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 VOLUME I-A

OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF

GROUND WATER I N THE

POWDER RIVER BASIN, WYOMING

by
Kenneth R. F e a t h e r s , Robert L i b r a , and Thomas R. Stephenson

P r o j e c t Manager
Craig Eisen

Water Resources Research I n s t i t u t e

U n i v e r s i t y of Wyoming

Report t o
U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency
C o n t r a c t Number G-008269-79

Project Officer
P a u l Osborne

June, 1981
 INTRODUCTION

T h i s r e p o r t i s t h e f i r s t of a s e r i e s of hydrogeologic b a s i n r e p o r t s

t h a t d e f i n e t h e occurrence and chemical q u a l i t y of ground water w i t h i n

Wyoming. Information p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s r e p o r t h a s been obtained from

s e v e r a l s o u r c e s i n c l u d i n g a v a i l a b l e U.S. Geological Survey p u b l i c a t i o n s ,

t h e Wyoming S t a t e ~ n g i n e e r ' s O f f i c e , t h e Wyoming O i l and Gas Commission,

t h e Wyoming S t a t e Department of Enviromental Q u a l i t y , and t h e Wyoming

Geological Survey.

T h i s s t u d y was funded by t h e U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency

under C o n t r a c t no. G-008269-79, t o p r o v i d e background information

f o r implementation of t h e Underground I n j e c t i o n Control Program (UIC).

The U I C program, a u t h o r i z e d by t h e Safe Drinking Water Act (P .L. 93-523),

i s designed t o improve t h e p r o t e c t i o n of ground-water r e s o u r c e s from

p o s s i b l e contamination cauded by i n j e c t i o n of waste b r i n e s , sewage,

and o t h e r f l u i d s , This r e p o r t i d e n t i f i e s t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c l i m i t s ,

h y d r a u l i c p r o p e r t i e s , chemical q u a l i t y , and u s e of t h e major water-

b e a r i n g u n i t s w i t h i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , and can t h e r e f o r e be

used t o a s s i s t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of t h e a q u i f e r s i n need of p r o t e c t i o n .

T h i s r e p o r t w i l l a l s o h e l p i d e n t i f y t h e c u r r e n t e x t e n t of knowledge

and where f u t u r e r e s e a r c h emphasis i s needed w i t h i n t h e Powder River

basin.
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish t o thank s e v e r a l i n d i v i d u a l s who g r e a t l y a i d e d t h e com-

p l e t i o n of t h i s r e p o r t s e r i e s . The s t a f f s of t h e Wyoming S t a t e E n g i n e e r ' s

O f f i c e , t h e O i l and Gas Commission, t h e Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l Survey, and t h e

U.S. G e o l o g i c a l Survey were e s p e c i a l l y h e l p f u l d u r i n g t h e d a t a a c q u i s i t i o n

phases of t h e p r o j e c t . M a r l i n Lowry, of t h e U.S. G e o l o g i c a l Survey, re-

viewed t h e f i r s t r e p o r t i n t h e s e r i e s ; h i s comments and c r i t i c i s m s were

greatly appreciated. IJRRI t e c h n i c a l e d i t o r J a n e Reverand reviewed a l l

m a n u s c r i p t s , and c o n t r i b u t e d many u s e f u l comments concerning r e p o r t or-

g a n i z a t i o n and f o r m a t . JoAnn F o s t e r typed t h e r e p o r t s e r i e s ; we a r e

g r a t e f u l f o r h e r d i l i g e n c e , and e s p e c i a l l y h e r p a t i e n c e .
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS .................... 1

I1. GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

PHYSIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Surface Drainage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
HUMANGEOGRAPHY .................... 17
Population and Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Land Use and Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
GEOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Stratigraphy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Hydrostratigraphy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

111. GROUND-WATERUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

DOMESTIC GROUND-WATER USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Community Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Non-Community Systems and Private Domestic Wells . . 38
INDUSTRIAL WATER USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Petroleum Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Coal Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Uranium Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
AGRICULTURALWATERUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Livestock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

IV . HYDROGEOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

MADISON AQUIFER SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Hydrologic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Ground-Water Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
PEW-TRIASSIC AQUIFERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
SUNDANCEAQUIFER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
DAKOTA AQUIFER SYSTEM ................. 82
Hydrologic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Ground-Water Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

iii
 ......
ISOLATED UPPER CRETACEOUS SANDSTONE AQUIFERS 95
FOX HILLS~LANCEAQUIFER SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
HydrologicProperties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Ground-Water Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
WASATCH/FORT UNION AQUIFER SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Hydrologic Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Ground-Water Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
MIDDLE TERTIARY AQUIFERS ................ 119
QUATERNARY AQUIFERS .................. 123

WATER QUALITY

GENERALWATERQUALITY ................. 127

Madison Aquifer System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Permo-Triassic Aquifers .............. 134
Sundance Aquifer .................. 135
Dakota Aquifer System ............... 135
Upper Cretaceous Aquifers ............. 138
...........
F o x ~ i l l s l ~ a n cA eq u i f e r S y s t e m 140
.........
~ a s a t c h / F o r tU n i o n A q u i f e r S y s t e m 141
Middle T e r t i a r y Aquifers .............. 145
Quaternary Aquifers . . .............. 145
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS . . .............. 145
Primary Standards . . . .............. 145
Secondary Standards . . .............. 150
................
Radionuclear Species 154

VI . REFERENCES ........................ 159

APPENDIX A: GROUND-WATER USE FOR COMMUNITY DRINKING

WATER SUPPLY AND BY INDUSTRY I N THE POWDER RIVER
BASIN. WYOMING ..................... A-1

APPENDIX B: STRATIGRAPHIC VARIATIONS OF WATER-BEARING

BEDROCK UNITS I N THE POWDER RIVER BASIN ........ B-1

APPENDIX C: CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF POWDER RIVER BASIN

GROUND WATERS SAMPLED BY WRRI ............. C-1

APPENDIX D: LOCATION-NUNBERING SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . D-1

 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

11-1 Geography of the Powder River structural basin, Wyoming 13

11-2 Diagrammatic stritigraphg of rocks in the Powder River

basin. .........................
Tectonic sketch map of Powder River Basin, Wyoming and
vicinity. .......................
Diagrammatic hydrostratigraphy of the Powder River basin

Location of public drinking water supplies inventoried

by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the
Powder River basin ...................
IV-1 Potentiometric surface in the Madison aquifer .....
IV-2 Potentiometric surface in the Dakota aquifer system ..
IV-3 Contours on water levels in wells finished in the Fox
Hills Sandstone, Lance Formation, and lower part of
Fort Union Formation in the Gillette area .......
IV- 4 Water levels and direction of horizontal movement of
ground water in the Fort Union and Wasatch formations
in the Gillette area ..................
Trilinear plot of representative Madison aquifer waters,
eastern Powder River basin ...............
Trilinear plot of representative Madison aquifer waters,
western Powder River basin ...............
Trilinear plot of representative Minnelusa aquifer
waters, eastern Powder River basin ...........
Trilinear plot of representative Tensleep (~innelusa)
aquifer waters, western Powder River basin .......
Major ion composition of Dakota aquifer system water,
eastern Powder River basin ...............
Trilinear plot of representative ~asatch/FortUnion
aquifer system waters, Powder River basin .......
Figure Page

V-7 Trilinear plot of representative Wasatch/Fort Union

aquifer system waters, Powder River basin, indicating
general trend of composition with depth ........ 144

V-8 Location of reported high selenium and fluoride in

Powder River basin ground waters ............ 149
 LIST TABLES

Table Page

S e l e c t e d M i s s o u r i River System t r i b u t a r i e s p r e s e n t
i n t h e r e p o r t a r e a , l i s t e d by t r i b u t a r y , g i v i n g
s e l e c t e d drainage basin a r e a s included i n t h e
study area. ....................... 16

P o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n and change i n Powder River

Basin c o u n t i e s and p l a c e s w i t h i n c o u n t i e s ........ 18

Estimated annual u s e of ground w a t e r i n t h e Powder

River b a s i n , by economic s e c t o r , i n d i c a t i n g p r i n c i p a l
sources. ........................ 31

P u b l i c w a t e r supply systems i n t h e Powder River b a s i n . . 33

Sources of w a t e r f o r m u n i c i p a l , community, non-community

p u b l i c , and p r i v a t e domestic s u p p l i e s w i t h i n t h e Powder
R i v e r b a s i n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

1979 ground-water u s e by t h e petroleum i n d u s t r y i n t h e

Powder R i v e r b a s i n , b y county. R e f i n e r y u s e i s
excluded. ........................ 40

Acreage p e r m i t t e d f o r i r r i g a t i o n by ground w a t e r i n t h e
Powder River b a s i n , by county .............. 46

L i t h o l o g i c and h y d r o l o g i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of bedrock
u n i t s exposed on t h e e a s t f l a n k of t h e Powder River
basin.. ........................ 51

L i t h o l o g i c and h y d r o l o g i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of bedrock
u n i t s exposed on t h e west f l a n k of t h e Powder River
basin.. ........................ 55

IV- 3 L i t h o l o g i c and h y d r o l o g i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of "shallow"

g e o l o g i c u n i t s of t h e c e n t r a l Powder River b a s i n . .... 58

IV-4 C a l c u l a t e d s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s of Madison a q u i f e r w e l l s ,
Powder River b a s i n . ................... 63

IV- 5 Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of Permo-Pennsylvanian r o c k s of

t h e Madison a q u i f e r system, Powder River b a s i n , d e t e r -
mined from o i l f i e l d d a t a ................ 70

IV- 6 Reported t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s and s t o r a g e c o e f f i c i e n t s f o r

t h e Madison a q u i f e r i n t h e Powder River b a s i n ...... 73

vii
Table Page

IV- 7 Hydrologic properties of the Sundance aquifer in the

Powder River basin, determined from oil field data ...
IV-8 Reported specific capacities of wells in the Dakota
aquifer system, Powder River basin ...........
IV- 9 Hydrologic properties of Lower Cretaceous rocks of the
Dakota aquifer system, Powder River basin, determined
from oil field data. ..................
Hydrologic properties of sandstone aquifers within the
Upper Cretaceous shale sequence, Powder River basin,
determined from oil field data .............
Reported specific capacities of wells in the Fox ~ills/
Lance aquifer system, Powder River basin ........
Reported transmissivities and permeabilities for wells
in the Fox ~illsl~ance aquifer system, Powder River
basin. .........................
Transmissivities of the ~asatch/~ort
Union aquifer
system, Powder River basin ...............
Specific capacities of wells completed in Middle
Tertiary aquifers of the Powder River basin. ......
Drinking water quality standards

Concentration ranges of sulfate, chloride, and iron in

waters of major aquifer systems, Powder River basin, by
county .........................
Ranges of total dissolved solids, sulfate, chloride, and
iron concentrations in waters from minor aquifers,
Powder River basin ...................
Radionuclear analyses of ground waters, Powder River
basin. .........................

viii
 LIST OF PLATES*

Plate

1 S t r u c t u r a l contour map of t h e Dakota Formation, showing o i l

f i e l d l o c a t i o n s , Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

2 P e r m i t t e d domestic w e l l s , Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

3 S t r u c t u r a l contour map of t h e Madison Limestone, Powder River

b a s i n , Wyoming.

4 Dissolved s o l i d s map of Madison a q u i f e r w a t e r , Madison a q u i f e r

system, Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

5 Dissolved s o l i d s m a p o f ~ i n n e l u s a / ~ e n s l e eapq u i f e r w a t e r ,
Madison a q u i f e r system, Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

6 Dissolved s o l i d s map of Dakota a q u i f e r system w a t e r , Powder

River b a s i n , Wyoming.

7 Dissolved s o l i d s map of Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n ca eq u i f e r system w a t e r ,

Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

8 Dissolved s o l i d s map of ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union

rt a q u i f e r system
w a t e r , Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

* P l a t e s c o n t a i n e d i n Volume I-B.
S U M M A R Y O F F I N D I N G S
 I. SUMMARY OF F I N D I N G S

1. Four major bedrock a q u i f e r systems have been i d e n t i f i e d w i t h i n

t h e Powder River b a s i n . These a r e t h e Paleozoic Madison, Lower

Cretaceous Dakota, Upper Cretaceous Fox H i l l s / ~ a n c e , and Lower T e r t i a r y

~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion a q u i f e r systems. A d d i t i o n a l l y , s e v e r a l minor o r

l o c a l a q u i f e r s have been i d e n t i f i e d , i n c l u d i n g Permo-Triassic a q u i f e r s

and t h e J u r a s s i c Sundance a q u i f e r i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t , Upper

Cretaceous a q u i f e r s i n t h e western p a r t , Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s

i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n p a r t and unconsolidated Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s

throughout t h e b a s i n . Aquifer r e c h a r g e r a t e s , ground-water flow p a t h s ,

and t h e e x t e n t of i n t e r f o r m a t i o n a l mixing a r e poorly known. Data

concerning hydrologic and hydrochemical p r o p e r t i e s a r e s p a r s e , e s p e c i a l l y

f o r pre-Tertiary s t r a t a i n the central basin.

2. The P a l e o z o i c Madison a q u i f e r system h a s e x c e l l e n t p o t e n t i a l

f o r producing l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of good q u a l i t y w a t e r , and h a s been

e x t e n s i v e l y i n v e s t i g a t e d a s a r e s u l t of pending a d d i t i o n a l developments.

The Madison Limestone is t h e most e x t e n s i v e l y e x p l o i t e d a q u i f e r of

t h e system, although t h e M i n n e l u s a / ~ e n s l e e p and ~ i g h o r n / ~ eRiver

d

formations a l s o have good development p o t e n t i a l . Water from t h e a q u i f e r

system i s c u r r e n t l y u t i l i z e d mainly f o r municipal supply and secondary

o i l r e c o v e r y , b u t proposed f u t u r e u s e s a l s o i n c l u d e s l u r r y t r a n s p o r t

of c o a l and t h e s y n t h e t i c f u e l s i n d u s t r y . The upper Minnelusa i s

e x t e n s i v e l y developed f o r p r o d u c t i o n of o i l and g a s through primary

and secondary recovery methods.

 Aquifer p r o p e r t i e s a r e h i g h l y v a r i a b l e , a r e dependent upon secondary

p e r m e a b i l i t y , and, w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of t h e Madison a q u i f e r , a r e

v e r y p o o r l y known. Madison Format ion t r a n s m i s s i v i t ies g e n e r a l l y vary

from 1,000 t o 60,000 g p d / f t , but may exceed 300,000 g p d / f t l o c a l l y .

S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s range from 0.5 t o over 50 gpm/ft of drawdown, and

a r e h i g h l y y i e l d dependent. Y i e l d s g e n e r a l l y vary from 600 t o 1,200

g a l l o n s p e r minute, b u t may l o c a l l y b e h i g h e r . High-yield w e l l s a r e

o f t e n accompanied by s e v e r a l hundred f e e t of drawdown.

The p r i n c i p a l r e c h a r g e mechanism is outcrop i n f i l t r a t i o n , and

r e c h a r g e r a t e e s t i m a t e s f o r t h e Madison a q u i f e r of t h e system range

from 8,000 t o over 100,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r . Although t h e b a s a l Minnelusa

and Madison a q u i f e r s a r e h y d r a u l i c a l l y connected, l i t t l e interforma-

t i o n a l mixing o c c u r s between o t h e r a q u i f e r s comprising t h e system,

except along s t r u c t u r a l l y d i s t u r b e d zones.

Near outcrop Madison a q u i f e r w a t e r s c o n t a i n l e s s than 600 mg/l

t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s (TDS) and a r e p r i m a r i l y calcium-magnesium

bicarbonate. Basinward, TDS i n c r e a s e s t o over 3,000 mg/l w i t h sodium

s u l f a t e - c h l o r i d e predominating. Near outcrop Minnelusa a q u i f e r w a t e r s

a r e g e n e r a l l y s i m i l a r t o Madison a q u i f e r w a t e r s , although some w a t e r s

i n t h e e a s t p a r t of t h e b a s i n show h i g h e r (up t o 3,000 mg/l) TDS and

calcium s u l f a t e enrichment. Deep b a s i n Minnelusa w a t e r s c o n t a i n g r e a t e r

than 10,000 mg/l TDS and a r e p r i m a r i l y sodium c h l o r i d e . Objectionably

h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of f l u o r i d e a r e o f t e n p r e s e n t . Chemical d a t a

f o r o t h e r a q u i f e r s of t h e system a r e s p a r s e , b u t i n d i c a t e somewhat

s i m i l a r chemistry.

3. The Lower Cretaceous Dakota a q u i f e r system i s a p o t e n t i a l l y

important shallow water s o u r c e i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n .

The t h i c k sedimentary sequence can produce l a r g e amounts of water

a t t h e expense of hundreds of f e e t of drawdown. Current i n t e r e s t i n

t h e a q u i f e r system i s l i m i t e d because i n t h e same a r e a t h e Madison

system i s a t an economically a t t r a c t i v e d r i l l i n g depth.

The F a l l River and Newcastle ("Muddy") formations of t h e system

a r e s i g n i f i c a n t o i l producers through primary and secondary recovery

methods. The Lakota and F a l l River formations c o n t a i n important uranium

d e p o s i t s i n t h e Black H i l l s r e g i o n .

The l e n t i c u l a r n a t u r e of sandstone b o d i e s r e s u l t s i n s p a t i a l l y

variable aquifer properties. T r a n s m i s s i v i t y v a l u e s a r e poorly known,

b u t a r e t y p i c a l l y e s t i m a t e d between s e v e r a l hundred and s e v e r a l thousand

gpd/ft. S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s g e n e r a l l y range from 0 . 1 t o 1 gpm/ft.

E x i s t i n g y i e l d s a r e g e n e r a l l y under 50 gpm. Higher y i e l d s a r e a s s o c i -

a t e d w i t h l a r g e drawdowns.

Recharge i s p r i m a r i l y through i n £ i l t r a t i o n i n outcrop a r e a s .

Upper Cretaceous s h a l e s (e.g., P i e r r e ) e f f e c t i v e l y i s o l a t e t h e system

from shallow a q u i f e r s .

Outcrop w a t e r s c o n t a i n from 277 t o 3,300 mg/l TDS. Major i o n

composition changes basinward from calcium-magnesium s u l f a t e a t t h e

outcrop t o sodium s u l f a t e t o sodium b i c a r b o n a t e . Deep b a s i n w a t e r s

c o n t a i n g r e a t e r than 10,000 mg/l TDS and a r e e n r i c h e d i n sodium c h l o r i d e .

4. The uppermost Cretaceous Fox H i l l s / ~ a n c ea q u i f e r system i s

u t i l i z e d f o r i n d u s t r i a l a p p l i c a t i o n s i n t h e n o r t h e a s t p a r t of t h e

b a s i n and f o r municipal s u p p l i e s i n t h e southwest and n o r t h e a s t .

