportunities are projects that involve prospects the design and construction of new water storage and conveyance infrastructure or the modification Trihydro Corporation (2007b) conducted and improvement of existing infrastructure the North Platte River Groundwater Assessment to include new or upgraded groundwater Study (NPRGAS) for WWDC during 2002 - development, enlarging reservoirs, trans-basin 2004 (revised 2007) to identify groundwater diversion programs or improving existing water resources that were determined to be “non- distribution systems. Non-structural opportunities hydrologically connected” to the surface waters do not require modifications to infrastructure but of the North Platte River. Specifically, the basin involve programmatic changes in water use and wide groundwater evaluation sought to identify management such as water conservation programs, high yield aquifers that could produce 500 to improvements in efficiency-of–use, water-banking, 1,000 gpm per constructed well. Initially, Trihydro and improved reservoir operation. conducted a review of available hydrogeologic data Trihydro submitted an initial draft of water use and identified 73 groundwater prospects (Figure 2, opportunities to WWDC. Subsequently, a final list Trihydro Corporation (2007b)) in the Platte River of future water use opportunities was determined Basin. Subsequent joint evaluations by Trihydro, following WWDC and Platte River Basin Advisory Lidstone, the SEO, WWDC and the Wyoming Group reviews and comments (see Trihydro Attorney General’s Office reduced the list of Corporation, 2005g, pp. 5.2-4 – 5.2-5). Trihydro prospects first to 28 and then to 10. evaluated the opportunities contained in the The stated purpose of the NPRGAS program finalized list on the basis of nine considerations that was to evaluate the feasibility and associated generally reflect the issues that affect groundwater costs of developing new groundwater resources development, discussed above in Section 9.1 of that could supply from 5,500 to 10,000 acre- this report: feet of augmentation water per year. Although, the produced volumes were intended to offset 1. Pertinent water use sectors Wyoming depletions of the North Platte River, 2. Water availability the aquifer information provided in the NPRGAS 3. Technical factors report can readily be adapted to evaluate 4. Economic factors groundwater targets in new development projects. 5. Environmental factors An overview of general groundwater development 6. Legal and institutional factors potential is provided in the NPRGAS report for 7. Public acceptance major regional aquifer systems that correspond 8. Water quality to the age-grouped aquifer systems developed in 9. Ability to satisfy multiple demands Chapter 6 and Plate II of this report. Results of the regional aquifer system evaluations are summarized Beyond the brief review contained in this in Table 9-1. section, Technical Memorandum 5.2 (Trihydro Virtually all aquifers and some confining Corporation, 2005g) contains a detailed units in the Platte River Basin have some physical description of the methodology used to select the potential for development, depending on the water use opportunities to be examined as well as requirements for quantity and quality called for

9-367 Table 9-1: Generalized groundwater development potential for major regional aquifer systems in the Platte River Basin (modified from Trihydro Corporation, 2007b).

Well General potential for new System Location Major aquifers yields development Throughout Platte Moderate Alluvial Unconsolidated deposits Poor – Hydrologically connected River Basin to large Throughout Platte Moderate Primarily unconsolidated Poor – Likely to be hydrologically Non-alluvial River Basin to large terrace deposits connected Poor– Groundwater control areas Within and Ogallala, Arikaree, White Moderate in eastern basin. Late along margins of River, Moonstone, Split to large Very good in Split Rock structural basins Rock, Browns Park formation. Within and Tertiary Small to Wasatch and Fort Union and Early along margins of Fair large equivalents structural basins Ferris, Lance, Fox Hills, Small to Late Cretaceous Structural basins Medicine Bow, Mesaverde, Fair to good large Frontier Structural basins Small to Muddy Sandstone, Cloverly, Fair – insufficient yields and Early Cretaceous - limited surface moderate Inyan Kara marginal water quality. exposures Mesozoic Structural basins Small to Nugget Sandstone Fair – insufficient yields and Triassic Jurassic - limited surface moderate Sundance marginal water quality. exposures Exposed on flanks Small to Casper, Madison, Amsden, Very good – target aquifers for Late of uplifts large Hartville, Tensleep, nine of the top ten prospects. Englewood, Fremont Largely absent in Early Canyon, Bighorn, Buck Poor - largely absent. Platte River Basin Spring, Flathead Sandstone

