VOLUME 1 2012 SNAKE/SALT RIVER BASIN PLAN UPDATE NOVEMBER, 2014 PREPARED BY: THE STATE OF WYOMING Water Development Office 6920 YELLOWTAIL ROAD TELEPHONE: (307) 777-7626 CHEYENNE, WY 82002 FAX: (307) 777-6819 VOLUME 1 2012 SNAKE/SALT RIVER BASIN PLAN UPDATE NOVEMBER, 2014 PREPARED BY: THE STATE OF WYOMING Water Development Office 6920 YELLOWTAIL ROAD TELEPHONE: (307) 777-7626 CHEYENNE, WY 82002 FAX: (307) 777-6819 Prepared by Water Development Office staff with assistance from State Engineer’s Office staff and University of Wyoming, Water Resources Data System staff TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Basin Advisory Groups .................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Report Organization ........................................................................................................ 2 References ............................................................................................................................ 4 2.0 Presentation Tool .............................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Searching ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Database Tables ............................................................................................................. 5 2.3 Maps ............................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 Technical Memoranda Changes ...................................................................................... 5 References ............................................................................................................................ 7 3.0 Snake/Salt River Basin Setting and Description ............................................................. 8 3.1 Physical Description ........................................................................................................ 8 3.1.1 Land Area and Ownership ........................................................................................ 8 3.1.2 Physiography and Topography ................................................................................. 9 3.1.3 Drainage Systems .................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Climate ...........................................................................................................................13 3.2.1 Precipitation .............................................................................................................13 3.2.2 Temperature ............................................................................................................13 3.2.3 Growing Season ......................................................................................................16 3.3 Population and Economics .............................................................................................16 3.3.1 Population ...............................................................................................................16 3.3.2 Economics ...............................................................................................................17 3.4 Discussion of Compacts and Legal Constraints ..............................................................17 3.4.1 Wyoming Water Law................................................................................................18 3.4.2 Interstate Compacts ................................................................................................18 3.4.3 Wyoming Water Development Program ...................................................................20 3.4.4 Institutional Constraints ...........................................................................................20 3.4.5 Palisades Reservoir Contract ..................................................................................22 3.4.6 Salmon Recovery Efforts .........................................................................................23 3.5 Basin Water Development Studies and Projects ............................................................25 References ...........................................................................................................................30 4.0 Water Resources ..............................................................................................................31 4.1 Surface Water Resources ..............................................................................................31 4.1.1 Surface Water Modeling Methodology .....................................................................31 4.1.2 Surface Water Quantity ...........................................................................................33 4.1.3 Major Reservoirs .....................................................................................................36 4.1.4 Surface Water Quality ..............................................................................................37 4.2 Groundwater Resources ................................................................................................42 4.2.1 Groundwater Quantity..............................................................................................46 4.2.2 Groundwater Quality ................................................................................................47 References ...........................................................................................................................47 2012 Snake/Salt River Basin Plan Update Wyoming Water Development Office i 5.0 Current Water Use ............................................................................................................49 5.1 Agricultural Water Use ...................................................................................................49 5.1.1 Agricultural Water Use Methodology ........................................................................49 5.1.2 Irrigation Zones........................................................................................................50 5.1.3 Irrigation Acreage ....................................................................................................52 5.1.4 Irrigated Crops .........................................................................................................52 5.1.5 Climate Data ............................................................................................................54 5.1.6 Crop Irrigation Requirements (CIR) .........................................................................56 5.1.7 Irrigation Diversions and Depletions ........................................................................61 5.1.8 Livestock .................................................................................................................65 5.2 Municipal and Domestic Water Use ................................................................................71 5.3 Industrial Water Use .......................................................................................................73 5.4 Environmental and Recreational Water Use ...................................................................74 5.4.1 Environmental and Recreational Water Use Analysis ..............................................74 5.4.2 Environmental and Recreational Water Use Analysis Results .................................84 5.5 Reservoir Evaporation ....................................................................................................92 5.6 Summary of Current Water Use .....................................................................................94 5.6.1 Comparison to Previous Basin Plan .........................................................................95 References ...........................................................................................................................96 6.0 Water Use Projections .....................................................................................................98 6.1 Population and Economic Projections ............................................................................98 6.1.1 Population Projections .............................................................................................98 6.1.2 Economic Projections ............................................................................................ 100 6.2 AGRICULTURAL WATER USE .......................................................................................... 101 6.2.1 Approach for Developing Agricultural Projections .................................................. 101 6.2.2 Irrigation ................................................................................................................ 102 6.2.3 Livestock ............................................................................................................... 105 6.2.4 Future Water Demand Projections ......................................................................... 115 6.3 Municipal and Domestic Water Use .............................................................................. 117 6.4 Industrial Water Use