Aquifer p r o p e r t i e s a r e poorly known. T r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s vary from

about 100 t o 2,000 g p d / f t . S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s a r e g e n e r a l l y between

0.05 and 2 gpm/ft. W e l l y i e l d s up t o 350 gpm occur, b u t a r e a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h long p e r f o r a t e d i n t e r v a l s and l a r g e drawdowns.

Recharge o c c u r s p r i n c i p a l l y through downward leakage from over-

l y i n g a q u i f e r s , supplemented l o c a l l y by outcrop i n f i l t r a t i o n . Discharge

i s through s u b s u r f a c e flow t o t h e n o r t h , and a l s o t o some p r i n c i p a l

stream v a l l e y s .

Outcrop w a t e r s c o n t a i n from 350 t o 3,500 mg/l TDS, and show a

v a r i a b l e major i o n composition. C e n t r a l b a s i n w a t e r s c o n t a i n 1,000

t o 3,500 mg/l TDS, and a r e sodium b i c a r b o n a t e - s u l f a t e i n c h a r a c t e r .

East b a s i n w a t e r s o f t e n c o n t a i n o b j e c t i o n a b l e amounts of f l u o r i d e .

5. I n t h e c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e T e r t i a r y wasatch/Fort

Union a q u i f e r system i s t h e most important source of ground water.

It i s developed e x t e n s i v e l y by shallow domestic and s t o c k w e l l s and

a l s o s e r v e s a s a water s o u r c e f o r s e v e r a l m u n i c i p a l i t i e s . The F o r t

Union Formation c o n t a i n s most of t h e Powder River b a s i n c o a l r e s e r v e s

and t h e Wasatch Formation i n c l u d e s e x t e n s i v e uranium d e p o s i t s .

Aquifer p r o p e r t i e s a r e l o c a l l y u n p r e d i c t a b l e due t o t h e widely

varying l i t h o l o g i e s . T r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s vary from 1 t o 5,000 g p d / f t

b u t l o c a l l y c l i n k e r v a l u e s a r e much h i g h e r , ranging up t o 3,000,000

gpd/ft. Coal and c l i n k e r beds g e n e r a l l y have h i g h e r t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s

than sandstones. S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s vary from less than 0 . 1 t o 2

gpm/ft, although c l i n k e r w e l l s w i t h over 2,000 gpm/ft a r e r e p o r t e d .

Y i e l d s of up t o 250 gpm have been a t t a i n e d , b u t a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

s e v e r a l hundred f e e t of drawdown o r l o c a l recharge. Clinker w e l l s

may y i e l d s e v e r a l thousand gpm.

Recharge o c c u r s p r i n c i p a l l y through outcrop i n f i l t r a t i o n b u t

downward w a t e r leakage may a l s o occur. Topographic v a l l e y s a r e important

discharge points. Although shallow water c i r c u l a t i o n i s under topog-

r a p h i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d w a t e r t a b l e c o n d i t i o n s , deeper s t r a t a have

dominantly s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y c o n t r o l l e d h o r i z o n t a l flow. Hydrologic

c o n d i t i o n s vary from water t a b l e t o f u l l y confined between and w i t h i n

i n d i v i d u a l water-bearing zones.

TDS c o n t e n t shows some a p p a r e n t s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n , ranging

from 250 t o 6,500 mg/l. Major i o n composition v a r i e s widely, b u t

deeper zones g e n e r a l l y produce w a t e r s r e l a t i v e l y e n r i c h e d i n sodium

bicarbonate. Good q u a l i t y water i s o b t a i n a b l e from water-bearing

zones a s s o c i a t e d w i t h r e c h a r g e zones.

6. Minor a q u i f e r s (Permo-Triassic, Sundance, and Upper Cretaceous

a q u i f e r s ) produce adequate amounts of water f o r many purposes, b u t

water i s of marginal t o poor q u a l i t y f o r domestic use. The a q u i f e r s

a r e only l o c a l l y e x p l o i t e d , w i t h t h e P e m o - T r i a s s i c and Sundance a q u i f e r s

important i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n , and t h e Upper

Cretaceous a q u i f e r s important i n t h e southwest. The Sundance and

Upper Cretaceous formations a r e s i g n i f i c a n t o i l producers through

primary and secondary recovery methods.

L i t t l e hydrologic d a t a f o r t h e s e a q u i f e r s a r e a v a i l a b l e , w i t h

t h e e x c e p t i o n of o i l f i e l d d a t a . Reported water y i e l d s a r e g e n e r a l l y

small. Recharge i s through outcrop i n f i l t r a t i o n of p r e c i p i t a t i o n ,

b u t w a t e r c i r c u l a t i o n through t h e c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e b a s i n i s l i k e l y

restricted.

T o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s o f t e n exceed 1,000 mg/l; d i s s o l v e d sodium

s u l f a t e o r b i c a r b o n a t e predominate n e a r t h e o u t c r o p s , and sodium

c h l o r i d e b r i n e s i n t h e c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e b a s i n . Objectionable l e v e l s
of selenium and f l u o r i d e a r e o f t e n p r e s e n t i n water from t h e Upper

Cretaceous a q u i f e r s .

7. Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s and Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s

a r e l o c a l l y important w a t e r s o u r c e s where p r e s e n t i n t h e s o u t h e a s t

and i n t h e w e s t and s o u t h p a r t s of t h e b a s i n , r e s p e c t i v e l y , where

they p r o v i d e municipal water s u p p l i e s .

Reported y i e l d s of w e l l s i n t h e Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s exceed

1,000 gpm s o u t h e a s t of t h e study a r e a ; w i t h i n t h e a r e a i n v e s t i g a t e d ,

s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s t y p i c a l l y range from 0.2 t o 4 gpm/ft b u t can

exceed 200 gpm/f t . P r e c i p i t a t i o n i n f i l t r a t i o n through o u t c r o p s i s

t h e p r i n c i p a l r e c h a r g e mechanism.

Wells completed i n t h e Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s can y i e l d

over 1,000 gpm, although much of t h e y i e l d may b e induced r e c h a r g e

from a d j a c e n t r i v e r s . T r a n s m i s s i v i t y of a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s i s dependent

on s a t u r a t e d t h i c k n e s s and sediment s i z e ; r e p o r t e d v a l u e s range from

1 5 t o 64,000 g p d / f t .

Water from t h e Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s g e n e r a l l y h a s l e s s than

500 mg/l TDS, w i t h d i s s o l v e d sodium b i c a r b o n a t e dominant.

A l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s o f t e n c o n t a i n water w i t h over 1,000 mg/l TDS,

b u t i n p l a c e s a d j a c e n t t o t h e North P l a t t e River TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n s

a r e lower, r e f l e c t i n g t h e i n f l u e n c e of s u r f a c e water. Alluvial aquifer

w a t e r s vary i n composition, c o n t a i n i n g sodium, calcium, b i c a r b o n a t e ,

and s u l f a t e .

8. Within t h e Powder River b a s i n , c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of water q u a l i t y

parameters t h a t exceed U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency primary

d r i n k i n g w a t e r s t a n d a r d s i n c l u d e selenium, f l u o r i d e , radium-226, gross

a l p h a r a d i a t i o n , and o c c a s i o n a l l y n i t r a t e , mercury, and l e a d .

 Selenium c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n e x c e s s of 0.01 mg/l Se a r e g e o g r a p h i c a l l y

confined t o t h e f a r southwestern p a r t of t h e b a s i n , and a r e produced

from w e l l s completed i n i s o l a t e d Upper Cretaceous a q u i f e r s o r a s s o c i a t e d

a l l u v i a l aquifers. F l u o r i d e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n e x c e s s of 2.4 mg/l F

were measured i n ground water from a number of geologic formations and

many geographic a r e a s w i t h i n t h e b a s i n . The Madison system throughout

much of t h e b a s i n , t h e Fox H i l l s l L a n c e i n t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n , and

i s o l a t e d Upper Cretaceous a q u i f e r s i n t h e southwestern p a r t of t h e

b a s i n t y p i c a l l y produce w a t e r s w i t h h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of f l u o r i d e .

C o n c e n t r a t i o n s of radium-226 g r e a t e r than t h e d r i n k i n g water

s t a n d a r d (5 p ~ i / l )were measured a t two Madison a q u i f e r w e l l s , a s w e l l

a s numerous ~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion w e l l s l o c a t e d n e a r uranium o r e zones.

Gross a l p h a r a d i a t i o n i n e x c e s s of t h e d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d (15

p ~ i / l )was measured i n two w e l l s from each major p r e - T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r

system a s w e l l a s numerous ~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion w e l l s i n uranium o r e

zones .
Mercury and l e a d c o n c e n t r a t i o n s g r e a t e r t h a n d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d s

(0.002 mg/l Hg and 0.05 mg/l Pb) were measured a t one mine s i t e i n

t h e southwestern p o r t i o n of t h e b a s i n i n Wasatch Formation ground water.

N i t r a t e l e v e l s which exceed t h e d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d (10.0 mg/l N)

a r e found s p o r a d i c a l l y i n w a t e r from s h a l l o w w e l l s i n s e v e r a l a q u i f e r s .

The secondary s t a n d a r d s f o r s u l f a t e (250 mg/l SO=) and TDS concen-

4
t r a t i o n s (500 mg/l) a r e exceeded throughout much of t h e b a s i n i n a l l

water-bearing u n i t s . Waters w i t h l e s s than 500 mg/l TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n

a r e g e n e r a l l y r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e Madison a q u i f e r system n e a r t h e b a s i n

f l a n k s , t o p a r t s of t h e ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union
rt system, and t o t h e Middle

T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s and Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s . Although recommended

s t a n d a r d s a r e exceeded, t h e s u l f a t e - r i c h shallow ground w a t e r s of

t h e b a s i n a r e used by many of i t s r e s i d e n t s .

9. A p r e c i s e t a b u l a t i o n of ground-water u s e by economic s e c t o r

and s o u r c e a q u i f e r i s impossible u n t i l more a c t u a l withdrawal d a t a

are available. Approximately 128,000 t o 148,000 a c r e - f e e t of ground

w a t e r a r e used each y e a r i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , accounting f o r

roughly one-third of a l l water used w i t h i n t h e b a s i n . Estimates i d e n t i f y

t h e petroleum i n d u s t r y a s withdrawing t h e g r e a t e s t amounts of ground

w a t e r , followed by i r r i g a t i o n u s e r s and p u b l i c and p r i v a t e domestic

drinking water supplies.

I n d u s t r y u s e s roughly 66,000 t o 73,000 a c r e - f e e t of water w i t h i n

t h e Powder River b a s i n . Most i s ground w a t e r withdrawn by t h e petroleum

i n d u s t r y d u r i n g o i l production.

O v e r a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l water u s e i n t h e Powder River b a s i n i s roughly

250,000 t o 300,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r , of which about 33,000 t o 45,000 o r

more a c r e - f e e t / y r i s ground w a t e r . I r r i g a t i o n of 37,272 a c r e s accounts

f o r 66 t o 76 p e r c e n t o r more (22,000 t o 34,000-t- a c r e - f e e t / y r ) of t h e

e s t i m a t e d amount of a g r i c u l t u r a l ground w a t e r used. Stock w a t e r i n g

u s e s about 11,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r , d e r i v e d from t h e s h a l l o w e s t a q u i f e r s

i n any given a r e a through low-yield i n t e r m i t t e n t production w e l l s .

P u b l i c and p r i v a t e domestic d r i n k i n g water u s e t o t a l s about 33,200

acre-feet/yr and ground water r e p r e s e n t s s l i g h t l y more than t h r e e -

q u a r t e r s of t h e t o t a l (25,500 a c r e - f e e t / y r ) . Community supply systems

account f o r 79 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l domestic u s e . They u s e 71 p e r c e n t

ground w a t e r (18,455 a c r e - f e e t / y r ) , p r i n c i p a l l y from t h e Madison and

W a s a t c h / ~ o r tUnion a q u i f e r systems i n t h e e a s t and c e n t r a l p a r t s of

t h e b a s i n , r e s p e c t i v e l y , and Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s i n t h e southwest

p a r t of t h e b a s i n . M u n i c i p a l i t i e s i n t h e northwest p a r t of t h e b a s i n

use s u r f a c e w a t e r , w h i l e o t h e r community systems nearby t a p t h e

~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union
rt a q u i f e r system. Noncommunity p u b l i c and p r i v a t e

domestic water needs a r e m e t by numerous shallow, low-yield, inter-

m i t t e n t l y producing w e l l s a t t h e p o i n t of u s e , and aggregate water

u s e i s about 7,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r .
11. G E O G R A P H I C A N D G E O L O G I C

S E T T I N G
 11. G E O G R A P H I C A N D G E O L O G I C

S E T T I N G

The Powder River b a s i n of Wyoming, s p a r s e l y populated and l y i n g

f a r from any l a r g e m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a s , i s f a s t becoming a r e g i o n of

major importance, n o t only t o t h e s t a t e of Wyoming b u t t o t h e n a t i o n

as well. The cause of t h i s r i s i n g i n t e r e s t may b e summarized i n t h r e e

words: c o a l , petroleum, and uranium. With low-sulfur c o a l r e s e r v e s

i n e x c e s s of 90 b i l l i o n t o n s , annual o i l production i n e x c e s s of 35

m i l l i o n b a r r e l s , and one of t h e n a t i o n ' s l a r g e s t and most e a s i l y e x p l o i t -

a b l e r e s e r v e s of uranium, t h e Powder River b a s i n r e p r e s e n t s one of

t h e g r e a t e s t energy s o u r c e s i n t h e United S t a t e s . Development, u t i l i z a -

t i o n , and t r a n s p o r t of t h e s e r e s o u r c e s w i l l r e q u i r e l a r g e volumes

of w a t e r , and p l a c e f u r t h e r demands on p o t a b l e water s u p p l i e s from

t h e p o p u l a t i o n boom a s s o c i a t e d w i t h r e s o u r c e e x p l o i t a t i o n . Projected

water needs exceed a v a i l a b l e s u r f a c e s u p p l i e s , i n d i c a t i n g i n c r e a s e d

demands w i l l b e placed on ground-water r e s o u r c e s .

Within t h e s t a t e of Wyoming t h e Powder River s t r u c t u r a l b a s i n

(Figure 11-1) e x t e n d s from T. 58 N . , a t t h e Wyoming-Montana s t a t e

boundary southward t o roughly T. 27 W . , a d i s t a n c e of about 190 m i l e s ,

and from R. 60 W. a t t h e Wyoming-South Dakota s t a t e boundary westward

a s f a r a s R. 89 W . , a d i s t a n c e of about 180 m i l e s . The b a s i n i s bounded

on t h e w e s t by t h e Bighorn Mountains, on t h e southwest by t h e Casper

a r c h , on t h e s o u t h by t h e Laramie Mountains, and on t h e s o u t h e a s t

by t h e H a r t v i l l e u p l i f t . For purposes of t h i s study t h e n o r t h e r n

and e a s t e r n boundaries of t h e a r e a a r e taken t o be t h e Wyoming-Montana

 - - - --
25 0

25 0
25

25
, 50
I
50

75
75

I K~lometers
IM) Miles

F i g u r e 11-1. Geography of t h e Powder River s t r u c t u r a l basin, Wyomirig .

and t h e Wyoming-South Dakota s t a t e boundaries, r e s p e c t i v e l y . A s thus

d e f i n e d and o u t l i n e d on Figure 11-1, t h e Powder River s t r u c t u r a l b a s i n

has an a r e a l e x t e n t of about 25,000 square m i l e s , and i n c l u d e s a l l

of Crook, Weston, and Campbell c o u n t i e s ; most of Sheridan, Johnson,

and Converse c o u n t i e s ; and s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t s of Natrona and Niobrara

counties.

PHYSIOGRAPHY

Topography

The topographic b a s i n i s t y p i c a l l y h i l l y t o rugged upland p l a i n s

i n t o which meandering streams have i n c i s e d broad t e r r a c e - f l a n k e d v a l l e y s .

E l e v a t i o n of t h e b a s i n s u r f a c e v a r i e s from roughly 5,000 f e e t near

t h e western margin t o about 3,100 f e e t i n t h e e a s t , where t h e B e l l e

Fourche River c r o s s e s t h e s t a t e boundary; l o c a l l y r e l i e f may exceed

400 f e e t where badlands have formed.

The western margin of t h e study a r e a l i e s i n t h e Bighorn Mountains

and h a s a f a i r l y uniform r e g i o n a l e l e v a t i o n of 8,000 t o 9,000 f e e t .

West of t h e a r e a t h e h i g h e r peaks of t h e Bighorns r i s e s e v e r a l thousand

f e e t above t h i s l e v e l , reaching a maximum e l e v a t i o n of 13,165 f e e t

a t t h e summit of Cloud Peak. The e a s t f r o n t of t h e Bighorns r i s e s

a b r u p t l y from a narrow band of f o o t h i l l s , which i n t u r n s t a n d 1,000

t o 2,000 f e e t above t h e a d j a c e n t b a s i n .

A p a r t of t h e Black H i l l s l i e s w i t h i n t h e study a r e a and forms

t h e e a s t e r n margin of t h e Powder River topographic b a s i n . The Black

H i l l s a r e a i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t r e e - and grass-covered c r e s t s and

d i s s e c t e d p l a t e a u s w i t h l o c a l r e l i e f up t o 1,650 f e e t . Elevations

i n t h e Wyoming p a r t of t h e H i l l s , up t o 6,500 f e e t , g e n e r a l l y decrease

t o t h e west, where a band of hogback r i d g e s marks t h e H i l l s / b a s i n

boundary.

The n o r t h e r n Laramie Mountains occupy t h e s o u t h e r n margin of

the area. C r e s t a l e l e v a t i o n s a r e commonly about 9,000 f e e t b u t rise

t o a h i g h of 10,272 f e e t a t Laramie Peak.

S u r f a c e Drainage

The Powder River s t r u c t u r a l b a s i n l i e s w i t h i n t h e Missouri River

d r a i n a g e system. The western p a r t of t h e b a s i n i s d r a i n e d by t r i b u t a r i e s

of t h e Yellowstone R i v e r , i n c l u d i n g t h e Powder and Tongue r i v e r s .

The e a s t e r n p a r t i s d r a i n e d by t h e B e l l e Fourche, L i t t l e Missouri,

and Cheyenne r i v e r s . The s o u t h e r n edge of t h e b a s i n i s d r a i n e d by

t h e North P l a t t e River. The a r e a of each d r a i n a g e b a s i n , w i t h i n t h e

l i m i t s of t h e p r e s e n t study., is given i n Table 11-1.

Climate

The c l i m a t e of t h e Powder River b a s i n i s semi-arid c o n t i n e n t a l ,

marked by extreme and a b r u p t v a r i a t i o n s i n temperature and p r e c i p i t a t i o n .