Small to Structural uplifts Undifferentiated Poor – insufficient yields moderate Precambrian Precambrian by the specified beneficial use(s) and technical conditions (Trihydro Corporation, 2007b). limitations. Two of the potentially most productive Expected yields of 1,000 to 2,000 gpm per well regional hydrogeologic units in the Platte River and maximum total well depths of 1000 feet below Basin are the Quaternary alluvial and Late Paleozoic ground surface (bgs) were projected for the nine aquifers. Unfortunately, while Quaternary alluvial Late Paleozoic prospects listed among the top 10 aquifers may have local development potential from prospects. Because well yields in Paleozoic aquifers a hydrogeologic perspective, any new development are highly dependent on secondary permeability, may be limited by the provisions of the Modified actual production rates could vary from 10 – 5,000 North Platte River Decree and the PRRIP because gpm. The large variations in structure- and solution- these aquifers are considered to be hydrologically controlled permeability require that site-specific connected to Platte River surface flows (Figure 9-1). investigations must be conducted to evaluate new Additionally, although well yields could be expected development prospects. to range from 10 to 500 gpm in these aquifers, Interestingly, the best site identified for water quality and susceptibility to surface sources groundwater augmentation development in the of contamination (e.g. irrigation return flows and NPRGAS report was the Late Tertiary Split Rock spills from energy development activities) should be Prospect located 20 miles southeast of Muddy Gap considered in evaluating development prospects. Junction, Wyoming. It was expected that wells The early Paleozoic aquifers, primarily the completed in the targeted White River, Arikaree Madison Limestone and the Tensleep and Casper and Ogallala formations would reach total depths sandstones have great potential for developing high- of 2,700 feet bgs and sustain an estimated annual yield wells, depending on site-specific hydrogeologic pumping rate of 3,300 gpm.

9-368 Figure 9-1. Areas that are not “hydrologically connected” and Groundwater Control Areas.

9-369 9.1.4 Recent WWDC groundwater development that future development is promising but requires prospects collecting additional geological and hydrogeological data using a phased approach to understand how An examination of recent WWDC this resource can be sustainably developed. groundwater development projects provides, Currently, the USGS is also investigating the perhaps, the most realistic evaluation of future geologic and hydrogeologic characteristics of the groundwater development in the Platte River Ogallala Formation and White River Group on the Basin. The recent projects are driven by present and Belvoir Ranch (Bartos and others, 2013). expected future needs of municipalities that are likely to experience population adjustments in the 9.1.4.2 Douglas coming years as the economy of Wyoming becomes increasingly centered on energy production and Recent groundwater development studies continues to focus on the economic development (DOWL HKM, 2010; Weston Engineering, Inc., of groundwater resources relative to the issues 2008) for the City of Douglas have focused solely discussed in Section 9.1. Recent groundwater on the Paleozoic aquifer that outcrops to the west projects from the WRDS Water Library are and south of the city. Currently, Douglas obtains presented to illustrate viable future prospects, some groundwater supplies from two Paleozoic aquifer of which have been identified for several years, for facilities, Box Elder Springs and the Sheep Mountain new and additional public-support groundwater Well. Although, the DOWL HKM (2010) study development in the Platte River Basin: briefly examined hydrogeologic units ranging from the Ogallala Formation through the Fremont Canyon 9.1.4.1 Cheyenne Sandstone, the Paleozoic aquifer was recognized as the only target formation in the vicinity of Douglas The City of Cheyenne conducted a multi-phase that can provide sufficient quantities of water for investigation (Lytle Water Solutions, LLC, 2011) a municipal supply. The DOWL HKM (2010) of the feasibility and benefits of aquifer storage study evaluated seven Paleozoic aquifer groundwater and recovery (ASR) technologies and recharge prospects as potential sites for a future high volume infiltration basin (RIB) technologies on four separate production municipal well. well fields located west of the city. The wells in these fields, completed primarily in the Ogallala aquifer, 9.1.4.3 Elk Mountain are experiencing water level declines and associated production losses. Pilot-level tests indicated that An additional water supply well was well levels in the Happy Jack and Bell well fields completed and tested in the Cretaceous Cloverly could be augmented by ASR and RIB recharge, Formation for the Town of Elk Mountain most likely during years of sufficient excess surface Groundwater Development Program (PMPC, flows in Middle Crow Creek. 2011). The new well, Elk Mountain Well No. 4, is Groundwater studies have been completed a deep (~2,900 ft bgs), that falls within a mutual on the City of Cheyenne’s Belvoir Ranch in both zone of interference with a nearly identical well, the Tertiary High Plains (Trihydro Corporation, Elk Mountain Well No. 3, located approximately 2009) and Paleozoic Casper aquifers (Lidstone 900 feet to the northeast. Both wells can produce and Associates, 2012). The data collected during 75 – 100 gpm over several hours of continuous the survey suggests that although the White River pumping; these production levels are sufficient for Formation in this vicinity produces good quality the needs of the Town of Elk Mountain. Water water, it will not yield sufficient quantities of quality is excellent with the exception of elevated groundwater for use as a regular municipal supply. levels of hydrogen sulfide, which can be easily At some locations, however, the White River treated with chlorination. Due to their depth and may produce enough water to serve as a minor the confined nature of the Cloverly Formation, alternative supply. Data collected from four test the well was determined not to meet the criteria wells completed in the Casper aquifer suggested for hydrologic connection in the PRRIP.

