5 Current Water Use This Chapter Describes Current Water Uses in the Basin

5 Current Water Use This chapter describes current water uses in the Basin. Water use includes both consumptive and non-consumptive uses. Consumptive uses are generally agricultural, stock water, municipal/domestic, industrial/mining water, and reservoir evaporation, while recreational and environmental uses are generally considered non-consumptive uses. All uses were quantified as part of the Basin Plan Update. 5.1 Agricultural Water Use Agricultural water use includes water used for crop irrigation and water use by livestock. The quantity of water used for irrigation is substantially greater than that used by livestock, and is also substantially greater than any other category of water use in the Basin. Thus, quantification of agricultural water use is an important part of the basin planning process and is summarized in this section. More detailed information regarding agricultural water use is presented in Technical Memorandum 3A. A map showing major irrigation districts within the Basin is presented in Figure 23.

Historical diversions, which are a composite of historical gaged diversions and estimates of historical diversions, were obtained and are used to calibrate the model and provide an analysis of historical conditions on the river. Full supply diversion requirements, which are based on irrigated lands, consumptive irrigation requirements and diversion efficiencies, are used to estimate diversion shortages and provide an estimate of available water supplies. The remainder of this section describes the calculation of irrigation consumptive and diversion calculations, as well as livestock water use. Both historical diversions and full supply diversions are used in the spreadsheet models developed to estimate surface water shortages and availability. These models are discussed in Chapter 7.

5.1.1 Agricultural Water Use Methodology Quantification of irrigation diversions and water use within the Basin was performed for two conditions: historical diversions and full supply diversions. Historical diversions are based on measured or estimated historical diversions, which are limited by the historical amount of water that was available for diversion, and the needs of the irrigator at that time, which vary based on crops, weather, rainfall, fallowing practices, planting dates, harvest dates, and other factors. Approximately 80 percent of the water diverted from rivers and streams within the Basin is measured. The remaining 20 percent is estimated based upon full supply diversion requirements and water availability as calculated by the hydrologic model.

Full supply diversion requirement is the quantity of diversion required to fully satisfy calculated consumptive irrigation requirements (CIR). Full supply diversion requirements are not limited by water supply availability. Full supply diversion requirements are based on the theoretical consumptive use and system efficiencies for each of the points of diversion. As previously stated, full supply diversion requirements are used in the model calibration process to estimate historical diversions when historical diversion data is unavailable. In addition, surface water availability is estimated by the models using full supply diversion requirements and CIR.

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Deaver Clarks Fork Frannie Sidon Clarks Fork Bighorn Cran Yellowstone River Deaver Lake dall L Cr Cowley am eek Shoshone R a Powell Byron iv r Lovell er Hunt & Godfrey iver Yellowstone ne R Park osho Lovell River Sh Heart Mountain Madison Bighorn River Willwood River Buffalo Bill Cody Canal ell Creek Teton Sh Yellowstone th Fork Shoshone River Reservoir Nor Cody Dry Creek Greybull Lake Burlington Big Horn Basin Lakeview Manderson Greybull Valley Pain trock r Big Horn Canal Cre k e Westside ek v r i o R ll N F bu e ey F ow h Gr Meeteetse ift R o t n r ee i o o ive n v d u R C M er o h il ek s re e re S ek p C o Washakie slee h Gooseberry Ten Ten S Worland Creek Sleep Bluff Hanover

Cottonwood N o Creek w C at Kirby re er Owl Creek ek O Kirby wl Cr Creek eek Kirby Ditch East Fork Hot Springs Thermopolis Dubois Wind River Wind W Fremont ind River R Fi Boysen iv vem er C ile Mu Reservoir ree dd k Cr y eek Midvale Pavillion Natrona Bull Shoshoni P Lake Ocean oison ke C La Lake reek ull B eek Cr Le Clair - Riverton Riverton Ethete Riverton Valley Fort Arapahoe Washakie Popo Agie B River ea Hudson C ve re r Lander ek

Little Popo Agie Middle Popo Agie River

Note- Westside Irrigation District boundaries are proposed boundaries from Draft EIS, December 2007. Legend Cities Irrigated Lands Rivers Irrigation Districts Wyoming Water Development Commission Lakes, Reservoirs County Boundary 020 40± 80 Study Basins Scale in Miles

Figure 23. Major Irrigation Districts in Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

5.1.2 Irrigated Acreage Irrigated lands mapping was updated from the previous Basin Plan. Irrigated lands mapping developed during the previous Basin Plan (TriHydro 2003) and updated as part of the Framework Water Plan (WWC 2007) was used as a basis for the current mapping. The mapping was reviewed by WSEO Division III staff and Superintendent (WSEO 2009c), as well as selected members of the Basin Advisory Group (Geving 2009; Stroh 2009). These comments were incorporated into an updated irrigated lands layer. Changes were made to 195 polygons, or approximately 2.6% of the total number of irrigated lands polygons. The changes resulted in an additional 12,300 acres being mapped as irrigated (includes lands with water awards), and an additional 2,200 acres mapped as sub-irrigated.

The irrigated lands mapping was attributed in the GIS as irrigated (IRR), lands with water awards (Water Awards), and sub-irrigated (SubIRR). Islands of non-irrigated lands within larger irrigated areas, or polygons within polygons in the GIS database, were also mapped, but are not included in the totals. A summary of the irrigated lands mapping by attribute and county is shown in Table 14.

Table 14. Summary by Attribute of Irrigated Lands Mapping

Irrigated Sub - Lands with Lands Irrigated Water Awards Total County (acres) (acres) (acres) (acres) Big Horn 165,339 11,100 0 176,439 Fremont 156,637 3,892 122,261 282,790 Hot Springs 30,110 32 3,131 33,273 Natrona 817 0 0 817 Park 162,098 6,594 0 168,692 Washakie 51,269 0 0 51,269 Total 566,270 21,618 125,391 713,279 Definitions: Irrigated Land – Lands irrigated with a valid water right. Sub-Irrigated Lands – Lands irrigated from a sub-surface source due to water received from neighboring irrigated lands. Lands With Water Awards – Water futures awarded with a 1968 priority.

The calculation methodologies for full supply diversion requirements used in the model require estimation of irrigated land for each model diversion node (i.e. diversion or group of diversions simulated in the model). The assignment of irrigated land polygons to specific diversion nodes in the model was performed as part of the previous Basin Plan modeling. These same connections were used in the Basin Plan Update. For the new polygons added during the irrigated lands modifications, nodes were assigned based on connected irrigated lands polygons or using other information such as topographic maps or satellite imagery. Table 15 presents a summary of the mapped irrigated acreage by county within the Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan study area as used in the model.

Irrigated lands mapped for the Popo Agie Basin in the Popo Agie Watershed Plan (ACE, 2003) were 25,619 acres, while those mapped as part of the Basin Plan Update were 26,235 acres, a difference of 616 acres. Because of the extensive work performed as part of the Popo Agie Watershed Plan (ACE, 2003), CIR calculations and diversion requirements were not updated as part of the Basin Plan update spreadsheet modeling process for the Popo Agie Basin. Therefore, the irrigated lands presented in Table 15 and subsequent CIR and diversion requirement tables were based on the watershed plan values, which accounts for the differences in irrigated acreage from Table 14.