E l e v a t i o n and topography have a s t r o n g i n f l u e n c e on l o c a l c l i m a t i c

conditions. Annual p r e c i p i t a t i o n averages 1 2 t o 16 i n c h e s over most

of t h e lowlands, d e c r e a s i n g t o a s l i t t l e a s 7 i n c h e s p e r y e a r i n t h e

southwest p a r t . Over h a l f of t h e b a s i n p r e c i p i t a t i o n o c c u r s between

A p r i l and June. P r e c i p i t a t i o n is g r e a t e r a t higher elevations, reaching

20 i n c h e s p e r y e a r over t h e Black H i l l s and a s much a s 40 i n c h e s p e r

y e a r i n p o r t i o n s of t h e Bighorn Mountains. A s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t of

t h e mountain p r e c i p i t a t i o n i s snowfall which c o n t r i b u t e s t o s p r i n g

runoff .
Table 11-1. S e l e c t e d Missouri River system t r i b u t a r i e s p r e s e n t i n t h e
r e p o r t a r e a , l i s t e d by t r i b u t a r y rank (shown by i n d e n t a t i o n ) ,
g i v i n g s e l e c t e d drainage b a s i n a r e a s included i n t h e study
area.

Approximate Area Percent of

Tributary (sq. mi.) T o t a l Area

(Yellowstone River drainage)

(Bighorn River drainage)
L i t t l e Bighorn ~ i v e r ~
Tongue River
Goose Creek
P r a i r i e Dog Creek
Powder River
Middle Fork
North Fork
South Fork
S a l t Creek
Dry Fork
Crazy Woman Creek
Clear Creek
b
L i t t l e Powder River

L i t t l e Missouri River

Cheyenne River
Antelope Creek
Dry Fork
Black Thunder Creek
Lodgepole Creek
Lance Creek
Lightning Creek
Beaver creekC
Stockade Beaver Creek
Belle Fourche ~ i v e r '
Caballo Creek
Buffalo Creek
Donkey Creek
Inyan Kara Creek
Redwater creekd

Niobrara ~ i v e r ~

( P l a t t e River drainage)
North P l a t t e River

a
Extreme headwater a r e a only.
b ~ o i n sPowder River i n Montana.
' ~ o i n s Cheyenne River i n South Dakota.
d ~ o i n sB e l l e Fourche River i n South Dakota.
 The weighted annual temperature of t h e a r e a i s 44.8"F. Mean

monthly averages range from 70°F i n J u l y t o 21.4"F i n January, though

d a i l y maximums g r e a t e r than l l O ° F and minimums less than -40°F have

been recorded.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

P o p u l a t i o n and Employment

Most of t h e Powder River b a s i n i s s p a r s e l y populated. The 1970

U.S. Census showed 107,364 persons i n t h e e i g h t c o u n t i e s of t h e b a s i n .

P r e l i m i n a r y 1980 Census d a t a placed t h e e i g h t county population a t

157,052, i n d i c a t i n g a 46 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n 10 y e a r s . Population

d i s t r i b u t i o n i s summarized i n Table 11-2. The t h r e e l a r g e s t municipal-

i t i e s , Casper, Sheridan, and G i l l e t t e , account f o r approximately 50

p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n . About 60,000 p e r s o n s , r e p r e s e n t i n g

38 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n , r e s i d e i n r u r a l a r e a s o r towns

w i t h fewer than 2,500 people.

A g r i c u l t u r e and energy production a r e t h e a r e a ' s major primary

industries. A g r i c u l t u r e i s dominated by c a t t l e and sheep r a i s i n g . Oil,

uranium, and c o a l a r e a l l c o n t r i b u t o r y t o t h e energy i n d u s t r y , both

i n e x t r a c t i v e and p r o c e s s i n g s t a g e s . I n a d d i t i o n , s i g n i f i c a n t employ-

ment i s provided by government and t h e t r a d e and s e r v i c e i n d u s t r i e s .

The "boom-town" c h a r a c t e r and r a p i d i n d u s t r i a l growth of t h e a r e a

have a l s o made t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y important.

Land Use and Ownership

A g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s account f o r about 89 p e r c e n t of t h e land

use i n t h e b a s i n . While most of t h i s land i s r a n g e , t h r e e p e r c e n t

i s u t i l i z e d a s cropland. Mining and petroleum o p e r a t i o n s , human

Table 11-2. P o p u l a t i o n d i s t r i b u t i o n and change i n Powder River b a s i n
c o u n t i e s and p l a c e s w i t h i n c o u n t i e s .

Area 1960 a 1970~ 1980~

Campbell County
Gillette
Converse County
Douglas
Glenrock
Crook County
Hule t t
Moorcroft
Sundance
Johnson County
Buff a10
Kaycee
Natrona c o u n t y C
Casper
Edger t on
Evansville
Midwest
Mills
Mountain View
P a r a d i s e Valley
d
Niobrara County
Lusk
Sheridan County
Clearmont
Dayton
Ranchester
Sheridan
Weston County
Newcastle
Upton
8 County Region
State 330,066 332,416 468,954

a
U.S. Census Data summarized i n U.S. Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , 1974.
b
1980 Census of P o p u l a t i o n and Housing P r e l i m i n a r y Report, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Bureau of t h e Census, October 1980.
C
50 p e r c e n t of county a r e a , predominantly r u r a l , i s n o t w i t h i n t h e
study a r e a .

d30 p e r c e n t of county a r e a , i n c l u d i n g Lusk, i s n o t w i t h i n t h e study

area.
h a b i t a t i o n s , and r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s occupy t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e nonagri-

cultural lands i n the basin center. Much of t h e b a s i n margin l a n d

r e p o r t e d a s non-farm i s p a r t of t h e Bighorn o r Black H i l l s n a t i o n a l

f o r e s t s , managed f o r m u l t i p l e u s e s .

The major p o r t i o n (67 p e r c e n t ) of b a s i n l a n d i s p r i v a t e l y owned,

although s t a t e and f e d e r a l l y owned l a n d s a r e a l s o p r e s e n t . Federally

owned l a n d i s p r i n c i p a l l y under t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n of t h e Bureau of

Land Management ( c e n t r a l b a s i n ) o r t h e U.S. F o r e s t S e r v i c e (Thunder

Basin N a t i o n a l Grassland i n t h e e a s t - c e n t r a l b a s i n , Bighorn and Black

H i l l s n a t i o n a l f o r e s t s along t h e u p l i f t s ) .

GEOLOGY

Stratigraphy

The Powder River b a s i n h a s over 16,000 f e e t of sedimentary s t r a t a

(Figure 11-2), d i v i s i b l e i n t o about 11,000 f e e t of Cambrian t o Cretaceous

p r e t e c t o n i c d e p o s i t s and up t o 5,000 f e e t of T e r t i a r y d e p o s i t s , asso-

c i a t e d w i t h r e g i o n a l deformation. The o l d e r sequence, exposed only

on t h e b a s i n margins, i s economically important f o r i t s o i l production

( s e e F i g u r e 11-Z), w h i l e T e r t i a r y d e p o s i t s i n t h e c e n t r a l a r e a c o n t a i n

significant coal reserves. Both t h e Lower Cretaceous F a l l River Forma-

t i o n and t h e Lower T e r t i a r y Wasatch Formation c o n t a i n uranium d e p o s i t s

i n t h e Black H i l l s and c e n t r a l b a s i n , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Paleozoic r o c k s a r e g e n e r a l l y marine l i m e s t o n e o r sandstones

and a r e r e l a t i v e l y uniform i n composition and t h i c k n e s s throughout

the area. Mesozoic r o c k s may b e d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e g e n e r a l l i t h o l o g i c

sequences. The lowest c o n s i s t s of c o n t i n e n t a l and shallow marine

r o c k s of T r i a s s i c t o e a r l y Cretaceous a g e , t y p i c a l l y s h a l e and c l a y s t o n e .
 5 White Rivcr 200'

....-: :.
...,'

-
I....
0 .-. -.:
ROCK S E Q U E N C E I N OCK SEQUENCE I N Wasat eh
. - - - 0 - ---
0
WESTERN POWDER € A S T E R N POWDER
.
, .Wasatoh
. .. .

, .... .... ._
. ... ...I .... ...:..... RIVER BASIN R I VER BASIN

-
-
.. '
--
+-.-
a

I
.

-
.-
-- -
Frontier
..
-
- =
-- -I 635-8201

VERTICAL
SCALE

Figure 11-2. Diagrammatic stratigraphy of rocks in the Powder River basin,

Wyoming, indicating lithologies and thicknesses (from Wyoming
Geological Association, 1964). Cross-hatching indicates oil
producing zones.
The s e v e r a l recognized sandstone formations a r e i r r e g u l a r f l u v i a l

and d e l t a i c d e p o s i t s . The middle l i t h o l o g i c u n i t i s a t h i c k marine

s h a l e sequence of Upper Cretaceous age which i n t e r t o n g u e s w i t h s e v e r a l

sandstones i n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n . The uppermost Mesozoic

r o c k s r e f l e c t r e t r e a t of t h e Cretaceous s e a and i n c l u d e t h e marine

Fox H i l l s Sandstone and sandy non-marine Lance Formation. Lower T e r t i a r y

s t r a t a a r e a t h i c k sequence of v a r i a b l e b a s i n - f i l l i n g c o n t i n e n t a l

r o c k s t h a t were g e n e r a l l y d e p o s i t e d c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h u p l i f t of t h e

surrounding mountains. Locally, post-tectonic T e r t i a r y continental

r o c k s r e f l e c t t h e l a s t phase of b a s i n f i l l i n g . Quaternary d e p o s i t s

i n c l u d e a e o l i a n sands, l a n d s l i d e and s l o p e d e p o s i t s , and a l l u v i a l

v a l l e y f i l l s and t e r r a c e s along major streams. Stratigraphic variations

of water-bearing bedrock formations a r e d i s c u s s e d i n more d e t a i l i n

Appendix B.

S t r u c t-u- r-e

The Powder River s t r u c t u r a l b a s i n (Figure 11-3), a Laramide f e a t u r e ,

i s a broad, northwest-trending asymmetric s y n c l i n e w i t h up t o 24,000

f e e t of s t r u c t u r a l r e l i e f , s i m i l a r i n s t r u c t u r a l s t y l e t o intermontane

b a s i n s t o t h e west. Surrounding t e c t o n i c elements a r e broad u p l i f t e d

b l o c k s of two t y p e s . Mountain u p l i f t s , t y p i c a l l y broad asymmetric

doubly-plunging a n t i c l i n e s w i t h exposed Precambrian c o r e s , i n c l u d e

t h e Black H i l l s , Laramie Mountains, and Bighorn Mountains on t h e e a s t ,

s o u t h , and west, r e s p e c t i v e l y . Broad u p l i f t s of l e s s e r magnitude

i n c l u d e t h e H a r t v i l l e u p l i f t t o t h e s o u t h e a s t and t h e Casper a r c h

t o t h e southwest. These major elements a r e s e p a r a t e d from t h e b a s i n

by narrow zones of l a r g e v e r t i c a l r e l i e f . These zones i n c l u d e t h e

 107' 106' 105' 104'
I I I I
MONTANA
WYOMING

BIGHORN MOUNTAINS

POWDER
RIVER
BASIN

BIGHORN

CASPER ARCH

-
0

0
10

20
20

40

EXPLANATION
30 40

60
50Mi.

80Km.

f anticline

a
,,j::8.2:~~~,:... surf ace exposure of
Precambrian rocks

CASPER major tectonic block

ARCH

Figure 11-3. Tectonic s k e t c h map of Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming and v i c i n i t y .

Major t e c t o n i c blocks shown a r e : Black H i l l s u p l i f t (BH),
Bighorn Mountains (BM) , Laramie Mountains (LM) , Casper a r c h (CA) ,
H a r t v i l l e u p l i f t (HU) , Powder River b a s i n (PRB) , Bighorn b a s i n
(BHB), Wind River b a s i n (WRB), S h i r l e y b a s i n (SB), and Denver-
J u l e s b e r g b a s i n (DJB). S t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e s shown and named a r e
t h e Black H i l l s monocline (bhm), the Fanny Peak lineament ( f p l ) ,
and t h e b a s i n a x i s (ba).
Fanny Peak lineament of Shapiro (1971), on t h e s o u t h e a s t w i t h up t o

2,000 f e e t displacement (Huntoon and Womack, 1975); t h e u n f a u l t e d

Black H i l l s monocline, on t h e e a s t ; and unnamed s t r u c t u r e s on t h e

s o u t h and w e s t , w i t h f a u l t displacement of up t o 4,000 f e e t (Blackstone,

1980). S u b s i d i a r y Laramide s t r u c t u r e s ( s e e P l a t e 1 ) i n c l u d e f o l d s

p a r a l l e l t o t h e major t r e n d s , such a s t h e Old Woman and S a l t Creek

s t r u c t u r e s , and f o l d s and f a u l t s t r a n s v e r s e t o p r i n c i p a l t r e n d s , such

a s t h o s e s u b d i v i d i n g t h e Bighorn block.

Hydrostratigraphy

V i r t u a l l y a l l geologic formations p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e Powder River

b a s i n l o c a l l y y i e l d water t o shallow w e l l s , although many of t h e s e

f o r m a t i o n s a r e n o t considered " d e s i r a b l e " a q u i f e r s due t o low y i e l d ,

poor w a t e r q u a l i t y , o r b o t h . R e l a t i v e l y few geologic formations a r e

considered p r i n c i p a l a q u i f e r s i n p r e v i o u s basin-wide s t u d i e s (Dana,

1962; Hodson and o t h e r s , 1973), b u t s e v e r a l a d d i t i o n a l formations

a r e considered minor w a t e r s o u r c e s i n p a r t s of t h e Powder River b a s i n

(Dana, 1962; Whitcomb and Morris, 1964; Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966;

Crist and Lowry, 1972; Hodson and o t h e r s , 1973). Deep b u r i a l i n p a r t s

of t h e b a s i n h a s i n t h e p a s t economically precluded development of

many " d e s i r a b l e " a q u i f e r s .

F i g u r e 11-4 i d e n t i f i e s t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c r e l a t i o n s h i p s of t h e

p r i n c i p a l a q u i f e r s , minor o r l o c a l a q u i f e r s , and c o n f i n i n g beds w i t h i n

t h e Powder River b a s i n s t r a t i g r a p h i c s e c t i o n . Aquifer systems i n d i c a t e d

on F i g u r e 11-4 a r e d e f i n e d a s sequences of g e o l o g i c a l l y s i m i l a r water-

b e a r i n g s t r a t i g r a p h i c u n i t s , bounded by r e g i o n a l c o n f i n i n g beds, which

have s i m i l a r r e c h a r g e and d i s c h a r g e a r e a s and t h e r e f o r e s i m i l a r ground-

 GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS HYDROGEOLOGIC ROLE

Flood plain alluvium, terrace

QUATERNARY Quaternary aquifers
deposits and aeolian deposits
PLIO- LOCALLY
CENE
PRESENT
MIO-
AQUIFERS
CENE
3LIGIO

-
CENE
EO - Wasatch Fm. WASATCH/ Wasatch aquifers
CENE
FORT UNION
upper Fort Union aquifers
AQUIFER SYS.
'ALE0
Tongue R. Mbr.
--------- - - - - - --------------
Fort Union Fm. Lebo Mbr. leaky confining layer
CENE --------- ----- - ----
Tullock Mbr. FOX HILLS/ lower Fort Union aquifers
Lance Fm. LANCE
Fox Hills and Lance aquifers
AQUIFER SYS.
I Fox Hills Ss.
Bearpaw or Lewis Sh.
Teapot Ss.
---- Mesaverde
vlesaverde
Fm. ---- aquifer

I
Pierre Sh.
----
Shanon Ss.
---- PRINCIPAL
Steele Sh. REGIONAL
AQUITARD aquitard
Niobrara Sh.
Sh. Niobrara Sh.

-----
Turner Ss. Frontier aquifer \
7
L I Carlile Sh.

Frontier Fm. Belle Fourche Sh.

 Mowry Sh. aauitard

Muddy Ss. Newcastle Ss. I Newcastle/Muddy aquifer

Thermo~olisSh. Skull Creek Sh. aquitard
DAKOTA
Fall R. Fm. Fall River aquifer
AQUIFER
Cloverly Fm. ' ----
IIIIIIIIIIIIII
Fuson S t
lnyan

GP.
SYSTEM leaky confining layer

~akota/Cloverly aquifer
Lakota Fm.

Morrison Fm.
aquitard

Sundance aquifer
JURASSIC

REGIONAL
AQUITARD
TRIASSIC Chugwater Fm.
Spearfish Fm.
Permo -Triassic aquifers
Goose Egg Fm. Minnekahta Ls.
PERMIAN aquitard

-------

Tensleep Ss. Tensleep aquifer leaky confining layer

PENNSYL- Minnelusa Fm.
VANIAN

Amsden Fm.

Pahasapa Ls. MADISON

MISSISSIPPIAN Madison aquifer
Madison Ls. Englewood Ls. AQUIFER

-
SYSTEM
DEVONIAN Jefferson Fm.
SILURIAN
Whitewood Dol. Ordovician aquifer
Bighorn Dot.
ORDOVICIAN Winnipeg Fm.

Gallatin Fm. Deadwood Fm.

CAMBRIAN Gros Ventre Fm.
Flathead Ss.
aquitard
Precambrian Rocks
water flow p a t h s . Aquifer systems may be l o c a l l y subdivided by low-

p e r m e a b i l i t y u n i t s which i n h i b i t h y d r a u l i c intercommunication of t h e

a q u i f e r s comprising t h e system. Additionally, a q u i f e r s ( e i t h e r l o c a l

o r r e g i o n a l ) a r e d e f i n e d h e r e i n t o i n c l u d e d i s t r i c t hydrologic u n i t s

t h a t have r e c o g n i z a b l e geologic boundaries, and a r e t y p i c a l l y capable

of producing adequate amounts of water f o r e x p l o i t a t i o n .

For t h i s r e p o r t , f o u r r e g i o n a l l y important bedrock a q u i f e r systems

a r e i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e Powder River b a s i n . These a r e t h e Upper Paleozoic

Madison, Lower Cretaceous Dakota, Uppermost Cretaceous Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n c e ,

and Lower T e r t i a r y W a s a t c h / ~ o r tUnion a q u i f e r systems. T h i s four-

f o l d d i v i s i o n i s s i m i l a r t o r e g i o n a l ground-water concepts of t h e

U.S. Geological Survey (Northern Great P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974;

U.S. Geological Survey, 1975, 1979).