9-370 9.1.4.4 Encampment approximately 55 gpm of water suitable for a public water system. A Level II study examined the feasibility of augmenting Encampment’s water supply by 9.1.4.8 Laramie County connecting to the Sierra Madre Well completed in the Tertiary North Park Formation and owned by the The Laramie County Aquifer Study (JR neighboring Town of Riverside. Water production Engineering, 2009) examined the hydrogeologic rates are in excess of the current needs, quality is status of the High Plains aquifer system. A “Water within EPA standards and there is no evidence for Resource Atlas of Laramie County, Wyoming” was long-term decline in aquifer water levels. prepared as a result of this study. The USGS is currently conducting a 9.1.4.5 Glendo hydrogeologic evaluation of the High Plains and the Lance/Fox Hills aquifer systems south of Pine A test well was installed and completed in Bluffs, Wyoming (T. Bartos, oral commun.). USGS the Paleozoic Hartville aquifer one mile north of water scientists are seeking to characterize the Glendo. The well, Thomas Memorial Well No. hydrogeologic properties and hydrodynamics of 1 is capable of producing 200 gpm and water both systems as well as explore system development quality is suitable for a potential municipal supply potentials and determine the degree of hydrologic well (Wyoming Groundwater, LLC, 2009). It is communication between the two aquifers. recommended that the Town of Glendo purchase Preliminary results suggest that sandstone strata in the Thomas Memorial Well No. 1 from WWDC, the Fox Hills aquifer may be productive. A report is install a pressure transducer in the well to define expected in the next two years. water level fluctuations and design and construct the necessary water delivery infrastructure to integrate 9.1.4.9 Laramie the well into the town’s public water system. The City of Laramie conducted an 9.1.4.6 Glenrock investigation (Jehn Water Consultants, Inc., 2010) of the feasibility and benefits of aquifer storage In order to provide the Town of Glenrock with and recovery (ASR) technologies in the Spur well a redundant water supply, Glenrock Test Well No. field located north of the city. The wells in this 7 (Weston Engineering, Inc., 2007) was completed field, completed in the Paleozoic Casper aquifer, in the Paleozoic aquifer to a total depth of 1,233 have experienced water level declines averaging feet bgs. The well can provide up to 1500 gpm of about 1 foot/year since the beginning of the last good quality water. It is recommended that the decade. Pilot-level tests indicated that well levels in Town of Glenrock purchase the Glenrock Test Well the Spur well field could be augmented with ASR No. 7 from WWDC and design and construct the recharge by pumping excess water from other city water delivery infrastructure required to integrate well fields and the Laramie River through Laramie’s the well into the town’s public water system. existing distribution system. It was recommended that further testing and analysis be completed. 9.1.4.7 Lance Creek 9.1.4.10 Manville Level I (WWC Engineering, 2011) and Level II (Wyoming Groundwater LLC, in press) Water Level I (Olsson Associates, 2008) and Level Supply Studies were conducted for the Town II (Wyoming Groundwater LLC, in progress) of Lance Creek that examined the public water Water Supply Studies are being conducted in system and current groundwater wells to find a Manville. Several pilot holes have been drilled into new source of water for the town. Test Well State the Paleozoic aquifer to evaluate the feasibility of No. 2 completed at a total depth of 303 bgs in completing a new municipal supply well for the the Cretaceous Inyan Kara group can produce town.