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

Table 15. Modeled Irrigated Acreage

Irrigated Lands for Full Supply Tribal Futures Scenario Projects Total County (acres) (2) (acres) (3) (acres) Big Horn 165,339 0 165,339 Fremont (1) 221,570 53,760 275,330 Hot Springs 33,241 0 33,241 Natrona 817 0 817 Park 162,098 0 162,098 Washakie 51,269 0 51,269 Total 634,333 53,760 688,093 Note: (1) For Popo Agie Basin, table includes irrigated lands from Popo Agie Watershed Study (ACE 2003). (2) Includes currently “irrigated lands” and “Lands with Water Awards” that are currently irrigated. (3) See discussion in later chapters regarding Tribal Futures Projects. 5.1.3 Irrigated Crops Current cropping patterns were based on information in the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) website (USDA 2009). Data within this database has recently been expanded to include individual years between 1927 and 2007. Due to differences in reporting and missing data, years prior to 1965 cannot be accurately summarized for use in this report. A summary of basin- wide cropping acreages between 1965 and 2007 is presented in Figure 24. In general, acreage for most crops has remained relatively steady over the previous 40 years, with occasionally increasing or decreasing trends for various reasons. The exception is spring grains. Spring grains have dropped from a high of approximately 33 percent of reported acreage in 1983 to its current low of 14 percent. In general, the percentage in each crop has remained fairly steady over the last 7 years.

180,000 Alfalfa Beans Note: No data point indicates Corn Grass Hay missing data. 160,000 Spring Grains Sugar Beets

140,000

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000 Total ReportedTotal Harvested (acres) 40,000

20,000

0 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year

Figure 24. Basin-Wide Reported Acreage, 1965-2007

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It should be noted that the cropping data collected by the NASS is based on data that is reported by irrigators that participate in USDA crop assistance programs. Therefore, the data is not necessarily representative of the entire Basin. When the reported acreages are compared to the actual irrigated acreage, it is found that the reported acreage typically comprises about 50 to 70 percent of the currently irrigated acreage within the Basin. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff (Craig 2009) indicated that typically, the non-reported acreage is comprised mostly of irrigated hay meadows at higher elevations within the Basin.

Figure 24 shows that cropping patterns can vary from year-to-year and can change trend directions based upon economic conditions, water availability and other factors. Additionally, the figure shows that cropping patterns have steadied over the last several years. Because of this, for purpose of water availability modeling, average cropping patterns between 2004 and 2006 were used to develop cropping patterns within the model. Additionally, the information provided by FSA staff (Craig 2009) was used to assume that the difference between currently irrigated acreage and reported acreage is made up of grass hay located higher in the Basin. A summary of the cropping pattern used in the model simulation is presented in Table 16. It should be noted that 2007 was not used in the cropping pattern calculations due to incomplete data for several crops and counties within the dataset. This pattern is slightly different from that used in the previous Basin Plan, which used an average of 1992 and 1997 USDA data, and did assume that the cropping pattern for reported acreage was representative of the non-reported acreage rather than distributing non- reported acreage as grass hay.

Table 16. Simulated Acreage and Cropping Patterns within Wind-Bighorn Basin

Spring Sugar County Alfalfa Beans Corn Grass Hay Grains Beets Total Simulated Acreage Big Horn 61,252 23,626 21,876 16,059 28,176 14,350 165,339 Fremont (1) 93,947 3,316 10,086 100,457 10,914 4,283 223,003 Hot Springs 16,962 1,244 339 13,451 1,244 0 33,241 Park 34,491 22,054 7,943 66,045 18,709 12,856 162,098 Washakie 13,197 3,249 5,888 6,907 13,299 8,730 51,269 Total (2) 219,850 53,487 46,132 202,918 72,342 40,220 634,949 Simulated Cropping Pattern Big Horn 37% 14% 13% 10% 17% 9% 100% Fremont 42% 1% 5% 45% 5% 2% 100% Hot Springs 51% 4% 1% 40% 4% 0% 100% Park 21% 14% 5% 41% 12% 8% 100% Washakie 26% 6% 11% 13% 26% 17% 100% Average 35% 8% 7% 32% 11% 6% 100% Source: USDA, 2009. Average of 2004-2006 data, with unreported acreage assumed as grass hay. Notes: (1) Natrona County acreages added to Fremont County for purposes of analysis. (2) For Popo Agie Basin, table includes data from irrigated lands mapping. 5.1.4 Historical Diversions Diversions greater than 10 cfs are explicitly included in the model as separate diversions, while those less than 10 cfs are “lumped” with other small diversions less than 10 cfs that divert in the same reach of stream. Therefore, historical diversion records were obtained for all diversions greater than 10 cfs. Two types of historical diversion data are available from WSEO Division III: continuous daily flow data for larger gaged diversions and instantaneous “spot check” flow data for smaller diversions. Updated diversion records (2002-2008) were collected from the Division III

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Access database (spot data except for 2002; WSEO 2009a), and the Hydrographer’s Reports (monthly summaries of continuous flow data for 2002-2008; WSEO 2009b). The reduction of daily data simply used the daily average diversion flow rate and converted it to a volumetric amount. The reduction of spot data was performed by simply averaging instantaneous flow data through the month. For all full months during the growing season (typically May through September), simple averages of daily recorded flows were performed. For the first month of the growing season and the last month of the growing season when the full month is not within the growing season, averages were computed only for those days within the growing season. A summary of measured historical diversion data is presented in Table 17.

As previously discussed, for those diversions that are less than 10 cfs in which historical diversion data was not collected, and those diversions greater than 10 cfs with missing data, data was estimated using the full supply diversion requirements adjusted by available flow as calculated by the spreadsheet models.

Table 17. Summary of Measured Historical Diversion Data

Annual Historical Diversions (ac -ft) Study Period Dry -Year Normal -Year Wet -Year Basin Sub-Basin Average Average Average Average Yellowstone Yellowstone ------Clarks Fork Clarks Fork 6,516 5,108 6,786 4,965 Wind Upper Wind 607,738 569,281 ------Little Wind 103,080 100,650 ------Popo Agie 71,122 --- 73,438 --- Lower Wind ------Bighorn Upper Bighorn/Owl Creek 487,255 445,414 498,066 478,973 Nowood 38,284 34,942 38,673 40,264 Greybull/Dry 220,611 --- 218,288 --- Shoshone 1,041,193 1,007,992 1,068,486 984,147 Lower Bighorn 60,053 54,339 62,607 65,623 Total 2,633,535 ------Note: "---" indicates that data is unavailable.

5.1.5 Full Supply Diversion Requirements Based on the county-wide cropping patterns that were applied to irrigated lands polygons using the methods in the previous section and spatial crop irrigation requirements applied to each polygon, the CIR for each of the irrigated lands polygons was calculated. A summary of the CIR for the lands within the Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan is shown in Table 19. These CIR values represent the theoretical maximum crop irrigation requirement calculated using the methodology above, and is considered the full supply irrigation requirement for purposes of the model.

For the Popo Agie Basin, CIR values from the Popo Agie Watershed Plan were used for the Basin Plan Update process. However, the WindBighorn_Hydro database (the database developed as part of the Basin Plan Update to house and process hydrologic data) maintains the ability to calculate CIR for the Popo Agie Basin using the updated irrigated lands layer and the data and procedures used for the remaining basins. These procedures calculate a CIR of 48,400 acre-feet for the Popo Agie Basin, with a unit CIR (using current estimates of irrigated land) of 1.84 acre-feet per acre. This unit CIR is approximately 6 percent less than the CIR in the watershed plan, and is due to differences in both

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assumed cropping patterns and use of spatially variable CIR data. For basin planning purposes, the slightly higher CIR calculated by the watershed plan is appropriate.

The crop irrigation requirement represents the theoretical amount of water that is needed by the crop. Water is transported from the river to the crop through a series of conveyance facilities and on- farm facilities. These facilities lose a portion of the water that is transmitted through them before the water reaches the crops due to headgate leakage, evaporative losses, seepage, etc. These inefficiencies must be accounted for in determining the monthly diversion requirement for any crop.