I s o l a t e d sandstones w i t h i n t h e Lower and Middle Mesozoic and

Upper Cretaceous s h a l e sequences a r e l o c a l l y e x p l o i t e d a s a q u i f e r s ,

although t h e i r a r e a l importance i s c u r r e n t l y l i m i t e d t o zones n e a r

t h e outcrops. These s a n d s t o n e s i n c l u d e u n i t s i n t h e Sundance and

S p e a r f i s h f o r m a t i o n s i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n (Dana, 1962;

Whitcomb and Morris, 1964) and sandstones w i t h i n t h e Cody Shale, Mesa-

v e r d e , F r o n t i e r , and Chugwater formations i n t h e western p a r t of t h e

b a s i n (Hodson and o t h e r s , 1973; Crist and Lowry, 1972; Whitcomb and

o t h e r s , 1966). The Minnekahta Limestone a l s o h a s water-bearing p o t e n t i a l

i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e study a r e a .

I n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e Middle T e r t i a r y Arikaree

and White River formations a r e e x p l o i t e d , where p r e s e n t , by shallow

w e l l s w i t h low y i e l d s . These l o c a l a q u i f e r s have only l i m i t e d importance

due t o t h e i r s m a l l a r e a l e x t e n t w i t h i n t h e b a s i n .
 Unconsolidated Quaternary a l l u v i a l and t e r r a c e d e p o s i t s a r e only

p r e s e n t a l o n g major stream v a l l e y s b u t , where n e a r population concen-

t r a t i o n s , have been e x t e n s i v e l y e x p l o i t e d a s water sources.

The p r i n c i p a l r e g i o n a l a q u i t a r d i n t h e Powder River b a s i n i s

t h e t h i c k Upper Cretaceous s h a l e sequence ( i n c l u d i n g t h e P i e r r e and

i t s e q u i v a l e n t s ) , which i s a n e f f e c t i v e b a r r i e r t o ground-water flow

and d i v i d e s t h e deep (Madison and Dakota) and shallow (Fox ~ i l l s /

Lance and ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union)

rt a q u i f e r systems of t h e b a s i n (Northern

Great P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974). Aquifers below t h e P i e r r e Shale

a r e exposed only on t h e b a s i n margins and have been deformed i n t h e

p e r i p h e r a l zones of s t r u c t u r a l d i s t u r b a n c e . The r e g i o n a l flow p a t t e r n s

and geochemical t r e n d s of w a t e r s i n t h e s e a q u i f e r s i n d i c a t e p r i n c i p a l

r e c h a r g e from t h e b a s i n margin o u t c r o p s and a l s o show d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s

a c r o s s i n t e n s e l y deformed zones. I n c o n t r a s t , a q u i f e r s above t h e

P i e r r e occupy t h e l e s s deformed b a s i n c e n t e r and a r e o f t e n exposed

over l a r g e a r e a s . The shallower flow p a t t e r n s a r e more l o c a l i z e d

and r e f l e c t outcrop r e c h a r g e and d i s c h a r g e , and a l s o v e r t i c a l leakage

between a q u i f e r s . Geochemical t r e n d s a r e less w e l l d e f i n e d , and r e p o r t e d

t r e n d s a r e o f t e n r e l a t e d t o w e l l depth, a s an i n d i c a t o r of flow p a t h

length.
28
111. G R O U N D - W A T E R U S E
 111. GROUND-WATER USE

Ground water i s u t i l i z e d f o r domestic, municipal, i n d u s t r i a l ,

and a g r i c u l t u r a l purposes w i t h i n t h e Powder River b a s i n . Lack of

a c c u r a t e r e c o r d s p r e v e n t s p r e c i s e q u a n t i f i c a t i o n of t h e amounts of

ground water used; t h i s c h a p t e r r e p o r t s e s t i m a t e d consumption by

economic s e c t o r and a l s o i d e n t i f i e s t h e p r i n c i p a l source a q u i f e r s .

Appendix A d e t a i l s more f u l l y community and i n d u s t r i a l water use.

Approximately 128,000 t o 148,000 a c r e - f e e t of ground water a r e

used a n n u a l l y i n t h e Powder River b a s i n . Table 111-1 summarizes

amounts used by economic s e c t o r and source a q u i f e r s . Although t h e

l a r g e s t number of w e l l s a r e p e r m i t t e d f o r p r i v a t e domestic and/or

s t o c k u s e , i r r i g a t i o n , m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , and t h e petroleum i n d u s t r y

use t h e l a r g e s t amounts of ground water. The p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e s of

ground-water withdrawals i n t h e b a s i n a r e t h e Madison and Wasatchl

F o r t Union a q u i f e r systems and Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s . Ground

w a t e r a c c o u n t s f o r roughly one-third of a l l water used w i t h i n t h e

b a s i n , and over t h r e e - q u a r t e r s of t h e n o n - i r r i g a t i o n water use.

I n c r e a s e d energy r e s o u r c e development, coupled w i t h p o p u l a t i o n

growth, i s p l a c i n g new and l a r g e demands on s o u r c e s of water f o r

i n d u s t r i a l and municipal use. Planned c o a l t r a n s p o r t by s l u r r y pipe-

l i n e and s y n t h e t i c f u e l production i n d i c a t e f u t u r e a d d i t i o n a l

water needs w i t h i n t h e b a s i n . Water consumption i n t h e y e a r 2020

i s p r o j e c t e d t o be more t h a n double p r e s e n t usage (Wyoming Water

Planning Program, 1973).

T a b l e 111-1. Estimated a n n u a l u s e of ground w a t e r i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming, by economic
s e c t o r , indicating principal sources.

Annual Water Use

Economic S e c t o r (acre-f e e t ) P r i n c i p a l Water Source

Domestic U s e
Municipal Madison and w a s a t c h n o r t Union a q u i f e r
systems, Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s .
Non-Municipal Community ~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion a q u i f e r system.
Non-Community A l l shallow a q u i f e r s .
Private A l l shallow a q u i f e r s .

Industry
Petroleum- by-product w a t e r 59,645 A l l deep a q u i f e r s .
Petroleum- secondary r e c o v e r y
f r e s h (make-up) w a t e r 4,414+ Madison and Fox H i l l s / L a n c e a q u i f e r systems.
Petroleum R e f i n i n g 65+ Madison a q u i f e r .
Coal Mining 1,200 - 7,400 ~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion a q u i f e r system.
Power G e n e r a t i o n 1,147 Madison and Wasatch/Fort Union a q u i f e r
systems .
Uranium Mining ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union
rt a q u i f e r system.

Agriculture
S t o c k Watering <11,000 A l l shallow a q u i f e r s .
Irrigation 22,000 - 34,000+ Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s , Madison
a q u i f e r system, Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s .

TOTAL : ~ 1 2 7 , 8 4 5- 148,495+

Source: Compiled from v a r i o u s s o u r c e s ; s e e t a b l e s i n Appendix A.

 F u r t h e r development p o t e n t i a l of s u r f a c e water i s l i m i t e d , and

e s t i m a t e d a t about 224,000 a c r e - f e e t l y r (Wyoming Water Planning Program,

1973). The L i t t l e Missouri and Cheyenne r i v e r s have l i t t l e a d d i t i o n a l

dependable water a v a i l a b l e . A c o u r t decree l i m i t s development of

a d d i t i o n a l s u p p l i e s from t h e North P l a t t e River. I n t e r s t a t e compacts

govern development of t h e Tongue, B e l l e Fourche, and Powder r i v e r s ,

and withdrawal of a d d i t i o n a l water from t h e s e d r a i n a g e s would e n t a i l

c o n s t r u c t i o n of s t o r a g e f a c i l i t i e s .

F u l l development of s u r f a c e water w i t h i n t h e n e x t t h i r t y y e a r s

i s u n l i k e l y ; t h e r e f o r e , d e f i c i t water requirements must be m e t by

e i t h e r t r a n s b a s i n d i v e r s i o n s of s u r f a c e water o r a d d i t i o n a l development

of t h e ground-water r e s o u r c e s of t h e b a s i n . Most p r e s e n t development

p r e s s u r e i s on t h e Madison a q u i f e r system because i t i s perceived

a s t h e l e a s t expensive source of l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of good q u a l i t y

water f o r municipal and i n d u s t r i a l use (see, f o r example, Wyoming

Water Planning Program, 1977, p. 37-51).

DOMESTIC GROUND-WATER USE

Drinking water s u p p l i e s can be divided i n t o p u b l i c and p r i v a t e

systems. P u b l i c systems a r e f u r t h e r d i v i d e d i n t o community s u p p l i e s

(more than 25 permanent r e s i d e n t s s e r v e d ) , which may be municipally

o r p r i v a t e l y owned, and non-community s u p p l i e s ( l e s s than 25 permament

r e s i d e n t s b u t a t r a n s i e n t population of g r e a t e r than 25 s e r v e d ) . Within

t h e b a s i n 21 municipal, 75 non-municipal community, and 99 non-community

systems a r e i n v e n t o r i e d by t h e U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency

( s e e Table 111-2 and Figure 111-1).

 T a b l e 111-2. P u b l i c w a t e r s u p p l y s y s t e m s i n t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Nyoming.

Community S u p p l i e s Non-Community Supplies

Population Number of Average ~ r o d u c t i o n b Population Numberof - Average ~ r o d u c t i o n h
County Served Systemsa gallday AF/yr Served Systems gallday AF/yr

Campbell 19,270 1/35 1,732,200 1,942 1,485 10 62,325 70

Crook 2,920 313 415,075 465 1,135 12 14,825 17

d
Niobrara 234 112 64,450 72 75 1 750 0.8

P l a tte 450 1/0 20,000 22 670 7 17,625 20

Wes t o n 6,870 2/3 781, 200d 876d 135 3 2,800 3.1

a ~ i r s tnumber i s m u n i c i p a l s y s t e m s , s e c o n d i s nonrnunicipal s y s t e m s ; m u n i c i p a l s y s t e m s a c c o u n t f o r m a j o r i t y o f p o p u l a t i o n and

production.

b ~ n c l u d e ssome w a t e r u s e d f o r i n d u s t r i a l o r a g r i c u l t u r a l p u r p o s e s .

'some community s u p p l i e s are w h o l l y o r p a r t l y s u r f a c e w a t e r ( s e e T a b l e A-1, Appendix A ) .

d I n c l u d e s w a t e r p u r c h a s e d f r o m o t h e r s y s t e m s ; i t i s unknown i f amount i s i n c l u d e d i n s e l l e r ' s p r o d u c t i o n .

e ~ n c l u d e sa b o t t l e d w a t e r company r e p o r t e d t o b e s e r v i n g 15,000 p e o p l e .

Source:
-- U.S. E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n Agency, 1979.
 107" 106' 105"
I I
I
i
i C R O O K

8
0 - - -C A M-
P B E L L I
Gillette O 8
Madison 0
Wall Field /
o -oY4

J 0 H N S O N

0
00

W E S T O N

A T R O N A o0
C O N V E R S E

EXPLANATION

0 Noncommunity p u b l i c

A
Community, municipal

Community, nonmunicipal
L
---_--

---
25

25
0

*-- 0
26

25 50
50
76
1
75

100
1
Kilometers
100 Miles
d

F i g u r e 111-1. Location of p u b l i c d r i n k i n g water s u p p l i e s i n v e n t o r i e d by t h e

U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency i n t h e Powder River b a s i n ,
Wyoming. (Six non-community and e i g h t community systems
included i n t h e i n v e n t o r y a r e n o t p r e c i s e l y l o c a t e d ; s i x a r e
t r a i l e r parks near G i l l e t t e . )
 The t o t a l number of p e r m i t t e d m u n i c i p a l and domestic w a t e r s u p p l y

w e l l s i n t h e b a s i n i s 5,375 (Wyoming S t a t e ~ n g i n e e r ' s O f f i c e , computer-

i z e d d a t a b a s e , February, 1980). The l o c a t i o n s of t h e s e w e l l s a r e

shown on P l a t e 2 , which a l s o i d e n t i f i e s s o u r c e a q u i f e r s . Table 111-3

summarizes t h e a q u i f e r s most o f t e n e x p l o i t e d f o r m u n i c i p a l , non-municipal

community, non-community p u b l i c , and p r i v a t e domestic w a t e r s u p p l i e s .

Estimated p u b l i c and p r i v a t e domestic d r i n k i n g w a t e r u s e i s about

33,200 a c r e - f e e t l y r , of which a t l e a s t 7,700 a c r e - f e e t / y r i s s u p p l i e d

by s u r f a c e w a t e r . Use f i g u r e s i n c l u d e commercial, i n d u s t r i a l , and

lawn w a t e r i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s , a s w e l l as w a t e r f o r d i r e c t human consumption.

Based on c u r r e n t t o t a l b a s i n p o p u l a t i o n and u s e of 180 g a l l d a y p e r

c a p i t a , t o t a l domestic w a t e r use i n t h e b a s i n i s e s t i m a t e d a t 31,300

acre-feetlyr, i n c l o s e agreement w i t h t h e t o t a l d e r i v e d from e s t i m a t e s

of u s e by e a c h supply c l a s s .

Community Sy stems

Community w a t e r supply systems a r e d i v i s i b l e i n t o m u n i c i p a l l y

and p r i v a t e l y owned and o p e r a t e d systems and produce an a v e r a g e of

26,155 a c r e - f e e t l y r (Table 111-2). Ground water s u p p l i e s a s much

a s 71 p e r c e n t (18,455 a c r e - f e e t l y r ) . M u n i c i p a l i t i e s a c c o u n t f o r 92

p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l p r o d u c t i o n , and a l l t h e s u r f a c e w a t e r u s e .

Municipal Systems

M u n i c i p a l i t i e s w i t h i n t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n depend upon ground-

w a t e r s o u r c e s f o r much of t h e i r w a t e r supply ( s e e Appendix A , Table A-1).

Ground water i s used e x c l u s i v e l y a s a w a t e r s o u r c e by Clearmont, Edger-

t o n , G i l l e t t e , Glendo, H u l e t t , M a n v i l l e , Moorcroft, Newcastle, Sundance,

 Table 111-3. Sources of water for municipal, community, non-community public, and private domestic supplies within
the Powder River basin, Wyoming.

Non-Municipal Non-Community Public and

County Municipal Supplies Community Supplies Private Domestic suppliesa

Campbell ~asatch/FortUnion aquifer system Wasatch/Fort Union aquifer system WasatchIFort Union aquifer system
Fox Hills/Lance aquifer system Fox HillslLance aquifer system
(north & east)
b
Madison aquifer

Converse Madison aquifer system (spring)
Quaternary alluvial aquifers
Fox ~ i l l s l ~ a n caquifer
e system
surface water (N. Platte R. drainage)
Middle Tertiary aquifers Middle Tertiary aquifers (south)
Fort Union aquifers WasatchIFort Union aquifer system
Fox ~ills/Lanceaquifer system (west)

Crook Madison aquifer system Minnelusa aquifer Dakota aquifer system

Fox HillsILance aquifer system Fox ~ills/Lanceaquifer system (southwest)
Sundance (Hulett) aquifer (central)
Permo-Triassic aquifers (southeast)

Johnson surface water (Powder River drainage) Wasatch aquifers ~asatch/FortUnion aquifer system
Fox Hills/Lance aquifer system Upper Cretaceous aquifers (southwest)
Fox Hills/Lance aquifer system (southeast)

Natrona Quaternary alluvial aquifers purchased municipal water Upper Cretaceous aquifers
surface water (North Platte River) Quaternary alluvial aquifers Quaternary alluvial aquifers (south)
Fox Hills/Lance aquifer system Dakota aquifer system Fox HillsjLance aquifer system (east)

Niobrara Middle Tertiary aquifers Dakota aquifer system? Middle Tertiary aquifers (south)
Quaternary alluvial aquifers? Fox Hills/Lance aquifer system (north)

Platte Hartville aquifer (Madison aquifer system) - Middle Tertiary aquifers

Sheridan surface water (Tongue River drainage) Wasatch/Fort Union aquifer system? ~asatch/FortUnion aquifer system
~asatch/FortUnion aquifer system Quaternary alluvial aquifers? Quaternary alluvial aquifers

Weston Madison aquifer Madison aquifer Fox ~ills/Lanceaquifer system (west)

Dakota aquifer system Dakota aquifer system (northeast)

a~arentheses indicate part of county where this aquifer is important.

b~eginningmid-1981, piped from wellfield in Crook County.

and Upton, w h i l e ground w a t e r i s a s u b s t a n t i a l p a r t of t h e water supply

f o r Casper, Douglas, Glenrock, and M i l l s .

Average w a t e r p r o d u c t i o n of m u n i c i p a l systems i s 24,078 a c r e -

f e e t / y r ( s e e T a b l e A-1), of which a t l e a s t 7,700 a c r e - f e e t / y r is surface

w a t e r , l e a v i n g a b o u t 16,400 a c r e - f e e t / y r a s ground w a t e r u s e .

The Madison and ~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion a q u i f e r systems a r e t h e most

e x t e n s i v e l y used s o u r c e s of ground water f o r t h e s e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s .

T a b l e A-2 (Appendix A) l i s t s a l l p e r m i t t e d ground w a t e r s o u r c e s f o r

m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , by w e l l .

Non-Municipal Community Systems

P r i v a t e community w a t e r systems w i t h i n t h e b a s i n i n c l u d e sub-

d i v i s i o n s , mobile home p a r k s , and s m a l l communities; a l t h o u g h n o t

a d m i n i s t e r e d through a m u n i c i p a l u t i l i t y , t h e y supply w a t e r t o more

t h a n 25 permanent u s e r s . These systems may b e owned and o p e r a t e d

by a n i n d i v i d u a l , a c o r p o r a t i o n , o r a w a t e r u s e r s t a s s o c i a t i o n .

The l a r g e s t numbers of p r i v a t e o r a s s o c i a t i o n - h e l d community

systems a r e c o n c e n t r a t e d n e a r Casper, G i l l e t t e , and S h e r i d a n ( s e e

F i g u r e 111-1). Unincorporated communities w i t h c e n t r a l supply systems

i n c l u d e Acme, L i n c h , Osage, and Wright. T a b l e A-3 (Appendix A) l i s t s

i n v e n t o r i e d p r o v a t e community w a t e r s u p p l y systems. Quaternary a l l u v i a l

a q u i f e r s and @Be FiasatchlFort Union a q u i f e r system a r e t h e most exten-

s i v e l y e x p l o i t e d s o u r c e s of w a t e r f o r p r i v a t e community systems.

Non-municipal community w a t e r systems have a n i n v e n t o r i e d a v e r a g e

w a t e r p r o d u c t i o n r a t e of 2,077 a c r e - f e e t / y r ( s e e Table A-3).