9-371 9.1.4.11 Split Rock aquifer to integrate the well into the town’s public water system. Trihydro Corporation (2008b) evaluated the The Modified North Platte River Decree and feasibility of developing the Split Rock groundwater the PRRIP have largely restricted new water use prospect for replacement water to offset depletions opportunities to the development of groundwater as stipulated in the Modified North Platte River resources in areas that are not hydrologically Decree. The Tertiary Split Rock aquifer at the connected to surface flows in the North Platte River. location of this well does not meet the Decree As can be seen from the brief reviews of recent criteria for being hydrologically connected to WWDC funded water projects, the target aquifers flows in the North Platte River. Three monitoring for new groundwater development consist primarily wells and two test borings were completed to of Paleozoic, Tertiary and Cretaceous units. These evaluate the hydrodynamics of the Split Rock and aquifers are located within green areas, will require adjacent overlying aquifers, and to characterize site specific investigations to demonstrate lack of the hydrogeology of the Split Rock prospect. A hydrological connection or may necessitate the 10 day step rate discharge test, a 30 day constant purchase and abandonment of replacement water rate discharge test (1,400 gpm) and water quality rights. testing were conducted on one test production well WWDC is also encouraging Wyoming (SR-1), completed in the Split Rock aquifer at a municipalities to consider the formation of regional depth of 2,460 feet bgs. The testing indicated that water supply systems. Some of the potential the Split Rock aquifer is confined, can sustainably advantages of regionalization include reduced water produce quantities of water that are sufficient for costs to small consumers, ensured continuity of replacement supply to the North Platte River and service should one source water facility go down, is not in hydrologic communication with overlying redundant reliable municipal water supplies and aquifers or local surface water discharges. Analyses connecting water delivery infrastructure. An showed that water quality was adequate for use as example of such a system in the Platte River Basin augmentation water. can be found in the Natrona County Regional Water Supply Project Level II Feasibility Study, Final Report, 9.1.4.12 Riverside (Civil Engineering Professionals, Inc., 1994).

A new municipal water supply well (Riverside 9.1.5 Current WWDC groundwater develop- No. 7) was completed in deeper zones of the Tertiary ment prospects North Park aquifer (PMPC, 2011) and tested. By Keith E. Clarey, P.G., Project Manager, Data indicate that Riverside No. 7 could produce Wyoming Water Development Office (WWDO) a maximum of 400 gpm and water quality was excellent. It was undetermined if the new well meets As of November 2012, the Wyoming Water the criteria for hydrologic connection in the PRRIP. Development Commission (WWDC) has several projects in progress within the Platte River Basin of 9.1.4.13 Yoder Wyoming. These projects include:

A test well was installed and completed in the • A new Arikaree Formation water supply Cretaceous Fox Hills formation approximately well was constructed for the Town of 150 feet northwest of the town’s existing water Burns (Laramie County) and located to the department control building. The well, Yoder Test northwest of the Town. Well No. 1 is capable of producing 90 gpm and water • An irrigation well was constructed in quality is suitable for a potential municipal supply Quaternary terrace gravel deposits in well (Wyoming Groundwater, LLC, 2011). It is the northwestern part of the City of recommended that the Town of Yoder purchase the Torrington (Goshen County) to replace an Yoder Test Well No. 1 from WWDC, and design and older irrigation well that had a pump stuck construct the necessary water delivery infrastructure in the well and well casing problems.

9-372 Some WWDC projects that may occur in the The Board of Control may designate a control near future in the Platte River Basin include: area for the following reasons: • A construction project for the City of • The use of underground water is Douglas (Converse County) that will make approaching a use equal to the current improvements to the spring box used for recharge rate; their municipal water supply. • Ground water levels are declining or have • A possible test well to be constructed into declined excessively; the Fox Hills Sandstone for the community • Conflicts between users are occurring or of Hawk Springs (Goshen County). are foreseeable; • A replacement water supply well offsetting • The waste of water is occurring or may an existing water supply well for the Town occur; or of Guernsey (Platte County). • Other conditions exist or may arise that • A possible test well for the community of require regulation for the protection of the Jeffrey City (Fremont County). public interest. (W.S. §41-3-912).

