GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 192 , EVALUATION OF STREAMFLOW RECORDS IN BIG WOOD RIVER BASIN, IDAHO By R. P. Jones UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. E. Wrather, Director GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR .129 EVALUATION OF STREAMFLOW RECORDS IN BIG WOOD RIVER BASIN, IDAHO ByR P.Jones Washington, D. C., 1962 Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 26, D. C. CONTENTS Page Page Abstract................................. 1 Syllabus of gaging-station records--Cont. Introduction............................. 1 Gaging-station records--Continued. Purpose and Scope ••••••••••.• . • • • . • . • • 1 Big Wood River--Continued. Acknowledgments........................ 1 Big Wood River above North Gooding Physical features of the basin........... 2 Canal, near Shoshone .....•••..•••. 33 Utilization of water in the basin........ 3 Big Wood River below North Gooding Water resources data for Big Wood River Canal, near Shoshone •..•...••.••.• 35 basin in Idaho. • . • . • • • . 5 Big Wood River near Shoshone .••...•.• 36 Streamflow records. • . • • • • • . • • . 5 Big Wood River above Thorn Creek, Storage reservoirs. • . • . • . • • • . ·5 near Gooding...................... 37 Adequacy of data •...•..•..••......•.... 12 Big Wood (Malade) River at Gooding Syllabus of gaging-station records •••.... 15 (Toponis). • . • • . • . • . • . • . • 38 Explanation of data.................... 15 Dry Creek near Blanche ...•..•....•. 39 Gaging-station records ........••....... 16 Little Wood River: Big Wood River near Ketchum ....•....• 16 Muldoon Creek near Muldoon ....... 39 Big Wood River at Ketchum .••.••.....• 16 Little Wood River at Campbell Ranch, Warm Springs Creek at Guyer Hot near Carey. • . • . • • . 42 Springs, near Ketchum •............ 16 Little Wood River near Carey •....•. 43 Warm Spring Creek near Ketchum ....• 18 Fish Creek above dam, near Carey. 44 Trail Creek at Ketchum .••..•......• 18 West Fork Fish Creek near Carey 45 Big Wood River at Gimlet ••.•••••.••.• 19 Fish Creek near Carey ...••.••...• 46 Big Wood River and Big Wood Slough at Silver Creek near Picabo .•••..•.• 46 Hailey, (combined stations) .••.••. 22 Little Wood River near Richfield ••. 49 Big Wood River at Glendale Bridge, Little Wood River at Shoshone .•..•• 52 near Bellevue..................... 24 Big Wood River near Gooding .•..••.... 54 Big Wood River near Bellevue •...••... 29 Big Wood River at mouth .••.•.•••.•••• 58 Camas Creek near Blaine ••.••....••• 31 Big Wood River below Magic Dam, near Richfield •.••.•.••.•.•...•... 32 ILLUSTRATIONS PagP Plate 1. Map showing location of gaging stations in Big Wood River basin •...•.•...•.••• In pocket Figure 1. Map showing development of irrigation in Big Wood R~ver basin..................... 4 2. Map showing location and duration of streamflow records .•.••.•.•.•• :············· 13 TABLES Page Table 1. Municipal and industrial uses in Big Wood River basin.............................. 6 2. Index of streamflow records in Big Wood River basin................................ 7 3. Streamflow records collected by other agencies..................................... 8 4. Storage reservoirs in Big Wood River basin......................................... 9 5. Streamflow records in relation to natural yield •.•••••.••••••.••••••.••.•.••.•.••.. 14 6. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River at Ketchum •••••••••.•••••• 17 7. Diversions in Warm Springs Creek basin, above Warm Springs Creek at Guyer Hot Springs, near Ketchum. • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18 8. Diversions in Trail Creek basin, above Trail Creek at Ketchum •••••••••••••••••••••• 19 9. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River at Gimlet .•••••••••••••••. 20 10. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River at Hailey and Big Wood Slough at Hailey................................................................. 23 11. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River at Glendale Bridge, near Bellevue. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • • . • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 25 12. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River near Bellevue ••••••••••••• 29 III IV TABLES Page Table 13. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River below Magic Dam, near Richfield.................................................................. 32 14. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River above North Gooding Canal near Shoshone. • . • . • • • • . • . • • • . • • • • • • . • • • . • . • • . • • . • • . • . • • • • . • . • • • • • . 34 15. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River below North Gooding Canal near Shoshone. • • . • . • • • • . • • • . • . • .. • • . • • . • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • 35 16. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River near Shoshone •••••••.••.• 36 17. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River above Thorn Creek, near Gooding.................................................................... 37 18. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above Big Wood River at Gooding •••..•••.•••••• 38 19. Diversions in Muldoon Creek basin, above Muldoon Creek near Muldoon •••••.•••.••••. 39 20. Diversions in Little Wood River basin, above Little Wood River at Campbell Ranch, near Carey. • • . • • . • • • . • • • . • • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • . • • • • • • . • • • . 43 21. Diversions in Little Wood River basin, above Little Wood River near Carey .•••.•••• 43 22. Diversions in Fish Creek basin, above Fish Creek above dam, near Carey .••.•.••...• 44 23. Diversions in Fish Creek basin, above West Fork Fish Creek near Carey ...•..•..•.•• 45 24. Diversions in Fish Creek basin, above Fish Creek near Carey .......••.•.•..••..•••• 46 25. Diversions in Silver Creek basin, above Silver Creek near Picabo ..•.•• : ••••••.•.•. 47 26. Diversions in Little Wood River basin, above Little Wood River near Richfield ..•.• 50 27. Diversions in Little Wood River basin, above Little Wood River at Shoshone ....•... 53 28. Diversions in Little and Big Wood River basins, above Big Wood River near Gooding. 55 29. Diversions in Big Wood River basin, above mouth •.•.•...•••....•.•••••..•.•........ 59 ·~ EVALUATION OF STREAMFLOW RECORDS IN BIG WOOD RIVER BASIN, IDAHO ABSTRACT charge at that particular point. In a basin where natural runoff prevails, these records This report presents data which are, in gen­ depict the surface-water yield of the basin at eral, supplementary to those of the surface­ that point. Such records are of great value wat~r investigations made in the past by the to the hydrologist or designing engineer, as Geological Survey. These have been essentially they are a direct measure of the yield of the investigations of th~ operation of the many drainage basin. When upstream water-use diverts gaging stations on the Big Wood River and tri­ and depletes the water supply, the discharge butaries. records no longer serve as a measure of the yield of the basin unless appropriate adjust­ The data presented were obtained from a de­ ments are made. If the point of proposed di­ tailed field investigation of the various version or future use is remote from the gag­ factors resulting from man-made structures that ing station, it is even more important to have influence the quantity or regimen of the flow complete knowledge of these factors. at the gaging stations. These factors include diversions from the stream, bypass channels The primary purpose of this report is to carrying water around the gaging stations, re­ evaluate each streamflow record in terms of the turn flow from irrigation or other projects, factors that influence or alter the flow of the storage an~ release of flood waters, and other Big Wood River and tributaries at the gaging similar factors. Where feasible, the location, station locations. Such factors include di­ size, effect upon the streamflow, periods of versions, bypass channels carrying water around use, method of operation, and similar infer~ the gaging stations, consumptive use, regulation mation are given. The information is divided by storag~ and other factors that alter the into sections corresponding to areas determined natural regimen of the stream or the discharge by the location of gaging stations. An index record obtained at the gaging station. of streamflow records is included. The scope of this report is confined to in­ A section dealing with the adequacy of avail­ dexing facts and material needed for the quan­ able water resources data, including location titative evaluation of the surface-water re­ and period of record, also is included. This sources. Emphasis is on the factors influenc­ information is given in general terms only, ing the runoff regimen and the gaging-station and is portrayed mainly by maps and graphs. records without attempting a quantitative de­ termination of their effect. For example, di­ versions are identified by name, location, INTRODUCTION approximate size, time of occurrence, purpose, and source of information concerning their use. These data are basic to quantitative water­ Purpose and. Scope supply studies and to the evaluation of the wa­ ter resources of the basin. One of the more Studies of the water supply for a project important items of this information is the utilizing surface water are based primarily on reference to the sources