 Non-Community Systems and P r i v a t e Domestic Wells

A l l non-community p u b l i c systems i n t h e b a s i n use e x c l u s i v e l y

ground w a t e r f o r commercial, r e c r e a t i o n a l , i n s t i t u t i o n a l , o r i n d u s t r i a l

purposes. I n v e n t o r i e d non-community p u b l i c water use i s 559 a c r e -

f e e t / y r (Table 111-2) .
P r i v a t e household domestic w e l l s a r e widely d i s t r i b u t e d throughout

t h e b a s i n ( s e e P l a t e Z), normally of low y i e l d ( l e s s than 25 gpm),

and only pumped i n t e r m i t t e n t l y . T o t a l water u s e i s about 6,500 a c r e -

f e e t / y r , based on t h a t p o r t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n n o t served by community

systems, and a p e r c a p i t a consumption of 180 g a l l o n s p e r day.

Water a v a i l a b i l i t y a t r e a s o n a b l e d e p t h s u s u a l l y d i c t a t e s which

a q u i f e r i s used f o r a non-community o r household water supply; Table

111-3 l i s t s t h e most f r e q u e n t l y u t i l i z e d a q u i f e r s i n t h e b a s i n .

INDUSTRIAL WATER USE

Petroleum I n d u s t r v

The petroleum i n d u s t r y withdraws t h e l a r g e s t amounts of ground

water i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , p r i n c i p a l l y a s a by-product of petroleum

production. A d d i t i o n a l withdrawals a r e used f o r secondary recovery

t e c h n i q u e s , such a s w a t e r f l o o d i n g , and used i n r e f i n i n g p r o c e s s e s ,

a l t h o u g h much of t h e l a t t e r i s s u r f a c e water. The t o t a l volume of

ground w a t e r used by t h e petroleum i n d u s t r y a n n u a l l y i s e s t i m a t e d a s

64,124 a c r e - f e e t , most of which i s ground water d e r i v e d from almost

a l l of t h e p r e - T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s i n t h e b a s i n .

Crude O i l Production

I n 1967 a n e s t i m a t e d 18,000 a c r e - f e e t of ground water were with-

drawn d u r i n g petroleum production i n a l l of e a s t e r n Wyoming (Wyoming

Water Planning Program, 1971, 1972) and about n i n e - t e n t h s of t h e o i l

f i e l d s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s e s t i m a t e a r e w i t h i n t h e study a r e a . Since

1967 t h e number of discovered o i l f i e l d s h a s almost doubled ( t o about

450) and t h e number of w a t e r f l o o d u n i t s h a s i n c r e a s e d 133 p e r c e n t ,

although t o t a l o i l production h a s n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y changed.

I n 1979 r e p o r t e d produced (by-product) water f o r t h e e i g h t c o u n t i e s

of n o r t h e a s t Wyoming was 59,645 a c r e - f e e t (Table 111-4), r e p r e s e n t i n g

e i t h e r a s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e i n water withdrawals o r b e t t e r d a t a than

used i n p r e v i o u s e s t i m a t e s . Much of t h i s produced water i s i n j e c t e d

f o r secondary recovery purposes, t h e remainder i s e i t h e r i n j e c t e d

i n d i s p o s a l w e l l s , evaporated, o r discharged t o s u r f a c e d r a i n a g e s

under Wyoming Department of Environmental Q u a l i t y permits. For more

d e t a i l e d information on water d i s p o s a l w e l l s , r e f e r t o C o l l e n t i n e

and o t h e r s (1981).

Produced water i s d e r i v e d from a l l oil-producing h o r i z o n s . These

i n c l u d e t h e Minnelusa, Sundance, F a l l R i v e r , and Newcastle (Muddy)

formations i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n , and t h e Tensleep, C l o v e r l y ,

Muddy, F r o n t i e r , and Cody formations i n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n .

Secondary Petroleum Recovery

I n 1979, 41,974 a c r e - f e e t of water were i n j e c t e d t o enhance

petroleum recovery by w a t e r f l o o d i n g (Table 111-4).

Fresh w a t e r used d u r i n g i n j e c t i o n f o r secondary petroleum recovery

i n t h e Powder River b a s i n i s e s t i m a t e d t o t o t a l a t l e a s t 4,414 a c r e -

feetlyr. T h i s e s t i m a t e i s based on t h e d i f f e r e n c e between r e p o r t e d

amounts of produced and i n j e c t e d water f o r o i l f i e l d s w i t h a c t i v e

injection projects. It assumes a l l produced water i s subsequently

 T a b l e 111-4. 1979 ground-water u s e by t h e p e t r o l e u m i n d u s t r y i n t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n , by c o u n t y . Refinery use is excluded.

Water I n j e c t e d f o r Secondary and

C a l c u l a t e d Minimum Amount
Produced (by-product) Water Tertiary ~ e c o v e r ~ ~ of Make-up Water
T o t a l Water Use
Amount Amount 1nj e c t e d b
County /I F i e l d s # Wells (bbl. ) # Fields # Units # Wells .
(bbl ) (bbl. ) (bbl. ) (acre-fee t )

Campbell 188 1,466 75,319,873 35 43 253 76,472,321 22,013,766 97,333,639 12,546

Converse 58 958 17,517,936 4 9 108 13,071,180 822,849 18,340,785 2,364

Crook 60 350 12,847,891 11 13 43 7,593,704 1,590,077 14,437,968 1,861

Johnson 38 48 7 23,549,711 6 15 93 15,967,392 4,844,895 28,394,606 3,660

Niobrara 33 255 25,947,049 3 3 4 477,577 0 25,947,049 3,345

-P
0 Sheridan 7 37 1,070,532 1 1 8 641,291 417,152 1,487,684 192

TOTAL 488 6,755 462,721,697 77 126 1,528 325,628,357 34,243,891 496,965,588 64,059
(59,645 AF) (41,974 AF) (4,414 AF)

a ~ c t i v ep r o j e c t s o n l y .

b ~ a l c u l a t e dby s u b t r a c t i n g r e p o r t e d produced w a t e r from r e p o r t e d i n j e c t e d w a t e r f o r e a c h f i e l d ( s e e Appendix A, T a b l e A-4).

C ~ o m eo i l f i e l d s i n c l u d e d i n produced w a t e r t o t a l a r e o u t s i d e t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n .

Source: C a l c u l a t e d from f i l e s and c o m p i l a t i o n s of t h e Wyoming O i l and Gas Commission.

i n j e c t e d and a l l a d d i t i o n a l i n j e c t e d w a t e r i s from o t h e r ground-water

sources. The f ield-by-f i e l d d a t a a r e included i n Appendix A (Table

A-4). A t s e v e r a l o i l f i e l d s produced water may n o t be r e c y c l e d by

i n j e c t i o n ; a s a r e s u l t s u b s t a n t i a l l y more f r e s h water may b e used,

e s p e c i a l l y from t h e Madison a q u i f e r ( s e e Appendix A).

For a more d e t a i l e d compilation of secondary recovery ground-

water u t i l i z a t i o n d a t a , r e f e r t o t h e I n j e c t i o n W e l l Inventory of Wyoming

( C o l l e n t i n e and o t h e r s , 1981) .
Major s o u r c e s of f r e s h water used f o r secondary o i l recovery

i n c l u d e t h e Madison, Dakota, and Fox H i l l s / L a n c e a q u i f e r systems.

The Madison a q u i f e r system h a s been t h e p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e of f r e s h

secondary recovery w a t e r u t i l i z e d i n o i l f i e l d s i n Converse, Johnson,

Natrona, and Weston c o u n t i e s , w h i l e t h e Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n csystem

e is

t h e major f r e s h w a t e r source f o r secondary recovery purposes i n Campbell

County.

Ref i n i n n

Most w a t e r used by r e f i n e r i e s w i t h i n t h e r e p o r t a r e a i s s u r f a c e

water d e r i v e d from t h e North P l a t t e River ( s e e Appendix A , Table A-5).

The Wyoming R e f i n i n g Company of Newcastle and C and H Refinery of

Lusk use s m a l l amounts of ground water from t h e Madison and Arikaree

aquifers, respectively. Estimated annual ground-water use t o t a l s

about 65 a c r e - f e e t .

Coal I n d u s t r y

Mining

E s t i m a t e s of w a t e r used d u r i n g t h e s t r i p mining of c o a l i n t h e

Powder River b a s i n range from 0.3 a c r e - f e e t p e r mine p e r day (Rechard,

1975) t o 210 a c r e - f e e t p e r m i l l i o n t o n s of c o a l produced ( M i l l e r ,

1974). This water i s p r i n c i p a l l y d i s c h a r g e r e s u l t i n g from p i t dewater-

i n g , which i s comprised of both s u r f a c e runoff and ground water from

t h e ~ a s a t c h l ~ o Union
rt a q u i f e r system. Water used f o r domestic purposes

a t mine s i t e s i s u s u a l l y produced from w e l l s completed w i t h i n F o r t

Union a q u i f e r s below t h e c o a l being mined, o r i s hauled i n .

Using 1978 production f i g u r e s from t h e 11 a c t i v e mines i n t h e

study a r e a (Glass, 1980), and t h e e s t i m a t e s c i t e d above, e s t i m a t e d

water u s e r a n g e s from 1,200 t o 7,400 a c r e - f e e t l y r . Table A-6 (Appendix A)

d e t a i l s o v e r a l l water u s e of t h e a c t i v e mines i n t h e r e p o r t a r e a . Water

withdrawal e s t i m a t e s f o r t h e Wyoming p a r t of t h e Powder River b a s i n

i n 1990 range from 3,700 t o 27,600 a c r e - f e e t l y r , based on t h e above

estimates and 1990 tonnage f o r e c a s t s f o r 34 a c t i v e and proposed mines

(Glass, 1980).

Power Generation

Four c o a l - f i r e d s t e m generated e l e c t r i c power p l a n t s w i t h a combined

name p l a t e g e n e r a t i n g c a p a c i t y of 1,137.5 megawatts a r e p r e s e n t l y

a c t i v e w i t h i n t h e study a r e a . Approximately 10,747 a c r e - f e e t of water

were used f o r e l e c t r i c i t y g e n e r a t i o n by t h e s e p l a n t s i n 1979 ( s e e

Appendix A, Table A-7). Of t h e t o t a l w a t e r used i n 1979, 9,600 a c r e -

f e e t w e r e s u r f a c e w a t e r and 1,147 a c r e - f e e t were ground water.

The Madison a q u i f e r produces most ground water used d i r e c t l y

f o r e l e c t r i c i t y g e n e r a t i o n , a l t h o u g h t h e F o r t Union a q u i f e r a l s o produces

a small amount. The WYODAK #1 p l a n t i n d i r e c t l y u t i l i z e s ground water

from t h e WasatchIFort Union and Fox H i l l s / L a n c e a q u i f e r systems, a s

i t s s o u r c e of water i s sewage e f f l u e n t from t h e c i t y of G i l l e t t e . With

t h e completion of t h e Gillette Madison P r o j e c t , t h e WYODAK p l a n t w i l l

a l s o i n d i r e c t l y u t i l i z e Madison a q u i f e r water.

Synthetic Fuels Industry

Coal g a s i f i c a t i o n and l i q u e f a c t i o n p l a n t s w i t h i n t h e Powder River

b a s i n a r e c u r r e n t l y i n planning and development s t a g e s . Water r e q u i r e -

ments f o r p l a n t p r o d u c t i o n of s y n t h e t i c f u e l s i n c l u d e t h o s e a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h t h e mining of c o a l , p l a n t conversion p r o c e s s e s , c o o l i n g p r o c e s s e s ,

and s o l i d waste d i s p o s a l .

Although i t i s n o t w i t h i n t h e scope of t h i s r e p o r t t o determine

water u s e requirements f o r t h e s y n t h e t i c f u e l s i n d u s t r y , some p r e v i o u s

e s t i m a t e s w i l l be c i t e d . I n o r d e r t o produce t h e e q u i v a l e n t of
6
1 x 10 b a r r e l s of crude o i l , o r t h e e q u i v a l e n t i n o t h e r f u e l s of

5.8 x 10'' BTU p e r day, water requirements have been e s t i m a t e d a t

45,000 t o 190,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r f o r g a s i f i c a t i o n and 67,000 t o 134,000

acre-feet/yr f o r l i q u e f a c t i o n (Gold and G o l d s t e i n , 1976, p. 231).

The wide range of e s t i m a t e d w a t e r requirements i s due t o d i f f e r e n t

p r o c e s s i n g and c o o l i n g methods.

S l u r r y T r a n s p o r t of Coal

Energy T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Systems I n c . (ETSI) i s c u r r e n t l y (1981)

i n t h e a c t i v e planning s t a g e s f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a c o a l s l u r r y

p i p e l i n e from Wyoming t o Arkansas. The p i p e l i n e w i l l o r i g i n a t e i n

s o u t h e a s t e r n Campbell County and i s p r o j e c t e d t o t r a n s p o r t an e s t i m a t e d

25 m i l l i o n t o n s of c o a l p e r y e a r . ETSI i s t e n t a t i v e l y planning t o

pump water from t h e Madison a q u i f e r i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n

a t t h e r a t e of 15,000 t o 20,000 a c r e - f e e t j y r f o r use i n t h i s coal

slurry pipeline.
 Uranium I n d u s t r y

A s of January 1, 1980, t h r e e open-pit uranium mines, two m i l l s ,

one underground mine, and two commercial-scale s o l u t i o n mining o p e r a t i o n s

were a c t i v e i n t h e Powder River b a s i n (Hausel and o t h e r s , 1979; Collen-

t i n e and o t h e r s , 1981). Seven mines, two m i l l s , and two a d d i t i o n a l

commercial-scale s o l u t i o n mines a r e proposed o r pending (Hausel and

o t h e r s , 1979), and e l e v e n o t h e r s o l u t i o n mining p r o j e c t s a r e i n v a r i o u s

s t a g e s of r e s e a r c h and development ( C o l l e n t i n e and o t h e r s , 1981).

Although most of t h e s o l u t i o n mining p r o j e c t s a r e f o r d e p o s i t s i n

t h e Wasatch o r F o r t Union formations, p r o j e c t s tapping t h e Fox H i l l s

Sandstone o r t h e Teapot Sandstone of t h e Mesaverde Formation a r e among

t h o s e proposed.

O v e r a l l water u s e by a c t i v e uranium mines and m i l l s i s given

i n Table A-8 (Appendix A). Mining and m i l l i n g o p e r a t i o n s u t i l i z e

both surface-water runoff and ground water from t h e Wasatch/Fort Union

a q u i f e r system, g e n e r a l l y d e r i v e d a s p i t d i s c h a r g e . Based on t h e

range of r e p o r t e d p i t d i s c h a r g e s , t o t a l water u s e i s from 2,860 t o

5,310 a c r e - f e e t / y r .
Volumes of ground w a t e r withdrawn a s a r e s u l t of s o l u t i o n mining

a r e g e n e r a l l y small, a s much of t h e produced w a t e r i s r e c y c l e d through

injection. Post-mining r e s t o r a t i o n may u s e s i g n i f i c a n t amounts of

ground water i f a w a t e r sweep i s employed ( s e e C o l l e n t i n e and o t h e r s ,

1981).

AGRICULTURAL WATER USE

Irrigation

I n 1969-1970 252,685 i r r i g a t e d a c r e s were i n v e n t o r i e d w i t h i n

t h e d r a i n a g e s of t h e Powder, Tongue, B e l l e Fourche, Cheyenne, and

Niobrara r i v e r s , and t h e P l a t t e River between P a t h f i n d e r and Whalen

dams (Wyoming Water Planning Program, 1971, 1972). No more r e c e n t

t a b u l a t i o n of i r r i g a t e d acreage h a s been made; however, no s u b s t a n t i a l

i n c r e a s e s i n i r r i g a t e d acreage a r e known. I n 1971, approximately

90 p e r c e n t of t h i s acreage was a c t u a l l y i r r i g a t e d , u s i n g roughly 270,000

a c r e - f e e t of water (Wyoming Water Planning Program, 1971, 1972).

Approximately 165,000 a c r e s of i r r i g a t e d land i n t h e a r e a produced

h a r v e s t e d c r o p s i n 1979, and 90 p e r c e n t of t h i s i r r i g a t e d acreage

produced hay (Wyoming Crop and Livestock Reporting S e r v i c e , 1979).

Ground water i s permitted a s a water source f o r only about 1 5

p e r c e n t of t h e i n v e n t o r i e d i r r i g a t e d acreage i n t h e e i g h t c o u n t i e s

of n o r t h e a s t e r n Wyoming, and almost h a l f t h i s acreage i s o u t s i d e t h e

b a s i n boundary i n southern Niobrara County. Table 111-5 summarizes

t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of acreage permitted f o r i r r i g a t i o n by ground water,

by county.

T r e l e a s e and o t h e r s (1970) determined annual i r r i g a t i o n water

requirements f o r g r a s s , a t 14 c l i m a t e s t a t i o n s i n t h e study a r e a ,

u s i n g t h e Blaney-Criddle method. The average was 20.24 i n c h e s of

water per a c r e p e r y e a r . On t h e b a s i s of t h i s c a l c u l a t e d water r e q u i r e -

ment and acreage permitted f o r ground-water i r r i g a t i o n , i r r i g a t i o n

u s e s about 34,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r of ground water i n t h e b a s i n , e x c l u s i v e

of Niobrara County. An a d d i t i o n a l 29,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r , most o u t s i d e

t h e study a r e a , a r e used i n Niobrara County. Assumptions i n c o r p o r a t e d

i n t o t h i s estimate include: (1) i r r i g a t i o n of 100 p e r c e n t of t h e

acreage permitted f o r i r r i g a t i o n by ground w a t e r , (2) a l l of t h e i r r i g a t e d

l a n d i s g r a s s o r h a s s i m i l a r water needs, ( 3 ) 100 p e r c e n t of t h e calcu-

l a t e d water need i s met, and (4) no e x c e s s water i s a p p l i e d and l o s t a s

waste.
T a b l e 111-5. Acreage p e r m i t t e d f o r i r r i g a t i o n by ground w a t e r i n t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming,
by county.

Number of P e r m i t t e d Acres S u p p l i e d by Ground Water

Permitted Original Supplemental
County Wells Supply Supply Total

Campbell 26 4904.56 820. 5724.56

Converse 42 1962.87 699.8 2662.67

Crook 29 1070.28 975.92 2046.20

Johnson 42 937.8 1601.91 2539.71

Natrona 102 2068.08 1823.8 3891.88

Sheridan

Weston

TOTAL 441 29199.9 8071.8 37271.7

*Most i r r i g a t e d a c r e a g e i s o u t s i d e t h e boundary of t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n .

Source: Compiled by Wyoming S t a t e E n g i n e e r , J u l y , 1980.