In addition to the WWDC projects in the When an application to appropriate Platte River Basin, the U.S. Geological Survey groundwater for any use other than domestic or (USGS) commenced in November 2012 the stockwatering purposes, or upon filing a petition to drilling a series of approximately three (3) nested amend an existing water right in the Control Area, test wells located to the south of the Town of Pine notice of the application or petition is published in Bluffs (Laramie County). At least one of these the local paper once a week for three consecutive USGS wells is planned to fully penetrate the High weeks. Subsequent to the public notice, there is a Plains Aquifer (Ogallala Formation, Arikaree 10-day period during which protests can be filed Formation, and White River Group) and continue on the grounds that there is no unappropriated penetration through the Lance Formation, Fox water in the proposed source of supply or that the Hills Sandstone, and stop drilling in the top of granting of the application would be detrimental the Pierre Shale. The USGS will lithologically to the public interest. If objections are filed within and geophysically log these wells and collect core the time specified, the State Engineer shall set a samples through these formations. Information date for a hearing on the application or requested collected from these test wells will be available from changes and the objections to such and shall notify the USGS Wyoming Water Science Center located the applicant or petitioner and the objectors. If the in Cheyenne, Wyoming. applicant or petitioner questions the standing of the objector, the state engineer shall make written 9.1.6 Current SEO project in the Laramie findings of fact on the issue and may overrule county groundwater control area the objection on that basis. The hearing shall be By Lisa Lindemann, P.G., Administrator before the control area advisory board and the state Groundwater Division, Wyoming State engineer or state board of control, and shall be held Engineer’s Office (SEO) in an appropriate place within the county in which the proposed well or requested change is to be The High Plains aquifer system underlying located. (W.S. §41-3-932(a)). most of Laramie County has probably been over If no objections are filed against the appropriated since the 1970’s. As a result, the application or petition but the State Engineer is of Laramie County Control Area was established by the opinion that the application or petition may the Board of Control on September 2, 1981. The be detrimental to the public interest, or desires to Laramie County Control Area (Control Area) obtain the recommendations of the Control Area comprises much of the county, but generally Advisory Board, he shall set a date for a hearing includes the High Plains aquifer system and Upper on the application or petition and shall notify Cretaceous aquifers from about Interstate I-25 the applicant or petitioner of the time and place eastward to the Wyoming-Nebraska state line. thereof. The hearing shall be open to the public,

9-373 and shall be held before the Control Area Advisory Engineer is mandated by statute to perform Board and the State Engineer or the State Board of several activities before he can proceed with either Control in an appropriate place in the county in adopting corrective controls of a more permanent which the proposed well or requested change is to nature or with rulemaking to authorize mandatory be located. In making any determination required corrective controls. by this section, the State Engineer may rely upon The first activity is to determine if there is records and information on file in his office or in appropriable water available in the Control Area. the office of the board. In the event a hearing is Subsequently, the State Engineer can proceed with held he shall make known to the parties the records several other actions authorized by statute, including: and information upon which he relies. The state engineer, for good cause, may impose costs of • Determining the area and boundaries of the hearing proportionally upon the applicant or districts overlying the various aquifers petitioner and the objectors (W.S. §41-3-932(b)). yielding underground waters in this state The application or petition shall be granted and to assign to each district a distinctive and the permit issued only if the State Engineer name or number (W.S.§ 41-3-910). finds, after receiving the advice of the Control • Establishing subdistricts when parts of an Area Advisory Board, that there are unappropriated aquifer require or may require separate waters in the proposed source, that the proposed regulations from the rest (W.S.§ 41-3-910). means of diversion or construction is adequate, • Altering the boundaries of such districts and that the location of the proposed well or other subdistricts at any time (W.S.§ 41-3-910). work does not conflict with any well spacing or • Establishing different districts for different well distribution regulation, and that the proposed aquifers that overlie each other in whole or use would not be detrimental to the public interest. in part (W.S.§ 41-3-910). If the State Engineer finds that the application • Causing a hearing before the Control Area or petition is incomplete or otherwise defective, advisory board to determine whether the he shall return the application or petition for underground water in the area is adequate for correction. If the correction is not made within the needs of all appropriators of underground ninety (90) days, the application or petition shall water in such area. §41-3-915(a) be rejected. (W.S. §41-3-932(c)). • Adopting one or more of the following corrective controls: 9.1.6.1 State Engineer’s Temporary Order o Close the controlled area to any Responding to mounting concerns over further appropriation of underground increasing development and use of groundwater water; resources in southeast Wyoming, the State o Determine the permissible total Engineer issued a Temporary Order Adopting Well withdrawal of underground water in Spacing Requirements within the Laramie County the control area for each day, month or Control Area on April 11, 2012. The Order year, and, insofar as may be reasonably temporarily limits groundwater development in done, apportion such permissible total the Laramie County Control Area until October withdrawal among the appropriators 1, 2013. The order establishes well spacing holding valid rights to the underground restrictions (horizontally and vertically), as well water in the control area in accordance as use limitations for most new groundwater with the relative dates of priority of applications and changes to existing water rights in such rights; the Control Area. o Order such junior appropriators Subsequent to October 1, 2013, the State to cease or reduce withdrawals if Engineer may wish to adopt more permanent withdrawals by junior appropriators corrective controls in the Control Area. However, have a material and adverse effect between now and October 1, 2013, the State upon the supply available for and