The CIR is divided by efficiency to determine full supply diversion requirements. Efficiencies were estimated from previous basin studies, watershed studies and irrigation plans within the Basin. Average annual efficiencies used in the spreadsheet model range from 24 percent on smaller irrigation systems to 43 percent on larger systems (see Table 18). A summary of CIR and diversion requirements for the Basin is presented in Table 19.

Table 18. Monthly and Annual Overall Efficiencies

Overall Efficiency by Month (1) Annual Area March April May June July August Sept Oct Average Dubois (2 ) (2 ) 18% 26% 34% 34% 34% 34% 30% Futures, Large (2 ) 34% 34% 47% 73% 69% 43% 43% 49% Futures, Small (2 ) 37% 37% 53% 82% 77% 49% 49% 55% Lander (2 ) 17% 17% 24% 37% 35% 22% 22% 25% Other, Large (2 ) 29% 29% 41% 64% 60% 38% 38% 43% Other, Small (2 ) 20% 20% 28% 44% 42% 26% 26% 29% Owl Creek 19% 19% 21% 28% 36% 41% 21% 17% 25% Popo Agie 34% 34% 34% 34% 34% 34% 34% 34% 34% Reservation (2 ) 18% 18% 25% 33% 34% 21% 21% 24% Riverton (2 ) 29% 29% 41% 64% 60% 38% 38% 43% Notes: (1) See Technical Memorandum 3A for source of data and basis of estimates. (2) No consumptive use within month.

Table 19. Summary of CIR and Diversion Requirements

Model Irrigated Annual CIR Diversion Requirement Sub -Basin Acres (ac -ft) (ac -ft/ac) (ac -ft) (ac -ft/ac) Madison/Gallatin 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 Yellowstone 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 Clarks Fork 17,841 28,185 1.58 76,449 4.29 Upper Wind 138,452 273,297 1.97 674,788 4.87 Little Wind 45,774 86,093 1.88 319,352 6.98 Popo Agie (1) 25,619 50,330 1.96 143,343 5.60 Lower Wind 12,800 26,701 2.09 59,087 4.62 Upper Bighorn 65,325 123,851 1.90 394,644 6.04 Owl Creek 22,518 40,957 1.82 140,220 6.23 Nowood 22,506 41,027 1.82 124,656 5.54 Lower Bighorn 26,222 50,950 1.94 146,652 5.59 Greybull 98,630 173,866 1.76 423,743 4.30 Shoshone 158,647 283,350 1.79 646,421 4.07 Total 634,333 1,178,608 1.86 3,149,356 4.96 Notes: (1) Values shown for Popo Agie from Popo Agie Watershed Plan normal water use scenario.

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5.1.6 Supply Limited Irrigation Consumptive Use Supply limited irrigation consumptive use is the amount of irrigation consumptively used by the crop, limited by the amount of water supply available. This represents actual water use by the crop. Supply limited irrigation consumptive use was calculated simulating full supply diversions in the spreadsheet model (see Chapter 7 for a description of the spreadsheet model), and then determining consumptive use based on the diversion requirement met. A summary of supply limited irrigation consumptive use is presented in Table 20. It should be noted that changes in cropping patterns would result in changes to consumptive use within the Basin, as each crop has unique water requirements throughout the year.

Table 20. Summary of Supply Limited Irrigation Consumptive Use

Irrigation Consumptive Use Percent of Full Supply CIR (ac-ft) (ac-ft) Sub-Basin Dry Avg Wet Dry Avg Wet Yellowstone 0 0 0 ------Madison/Gallatin 0 0 0 ------Clarks Fork 21,360 24,067 25,487 76% 85% 90% Upper Wind 240,776 249,247 249,837 88% 91% 91% Little Wind 55,119 65,099 68,206 64% 76% 79% Popo Agie 46,909 47,156 48,679 85% 94% 96% Lower Wind 19,747 21,265 22,903 74% 80% 86% Upper Bighorn 116,231 119,050 120,821 94% 96% 98% Owl Creek 21,601 28,953 32,672 53% 71% 80% Nowood 36,430 38,065 38,821 89% 93% 95% Lower Bighorn 42,082 45,475 47,685 83% 89% 94% Greybull 144,921 165,518 171,660 83% 95% 99% Shoshone 272,321 276,075 279,870 96% 97% 99% Total 1,017,497 1,079,971 1,106,644 86% 92% 94% 5.1.7 Livestock Consumptive Use Stock water use requirements for livestock in the Basin were estimated on a per animal unit basis using daily water use requirements provided by the NRCS office in Riverton, WY. The number of animals by county (or animal units) was estimated using inventory data provided in the USDA 2007 Census of Agriculture Report (USDA 2007), and total approximately 560,000 animal units within the Basin. Total annual stock water use was calculated using monthly water use requirements for each animal multiplied by the total number of animals units in each county. A summary of the estimated total annual stock water use for each county is presented in Table 21.

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Table 21. Estimated Annual Stock Water Use by County

Annual Stock Water Use (ac -ft) Cattle & Calves Mules (Non- Dairy Burros County Dairy) Cows Horses Sheep Goats Pigs Llamas Donkeys Total Big Horn 773 0.3 59 26 3.8 3.9 0.2 2.1 868 Fremont 1,466 0.4 156 51 3.0 1.0 0.3 3.7 1,681 (1) (1) Hot Springs 403 (1) 20 13 0.0 1.6 438 Johnson 690 (1) 37 71 1.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 800 Natrona 830 0.2 36 89 1.0 0.5 0.2 1.1 958 Park 839 19 73 17 0.4 0.5 0.3 3.4 953 (1) Washakie 592 (1) 14 65 0.4 0.1 0.5 672 Basin Total 5,593 20 395 332 10 6 1 13 6,370 Notes: (1) Information unavailable. 5.2 Municipal and Domestic Water Use Municipal and domestic water use includes the amount of water diverted from surface water or pumped from groundwater for municipal or domestic use. In general, throughout this section, unless otherwise specified, municipal or domestic use is the amount of water that is diverted or pumped, not consumptive use. Consumptive use and return flows for larger systems were quantified as part of this work, and are presented in Technical Memorandum 3B.

As of early 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS; USEPA 2009b) lists 60 active community public water systems located in the Basin. A community public water system is defined by the USEPA as “a public water system that supplies water to the same population year-round” (USEPA 2008). During the spring and summer of 2009, WWDC conducted a survey of all known municipal and non-municipal community public water systems (see description below) in the State of Wyoming which is summarized in the 2009 WWDC Water System Survey Report. Detailed information is available from the Survey Report for 42 of the 60 USEPA SWDIS active community public water systems in the Basin. Of the 42 community water systems with detailed information, 27 of the systems obtain at least part of their water supply from groundwater sources and 15 of the systems use surface water supply as their primary water source (WWDC 2009). A summary of municipal water use is presented in Table 22. To be consistent with state-level data, the remaining portion of this section reports population estimates based on those included in the WWDC water system survey reports.

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Table 22. Summary of Municipal Water Use, Population Served and Storage Capacity

Total Storage Capacity Population Number of Average Use (1) (1), (2), (5) Water System Name Served (1) Wells (1) (gpd) (gallons) Surface Water (3) 60,769 N/A 6,887,510 23,222,000 Groundwater (4) 22,710 85 5,098,024 19,499,200 Total 83,479 85 11,985,534 42,721,200 Notes: (1) Data source: Generally WWDC (2009). See Tech Memo 3B for details. (2) Total storage is the sum of raw water storage and treated water storage. (3) The City of Riverton uses both surface water (48%) and groundwater (52%). Population served and storage is reported in the groundwater table only. (4) The Town of Thermopolis uses both surface water (95%) and groundwater (5%). Population served and total storage are included in surface water table since it is primary water supply. (5) Total Storage does not include raw water source from Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

Community water systems that obtain at least a portion of their water supply from groundwater resources serve a total population of approximately 22,710 (WWDC 2009). Total reported average daily use from groundwater sources was about 5.1 million gallons per day (about 5,700 acre-feet per year; WWDC 2009; WWDC 2007). Total reported storage capacity, including raw water and treated water storage, amounted to about 19 million gallons (about 58 acre-feet). Locations of all wells permitted for municipal use are shown in Figure 25....