 Based on t o t a l i r r i g a t e d acreage and e s t i m a t e d water u s e from

1971 t h e average amount of i r r i g a t i o n water a p p l i e d was about 14.3

inches per a c r e per year. Using t h i s f i g u r e and an e s t i m a t e d a c t u a l

i r r i g a t e d a c r e a g e of 90 p e r c e n t , ground-water use v a l u e s of 19,000

and 22,000 a c r e - f e e t l y r a r e c a l c u l a t e d f o r a l l Niobrara County and

t h e rest of t h e b a s i n , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Ground-water use f o r i r r i g a t i o n i s n o t expected t o i n c r e a s e w i t h i n

t h e Powder River b a s i n , due t o competition f o r a v a i l a b l e water s u p p l i e s

by municipal and i n d u s t r i a l u s e r s .

Source a q u i f e r s f o r i r r i g a t i o n water w i t h i n t h e b a s i n a r e n o t

w e l l i d e n t i f i e d , due t o incomplete w e l l information and unknown s t a t u s

of many p e r m i t t e d p r o j e c t s . Eisen and o t h e r s (1980, 1981) determined

t h a t i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n most w e l l s p e r m i t t e d f o r i r r i g a -

t i o n u s e t a p Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s , o r bedrock a q u i f e r s w i t h

good q u a l i t y water which a r e capable of h i g h y i e l d s . Within t h e b a s i n

t h e Madison a q u i f e r system and t h e Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s o f t e n

have y i e l d s adequate t o s u p p o r t i r r i g a t i o n use and g e n e r a l l y c o n t a i n

water of good q u a l i t y .

Livestock

Ground-water consumption by l i v e s t o c k w i t h i n t h e b a s i n i s e s t i -

mated t o b e n o t more t h a n 11,000 a c r e - f e e t l y r , based on 1979 l i v e s t o c k

p o p u l a t i o n s of 492,000 c a t t l e and 520,000 sheep w i t h i n t h e e i g h t -

county n o r t h e a s t Wyoming a r e a (Wyoming Crop and Livestock Reporting

S e r v i c e , 1979) and average d a i l y consumption v a l u e s of 1 5 and 3 g a l l o n s

p e r head f o r c a t t l e and sheep, r e s p e c t i v e l y (Wyoming Water Planning

Program, 1972). T h i s e s t i m a t e compares w e l l w i t h an e a r l i e r e s t i m a t e

(9,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r f o r t h e a r e a , e x c l u d i n g t h e Powder River d r a i n a g e ;

Wyoming Water Planning Program, 1972). A d d i t i o n a l w a t e r consumption

by swine, h o r s e s , and o t h e r t y p e s of l i v e s t o c k i s e s t i m a t e d a t n o t

more t h a n 1,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r . A l l s t o c k w a t e r i s assumed t o b e from

underground s o u r c e s .

Ground w a t e r from a l l a q u i f e r s w i t h i n t h e a r e a i s used f o r l i v e -

s t o c k w a t e r i n g purposes. Most w e l l s p e r m i t t e d f o r l i v e s t o c k o r domestic/

l i v e s t o c k p u r p o s e s have been completed w i t h i n t h e s h a l l o w e s t a q u i f e r

which p r o v i d e s a d e q u a t e y i e l d . The m a j o r i t y are i n t h e Fox ~ i l l s /

Lance o r W a s a t c h / ~ o r tUnion a q u i f e r system. Municipal and i n d u s t r i a l

ground-water s u p p l i e s a r e a l s o used l o c a l l y f o r l i v e s t o c k w a t e r i n g .

The l a r g e s t number of w e l l s p e r m i t t e d w i t h i n t h e s t u d y a r e a i s used

f o r s t o c k w a t e r i n g purposes. T y p i c a l s t o c k w e l l y i e l d s a r e 10 t o

1 5 gpm, b u t t h i s amount i s o n l y i n t e r m i t t e n t l y produced.

IV. H Y D R O G E O L O G Y
 IV. HYDROGEOLOGY

Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s and ground-water flow of t h e r e g i o n a l a q u i f e r

systems and minor and l o c a l a q u i f e r s w i t h i n t h e Powder River b a s i n

a r e discussed i n t h i s section. Aquifer l i t h o l o g i e s and hydrologic

p r o p e r t i e s a r e summarized i n Tables I V - 1 t o IV-3, w h i l e Appendix B

d e s c r i b e s i n more d e t a i l t h e bedrock s t r a t i g r a p h i c v a r i a t i o n s . The

Madison a q u i f e r system h a s been d i s c u s s e d i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l than o t h e r

systems due t o e x t e n s i v e i n t e r e s t i n i t s e x p l o i t a t i o n and t h e many

investigations t h i s i n t e r e s t has fostered.

MADISON AQUIFER SYSTEM

The P a l e o z o i c Madison a q u i f e r system c o n t a i n s adequate s u p p l i e s

of good q u a l i t y water, i s a l r e a d y e x t e n s i v e l y u t i l i z e d f o r municipal

and i n d u s t r i a l s u p p l i e s , and i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g f u r t h e r developed

(Wyoming Water Planning Program, 1977; Montgomery, 1979; Bureau of

Land Management, 1980).

Composed of t h e Cambrian t o Pennsylvanian age shallow marine

carbonate and sandstone sequence, t h e a q u i f e r system's t h i c k n e s s v a r i e s

from l e s s than 1,000 t o about 3,000 f e e t , although some included forma-

t i o n s a r e n o t considered economically v i a b l e a q u i f e r s . I t s most

important and e x t e n s i v e l y developed a q u i f e r i s t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n

Madison (Pahasapa) Limestone. The Ordovician Bighorn and Whitewood

d o l o m i t e s , only p r e s e n t i n t h e n o r t h e r n t h i r d of t h e b a s i n , a l s o have

p o t e n t i a l f o r development (Hodson and o t h e r s , 1973). The Pennsylvanian

Tensleep Sandstone and Permian sands of t h e Minnelusa Formation a r e

Table IV-1. L i t h o l o g i c and h y d r o l o g i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of bedrock u n i t s exposed on t h e e a s t f l a n k of t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming (compiled from
numerous s o u r c e s ) .

~hickness~
Erathem System Geological Unit (ft) Lithologic Character Hydrologic c h a r a c t e r b "

MESOZOIC Cretaceous P i e r r e Shale S h a l e w i t h some b e n t o n i t e , t h i n s i l t - R e g i o n a l a q u i t a r d b u t some low-yield

s t o n e s , l e n t i c u l a r c a r b o n a t e s and w e l l s i n o u t c r o p . Reported y i e l d ,
s a n d s t o n e s . C o n t a i n s G r e a t Sandstone none t o 1 2 gpm; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y ,
bed (0-125 f t ) i n n o r t h . <0.1 gpmfft.

N i o b r a r a Fm. S h a l e , c a l c a r e o u s s h a l e and m a r l A q u i t a r d b u t some l o w - y i e l d w e l l s

w i t h numerous t h i n b e n t o n i t e b e d s . i n outcrop.

C a r l i l e Shale S h a l e , l o c a l l y sandy. C o n t a i n s m i d d l e A q u i t a r d b u t some low-yield w e l l s i n

T u r n e r sandy member i n n o r t h . outcrop. O i l f i e l d data: porosity,
1 5 % ; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0 . 0 2 gpd/f t 2 ;
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 0.2-0.4 g p d / f t .

Greenhorn Fm. S h a l e , l i m e y s h a l e and m a r l w i t h A q u i t a r d ; no p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d s of

t h i n limestone beds. wells. Oil field data: see
C a r l i l e Shale.

B e l l e Fourche Sh. Shale, dark gray t o black, contain- A q u i t a r d b u t some w e l l s n e a r o u t -

i n g i r o n and limestone concretions crop.
and b e n t o n i t e l a y e r s .

Mowry S h a l e S i l i c e o u s s h a l e w i t h numerous A q u i t a r d b u t some w e l l s n e a r o u t -

bentonite layers. c r o p ; f r a c t u r e s enhance y i e l d .

Newcastle Ss. S a n d s t o n e , f i n e - t o medium-grained , Minor u n i t of Dakota a q u i f e r s y s t e m ,

l o c a l l y conglomeratic, l e n t i c u l a r ,
with interbedded s i l t s t o n e , shale
and c l a y s t o n e .
exploited near outcrop only; often
e x c e s s i v e pumping l i f t . O i l f i e l d
d a t a : p o r o s i t y , 5-27%; p e r m e a b i l i t y ,
< 1 1 gpd/f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 0-140
gpd/ft.

S k u l l Creek Sh. Shale, black, with i r o n concentra- A q u i t a r d ; no r e p o r t s of w e l l s .

tions.

INYAN KARA GROUP:

F a l l R i v e r Fm. Sandstone, f i n e - t o coarse-grained, U n i t of Dakota a q u i f e r system.

w i t h i n t e r b e d d e d s h a l e and s i l t - Flowing y i e l d 1-10 gpm; w e l l s o f t e n
stone. a l s o completed i n Lakota Fm.
S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , c0.5 gpm/ft.
O i l f i e l d d a t a : p o r o s i t y 11-232;
p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0-36 gpd/f t 2 ; t r a n s -
m i s s i v i t y , 1-900 g p d / f t .
Table IV-1 . (continued)

~hickness~
Erathem System Geological Unit (f t ) Lithologic Character H y d r o l o g i c ~ h a r a tce r b "

Lakota Fm. 45-300 Sandstone, fine- t o coarse-grained, U n i t of Dakota a q u i f e r s y s t e m . Flow-

115-200 i n places conglomeratic, very i n g y i e l d 1-10 gpm, up t o 150 gpm.
l e n t i c u l a r , i r r e g u l a r l y interbedded Water w e l l d a t a : s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y ,
w i t h s h a l e which becomes dominant 0.01-1.4 g p m l f t ; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 2-14
a t t o p (Fuson Sh.). g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 220-810
gpdlft f o r 2 w e l l s a l s o i n F a l l River.

- Unconformity -
Jurassic Morrison Fm. Varicolored claystone with t h i n beds Y i e l d s up t o 1 0 gpm i n o u t c r o p a r e a .
of l i m e s t o n e o r s a n d s t o n e ; l o c a l l y Water w e l l d a t a : s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t
f i n e - g r a i n e d s a n d s t o n e predominant. 0.2 gpmlf t ; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 5 gpm/f ti;;
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 160 g p m / f t . O i l f i e l d
d a t a : p o r o s i t y , 11%;p e r m e a b i l i t y ,
0-74 g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 0-260
gpdlf t .
Sundance Fm. Sandy and s i l t y s h a l e w i t h t h i n Minor a q u i f e r (Crook County). Flow-
l i m e s t o n e s and t h i n t o t h i c k sand- i n g y i e l d s up t o 5 gpm, pumped y i e l d s
s t o n e s ( e . g . , H u l e t t Mem., 55-90 up t o 50 gpm i n and n e a r o u t c r o p ;
ft). s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , c0.1 gpmlft. O i l
f i e l d d a t a : p o r o s i t , 11-30%; perme-
a b i l i t y , 0-23 gpd/f tf ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y ,
~ 1 2 5 0g p d l f t .

- Unconformity -
Gypsum S p r i n g s Fm. 0-125 Massive w h i t e gypsum w i t h i n t e r - Not c o n s i d e r e d a n a q u i f e r b u t may
absent bedded r e d s h a l e and c h e r t y lime- y i e l d water t o wells obtaining
stone. major s u p p l y from Sundance Fm.

- Unconf o r m i t y -
MESOZOIC Triassic S p e a r f i s h Fm. Red s h a l e , s i l t s t o n e and f i n e - Minor a q u i f e r (Crook County). Y i e l d s
and and grained s i l t y sandstone with lenses a v e r a g e 1 3 gpm i n o u t c r o p a r e a . Water
PALEOZOIC Permian of gypsum, i n c r e a s i n g i n lower p a r t . w e l l d a t a : s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 0.6
g p m / f t ; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 6-8 g p d / f t 2 ;
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 150-370 g p d l f t .

PALEOZOIC Permian Minnekahta Ls. Fine-grained thinbedded limestone Minor a q u i f e r (Crook County). Y i e l d s
and dolomitic limestone. a v e r a g e 7 gpm. USGS t e s t : flowed
1 2 gpm; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 0.1 gprn;
permeability, 33 g p d / f t 2 ; transmis-
s i v i t y , 330 g p d l f t .

Opech Fm. Maroon s a n d s t o n e , f i n e - g r a i n e d , s i l t y A q u i t a r d ; no p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d of

and s h a l e y , a l t e r n a t i n g w i t h s i l t - wells.
s t o n e , s h a l e , c l a y s t o n e , and gypsum.
Table IV-1. (continued)

~hickness~
Er athem System Geological Unit (f t ) Lithologic Character Hydrologic c h a r a c t e r b "

- Unconformity -
Pennsylvanian Minnelusa Fm. 600-800 Sandstone, fine- t o coarse-grained, Upper p a r t i s u n i t of Madison
and ( H a r t v i l l e ~ m ld
. 10002: interbedded with limestone, a q u i f e r s y s t e m , middle i s a q u i t a r d ,
Permian d o l o m i t e , and s h a l e , l o c a l l y lower i s minor a q u i f e r i n h y d r a u l i c
gypsiferous, e s p e c i a l l y a t top. c o n n e c t i o n w i t h Madison. Flowing
y i e l d s o v e r 200 gpm p o s s i b l e ; s p e c i f i c
c a p a c i t y , 1-5 g p m / f t . O i l f i e l d d a t a :
p o r o s i t y , 6-25%; p e r m e a b i l i t y , <0.3 -
1 8 g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 2-900
gpd/f t .

- Unconf o r m i t y -
Mississippian Pahasapa Ls. 550-900 Massive f i n e - g r a i n e d l i m e s t o n e a n d P r i n c i p a l u n i t of Madison a q u i f e r
(Mad i s o n L s ). 2502: dolomitic limestone, l o c a l l y cherty system. Flowing o r pumped y i e l d s
(Guernsey Fm. , p a r t ) d o r cavernous. up t o 1000 gpm; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y ,
0.5-50+ g p m / f t , flow-dependent;
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 1000-60,000 g p d l f t ,
l o c a l l y t o 300,000+.

Devonian Englewood L s . 30-60 Thin-bedded l i m e s t o n e , l o c a l l y Minor u n i t of Madison a q u i f e r

(Guernsey Fm. , part)d 0-50 2 shaley . s y s t e m ; no p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t s of
water wells. USGS t e s t : p o r o s i t
3
15-18%; p e r m e a b i l i t y , < 0 . 1 g p d / f t '.

- Unconformity -
Ordovician Whitewood Dol. 50-60 Massive bedded d o l o m i t e , l o c a l l y Minor u n i t of Madison a q u i f e r
absent cherty. s y s t e m ; t h e few e x i s t i n g w e l l s a l s o
p r o d u c e from t h e Madison a q u i f e r .
USGS t e s t : p o r o s i t y , 10-25%;
s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 1 5 g m / f t ; perme-
a b i l i t y , <?. 1-11 gpd/f t'; trans-
m i s s i v i t y , 6400 g p d l f t .

Winnipeg Fm. 60- 70 Clayey s i l t s t o n e (Roughlock), Aquitard

absent s h a l e and s i l t y s h a l e ( I c e b o x ) ,
f i n e - t o medium-grained s a n d s t o n e
n e a r b a s e (Aladdin) .
- Unconformity -
 Table IV-1. (continued)

~hickness~
Erathem System Geological Unit (ft) Lithologic Character Hydrologic ~ h a r a terb
c "

Ordovician Deadwood Fm. 300-500 Sandstone, l o c a l l y dolomitic o r Unit of Madison a q u i f e r system b u t

and 0-50+ ( ? ) conglomeratic, with interbedded deep b u r i a l . l i m i t s e x p l o i t a t i . o n .
Camb r i a n s h a l e , limestone, dolomite and USGS t e s t : p o r o s i t y , 13-20%;
siltstone. p e r m e a b i l i t y , <20 g p d / f t 2 .

- Unconformity -
PRECAMBRIAN - Complex of i g n e o u s a n d metamorphic Locally y i e l d s water t o shallow
rocks. w e l l s and s p r i n g s i n o u t c r o p s .

a ~ i r s tt h i c k n e s s r a n g e r e f e r s t o n o r t h e a s t e r n b a s i n w h i l e second r e f e r s t o s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n .

i e l d (and USGS t e s t ) d a t a a r e v a r i o u s l y d e r i v e d r e s u l t i n g i n i n t e r n a l i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s i n t h i s c o m p i l a t i o n . P e r m e a b i l i t i e s a r e measured on c o r e s

o r d e r i v e d from o t h e r d a t a and t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s a r e from d r i l l s t e m t e s t s o r c a l c u l a t e d from p e r m e a b i l i t y . T e s t d a t a a r e u s u a l l y f o r l i m i t e d h o r i z c k s
of h i g h a n t i c i p a t e d y i e l d s and a r e n o t t h e r e f o r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e f o r m a t i o n a s a whole.

' ~ e ~ o r t e dy i e l d s may r e f l e c t development n e e d s r a t h e r t h a n a q u i f e r c a p a b i l i t y ; h i g h e r y i e l d s c a n sometimes b e e x p e c t e d , w i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n g drawdown

UI
fi increases. Reported w a t e r w e l l t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s o r p e r m e a b i l i t i e s may b e f o r w e l l s c o m p l e t e d i n two a q u i f e r s o r s c r e e n e d i n o n l y p a r t of a s i n g l e
aquifer .
d ~ o m e n c l a t u r ef o r e q u i v a l e n t s t r a t a exposed i n t h e H a r t v i l l e u p l i f t on t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n f l a n k .
T a b l e IV-2. L i t h o l o g i c and h y d r o l o g i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of b e d r o c k u n i t s e x p o s e d on t h e w e s t f l a n k of t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming (compiled from
numerous s o u r c e s ) .

~hickness~
Era t hem System Geological Unit (f t Lithologic Character Hydrologic ~ h a r a c t e r ' " ~

MESOZOIC Cretaceous Lewis S h a l e Grey m a r i n e s h a l e w i t h s a n d y s h a l e R e g i o n a l a q u i t a r d b u t some 1ow-y i t > l d

(Bearpaw S h a l e ) and t h i n l e n s e s o f f i n e - g r a i n e d w e l l s near outcrop.
sandstone (Teckla) .
Mesaverde Fm. F i n e - t o medium-grained s a n d s t o n e Minor a q u i f e r ( e n t i r e b a s i n f l a n k ) .
with interbedded grey marine shale. Flowing y i e l d s up t o 4 gpm; pumped
Upper p a r t i s T e a p o t S s . (50 f t ) y i e l d s up t o 1 2 0 gpm r e p o r t e d i n
i n s o u t h , Lower p a r t i s Parkman S s . N a t r o n a Co.; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 0.1-
(500+). 0.2 gpmlft. O i l f i e l d d a t a :
p o r o s i t y , 15-21%; p e r m e a b i l i t y , < 5
g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , <120 g p d / f t .