9-374 needed by senior appropriators; rights information within the Control Area to model o Require and specify a system of rotation the groundwater resources. Results will be used to of use of underground water in the confirm or redescribe the boundaries of the Control controlled area if cessation or reduction Area and Districts within the Control Area. Using of withdrawals by junior appropriators those results, the study will provide recommended will not result in proportionate benefits methods for corrective controls within each of the to senior appropriators, districts or areas. Resulting information will be used o Institute well spacing requirements if by the State Engineer to evaluate and determine if permits are granted to develop new there is appropriable water in the Control Area. wells (W.S. §41-3-915(a)(i – iv). The proposed project comprises four primary • Making regulations concerning the objectives: spacing, distribution and location of wells in critical areas (i.e., control areas) (W.S. • Compile existing geologic and §41-3-909(v). hydrogeologic information and develop • Recommending the redesignation of the parameters to use in modeling the geographic or stratigraphic boundaries of a groundwater resources in the Laramie control area (W.S. §41-3-912 (d)). County Control Area (i.e., the High Plains • Whenever a control area has been aquifer system, including the Ogallala, designated or redesignated, refusing to White River and Arikaree Formations). grant permits for the drilling of any wells • Evaluate the water rights information within the control area without hearings or and patterns of use to use for modeling other proceedings (W.S. §41-3-912 (g)). the groundwater resources in the Laramie County Control Area. In addition to corrective controls, • Re-evaluate (using the information appropriators of underground water from a control determined under objectives 1 and 2) the area may voluntarily agree to any method or boundaries of both the Control Area and scheme of control of withdrawals, well spacing, the five districts within the Control Area apportionment, rotation or proration of the overlying the High Plains aquifer system. common supply of underground water. The This objective may involve re-describing the State Engineer shall encourage and promote such control area and / or district boundaries. agreements and supply the parties with information • Develop and evaluate potential corrective and advice (W.S. §41-3-915(c)). control measures designed to arrest, NOTE: The press release regarding the State or reverse, downward trending water Engineer’s Temporary Order is available on the SEO’s levels and recommendation relative to website under “News & Press Releases”, as well as the developing regulations concerning the State Engineer’s Temporary Order. spacing, distribution and location of wells in the Control Area. This objective should 9.1.6.2 Hydrogeologic Study of the Laramie attempt to correlate the potential control County Control Area measures to different districts identified under objective 3. The State Engineer’s Office recently contracted with AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, 9.1.7 Groundwater interference and Hinckley Consulting, and HDR, Inc. to conduct interconnection with surface water a hydrogeologic study of the Laramie County Control Area. The purpose of the study is to Other factors that must be considered for inform future management decisions regarding the new groundwater projects in-development are the groundwater resource in the area. potential for interference between wells or well fields The purpose of this hydrogeologic study is to completed in the same aquifer, excessive drawdowns in use existing geologic, hydrogeologic, and water over-utilized aquifers, and interconnections between