The 2009 Water System Survey Report (WWDC 2009) shows that 22 community public water systems obtained their water supply primarily from surface water resources. Total population served by surface water sources was approximately 60,000. Total reported average daily use from surface water sources was about 6.9 million gallons per day (about 7,728 acre-feet per year). Total reported storage capacity including treated water storage and raw water (excluding Buffalo Bill Reservoir storage of approximately 9,725 acre-feet), amounted to about 23 million gallons (about 71 acre- feet).

There are some municipal systems within the Basin that obtain water from both surface and groundwater sources, including Riverton and Thermopolis. In addition, there are municipal systems that divert either all or a portion of their surface water from storage, including the Shoshone Regional Water Supply System and Thermopolis. As described below, the Shoshone Regional Water Supply System diverts all of its water supply from Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Thermopolis receives supplemental water from Boysen Reservoir.

Two regional municipal water supply systems are located within the Basin: The Big Horn Regional Water Supply System and the Shoshone Regional Water Supply System (Figure 26). The Big Horn Regional Water Supply System was constructed to provide primary, secondary or emergency potable water supplies to its member entities, which include the City of Worland, Washakie Rural Improvement & Service District, Town of Basin/South Big Horn, Town of Greybull, Burlington/Otto, Basin Gardens, Kirby/Lucerne and users north of Basin. The system is supplied water from the City of Worland Well #3 and the Husky-Worland Well #1, both of which are deep wells from bedrock aquifers. The Shoshone Regional Water Supply System was constructed to provide treated and raw water supplies to the communities of Cody, Powell, Byron, Lovell, Deaver and Frannie, as well as the Northwest Rural Water District’s nine service areas. The capacity of the Municipal Pipeline Water Treatment Plant is 16.5 million gallons per day and obtains water from Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

!( !( ut212 UV295 (! !( Deaver Cowley UV37 Bighorn !( Lake UV294 !( Byron UV296 Powell Lovell tALT (! u14 (! 295 120 UV UV ut310 ALT ut14 UV789 32 UV !( Park Buffalo Bill !(!( !(!( Reservoir !( (!ut14 ut14 (! !( ut14 Cody ut16 ut20 Burlington Yellowstone ut16 ut20 !( Greybull Lake ((!!!( Big Horn UV30 Basin UV120 ((!!!(!( Manderson !( UV31 Teton (! (!(!(!(! Meeteetse UV433 Ten Sleep

16 !( ut (! UV120 UV431 Worland

ut20 UV434 UV789 Washakie !(!( Hot Springs !( UV172 !( !( !((! Thermopolis Dubois !(!( (!(!(!(!( ut26 ut287 Boysen Reservoir

Bull !(!( !!(((!(! Natrona Lake (( t20 Shoshoni uut26

ut26 Fort 132 UV !(!( Washakie !((! !(!(! !(!!((( Riverton Ethete Arapahoe UV136 ut287 !(!(!(UV789 (! UV135 Fremont !( !!((!(!(!( !( !(!(!( Lander

Legend Municipal Wells Yield (gpm) Cities !( 0 - 130 Rivers (! 131 - 325

Wyoming Water Development Commission Highways !( 326 - 850 Wind River Reservation 851 - 2,000 ± (! 010 20 40 60 80 Basin Boundary County Boundary !( 2,001 - 6,000 Miles

Figure 25. Municipal Groundwater Wells in Wind-Bighorn Basin (WSEO 2010; WRIR 2009)

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

Frannie

37 Bighorn Cowley UV Lake Deaver Shoshone River

Lovell

ALT Powell Byron ut14 Garland

Ralston Shoshone River UV295 UV120 ut310 C o tt UV789 o C n r w e o e o k d B ig 32 ho UV Ri rn ver Cody tuALT 14 Park Dry Creek Shell Creek ut14 + ut14 Buffalo Bill C tu16 t20 Reservoir u Greybull l Burlington ul yb re r G ve Big Horn UV30 Ri

UV120 Basin ut16 tu20 City of Worland l ul 789 Manderson yb UV Well #3 re er G iv R Nowood (! River UV31 (! Hyattville

Meeteetse Husky-Worland Washakie Well #1 West Ten River UV120 WashakieF ifteen Mil Cr e Sunshine eek UV433 Reservoir Hot Springs ut16

431 Airport Gooseberry Creek UV Road Mc Nutt South Worland Flat South Flat Legend

C+ Shoshone Municipal Water Shoshone Pipline Wyoming Water Development Commission BigHorn Pipeline Cities and Towns ± Basin Boundary 04 8 16 24 32

County Boundary Miles

Figure 26. Regional Water Systems

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

As of early 2009, the USEPA SDWIS (USEPA 2009) listed 98 non-community public water systems within the Basin. This includes both transient and non-transient non-community water systems. Transient non-community water systems are public water systems that provide water in a place such as gas stations or campgrounds where people do not remain for long periods of time and are open at least 60 days/year. Non-transient non-community water systems are public water systems that regularly supply water to at least 25 of the same people at least six months per year, but not year- round, such as schools, factories, office buildings, and hospitals which have their own water systems (USEPA 2008). The average daily population served by non-community systems is 18,400 people with a total water use of 1.38 million gallons per day.

Rural domestic water use is defined as household water use within the Basin that is not supplied by the community/municipal water systems. Within the Basin there are 13,638 permitted groundwater wells that are used for domestic purposes, with 9,693 utilized for domestic use only, and 3,945 wells utilized for either domestic-stock water use or mixed domestic water use classified as domestic-other (WSEO 2009). Assuming most of the rural domestic water use in the Basin is supplied by domestic water wells, domestic water use by county was estimated by subtracting the total population served by community water systems in the USEPA database from the estimated total population for each community from the US Census Bureau. Assuming the rural domestic per capita water use ranging from 150 to 300 gpcpd and the population serviced by domestic wells of 25,120 people, the estimated domestic groundwater use is between 3.8 and 7.5 mgd.

A summary of total municipal, non-community and domestic water use is presented in Table 23.

Table 23. Summary of Municipal, Non-Community, and Domestic Water Use in the Wind- Bighorn Basin

Water Use Water Use Type of Water System (mgd) (ac-ft/year) Municipal Surface Water 6.9 7,728 Municipal Groundwater 5.1 5,700 Municipal Total 12.0 13,428 Non-Community Ground and Surface Water 1.4 1,568 Domestic Groundwater 3.8 – 7.5 4,256 – 8,400 Total 17.2 -20.9 19,252 -23,396

5.3 Industrial and Mining Water Use Industrial water uses in the Basin are water demands associated with industrial facilities, mining operations, coal bed natural gas (CBNG) and oil and gas production fields. A majority of the industrial water use in the Basin is from mining and oil and gas operations and is difficult to quantify. Water used for mining and oil and gas production tends to be an impediment to or a by-product of the extraction process, with little attention paid to quantities withdrawn. Information on estimated water use was obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Use Information Program (NWUIP) to estimate industrial water use. Additional information regarding the quantification of industrial water use is contained in Technical Memorandum 3C.

Industrial groundwater uses in the Basin are water withdrawals from permitted wells associated with self-supplied industrial facilities and operations. Currently, there are 347 groundwater wells

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

permitted to supply industrial operations in the Basin. Of these wells, 216 have a yield of at least 50 gpm. There are an additional 28 groundwater wells in the Basin permitted for CBNG production. Well yields for the 347 industrial wells are up to 5,000 gpm and 60 gpm for CBNG wells (WSEO 2010). Permitted production rates or well yields correspond to the maximum sustainable rate at which each well can be pumped and are not indicative of actual withdrawal rates for industrial water use in the Basin. A summary of industrial surface water and groundwater withdrawals is shown in Table 24. Locations of industrial and CBNG wells are shown in Figure 27 and Figure 28.