Cody S h a l e Dark g r e y s h a l e , l i m e y n e a r b a s e A q u i t a r d b u t s a n d s t o n e l e n s e s have

(Steele Shale is w i t h some b e n t o n i t i c b e d s and i n t e r - l o w - y i e l d f l o w i n g and pumped we1 1s
upper p a r t ) bedded, l e n t i c u l a r fine-grained near outcrop. Oil f i e l d data:
o f t e n s h a l e y s a n d s t o n e s (Shannon, p o r o s i t y , 12-25%; p e r m e a b i l i l y , . 8
200 f t ; S u s s e x , 200-500 f t ) . gpd/f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , '85 g p d / f t .

F r o n t i e r Fm. Dark g r e y t o b l a c k m a r i n e s h a l e Minor a q u i f e r ( s o u t l i w e s t b a s i n ) .

w i t h interbedded t h i n t o massive
bedded f i n e - t o medium-grained
s a n d s t o n e s (Wall Creek s a n d s ) .
Mowry S h a l e Grey w e a t h e r i n g s i l i c e o u s s h a l e
w i t h b e n t o n i t i c b e d s , non-
s i l i c e o u s black s h a l e a t base.
Flowing y i e l d s 1-10 gpm ( N a t r o n a
Co.) ; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , .0.02 gpm/St
(Sheridan Co.). Oil field data:
p o r o s i t y , 12-26%; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0.09-9
g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , *:I50 g p d l f t .
I n N a t r o n a Co., f l o w i n g y i e l d s 111) t o
2 gpm; pumped y i e l d s up t o 10 film.

Muddy S s . Light grey, fine-grained, l e n t i c u l a r Minor u n i t of Dakota a q u i f e r s y s t - c ~

(Newcastle Ss.) sandstone and s i l t s t o n e often O i l f i e l d d a t a : p o r o s i K y , 5-20%;
t e r m e d a member of T h e r m o p o l i s permeability, (7 gpdlf t L ; trans-
shale. m i s s i v i t y , <150 g p d l f t .

T h e r m o p o l i s Sh. B l a c k m a r i n e s h a l e w i t h some A q u i t a r d ; n o p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d of
(Skull Creek Sh.) siltstone partings in north. wells.

C l o v e r l y Fm. I n t e r b e d d e d d a r k s h a l e a n d brown Lower D a r t i s u n i t of - Dakota

s i l t s t o n e w i t h 15-45 f e e t o f b a s a l
fine- t o coarse-grained w e l l s o r t e d
sandstone.
- aquifer
s y s t e m . Flowing y i e l d s of 1-40 gpm,
up t o 250 gpm r e p o r t e d f o r pumpecl
w e l l s ; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , ' 0 . 2 gpm/f t.
O i l f i e l d d a t a : p o r o s i t y , 15-187;
p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0.4-4 g p d / l t 2 ; t r n n s -
m i s s i v i t y , 7-230 g p d l f t .
T a b l e IV-2. (continued)

~hickness~
Era them System Geological Unit (ft) Lithologic Character Hydrologic ~ h a r a tce r l ' " -

- Unconformity -

Jurassic Morrison Em. 185 V a r i e g a t e d s h a l e and c l a y s t o n e w i t h No p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d of w e l l s .

130-220 some l e n t i c u l a r f i n e - g r a i n e d sand-
stones.

Sundance Fm. 280 S h a l e , g r e e n i s h g r e y , sometimes A few w a t e r w e l l s , some f l o w i n g

300 c a l c a r e o u s , s a n d i e r a t t o p and up t o 2 gpm. O i l f i e l d d a t a :
base. p o r o s i t y , 14-20%; p e r m e a b i l i t y , c 8
g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 8-L32
gpdlft.

- Unconformity -
Gypsum S p r i n g Fm. 120-185 Red s h a l e and c l a y s t o n e w i t h t h i n Not g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d a n
absent bedded l i m e s t o n e and gypsum. a q u i f e r and no p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d
of w e l l s .

- Unconformity -
Triassic Chugwater Fm. Red s i l t s t o n e , c l a y s t o n e and f i n e - A q u i t a r d b u t a few w e l l s , some
g r a i n e d s a n d s t o n e w i t h t h i n lime- f l o w i n g s e v e r a l gpm.
stones.

MESOZOIC Triassic Goose Egg Fm. Interbedded r e d s h a l e and silt- A q u i t a r d b u t a few w e l l s n e a r

and and s t o n e w i t h t h i n limestone and outcrop.
PALEOZOIC Permian gypsum b e d s .

- Unconformity -
PALEOZOIC Permian Tensleep Ss. Fine- t o medium-grained, m a s s i v e , U n i t of Madison a q u i f e r system.
and crossbedded sandstone w i t h Flowing y i e l d s up t o 400 gpm;
Pennsylvanian occasional t h i n dolomite beds. s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , '1 gpm/f t .
O i l f i e l d d a t a : p o r o s i t y 0-242;
p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0-21 gpd/f t';
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 0-1900 g p d l f t .

Pennsylvanian Amsden Em. Red and p u r p l e s h a l e w i t h some sand- Aquitard u n l e s s f r a c t u r e d .

s t o n e , c h e r t y d o l o m i t e and
limestone.

- Unconformity -
Mississippian Madison Ls. L i m e s t o n e , d o l o m i t i c l i m e s t o n e and P r i n c i p a l u n i t of Madison a q u i f e r
d o l o m i t e sandy a t b a s e . system. Flowing y i e l d s o v e r 4000
gpm b u t h i g h l y v a r i a b l e ; spec i f i c
c a p a c i t y , < 1 t o 50 b u ~i s flow-
dependent ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 500-
90,000 g p d l f t o r h i g h e r and 11 i g h l y
variable.
Table IV-2. (continued)

P
-- -- -- -
~hickness~
Erathem System G e o l o g i c a l Unit (ft) Lithologic Character Hydrologic ~ h a r a tce r b "

- Unconformity -
Ordovician Bighorn Dolomite 400-500 Massive d o l o m i t e , becoming t h i n - Unit of Madison a q u i f e r system.
absent bedded a t t o p and sandy a t base. Local o u t c r o p w e l l s o n l y .

- Unconformity -
Cambrian G a l l a t i n and 64 52 Upper l i m e s t o n e , l i m e s t o n e conglom- A q u i t a r d ; no p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t s of
Gros Ventre Fms., 0-500 e r a t e , i n t e r b e d d e d w i t h middle wells.
undivided micaceous s h a l e and a b a s a l , brown,
medium- t o coarse-grained sandstone.

F l a t h e a d Ss. 34% Tan t o r e d d i s h s a n d s t o n e , l o c a l l y Minor u n i t of Madison a q u i f e r

90 conglomeratic, interbedded with system. Not e x p l o i t e d due t o deep
green s h a l e and s i l t s t o n e . b u r i a l b u t a few w e l l s y i e l d water
near outcrops.

- Unconformity -
PRECAMBRIAN - - Complex of igneous and metamorphic L o c a l l y y i e l d s s m a l l amounts of
rocks. w a t e r t o shallow, o u t c r o p w e l l s .

a ~ i r s t h i c k n e s s range r e f e r s t o n o r t h w e s t e r n b a s i n , second r e f e r s t o southwestern b a s i n .

b o i l f i e l d d a t a a r e v a r i o u s l y d e r i v e d r e s u l t i n g i n i n t e r n a l i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s i n t h i s c o m p i l a t i o n . P e r m e a b i l i t i e s a r e measured on c o r e s o r d e r i v e d from
o t h e r d a t a and t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s a r e from d r i l l stem t e s t s o r c a l c u l a t e d from p e r m e a b i l i t y . T e s t d a t a a r e u s u a l l y f o r l i m i t e d h o r i z o n s of h i g h
a n t i c i p a t e d y i e l d s and a r e n o t t h e r e f o r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e formation a s a whole.

'~e~orted y i e l d s may r e f l e c t development needs r a t h e r t h a n a q u i f e r c a p a b i l i t y ; h i g h e r y i e l d s can sometimes be e x p e c t e d , w i t h corresponding drawdown

i n c r e a s e s . Reported water w e l l t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s o r p e r m e a b i l i t i e s may be f o r w e l l s completed i n two a q u i f e r s , o r screened i n only p a r t of a
single aquifer.
T a b l e IV-3. L i t h o l o g i c and h y d r o l o g i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of "shallow" g e o l o g i c u n i t s ( i n c l u d i n g Q u a t e r n a r y , T e r t i a r y and L a t e s t C r e t a c e o u s d e p o s i t s )
o f t h e c e n t r a l Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming (compiled from numerous s o u r c e s ) .

Thickness
Erathem System Series Geologic Unit (ft) Lithologic Character Hydrologic Character

CENOZOIC Quaternary Holocene Alluvium and T e r r a c e 0-100+ S i l t , sand a n d g r a v e l ; u n c o n s o l i d a t e d Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s . Yield

and deposits and i n t e r b e d d e d ; p r e s e n t a l o n g most of 1000 gpm p o s s i b l e , o f t e n t h r o u g h
Pleistocene streams. induced r e c h a r g e . T e r r a c e s topog-
r a p h i c a l l y h i g h and o f t e n d r a i n e d .
S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 0.3-1 8 gpm/f t ;
p o r o s i t y , 28-457- p e r m e a b i l i t y ,
0.1-1100 g p d l f t'i t r a n s m i s s i v i t y ,
15-64000 g p d l f t ; s p e c i f i c y i e l d ,
2-39%. C o a r s e r d e p o s i t s have b e t L e r
aquifer properties.

- Unconformity -
Tertiary Miocene A r i k a r e e Fm. 0-500 Tuffaceous sandstone, fine-grained, Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r . Y i e l d s
(southeast with s i l t y zones, coarse sand up t o 1000 gpm; s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y u p
o n l y1 l e n s e s and c o n c r e t i o n a r y zones. t o 232 g p m l f t ; p o r o s i t y , 5-24%;
p e r m e a b i l i t y , <I-300 g p d / f t 2 ;
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , up t o 77,000 gpd/f t .
- Unconformity -

Oligocene WhiteRiverGp. 0-1500 Tuffaceous s i l t s t o n e i n upper p a r t , Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r . Not

(isolated out- u n d e r l a i n by c l a y s t o n e , b o t h l o c a l l y e x t e n s i v e l y developed b e c a u s e o v e r l a i n
l i e r s except contain fine- t o coarse-grained by A r i k a r e e Em. i n most p l a c e s .
i n SE) sandstone and conglomerate channel Y i e l d s g e n e r a l l y low and u n p r e d i c t -
deposits. a b l e . S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 1 0 . 5 g )m/f t ;
p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0.0002-0.03 g p d / f t , F2
increases with fracturing.

- Unconformity -
Eocene Wasatch Fm. Fine- t o c o a r s e - g r a i n e d l e n t i c u l a r P a r t of Wasatch/Fort Union a q u i f e r
sandstones interbedded with s h a l e system. Y i e l d s g e n e r a l l y < 1 5 gpm,
and c o a l , c o a r s e r i n s o u t h a n d l o c a l l y flowing w e l l s e x i s t . S p e c i f i c
southwest, conglomeratic i n west. c a p a c i t y , 0.10-2 g p m l f t ; p o r o s i t y ,
28-30%; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 0.01-65 g p d / f t 2 ;
t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , a v e r a g e 500 gpd/f t ,
r a n g e 1-4000 g p d l f t .

- Unconf o r m i t y -
T a b l e IV-3. (continued)

-- --

Thickness
Erathem System Series Geologic Unit (ft> Lithologic Character Hydrologic character" .- --

Paleocene F o r t Union Fm. 1100-2500+ S a n d s t o n e , f i n e - t o medium-grained, P a r t of ~ a s a t c h / F o r t Union a q u i f e r

l e n t i c u l a r , interbedded with silt-
s t o n e , c o a l and s h a l e . Middle p a r t
may b e s h a l i e r i n n o r t h , u p p e r p a r t
s i l t i e r i n south. "Clinker"
associated with coal outcrops.
s y s t e m . Flowing y i e l d s of 1-60 Elmi
were c o n f i n e d . Pumped y i e l d s u p t o
250 gprn w i t h s e v e r a l hundred f e e t of
drawdown. S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y , 0.1-2
.
gpmlf t p e r m e a b i l i t y , .0.01- 100
gpd/f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 1- 5000
g p d l f t . Coal and c l i n k e r g e n e r a l l y
b e t t e r a q u i f e r p r o p e r t i e s t h a n sand-
stones. Locally c l i n k e r tra~isrnis-
s i v i t y up t o 3,000,000 g p d / f t ;
s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y o v e r 2000 g p m / f L .
A n i s o t r o p y and l e a k y c o n f i n i n g l a y e r s
a r e common.

MESOZOIC Cretaceous Upper Lance Fm. 500-1000 (N) S a n d s t o n e , f i n e - t o medium-grained, U n i t of Fox H i l l s I L a n c e a q u i f e r

Cretaceous 1600-3000 (S) l e n t i c u l a r , interbedded with system. Y i e l d s up t o 350 gpm but
sandy s i l t s t o n e and c l a y s t o n e . w ~ t hl a r g e drawdowns and l o n g per-
f o r a t e d i n t e r v a l s . Locally flowing
w e l l s e x i s t . Spec i f i c c a p a c i t y ,
0.05-2 g p m l f t ; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 6-35
g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 170-2100
g p d l f t.

Fox H i l l s Ss. 150-200 (N) S a n d s t o n e , f i n e - t o medium-grained, U n i t of Fox H i l l s / L a n c e a q u i f e r

400-700 (S) i n t e r b e d d e d w i t h s h a l e and system. Y i e l d s up t o 350 gpm b u t
siltstone. w i t h l a r g e drawdowns and l o n g
p e r f o r a t e d i n t e r v a l s . Local1 y flow-
ing w e l l s e x i s t . S p e c i f i c capac i t y ,
0.05-2 gpmlf t ; p e r m e a b i l i t y , 34
g p d / f t 2 ; t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , 76-1600
g p d / f t f o r w e l l s a l s o completed i n
Lance.

a ~ e p o r t e dy i e l d s may r e f l e c t development n e e d s r a t h e r t h a n a q u i f e r c a p a b i l i t y ; h i g h e r y i e l d s c a n sometimes b e e x p e c t e d , w i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n g drawdown

increases. Reported w a t e r w e l l t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s o r p e r m e a b i l i t i e s may b e f o r w e l l s completed i n two a q u i f e r s o r s c r e e n e d i n o n l y p a r t of a s i n g l e
a q u i f e r . R e p o r t e d r a n g e s i n c l u d e v a r y i n g amounts of d a t a .
a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t a q u i f e r s although they can produce poor q u a l i t y

water. The Cambrian Flathead and Deadwood sandstone a q u i f e r s a r e

p r e s e n t only i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n , o f t e n produce

water of l e s s e r q u a l i t y and q u a n t i t y , and a r e c u r r e n t l y almost

unexploited.

The system outcrops along most b a s i n margins b u t i s buried by

up t o 15,000 f e e t of o v e r l y i n g rock i n t h e c e n t r a l b a s i n ( s e e P l a t e 3 ) .

Current e x p l o i t a t i o n h a s g e n e r a l l y been l i m i t e d t o a r e a s where d r i l l i n g

depths a r e l e s s than 3,000 f e e t , although i n d u s t r i a l w e l l s over 8,000

f e e t deep a r e used.

The Madison a q u i f e r system h a s n o t been uniformly defined by

a u t h o r s studying i t s hydrology. S e v e r a l s t u d i e s have s p e c i f i c a l l y

considered only t h e Madison Limestone a q u i f e r (Wyoming S t a t e Engineer,

1974; Rahn, 1975; Huntoon and Womack, 1975; Konikow, 1976). Various

a d d i t i o n a l a q u i f e r s have been included by o t h e r workers ( C r i s t and

Lowry, 1972; Huntoon, 1976; Woodward-Clyde, 1980). The U.S. Geological

Survey Madison Study (U. S . Geological Survey, 1975) is s p e c i f i c a l l y

i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e e n t i r e Paleozoic rock sequence i n n o r t h e a s t e r n

Wyoming, although most a v a i l a b l e d a t a and r e s e a r c h emphasis p e r t a i n

t o t h e Madison and Minnelusa a q u i f e r s (e.g., Head and Merkel, 1977;

Swenson and o t h e r s , 1976). I n t h i s r e p o r t t h e broad U.S. Geological

Survey d e f i n i t i o n of t h e a q u i f e r system i s used, although t h e Madison

Limestone, t h e most important a q u i f e r of t h e system, r e c e i v e s t h e

most emphasis.

The a q u i f e r system a s d e f i n e d i s bounded by r e l a t i v e l y impermeable

Precambrian and Permian rocks. T r o t t e r (1963) c o n s i d e r s t h e Permian

Opeche Shale, t h e b a s a l member of t h e Goose Egg Formation, an e f f e c t i v e

impervious b a r r i e r t o f l u i d movement, i s o l a t i n g t h e Paleozoic s e c t i o n

below i t . Huntoon (1976) c o n s i d e r s t h e Goose Egg an e f f e c t i v e a q u i t a r d

i n t h e western Powder River b a s i n , even where i n t e n s e l y f r a c t u r e d ;

however, C r i s t and Lowry (1972) r e p o r t t h a t high-yielding s p r i n g s

i s s u i n g from Permo-Triassic r o c k s a r e Madison system water m i g r a t i n g

upward along s t r u c t u r e s . Only n o r t h of Newcastle, a t S a l t Springs,

h a s l o c a l upward leakage of water through u n d i s t u r b e d Opeche Shale

been s p e c i f i c a l l y p o s t u l a t e d i n Wyoming (Brobst and E p s t e i n , 1963),

although i n the Black H i l l s Rahn and Gries (1973) p l a c e t h e a q u i f e r

system boundary s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y h i g h e r , a t t h e S p e a r f i s h Formation.

The degree of hydraulkk i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n of a q u i f e r s comprising

t h e Madison a q u i f e r system v a r i e s and i s incompletely known . Ordovician

s h a l e s i n t h e northwest p a r t of t h e b a s i n s e p a r a t e t h e Flathead a q u i f e r

from o v e r l y i n g u n i t s (Huntoon, 1976). Similar shales a r e present i n

Crook County and, although p o t e n t i o m e t r i c heads i n t h e U.S. Geological

Survey t e s t w e l l suggest i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n of t h e Deadwood t o Madison

rock squence, chemical q u a l i t y d a t a i n d i c a t e hydrologic i s o l a t i o n .

The Minnelusa Tensleep and Madison a q u i f e r s have been i n t e r p r e t e d

a s w i t h e r i n h y d r a u l i c connection (Head and Merkel, 1977; Swenson

and o t h e r s , 1976) o r h y d r a u l i c a l l y i s o l a t e d (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1981;

Old West Regional Commission, 1976; Wyoming S t a t e Engineer, 1974).

