National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado Hydrogeology and Water­Supply Wells Grand Teton National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/WRD/NRTR—2008/091 ON THE COVER Simulated view of Grand Teton National Park and surrounding area looking to the southwest. Photograph by: Landsat 7 Team at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Hydrogeology and Water­Supply Wells Grand Teton National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/WRD/NRTR—2008/091 Larry Martin National Park Service Water Resources Division 1201 Oak Ridge Drive, Suite 250 Fort Collins, CO 80525 April 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resources Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado i The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer­reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. The Natural Resources Technical Reports series is used to disseminate the peer­reviewed results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service’s mission. The reports provide contributors with a forum for displaying comprehensive data that are often deleted from journals because of page limitations. Current examples of such reports include the results of research that addresses natural resource management issues; natural resource inventory and monitoring activities; resource assessment reports; scientific literature reviews; and peer reviewed proceedings of technical workshops, conferences, or symposia. Views and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the National Park Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. Printed copies of reports in these series may be produced in a limited quantity and are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is also available from the Water Resources Division Technical Reports website on the internet ( http://www.nature.nps.gov/water/technicalReports/ReportsIndex.cfm) or by sending a request to the address on the back cover. Please cite this publication as: Martin, Larry. 2008. Hydrogeology and Water­Supply Wells, Grand Teton National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NRPC/WRD/NRTR—2008/091. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS D­628, April 2008 ii Contents Page Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................vi Introduction ................................................................................................................................1 Scope of Investigation.................................................................................................................1 Previous Investigations ...............................................................................................................1 Geology ......................................................................................................................................4 Glacial Geology ..........................................................................................................................4 Water Well and Test Hole Construction ......................................................................................8 1961 Test Well Drilling ...................................................................................................8 Domestic Water­Supply Wells.......................................................................................12 Public Water­Supply Wells............................................................................................12 Flagg Ranch.......................................................................................................14 Snake River Picnic Area ....................................................................................15 Lizard Creek ......................................................................................................15 Leeks Lodge & Marina and AMK Ranch ...........................................................16 Pilgrim Creek.....................................................................................................17 Moran Junction ..................................................................................................17 Signal Mountain.................................................................................................20 Triangle X Ranch...............................................................................................20 Jenny Lake Lodge and String Lake Area ............................................................21 South Jenny Lake...............................................................................................23 Lupine Meadows................................................................................................23 Climbers Ranch and Highlands ..........................................................................24 Taggart Creek ....................................................................................................25 iii White Grass Ranch ............................................................................................26 JY Ranch ...........................................................................................................26 Granite Creek.....................................................................................................28 Gros Ventre Campground ..................................................................................28 Teton Science School.........................................................................................29 Future Water Supply Issues/Needs ............................................................................................30 Taggart Creek................................................................................................................30 Sky Ranch .....................................................................................................................31 Signal Mountain ............................................................................................................31 Pilgrim Creek ................................................................................................................32 Triangle X Ranch ..........................................................................................................32 Literature Cited.........................................................................................................................33 Tables Page Table 1. Test wells constructed at Grand Teton National Park in 1961.......................................9 Table 2. Low­yield domestic wells at facilities in Grand Teton National Park ..........................12 Table 3. Public water­supply wells at Grand Teton National Park.............................................13 iv Figures Page Figure 1. General location map for Grand Teton National Park and vicinity ..............................2 Figure 2. Generalized geologic cross section of the Teton Range and part of Jackson Hole ........4 Figure 3. Map showing the approximate extent of glacial ice during the Bull Lake and Pinedale glaciations .............................................................5 Figure 4. Sketch map of areas covered by glaciers and outwash During the recesssional phase of the Pinedale glaciation .............................................7 Figure 5. Locations of test wells constructed in 1961................................................................10 Figure 6. Location of wells at Flagg Ranch and Snake River Picnic Area .................................14 Figure 7. Locations of wells at Lizard Creek Campground .......................................................15 Figure 8. Locations of wells at Leeks Lodge & Marina and the AMK Ranch............................16 Figure 9. Locations of Pilgrim Creek Wells..............................................................................18 Figure 10. Locations of wells at Moran Junction ......................................................................19 Figure 11. Locations of wells at Signal Mountain.....................................................................21 Figure 12. Locations of existing and potential water sources at Triangle X Ranch ....................22 Figure 13. Locations of water­supply wells near Jenny Lake Lodge and String Lake Picnic Area ......................................................23 Figure 14. Location of the South Jenny Lake and Lupine Meadow Wells .................................24 Figure 15. Locations of wells at Climbers Ranch and Highlands ..............................................25 Figure 16. Locations of Taggart Creek Wells ...........................................................................26 Figure 17. Location of the wells at White Grass Ranch, JY Ranch, and future well at Sky Ranch ...................................................................................27