Table 24. Summary of Average Annual Industrial Surface Water and Groundwater Withdrawals

Industrial (ac -ft) Mining (ac -ft) Total (ac -ft) Source Fresh Saline Total Fresh Saline Total Fresh Saline Total Surface Water 448 0 448 202 0 202 650 0 650 Groundwater 224 0 224 582 90,451 91,034 806 90,451 91,258 Total 672 0 672 784 90,451 91,236 1,456 90,451 91,908

Estimated total industrial and mining use for the Basin is 91,908 acre-feet per year, with 650 acre- feet per year supplied from surface water sources and 91,258 acre-feet supplied from groundwater sources (USGS 2005). Based on calculated averages from the NWUIP reports, the estimated total consumptive groundwater use for industrial purposes for the Basin is 19,030 acre-feet per year, or 20% of total fresh and saline withdrawals.

The remaining portion of non-consumptively used water is either injected for oil and gas extraction or discharged to surface water (USGS 2005; WDEQ 2009). Produced water discharge is a byproduct of oil and gas production and is comprised of a portion of the water from the formation reservoir, additional water injected into the formation for gas extraction, plus any chemicals added during the production and treatment processes. Based on WYPDES permits for the Basin, total produced water discharge from industrial operations is 71,183 acre-feet per year (Figure 29). Assuming 100 percent of the non-consumptive use is discharged as produced water, the estimated total consumptive use for these operations would be 20,074 acre-feet per year. Based on historical averages and permitted produced water discharges, the range of total industrial consumptive groundwater use for the Basin is 19,030 to 20,074 acre-feet per year, or 20 to 22 percent of total groundwater withdrawal.

Industrial surface water uses in the Basin are water demands and withdrawals from surface water rights associated with industrial facilities and operations. Currently, there are 68 surface water rights in the Basin permitted to supply industrial water use that are not directly associated with municipalities. Twenty-five are rights associated with reservoir storage and 43 are rights associated with permitted stream flows (WSEO 2009). Total capacity for the 25 permitted reservoir surface water rights is 6,128 acre-feet per year. Total capacity for the 43 permitted stream flow surface water rights is 1,134 cfs (WSEO 2009). Estimated industrial surface water use for the Basin is 649 acre-feet per year. Total surface water use for industrial facilities accounted for an estimated 448 acre-feet per year and 201 acre-feet per year for mining operations. Similar to groundwater well yield, the portion of surface water use for industrial and mining activities is small in comparison to the industrial and mining permitted water right capacities. The permitted capacities for surface water rights represent the maximum potential water supply of a water right and are not indicative of total water withdrawn. The estimated total consumptive industrial surface water use for the Basin is

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

133 acre-feet per year, or 20% of the total fresh water withdrawals. Estimated consumptive surface water use is 67 acre-feet per year for industrial facilities and 66 acre-feet per year for mining activities in the Basin. Industrial consumptive use estimates for the Basin were based solely on water rights from fresh water stream flows.

A summary of total industrial water use and consumptive use from groundwater and surface water supplies in the Basin is provided in Table 25.

Table 25. Total Estimated Industrial Water Use and Consumptive Use from Groundwater and Surface Water Supplies in the Basin

Withdrawals Consumption (1) (ac -ft/yr) (ac -ft/yr) Source Industrial Mining Total Industrial Mining Total Groundwater 224 91033 91257 39 18991 19030 Surface Water 448 201 649 67 66 133 Total 672 91,234 91,906 106 19,057 19,163 Notes: (1) Consumption numbers based on historical averages from the 1990 and 1995 NWUIP report (USGS 1990; USGS 1995)

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

!(!(!( !!! !(!!((!( (!(!(((Frannie 295 ut212 !( !(!( !( UV !(!( !(!( !( Cowley UV37 Bighorn Deaver Lake 294 !( !(!( UV !( 296 Powell (! (! !( Lovell ALT UV !( ut14 !(!(Byron !( !( !( 295 120 UV UV ut310 ALT tu14 UV789 UV32 (! !(!( Park Buffalo Bill !( !(!( Reservoir !(!( !(!( !( tu14 ut14 !( tu14 Cody ut16 ut20 Burlington Yellowstone ut16 ut20 Greybull Lake !(!( !( Big Horn !( UV30 !(!(!( !( !(!( !( Basin (! UV120 Manderson UV31 Teton !(!( !(!( !( !(Meeteetse !( UV433 !( !( !( Ten !(!(!( !(!( !(!(!(!(!(!( !( !( (! Sleep (!(!!(!( !( !((!!(!( !( !( !( ut16 !( !( 120 !( !( (! !( UV UV431 (! !( !(!((!((!!!(!(!( Worland !(!( !( !( ut20 434 789 UV !( !( UV Washakie !( !( Hot Springs !(!(!!(( !( !( UV172 !(!( !(!(!(!( !( !( !( !( !( (! Thermopolis Dubois !( ut26 !( tu287 !( Boysen Reservoir !( !( !( !( (!!( !( !( Pavillion !( Bull !( Natrona Lake !( !( Ocean ut20 !( Lake Shoshoni ut26 !( !( !( tu26 UV132 !( Fort Riverton!(!( Washakie !(!((! !( Arapahoe !( !(!(!( Ethete !( !( !( UV136 !( UV789 !( !( Hudson 287 ut 135 !(!( UV !(!(!(!(!( Fremont !( !( !(!( (! !((!!( (!!(!(!(!(!( !( !(!(!(!( Lander (!!(!( !( !( !( !(

!( !( !(

Legend Industrial Wells Yield (gpm) Cities !( 0 - 166 Rivers (! 167 - 450 Wyoming Water Development Commission Highways !( 451 - 1,028 Wind River Reservation 1,029 - 2,771 ± (! 010 20 40 60 80 Basin Boundary County Boundary !( 2,772 - 5,000 Miles

Figure 27. Industrial Wells in the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

!( Frannie ut212 UV295 (!(! Deaver !( Cowley UV37 Bighorn UV294 (! Lake 296 Powell Lovell tALT UV Byron u14

295 120 UV UV ut310 tALT u14 UV789 UV32 Park Buffalo Bill Reservoir ut14 ut14 t14 Cody ut16 ut20 Burlington Yellowstone u ut16 ut20 (! Greybull Big Horn Lake UV30 Basin UV120 Teton Manderson UV31 Meeteetse (! UV433 Ten Sleep 16 ut UV120 UV431 Worland !( ut20 434 !( 789 UV !( UV Washakie Hot Springs UV172

Thermopolis Dubois ut26 ut287 Boysen Reservoir

Pavillion Bull Natrona Lake Ocean ut20 Lake Shoshoni ut26

ut26 Fort UV132 Washakie Riverton Arapahoe Ethete UV136 UV789 Hudson ut287 !(!( (!(! UV135 Fremont Lander

Legend Coal Bed Natural Gas Wells Cities Yield (gpm) Rivers !( 0 !( 1 - 5 Wyoming Water Development Commission Highways (! 6 - 25 Wind River Reservation ± !( 26 - 50 010 20 40 60 80 Basin Boundary County Boundary (! 51 - 60 Miles

Figure 28. CBNG Wells in the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

Figure 29. WYPDES Industrial Surface Water Discharges in the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

5.4 Recreational Water Use Recreational water uses within the Basin are water demands associated with indoor recreation activities and facilities (e.g., swimming pools and water parks) and outdoor recreational activities (e.g., fishing, rafting, and boating). Water demands for indoor recreational activities are supported by municipal water supplies and therefore were accounted for in the municipal water use analysis. As a result, recreational water use demands described in this section are limited to those associated with outdoor recreational activities.