9-375 groundwater and surface water. These issues have by the availability of data and the institutional been encountered and in some cases, addressed in the resources used to develop the compiled information Platte River Basin. The recent WWDC groundwater in a form that is readily accessible and useful to development projects in Elk Mountain (PMPC, stakeholders in groundwater development. While 2011a) and Riverside (PMPC, 2011b), reviewed in some information (e.g., hydrogeology studies, SEO the previous section, reported cases of well interference groundwater permit, data from the DEQ and other between a newly installed test well and previously agencies) is generally available for all basins, other completed municipal wells. Well interference, alone, information (e.g. regional groundwater modeling) does not necessarily present significant problems does not exist. The quantity, accuracy, and to a public water system depending on several completeness of available groundwater information factors including but not limited to, the physical vary between and within the major drainage basins and hydrogeologic properties of the target aquifer, of Wyoming. construction of the production wells and the timing The purpose(s) of updating an Available and rate(s) of well production. In aquifers that possess Groundwater Determination can be to include high degrees of secondary (fracture) permeability, new information generated since the previous well interference may be unavoidable over the scale of determination, to include older information not several miles. In many cases, municipal water supply initially provided, and to utilize continuously personnel, who are aware of well interference effects improving technology to maximize the value of in their facilities, effectively manage them by adjusting the relevant information that is presented. While well pumping times and rates, or periodically switching information in some areas will grow slowly (e.g., to other sources of municipal water. mapping of geologic and hydrogeologic units), Excessive drawdown, or groundwater depletion, other information (e.g., WSEO and other agency in over-utilized aquifers has become a national data) requires regular updates to maintain its concern (Konikow, 2013). In the Platte River utility. Basin, particular attention is given to the issue of groundwater depletion in the High Plains aquifer 9.2.1 Data challenges system (JR Engineering, 2008; 2009b; Bartos, and Hallberg, 2011; Bartos and others, 2013). The Computing capabilities will continually SEO has contracted with AMEC Environment & improve but will always be limited by the Infrastructure, Hinckley Consulting, and HDR, Inc. availability and reliability of the input data. The to conduct a hydrogeologic study of the Laramie quality of a compilation study, such as this, County Control Area in response to regulatory issues relies on the quality of the available data. The and concerns about the status of the High Plains development of a comprehensive statewide aquifer in southeast Wyoming. The study will be database for water quality and aquifer physical used to inform groundwater management decisions characteristics would greatly assist Wyoming water by the SEO and other regulatory agencies. professionals to manage and protect the state’s Although the nature and extent of valuable water resources. interconnections between groundwater and surface Currently, hydrogeologic and water have been broadly investigated in the Platte hydrogeochemical data exist that could be River Basin with respect to the specific “hydrological integrated into a more comprehensive and evolving connection” criteria of the Modifed North Platte groundwater database for Wyoming. For example, Decree, this important issue remains to be evaluated DEQ collects copious amounts of groundwater on a case-by-case basis for many situations. data for site-specific investigations of contaminated sites, for issuing industrial permits (e.g. mining, 9.2 Recommendations for future Underground Injection Control, waste and updates wastewater management), and for monitoring for potential impacts, and other activities. The SEO The quality of the Wyoming State River Basin collects groundwater information from selected water plans and Water Plan updates is limited wells. The USGS, WOGCC, BLM, EPA, counties,

9-376 municipalities, other agencies, and private entities state. Funded for a five year period by the all collect hydrologic information for a variety of National Science Foundation, WyCEHG activities and purposes. However, coordination efforts are specifically targeted to advancing between the various entities collecting groundwater research in western hydrologic systems using information is generally lacking; and clearly there advanced geophysics and remote sensing is abundant relevant information that was not and technologies. The stated goals of WyCEHG is not accessible for this study and groundwater are: determinations in other basins. While the quality • To improve understanding of mountain of some of this information may not be consistent front hydrology by characterizing the with the standards described in Chapter 7, those processes that partition water into streams, data could be qualified. Although, some data soils, plants, rivers and aquifers in several (e.g., on contaminated samples) would not be locations throughout the state. representative of natural groundwater, and some • To improve understanding of how water quality analyses (e.g., for contaminated disturbances affect water fluxby studying sites and industrial site monitoring) will be for effects on hydrological systems from constituents not commonly used to characterize climate change, bark beetle infestations, natural groundwater quality; nevertheless, a and energy extraction. comprehensive database would be useful. • To improve integrated modeling of the Ongoing revision and maintenance of a fate and transport of water by creating comprehensive groundwater information database integrated computer models that will where data are continually being generated provide the scientific knowledge and tools by numerous entities would be a substantial for improved prediction of hydrological project, requiring a continuing commitment of processes. resources by Federal, State, and local agencies • To provide cutting edge resources and is certainly easier described than done. As and tools for educators and watershed interest in groundwater resources increases, so will managers in the state. justification for such a program. Further information can be obtained from the website for WyCEHG which can be accessed at: 9.2.2 Current and future research efforts http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/wycehg/.

