YELLOWSTONE RIVER HYDROGRAPH TRENDS, WATER RIGHTS AND USAGE A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science with a Major in Environmental Science in the College of Graduate Studies University of Idaho by Trevor M. Watson June 2014 Major Professor: Dennis Scarnecchia, Ph.D. 11 Authorization to Submit Thesis This thesis of Trevor Watson, submitted for the degree of Master of Science with a Major in Environmental Science and titled "Yellowstone River hydrograph trends, water rights and usage," has been reviewed in final form. Permission, as indicated by the signatures and dates below, is now granted to submit final copies to the College of Graduate Studies for approval. Major Professor: Dennis Scarnecchia, Ph.D. Committee Members: Date: Jan Boll, Ph.D. Date: 'Paul Gessler, Ph.D. a Cosens, LL.M. J.D. Department Administrator: Date: Jan Boll, Ph.D. Discipline's College Dean: Date: Kurt Pregitzer, Ph.D Final Approval and Acceptance Dean of the College of Graduate Studies: Date: Jie Che* Ph.D. iii ABSTRACT The Yellowstone River and its tributaries are an important case study for water struggles in the highly arid western landscape. In the following chapters I: 1) evaluated seven variables used to characterize the volume and timing of discharge in the Yellowstone River and tributaries for long term (1898-2007) and more recent trends (1970-2007) using 18 USGS stream gauge stations, 2) quantified all current (2008) water rights in the greater Yellowstone River Basin, evaluated trends in water use, and conducted a physical inventory of all surface water withdrawals from the Yellowstone River and tributaries, and 3) assessed, in a general way, water management needs in the Yellowstone River Basin as discerned from the results in the previous chapters and in relation to the needs of native fishes and other biota in the river and provided recommendations for improved Montana water management to benefit water users and native fish species. Declines in volume and magnitude of annual and seasonal discharges are present in the basin, more so in areas where there are no water storage facilities. Timing of flows are occurring earlier in the year throughout the basin, leaving less water in the later summer and fall when water demands are the greatest. Rights to water greatly over allocate the water resources in the basin, though some rights can be considered duplicate and non-consumptive. The estimate of water use and the physical inventory reveal issues of potential resource misuse. There are numerous changes in water policy Montana water managers should consider if water is to remain available in the Yellowstone River Basin. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my Major Professor Dennis Scarnechhia for his patience, motivation, enthusiasm, and immense knowledge of my study area. His guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this thesis. I also appreciate the assistance of my committee members (Dr. Barbara Cosens, Dr. Jan Boll, and Dr. Paul Gessler). I owe a great deal of gratitude to the field volunteers Ashley Beyer, Emmett Mollman, Melissa Blind, Audrey Blind, Greg Blind, and Evan Mowrer. Without their assistance the countless river miles, inclement weather, and data collection would not have been possible or enjoyable. I also want to acknowledge the support my family has provided through my entire education experience. Most importantly, I would like to extend my gratitude to my wife Jenny. Without her support, encouragement, and understanding I could not have completed this work. I also would like to acknowledge Western Area Power Administration and North Dakota Game and Fish for providing funding for this project. I would like to express my gratitude to employees of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (Matthew Jaeger, Mike Backes, Brad Schmitz, Vic Riggs, Andy Brummond) for their assistance with planning, their expertise of the area, and the use of their equipment to conduct the field work. v DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my best friends, Eric Blind, Grandpa Coutts, and my wife Jenny. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Authorization to Submit Thesis .................................................................................................... ii Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1- Physical and political water related history in the Yellowstone River Basin........ 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................ 1 Study site .................................................................................................................................... 5 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2 – Trends in Yellowstone River Basin water supply as interpreted through hydrologic analysis ....................................................................................................................... 26 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 26 Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 26 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 29 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 34 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 44 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 3 – An inventory and physical observation of water use, historic and current, in the Yellowstone River Basin. ............................................................................................................. 52 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 52 Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 52 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 54 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 64 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 81 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................... 87 Chapter 4: Management needs for water and native fishes in the Yellowstone River Basin: recommendations for moving forward ...................................................................................... 90 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 90 Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 91 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 94 Literature Cited ..................................................................................................................... 103 vii Appendices.................................................................................................................................. 106 Appendix 1 .............................................................................................................................. 107 Appendix 2 .............................................................................................................................. 120 Appendix 3 .............................................................................................................................. 122 Appendix 4 .............................................................................................................................. 124 Appendix 5 .............................................................................................................................. 126 Appendix 6 .............................................................................................................................. 136 Appendix 7 .............................................................................................................................