Outdoor recreational water use within the Basin includes those activities utilizing rivers and streams, flat water reservoirs and lakes, as well as recreational water demands associated with state and national parks. There are several state and national parks, and a few national forests within the Basin with recreational water demands (see Figure 30). State parks within the Basin are Boysen, Buffalo Bill, Hot Springs, and Sinks Canyon State Parks. National forests within the Basin include the entire Shoshone National Forest, and parts of the Big Horn and Bridger-Teton National Forests. A portion of Yellowstone National Park as well as Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area are also located within the Basin. There are 75 designated campgrounds within the parks and forests of the Basin where recreational water use occurs. Water is supplied to these areas by transient non- community water systems. Recreational water use associated with other activities in state parks, national parks and national forests, such as fishing, boating, and rafting, are discussed below. Additional information on environmental water use is presented in Technical Memorandum 3D/3E.

5.4.1 Fishing Recreational fishing is the most important water-based recreational activity in the Basin, comprising over 55 percent of the total water-based activities that tourists participate in when visiting Wyoming (WBC 2009). The vast majority of existing recreational fishing opportunities in Wyoming are cold water trout fisheries. Designated fishing sites are located at several of the lakes and reservoirs within the Basin, as well as along a majority of the rivers and streams. These areas provide outstanding recreational fishing opportunities including walk-in fishing, four-wheel drive access only, and fully developed and accessible sites. Within the Basin, there are 174 public recreational fishing sites comprised of 65 sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 41 sites managed by the WGFD and an additional 68 general fishing sites designated by the State of Wyoming Department of Travel and Tourism (WTT). These designated public fishing sites are shown in Figure 31. Several lakes and streams within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park are also utilized for recreational fishing, where fishing has been a major recreational activity for over a century and is part of the park’s primary purpose to preserve natural environments and native species. Several of the sites are also located on the WRIR.

In addition to the large number of BLM and WGFD recreational fishing sites, there are six stream segments within the Basin designated as Blue Ribbon streams that comprise 188 miles of stream (Figure 31). Blue Ribbon streams are streams that have recreational fisheries of extremely high quality and meet established criteria which typically include water quality and quantity, water accessibility, natural reproduction capacity, angling pressure and specific species. Wyoming is also home to 49 native fish species and 29 non-native fish species. Key game species include cutthroat, brook, brown, golden and rainbow trout, as well as smallmouth bass, and northern pike. Many of Wyoming’s fish species are supported by both cold water fisheries and warm water fisheries and require a range of habitat features to support their life-cycle (Trout Unlimited 2005).

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

BIGHORN CANYON Frannie Clarks Fork NATIONAL Deaver Cowley Cra Yellowstone River RECREATION AREA ndal L C l am reek R a Byron Big Horn iv r Lovell er Powell r Lake Rive hone Yellowstone Shos BIGHORN River Madison NATIONAL River YELLOWSTONE FOREST NATIONAL PARK ell Creek Sh er Cody Yellowstone North Fork Shoshone Riv Dry Creek Greybull Lake Buffalo Bill Burlington Reservoir BUFFALO BILL Basin STATE PARK P aintr Manderson ock Cre r ek k e v r i o R F e h t n Meeteetse Bighorn u o N o h l F o s ul ift River w S yb ee eep o Gre n R oo nsl h er C M iv d Te k S iv r ile e ee BRIDGER-TETON R eek r Cr Gooseberry NATIONAL Ten Creek FOREST SHOSHONE Worland Sleep NATIONAL FOREST Cottonwood N Creek ow C at re er Kirby ek O Kirby East Fork wl Cr Creek Wind River eek HOT SPRINGS Thermopolis STATE PARK Dubois Wind River M BOYSEN W ud in dy d R Cr STATE Boysen iv eek er PARK Reservior Fi vem il Pavillion Cr e Shoshoni eek Poison Bull Lake Ocean Creek ake l L Lake ul k B ree Fort C Washakie Riverton Ethete Arapahoe Ray Washakie Lake Reservior Hudson Popo Agie River Lander SINKS CANYON Beaver opo STATE PARK e P r Creek ddl ive Mi ie R Ag

Legend Cities State Parks Rivers National Forest

Wyoming Water Development Commission Lakes and other Water Bodies National Park/Recreation Area County Boundary 015 30± 60 Study Basins

Scale in Miles

Figure 30. State Parks, National Forest, National Parks and Recreation Areas in the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

Figure 31. Designated Public Recreational Fishing Sites and Blue Ribbon Streams Located within the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

5.4.2 Boating Whitewater and flat water recreational use within the Basin includes swimming, kayaking, rafting, paddling and boating activities on the rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. Whitewater and scenic rafting segments are located on several of the Basin’s rivers, with 18 designated whitewater rafting segments totaling over 197 miles of stream (Figure 32) and over 32 miles of stream designated as Wild and Scenic. Information on the whitewater stream segments within the Basin was obtained from the American Whitewater’s National River Database (American Whitewater 2009). The database provides information on stream segment location, stream classification, recommended stream flow, current stream flow, and put-in and take-out locations for whitewater streams throughout the United States.

Stream classifications and recommended flows for the whitewater segments located in the Basin vary considerably. The stream classifications within the Basin range from Class I to Class V+ rapids. Stream classifications for whitewater rafting are based on the International Scale of River Difficulty and are utilized to describe the intensity and level of difficulty associated with navigating the rapids for a specific stream segment (American Whitewater 2009). There are six stream classifications utilized by the International Scale of River Difficulty ranging from Class I to Class VI.

River rafting and kayaking comprise approximately 7.4 percent of tourist activities in the State of Wyoming. Much of the scenic waterways and state parks utilized for whitewater rafting reside within the Basin, especially along the reaches of the Wind River and Clarks Fork Yellowstone River (WBC 2009). Clarks Fork is the only congressionally designated Wild and Scenic River in the Basin (National Wild and Scenic Rivers 2009). The Clarks Fork is known for its waterfalls, whitewater cascades, deep pools, and rugged corridor as it flows into the Yellowstone River and provides excellent kayaking and boating opportunities, especially in its canyon reaches.

In addition to the extensive network of streams and rivers in the Basin, there are approximately 40 major reservoirs and lakes. Of these, 12 are recognized as major recreation sites in Wyoming and include: Bighorn Lake, Boysen Reservoir, Bull Lake, Lake Cameahwait, Deaver Reservoir, Greybull Valley Reservoir, Newton Reservoir, Pilot Butte Reservoir, Ocean Lake, Ten Sleep Reservoir, and Yellowstone Lake (USBR 2009; WSPHT 2009). These lakes and reservoirs are managed by various agencies and offer a variety of recreational activities ranging from waterfowl and pheasant hunting, wildlife watching, fishing, hiking, boating, and camping. In particular, boating comprises approximately 4.4 percent of tourist activities in the State of Wyoming (WBC 2009). Combined, these areas account for a majority of the activities tourists participate in when visiting the State of Wyoming, with many coming to the area solely to recreational fish and explore the scenery offered by the extensive lake and riverine resources.

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

(numbers correspond to stream segment ID in Technical Memorandum 3D/3E )

Figure 32. Designated Rafting Locations within the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

5.5 Environmental Water Use Environmental water uses within the Basin are non-consumptive water demands associated with the rivers, streams, lakes and terrestrial habitats that represent an integral part of the Basin’s ecosystems. An abundance of wildlife reside in the aquatic and terrestrial habitats located throughout the Basin, as well as utilize a wide-range of migratory routes that traverse the vast expanses of public and private lands. The environmental uses within the Basin include the maintenance flows required to protect warm and cold water fisheries, wetlands and riparian ecosystems, wildlife and big game habitat. The environmental water demands associated with these uses are discussed below. Use of water by invasive species, such as salt cedar (tamarisk) and Russian olive, were not quantified as part of this analysis. Additional information on environmental water use is presented in Technical Memorandum 3D/3E.