This study is a compilation of previous • USGS Lance/Fox Hills Study - Building investigations conducted primarily by state and on three earlier U.S. Geological Survey federal agencies and consultants. Any significant (USGS) studies of the High Plains aquifer advancement in the development of the conceptual system in Laramie County (Hallberg model of the hydrogeology of the Platte River and Mason, 2007; Bartos and Hallberg, Basin or its Laramide sub-basins will require 2011; Bartos and others, in preparation), further original research, most likely conducted by the USGS study proposes additional academic investigators, USGS water scientists, or characterization of the High Plains aquifer by consultants employed by the WWDC, SEO or system in eastern Laramie County, as well Wyoming municipalities. Three particular research as characterization of underlying Upper efforts currently being conducted should prove to Cretaceous aquifers (Lance Formation be particularly valuable to a better understanding and Fox Hills Sandstone) which likely of groundwater resources in the Platte River Basin: have some potential to be utilized as a • Wyoming Center for Environmental supplemental or alternative water supply Hydrology and Geophysics (WyCEHG) to the High Plains aquifer system. - The development of WyCEHG at the The objectives of the study are to: University of Wyoming will likely result in original hydrologic research in the Platte • Improve understanding of the physical River Basin and other drainage basins in the and chemical characteristics of the Tertiary

9-377 High Plains aquifer system (primarily updated and the results refined as new data is White River Group) and underlying collected, with a relatively low-level commitment Upper Cretaceous aquifers (Lance of resources. The estimation of recharge can be Formation and Fox Hills Sandstone) in enhanced by updated numerical modeling that eastern Laramie County, Wyoming, and includes additional variables that affect infiltration initially evaluate the relative hydraulic and recharge (Section 5.1.3). There are several connection between the aquifer system and other areas where useful information could be aquifers; and developed for future Platte River Basin Water Plan • Improve understanding of recharge to updates: and apparent groundwater age of the • More detailed geologic mapping to better High Plains aquifer system and Upper define the function of hydrogeologic Cretaceous aquifers at the location selected units as aquifers or confining units based for objective 1 through the use of chemical on lithology, stratigraphic position, and tracers in the unsaturated and saturated structural relationships. zones. • Priority ranking of areas where numerical modeling would be most useful. A USGS Scientific Investigations Report (SIR) • Identification of additional areas where will be prepared describing the results of the study. interference between wells and well fields The report will consist of text, tables, illustrations, and should be considered in evaluating future photographs of core and/or thin sections, as well as groundwater development. one or two plates—the plates will graphically show/ • Updated identification of areas where describe the physical, chemical, and geophysical groundwater and surface water may be characteristics of the entire exploratory borehole at the interconnected. drilling site. The results of this study will be placed in • Inclusion on the surface hydrogeology the context of all previous investigations in order to map (Plate II) of shallow anticlinal axes improve understanding of these critically important that may affect groundwater flow. aquifers in southeast Wyoming and in the United • Mapping linear segments of surface- States. water drainages, primarily where tertiary Also, the USGS is currently (2013) geologic units are exposed or thinly constructing a new groundwater-flow model of the covered by quaternary deposits in the basin northern High Plains aquifer system, including interiors, to identify areas where vertical Wyoming (U.S. Geological Survey, 2013). recharge may be enhanced by fracture The new model builds upon and refines work permeability. conducted previously as part of the USGS RASA • Mapping irrigation drain systems and High Plains aquifer system study. The model is sampling the discharge points to provide being constructed using MODFLOW “as a tool spatially-averaged water quality of the to understand how the aquifer responds to the shallowest groundwater in local irrigated continuing and in some cases growing demands on areas. the groundwater resources in the northern High • Mapping areas covered by WWDC studies Plains aquifer” (U.S. Geological Survey, 2013). listed in Appendix B. Additionally, a water budget will be developed for • Developing a website where stakeholders the entire aquifer system. can submit information and comments The recharge calculations based on the surface relevant to future available groundwater outcrop area of hydrogeologic units and the SDVC determinations. map of recharge (Hamerlinck and Arneson, 1998), • Developing additional and specific contained in Section 6.2 of this study, went beyond information on institutional, legal, summarizing existing information by using the and cultural issues that could affect data to estimate the groundwater resource. The groundwater development in the Platte recharge evaluation in this study could easily be River Basin

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