Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to C. A. Eddy-Miller.
This report describes the environmental characteristics and water-quality characteristics of 14 benchmark basins in the west-central United States. The information was compiled to aide in the interpretation and application of historical water-quality data collected through the Hydrologic Benchmark Network Program.
A monitoring program for nitrate in ground water in and near Torrington, Wyoming was conducted by the Town of Torrington from April 1994 through March 1997, and cooperatively by the Town of Torrington and the U.S. Geological Survey from May 1997 through August 1998. Trends in nitrate concentrations were determined for the period of time covered by both monitoring programs. A significant trend was detected at 34 of the 72 sites. Twenty-six sites had nitrate concentrations that were increasing, and eight sites had nitrate concentrations that were decreasing. Nitrogen isotope data were also collected at selected sites. These data indicate that the source of nitrate in ground water in and around Torrington is probably not from human or animal waste, but rather organic soil nitrogen, or ammonium or nitrate fertilizer.
Total water use in Lincoln County, Wyoming in 1993 was estimated to be 405,000 Mgal (million gallons). Water use estimates were divided into nine categories: public supply, self-supplied domestic, commercial, irrigation, livestock, indus ial, mining, thermoelectric power, and hydro- electric power. Public supply water use, estimated to be 2,160 Mgal, primarily was obtained from springs and wells. Shallow ground water wells were the primary source of self-supplied domestic water, estimate to be 1.7 Mgal, and 53 percent of those wells were drilled to a depth of 100 feet or less. Commercial water use, estimated to be 117 Mgal, was obtained from public-supply systems. Surface water supplied an estimated 153,000 Mgal of the total estimated water use of 158,000 Mgal for irrigation in 1993. Sprinkler and flood irrigation technology were used about equally in the northern part of Lincoln County and flood irrigation was the primary technology used in the southern part. Livestock, industrial, and mining were not major water users in Lincoln County in 1993. Livestock water use totaled an estimated 203 Mgal. Industrial water use was estimated to be 120 Mgal from self-supplied water sources and 27 Mgal from public supplied water source Mining water use was an estimated 153 Mgal. Thermoelectric and hydroelectric power generation used surface water sources. Thermoelectric power water use was an estimated 5,900 Mgal. An estimated 238,000 Mgal of water was used to generate hydroelectc power at Fontenelle Reservoir on the Green River.
Streamflow and ground-water quantity and quality data were collected and analyzed, 1993 through 1995, and historical data were compiled to summarize the water resources of Lincoln County.Deposits of Quaternary age, in the valleys of the Bear River and Salt River, had the most well development of any geologic unit in the county.The most productive alluvial aquifers were located in the Bear River Valley and Star Valley with pumping wells discharging up to 2,000 gallons perminute. The ground-water connection between the Overthrust Belt and the Green River Basin is restricted as a result of the folding and faulting that occurred during middle Mesozoic and early Cenozoic time. Total water use in Lincoln County during 1993 was estimated to be 405,000 million gallons. Surface water was the source for 98 percent of the water used in the county. Hydroelectric power generation and irrigation used the largest amounts of water. Dissolved-solids concentrations varied greatly for water samples collected from 35 geologic units inventoried. Dissolved-solids concentrations in all water samples from the LaneyMember of the Green River Formation were greater than the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level of 500 milligrams per liter established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Statistical analysis of data collected from wells in the Star Valley monitoring study indicated there was no significant difference between data collected during different seasons, and no correlation between the nitrate concentrations and depth to ground water.
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