5.5.1 Instream Flows In 1986 legislation was passed to manage water in stream channels by providing instream flow water rights for many of the state's most important streams so residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the resources offered throughout the state and within the Wind-Bighorn Basin. Instream flow rights in Wyoming are solely for the protection of fisheries under Wyoming water law, and can only be held by the State of Wyoming or the U.S. Forest Service. Instream rights within the Basin are of two types: Federal Reserve rights established to maintain historical instream flows within National Forest boundaries, and instream flow rights for fisheries protection for locations outside of National Forests. Locations of all the instream flow rights within the Basin are shown in Figure 33.

According to the WSEO (2009b), Federal Reserve instream flow rights in the Bighorn National Forest total about 87,000 acre-feet per year, and Federal Reserve instream flow rights in the Shoshone National Forest total about 605,600 acre-feet per year. The Shoshone National Forest is entirely within the Basin, and as a result the entire 605,600 acre-feet per year of Federal Reserve rights are likely within the Basin. Approximately 50 percent of the Bighorn National Forest is located in the Basin, and as a result about 43,500 acre-feet per year of the Federal Reserve instream flow rights associated with the Bighorn National Forest are anticipated to be in the Basin. There currently are no instream flow rights within the Wind River Indian Reservation (Wyoming Judicial Branch 2009; WSEO 2009b).

There are currently 25 state instream flow filings within the Basin, most of which are in the Bighorn Basin. Of the 25 filings, 22 are approved and 3 are still pending an evaluation for approval. Reach lengths generally vary by location, ranging from less than one mile to about 15 miles. Target flows range from less than 1 cfs to 350 cfs. Table 26 presents an inventory of currently permitted (or in process) state instream flow segments in the Basin.

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

!(!( !(!( !( !( !( !( !( !( Frannie Bighorn !( Clarks Fork !(!( !( !( Deaver Cowley Lake Cra !( Yellowstone River !( !( ndall !(!( !( !( L Cre !( am ek !(!( !(!( !( R a !( 23 Byron Lovell !( iv r !( !( er !( !( Powell er !( !( !( e Riv !( !( Yellowstone !( !( hon Park !( !( !( Shos !(!(!( !( !( !( !( !( River !(!( !( Madison !( !( River !(!(!( !( 11 !( 12 !( 21 ell Creek Teton !( Sh !( Yellowstone !(!( !( Fork Shoshone River!( 13 !( !( North !(!( !( Cody Dry Creek Greybull !(!( !( !( !(!(!( Burlington !( Lake !(!( !(!( !( !(!( !( !( !( Buffalo Bill Big Horn !( !( Reservoir Bighorn Basin !( !(!(!( 14 !( !( !( !(!( River !( !( !( !( !( !(!( !( 22 !( Manderson !( !( !( Pain !( !( trock !( r Cre k e 1 ek !(v 7 r !( i !( !( o !( !(!( !( R l F bul Meeteetse N e 3 6 rey F ow !(h !( G ift R o t n !( r ee i o 15 !( o !( ive n v d !( u !( R C M er !( o!( h 2 4 r il !( ek s ee e 25 re S !( !( !(!( k p C !(!(o !( 8 5 Washakie slee !( h Gooseberry en Ten T S !( Worland !( !( 16 !( Creek Sleep !( !( 18 !(!( !(!(!(!(17 !( !( Cottonwood N 20 ow 19 !( Creek C a !( r te !( Kirby ee r !( k !(!( !( Kirby !( !( Ow !(!( !( C l Creek !( !( !( ree !( !( k !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !(!( Thermopolis East Fork Hot Springs Wind River !( !( Dubois !( 24 !( 9 !( Wind W !( !( in River !( d R Boysen !( ive M r F ud Reservoir !( ive C dy mi re Fremont Cr le ek eek Natrona !( Pavillion Shoshoni Bull Ocean Poison ke Lake La Lake Creek !( ull B eek Cr !( Fort !( Ethete Riverton Washakie Arapahoe Popo Agie B River ea Hudson C ve !( re r !( ek !( !( !( Lander !( opo !( !( 10 Middle P !( !( !( Agie River !( !( !( !( !(!( !( !(

Legend

Cities !( Federal Reserved Instream Flows Points Rivers Federal Reserved Instream Flows Segments Wyoming Water Development Commission Lakes, Reservoirs Instream Flow Permit Applications County Boundary Permitted Instream Flow 020 40± 80 Study Basins (numbers correspond to reach no. i n Table 26 ) Scale in Miles

Figure 33. State Permitted and Federal Reserved Instream Flow Locations for the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

Table 26. Instream Flow Inventory

Reach Flow Range No. Stream name Length (mi) Location Approved (1) (cfs, min-max) North Fork Pickett 1 Creek 2.5 Unnamed drainage downstream to mouth Y 0.4-8 Anderson Ck. downstream to State-deeded 2 Greybull River 4.3 land border Y 19-65 Unnamed drainage downstream to 3 Piney Creek 2.3 Wilderness boundary Y 1.9-55 Unnamed drainage downstream to 1/4 mile 4 Francs Fork Creek 5.2 above diversion Y 4.8-160 Private/State border downstream to above 5 Timber Creek 4.3 diversion Y 0.3-5.6 N. Fork Pickett confluence downstream to 6 Pickett Creek #1 4.7 sec. boundary Y 1.4-11.2 7 Pickett Creek #2 3.4 N. Fork Pickett upstream Y 0.9-25 8 Jack Creek 2.5 Forks downstream to Greybull River Y 1.8-19 9 Wind River 5.3 Public fishing area east of Dubois Y 102-110 10 Little Popo Agie River 1.4 Public fishing area near Lander Y 21-45 11 Shoshone River 15.1 Buffalo Bill Dam to Corbett Diversion N 162 - 350 12 Shell Creek #1 10.5 Adelaide Creek to Shell Falls Y 19-70 Shell Falls downstream to Forest Service 13 Shell Creek #2 6.1 boundary Y 23-40 14 Medicine Lodge Creek 7.5 BLM/State land near Hyattville Y (2) 8.9-15 Forest Service boundary up to confluence 15 Tensleep Creek 8.0 of east & west Y 22 Gwynn Fork downstream to Forest Service 16 Dick Creek 2.2 boundary Y 0.85-12 Wood River blw. M. Fk. Deeded below M. Fork Wood downstream 17 Wood 1.0 to Forest Service boundary Y 24-51 Wood River abv M. Fk. JoJo Creek downstream to deeded land 18 Wood 3.8 above M. Fork Wood Y 14-31 19 South Fork Wood River 3.9 Chimney Creek downstream to deeded land Y 6-25 Dundee Creek downstream to confluence 20 Middle Fork Wood River 4.9 with Wood River Y 9.5-20 Robbers Roost Creek downstream to 21 Trout Creek 2.0 Forest Service boundary N 7-26 Forks downstream to Forest Service 22 Marquette Creek 0.5 boundary N 1.1 23 Clarks Fork River 5.9 Clarks Fork 1 Y 200 24 Jakeys Fork 2.3 Geyser Spring at Dubois Hatchery Y 3 25 Tensleep 0.5 Tensleep Creek at Wigwam Hatchery Y 4.76 Source: (WGF 2009b) Notes: (1) Approved status of yes (Y) indicates instream flow rights have been approved. No (N) status indicates instream flow rights are still pending an evaluation for approval. (2) Medicine Lodge Creek instream flow segment approved between publishing of draft and final report. Available flow estimates for Medicine Lodge Creek presented in Section 7 do not include this instream flow segment.

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

In addition to the instream flow rights described above, the WGFD keeps track of other stream segments where the public has expressed interest in establishing new instream flow water rights. WGFD has provided information on 10 segments in the Basin where instream flows may help maintain or increase fish habitat and the rationale for including each of the segments (WGFD 2009c). The potential instream flows would be one of two types: instream flow for protection (i.e., appropriate currently unappropriated water to maintain flows), or instream flows for restoration (i.e., change in a direct flow water right to an instream flow or release of water from storage to meet instream flows). Additional information on these segments is presented in Technical Memorandum 3D/3E.

5.5.2 Reservoir Minimum Pools Although mandatory minimum pool requirements for wildlife and recreational use have not been established, five of the major reservoirs in the Basin allocate a minimum pool requirement for dead storage. The water supply allocated for dead storage for these five reservoirs in the Basin are summarized in Table 27 (USBR 2009).

Table 27. Minimum Dead Storage Allocation for Reservoirs in the Basin.

Reservoir Name Dead Storage Allocation (ac-ft) Boysen Reservoir 40,084 Buffalo Bill Reservoir 3,413 Bull Lake Reservoir 722 Deaver Reservoir 83 Pilot Butte Reservoir 2,648 Total 46,950

5.5.3 Wildlife Habitat Big game hunting and wildlife viewing provide substantial benefits to local and statewide tourism and economy. The health and persistence of big game herds and the positive economic effects derived from them rely largely on the preservation and effective management of seasonal ranges and the movement pathways or “migration corridors” used by big game animals to move between seasonal ranges. The Basin provides habitat for eight different types of big game animals including: pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, bison, elk, moose, mule deer, mountain goats and white tailed deer. Although the parturition areas (birthing areas) and seasonal range varies by herd type and location, much of the crucial range for all of the big game residing in the Basin is along the riparian corridors and wetland habitat (WGFD 2009e; WGFD 2009f).

5.5.4 Wetlands Wetlands and riparian ecosystems are located throughout the Basin. These ecosystems are ecologically important because they are part of the wider hydrological system in the Basin. The services and benefits they provide play a key role in sustaining the livelihoods of communities and the survival of wildlife and biodiversity both in the catchment and downstream. Wetlands are important to maintaining stream flows, reducing erosion and instream sediment loads, as well as providing wildlife habitat.

Based on information provided by the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) (USFWS 2010), there are over 395,000 acres of wetlands within the Basin comprised of freshwater emergent wetlands,

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update

freshwater forested shrub wetlands, freshwater ponds, lakes, other freshwater wetlands and riverine. These wetlands provide critical habitat to many aquatic species, as well as migratory birds and terrestrial grazers residing in the Basin. A summary of the wetlands within the Basin by county is provided in Table 28.

Table 28. NWI Wetlands by County Within the Wind-Bighorn Basin

Fresh - Fresh- water water Forested/ Fresh- Emergent Shrub water Wetland Wetland Pond Lake Other Riverine Total County (acres) (acres) (acres) (acres) (acres) (acres) (acres) Big Horn 16,164 6,776 1,472 9,061 394 4,769 38,636 Fremont 40,529 15,067 3,359 46,150 1,466 12,241 118,812 Hot Springs 2,989 1,226 364 114 201 1,197 6,092 Johnson 667 161 33 145 1 0 1,007 Natrona 918 67 119 37 351 19 1,511 Park 53,569 11,607 2,829 14,858 2,756 13,338 98,957 Sheridan 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 Teton 23,127 11,297 851 86,075 760 1,450 123,561 Washakie 2,278 1,475 726 141 320 1,685 6,624 Total 140,249 47,677 9,754 156,581 6,249 34,698 395,209 Source: USFWS 2010 5.6 Reservoir Releases and Evaporation Primary uses of water from each storage facility within the Basin were previously listed in Table 12. The WSEO maintains records of releases from storage to the town of Thermopolis, the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline, Heart Mountain Canal, Garland Canal, Willwood Canal and the Deaver-Frannie Canal Storage Diversion (Smith 2009). Average annual diversions are shown in Table 29. Consumptive use from reservoir releases is accounted for in their ultimate use (e.g. irrigation or municipal), thus the values in Table 29 are not considered a consumptive use.

Table 29. Release from Storage

Average Annual Diversion Reservoir Data Period Diversion (ac-ft) Town of Thermopolis Boysen 2003-Present 50 Shoshone Municipal Pipeline Buffalo Bill 2003-Present 3,205 Heart Mountain Canal Storage Buffalo Bill 2005-Present 103,570 Diversion Garland Canal Storage Diversion Buffalo Bill 2005-Present 32,827 Willwood Canal Storage Diversion Buffalo Bill 2005-Present 52,279 Deaver-Frannie Canal Storage Buffalo Bill 2005-Present 21,108 Diversion

Evaporation from reservoirs is a consumptive use and is charged against Wyoming’s allocation under the Yellowstone River Compact. Net evaporation (evaporation minus precipitation) was calculated based on PRISM precipitation data (PRISM Climate Group 2009) supplied by the Water Resources Data System (WRDS 2009), evaporation data from the Wyoming Climate Atlas (Curtis and Grimes 2004), and area-elevation-capacity curves for each reservoir. Evaporation estimates were calculated using the surface area at maximum capacity for each reservoir. Thus, the calculations for net

Wind-Bighorn Basin Plan Update evaporative loss can be considered conservative as the average surface area will be less than the maximum surface area. Total net evaporation for reservoirs 500 acre-feet or greater is approximately 156,000 acre-feet per year. This is about 5% of the total storage capacity. 5.7 Summary of Current Water Use A summary of diversions and consumptive use is presented in Table 30 and Figure 34. Total surface water and groundwater diversions in the basin are approximately 3.41 maf, while total consumptive use is approximately 1.27 maf. Total consumptive use is approximately 37 percent of total diversions. Agricultural water uses, primarily consisting of irrigation, comprise 92 percent of total diversions and 85 percent of consumptive use within the Basin. Reservoir evaporation is the second largest use, comprising 12 percent of total consumptive use in the Basin. Municipal/domestic, industrial/mining and stock water uses represent approximately 3 percent of consumptive use in the Basin.

Table 30. Summary of Current Water Use by Category

Diversion (ac -ft) (1) Consumptive Use Percent of Percent of Water Use (ac-ft) Total (ac-ft) Total Agricultural (Irrigation) 3,136,728 92% 1,079,971 85% Stock Water (2) 6,370 0.20% 6,370 0.50% Municipal/Domestic (3 ) 21,324 1% 8,743 1% Industrial/Mining 91,906 3% 19,163 2% Reservoir Evaporation 156,157 5% 156,157 12% Total 3,412,485 100% 1,270,404 100% Notes: (1) Includes both surface water and groundwater use. (2) Consumptive use not calculated for stock water use. (3) A range of municipal/domestic water use was determined. Calculations performed using an average of the range.

Diversions (3.41 maf) Consumptive Use (1.27 maf) Stock Municipal/D Municipal/ Stock Water Water omestic Domestic 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0% 0% 1% 1% Industrial/ Industrial/ Mining Mining 0.02 0.09 Agricultural Agricultural 2% (Irrigation) 3% (Irrigation) Reservoir 3.14 1.08 Reservoir Evaporation 92% 85% Evaporation 0.16 0.16 4% 12% Notes: - Includes both surface water and groundwater use. - A range of municipal/domestic water use was determined. Calculations performed using an average of the range. - Consumptive use not calculated for stock water use. For purposes of graph, consumptive use equal to diverisons. - All values maf per year

Figure 34. Summary of Current Water Use by Category