Huntoon (1976) s t a t e s t h a t i n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e i n t e r -

vening Arnsden i s n o t an e f f e c t i v e a q u i t a r d where f r a c t u r e d , based

on s p r i n g s t u d i e s . Eisen and C o l l e n t i n e (1981) and Woodward-Clyde

(1980) c o n s i d e r t h e middle Minnelusa Formation c a r b o n a t e s a leaky

c o n f i n i n g l a y e r i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n . I n t h e Newcastle
a r e a geochemical d a t a i n d i c a t e t h e b a s a l Minnelusa ("Bell" s a n d s t o n e )

i s h y d r a u l i c a l l y connected w i t h t h e upper Madison ( s e e Chapter V ) .

Impeded communication between t h e Whitewood (Red R i v e r ) and Madison

a q u i f e r s i n Crook County h a s been suggested (Woodward-Clyde, 1980).

Although Huntoon (1976) c o n s i d e r s t h e Bighorn and Madison a q u i f e r s

h y d r a u l i c a l l y connected, h e n o t e s t h a t lower p e r m e a b i l i t y h o r i z o n s

i n t h e Madison Limestone a f f e c t c o n t r o l on s p r i n g l o c a t i o n s .

Hydrologic P r o p e r t i e s

Hydrogeology of t h e Madison a q u i f e r h a s been e x t e n s i v e l y i n v e s t i -

g a t e d due t o r e c e n t development p r e s s u r e ( e . g . , Wyoming S t a t e Eningeer,

1974; Konikow, 1976; O f f i c e of Technology Assessment, 1978; Woodward-

Clyde, 1 9 8 0 ) , b u t i s s t i l l n o t f u l l y understood. With t h e e x c e p t i o n of

t h e Madison and o i l - b e a r i n g p a r t s of t h e ~ i n n e l u s a / T e n s l e e p : , l i t t l e i s

known about o t h e r a q u i f e r s comprising t h e Madison a q u i f e r system.

Y i e l d and S p e c i f i c Capacity

Although Madison a q u i f e r w e l l s w i t h flowing y i e l d s of s e v e r a l

hundred t o s e v e r a l thousand g a l l o n s p e r minute a r e common, t h e s e y i e l d s

are a s s o c i a t e d w i t h drawdown of s e v e r a l hundred f e e t of p r e s s u r e head.

The r e s u l t a n t s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y ( y i e l d p e r u n i t drawdown) i s c o n s i d e r e d

somewhat low f o r h i g h - y i e l d development by some g u i d e l i n e s (U.S.

Bureau of Reclamation, 1977). S i m i l a r l a r g e w e l l drawdowns are r e q u i r e d

f o r h i g h y i e l d s from pumped Madison w e l l s .

Madison a q u i f e r s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s r e p o r t e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e

o r c a l c u l a t e d from a v a i l a b l e d a t a r a n g e from less t h a n 0.5 t o almost

50 gpm p e r f o o t of drawdown (Table IV-4). Some of t h e l a r g e r v a l u e s

a r e from w e l l s t e s t e d a t low y i e l d s o r r e s t r i c t e d f l o w s ; K e l l y and

 T a b l e IV-4. C a l c u l a t e d s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s ( y i e l d p e r u n i t drawdown) o f Madison a q u i f e r wells, Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming.
--
Test Specific
Well f Duration Drawdown Yield Capacity Data
(T/R-Sec., G , %) Date (hrs) (it) kpm) (gpdft ) Source - R e m a ~ k - . ._

CONVERSE COUNTY

33175-8 DBB 4/27/63 7 days 1330? 510

-1-163 168

33/76-33 CB- 11-/62 ?

?
?

34176-7 DAB unk ?

CROOK COUNTY

51166-6 BCB 5/8/79 -Step discharge test

30 min. s t e p s .
pre acid frac.
f i n a l s t e p , 20 + h r s .

-Step discharge t e s t
30 min. s t e p s
post acid frac.

final step, 12 + hrs.

+52/63-25 DC -1-/71? "Held f o r 24 h o u r s "

"Held f o r 3 0 d a y s w
-1-172

53/65-18 BBD 9/26/62 140 min. - S t e p d i s c h a r g e and

80 min. recovery t e s t s
120 min.
110 min.
95 min.
12
16

57/65-15 DAC 10/20/76 from d r i l l s t e m t e s t (#15)

f r o m d r i l l stem t e s t (8 16)
 T a b l e IV-4. (continued)

Test Specific
W e l l fi Duration D r ab~down Yield Capacity Data
(TIR-Sec., %, $1 Date (hrs) (f t> (gpm) (apmlft) source Remarks

JOHNSON COUNTY

41181-9 CDB

41/84-19 AB

42180-30 BDB

42/81-25 CBD

43180-34 DAD F l o w t h r o u g h 4" I D p i p e

49/83-27 DBC 8.3" 5

NATRONA COUNTY
39/78-26 CDC 231 150

39/79-11 AAD

+40/79-2 AD

40179-23 DDB

40179-26 CAA

40/79-31 BCA
T a b l e IV-4. (continued)

Test Specific
Well # Duration Drawdown Yield Capacity Data
(T/R-Sec., %, %) Date (hrs) (ft) ( R P ~ (gpdf t Source Remarks --

NATROMA COUNTY ( c o n t . )

40179-35 ACB - .Tests i n 4/71, 7/71,

10171, 1 / 7 2 r e s p e c t i v e l y
p e r s o u r c e /I2

40179-35 CCC 41-171

71-/71
101-171
11-172

NIOBRARA COUNTY

3
1 7 9 min.
204 min.
120
198? -Discharge reduced a f t e r
24% d a y s 8% d a y s pumping.
96
48

39162-2 AAB -/-I62 swab t e s t

2/26/63

WESTON COUNTY

44/63-26 CAC 6/6/67

61-/67

45/61-20 DCA -/-/49

unk - S t a t i c water l e v e l pre-
sumed e q u a l t o o r i g i n a l
s h u t - i n p r e s s u r e (+462 f t )
unk - S t a t i c water l e v e l pre-
sumed e y u a l t o 1962 s h u t -
i n p r e s s u r e (+416 f t )

45/61-20 DCC -/-I78

 Table IV-4. (continued)
-- --
Test Specific
\Jell Duration Drawdown Yield Capacity Data
( T / R Sec., $, $) Date (hrs) (ft) (gpm) (gpm/ft) Source Rema?%- - -- - -

WESTON COUNTY ( c o n t . )

45/61-21 CBD 41-166 72 200 4 60

9/1/66 72 141? 463 -Reported drawdown may not
i n c l u d e SIP component
unk ? 60* 50

-1-/62? 3 wks. 270" 1200

71-165 ? 18 276

5/20/60 8 min. 462>' 117

unk ? 346" 120

45/61-30 ADB 7 1- /6O? ? 300* 650

45/61-33 AB 41-/64? ? 323" 290 " r e s t r i c t e d s u r f a c e flow"

46/63-10 CDA 8/28/79 739 min. 638? 57 9

46/63-15 BDC -1-151 ? 393" 500

unk ? 393" 190

46/63-17 CBC -1-169 ? 531" 800 "Flow through 2 i n c h hose"

-1-/69? ? 647* 800 Different reported SIP
81-173 ? 427* 800 Flow may n o t b e 1973 d a t a

46/64-13 CCA -1-/60? ? 9 2" 30 Y i e l d may n o t be 1960 d a t a

+46/64-19 BDC -/-/56? ? 80 280 Plugged, 1965

46/64-23 CCB 3/5/65 6 65 70 Swab t e s t

61-172 s e v . wks . 29 3 308

46/65-20 CDD 9/19/60 6 295? 425

46/65-23 BAD 61-172 2 mos. 76 225

unk ? 400 600

4/16/62 1 30 354
61-172 4 rnos. 211 360

47160-4 AA 8/9/65 36 5? 8

48/65-25 CBB -1-149 55 min. 5 17 15.4

61-172 6 110 210

48/65-35 CC- 61-172 5 101 155 3 6 hrs p e r s o u r c e #2

o t h e r s (1980a) r e p o r t "low y i e l d s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y " of 90 gpm/ft f o r

one ( u n s p e c i f i e d ) Madison w e l l . Typically, high y i e l d s a r e required

from Madison w e l l s , and i n g e n e r a l s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s a t h i g h y i e l d s

a r e less than 5 gpmlft, somewhat lower ( l e s s t h a n 1 gpmlft) i n t h e

s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n , and over 10 gpm/ft only a t t h e S a l t Creek O i l

F i e l d , n o r t h of Casper.

Madison w e l l s w i t h step-discharge d a t a o f t e n e x h i b i t n o n l i n e a r

head l o s s e s . A t D e v i l s Tower t h e s e a r e i n t e r p r e t e d a s w e l l l o s s e s

due t o s m a l l c a s i n g diameter by Whitcomb and Gordon (1964). Kelly

and o t h e r s (1980a) a t t r i b u t e t h e head l o s s e s t o t u r b u l e n t flow i n

near-well fractures.

Y i e l d s and s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y d a t a f o r o t h e r a q u i f e r s comprising

t h e Madison system a r e s p a r s e . Reported M i n n e l u s a / ~ e n s l e e py i e l d s

a r e g e n e r a l l y less than 200 gpm. One Tensleep w e l l i n t h e outcrop

a r e a i n Johnson County (47183-15) was t e s t e d f o r f i v e hours a t 0 . 3

gpm p e r f o o t of drawdown (Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966). Minnelusa w e l l

s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y i n Crook County i s 1 . 4 and 4.7 gpm/ft a t D e v i l s

Tower and H u l e t t , r e s p e c t i v e l y (Wyoming Water Planning Program, 1972).

I n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n Eisen and o t h e r s (1981) r e p o r t

t h r e e upper Minnelusa s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s between 0 . 1 and 0.3 gpm/ft,

and one g r e a t e r than 10 gpm/ft. The Red River Dolomite was t e s t e d

a t 1 5 gpm/ft a t t h e U.S. Geological Survey T e s t W e l l (57165-15)

(Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977).

Permeability

The evidence below i n d i c a t e s most Madison a q u i f e r p e r m e a b i l i t y

i s secondary, a s s o c i a t e d w i t h r e s t r i c t e d zones of s o l u t i o n and/or

fracture. M i l l e r (1976) s p e c i f i c a l l y noted t h e importance of f r a c t u r e

p e r m e a b i l i t y i n s o u t h e r n Montana, and Woodward-Clyde (1980) view t h e

upper p a r t of t h e a q u i f e r a s c o n t a i n i n g randomly d i s t r i b u t e d l o c a l

zones of well-developed secondary p o r o s i t y and p e r m e a b i l i t y . The

permeable zones of t h e Madison and Red River c a r b o n a t e a q u i f e r s can

b e c o n s i d e r e d t y p i c a l y of good a q u i f e r s , b u t t h e sandstone a q u i f e r s

of t h e system a r e poor, e s p e c i a l l y by comparison.

Madison a q u i f e r p e r m e a b i l i t y , measured on c o r e s from t h e U.S.

Geological Survey Crook County t e s t w e l l , r a n g e s from less than 0.01

t o 789 m i l l i d a r c i e s (up t o 1 6 g p d / f t 2 f o r w a t e r a t 60°F), whereas

Madison p e r m e a b i l i t y c a l c u l a t e d from two d r i l l s t e m tests on t h e same

2
w e l l i s h i g h e r , averaging 2,112 and 279 g p d / f t for the intervals

t e s t e d (Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977). The d i f f e r e n c e may r e f l e c t

t h e i n f l u e n c e of bedding p l a n e p a r t i n g s and f r a c t u r e s , which do n o t

a f f e c t t h e c o r e d a t a , o r may r e f l e c t b a s i c d i f f e r e n c e s between methods

of d e t e r m i n a t i o n .

Secondary development of p o r o s i t y by s o l u t i o n and/or f r a c t u r i n g

i s a n important f a c t o r i n Madison water w e l l p r o d u c t i v i t y . For example,

d r i l l e r ' s l o g s (Wyoming S t a t e ~ n g i n e e'rs O f f i c e p e r m i t f i l e s ) of s e v e r a l

Madison w a t e r w e l l s i n t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n r e p o r t r e s t r i c t e d zones w i t h i n

t h e upper Madison which provide most of t h e w e l l y i e l d . Often r e p o r t e d

a r e w a t e r - f i l l e d v o i d s , t o t a l l i n g 40 p e r c e n t of one 15-foot i n t e r v a l

i n t h e D e v i l s Tower w e l l (53165-18 bbd). A t the G i l l e t t e well f i e l d ,

developed a l o n g t h e a x i s of a Laramide s y n c l i n e i n western Crook County,

l o s t c i r c u l a t i o n zones a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h i g h secondary s o l u t i o n perme-

a b i l i t y a r e p r e s e n t i n some w e l l s (Kelly and o t h e r s , 1981), and t h e s e

w e l l s a r e t h e b e s t producers.
 Tabulated ~ i n n e l u s a / ~ e n s l e eppe r m e a b i l i t i e s (Table IV-5) are

f o r producing o i l sands; t h e method of d e t e r m i n a t i o n , sample i n t e r v a l ,

and q u a l i t y of d a t a a r e a l l unknown. The r e p o r t e d v a l u e s range up

t o almost 20 g p d / f t 2 , b u t most o i l f i e l d s i n t h e b a s i n average an

o r d e r of magnitude lower. Minnelusa p e r m e a b i l i t i e s measured on c o r e

samples taken from a water test w e l l i n n o r t h e r n Crook County were

somewhat comparable, though g e n e r a l l y lower, ranging from n i l t o 11

2
gpd/ft (Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977).

Ordovician rock p e r m e a b i l i t y , measured on c o r e s from t h e U.S.

2
Geological Survey test w e l l i n Crook County, r a n g e s up t o 89 g p d / f t ,
w i t h t h e Red River Formation e x h i b i t i n g zones of h i g h p e r m e a b i l i t y

(Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977). Data from d r i l l s t e m t e s t s i n d i c a t e d

"an average p e r m e a b i l i t y t o t h e produced f l u i d of 35,139.8 md [640

2
g p d / f t ] f o r t h e e s t i m a t e d 10 f e e t of e f f e c t i v e p o r o s i t y w i t h i n t h e

t o t a l 180 f e e t of i n t e r v a l t e s t e d " (Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977,

p. 76). Cambrian sandstone c o r e p e r m e a b i l i t y i n t h e same w e l l ranged

from 2 t o 1 8 g p d / f t
2
.
Transmissivity

T r a n s m i s s i v i t y of t h e Madison a q u i f e r i s poorly known and no

r e g i o n a l map h a s been published. Estimated v a l u e s r e p o r t e d i n t h e

l i t e r a t u r e range from l e s s than 1.0 n o r t h of t h e study a r e a i n Montana

( M i l l e r , 1976) t o over 300,000 g p d / f t ( s e e Table IV-6). Reported

v a l u e s may n o t be comparable due t o t h e v a r i e t y of e s t i m a t i n g t e c h n i q u e s

used: d r i l l s t e m t e s t s , flow n e t a n a l y s i s , e s t i m a t i o n from s p e c i f i c

c a p a c i t y , and pump test i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . Konikow (1976) i n d i c a t e s

t h a t i n d i v i d u a l p o i n t a q u i f e r t e s t s do n o t r e f l e c t r e g i o n a l t r a n s m i s s i v i t y
 Table IV-5. Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of Permo-Pennsylvanian rocks of t h e Madison a q u i f e r system, Powder
River b a s i n , Wyoming, determined from o i l f i e l d d a t a .

Approximate Pay Calculated?

Location Thickness Porosity Permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (T/R) (ft) (%) (ma (gpd/f t ) Source

Upper Minnelusa Fm. ("Converse" sands) :

Basin 47/70

Basin Northwest
Bishop Ranch
Bishop Ranch South
C-H F i e l d
Deadman Creek
4 D i l l i n g e r Ranch
0
Duvall Ranch
Donkey Creek Area
Guthery
Halverson Ranch

Ham 51/69
Kuehne Ranch 51/69-70

Kummerfeld 50-51168
Lance Creek 35-36/65
M e l l o t t Ranch 52/68
P i c k r e l Ranch 48/69
P l e a s a n t Valley Ranch 51/69
Prong Creek 50167
 Table IV-5. (continued)

Approximate Pay Calculated?

Locat i o n Thickness Porosity permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (TIN (ft) (a (md (gpd/f t ) Source

Rainbow Ranch 49/71

Raven Creek 48/69

Robinson Ranch 50167

Roehrs 53/70
Rozet South 50170
Stewart 50-51169
4
Timber Creek 49/70
k'

Whisler 50-51170

Middle Minnelusa Fm. ( " ~ e o " sands) :

Lance Creek 35-36/65

Tensleep Ss.:

Horse Ranch 36/81

Meadow Creek 41/78
North Fork 44/81-82

Notches 37/85
South Casper Creek 33-34/83
Sussex-Meadow Creek 41-43178-80
Area
Sussex 42/78
Tiesdale East 41/81
Table IV-5. (continued)

NOTES

* ~ dx 18.2 x 1 f 3 = g p d / f t 2 , assuming f l u i d i s w a t e r a t 60°F.

TAssuming f l u i d i s w a t e r a t 6 0 ' ~ and pay t h i c k n e s s e q u a l s a q u i f e r t h i c k n e s s .

Data Sources: 1 - Wyoming Geological A s s o c i a t i o n , 1958

2 - Wyoming Geological A s s o c i a t i o n , 1963
3 - Wyoming Geological A s s o c i a t i o n , 1957 (supplemented, 196 1)
4 - Wyoming S t a t e O i l and Gas Commission f i l e s
5 - C o l l e n t i n e and o t h e r s , 1981
 Transmissivity
Area (gpd/f t ) S t o r a ~ eC o e f f i c i e n t Source f4~thm-I1 1 s ~ d

Blankennagel e t a l . , 1977 D r i l l stem t e s t s

USGS T e s t \ J e l l (57/65-15)

G i l l e t t e Well F i e l d (51/66-6)
Well CR-4 Wyoming Water P l a n n i n g S i n g l e w e l l pump t e s t
Program, 1977
Well CR-4 Montgomery, 1979 2-well pump t e s t and o t h e r
data
Well C i t y # 1 Montgomery, 1979 2-well pump t e s t and o t h e r
data

Newcastle Area Wyo. S t . Eng., 1974 Estimate

Woodward-Clyde, 1980 Flow and r e c o v e r y , 2 w e l l s

Well t 45/61-28 Swenson e t a l . , 1976 S p e c i f i c capacity based

estimate

Well # 45/61-20 Woodward-Clyde, 1980 Constant discharge t e s t

Near H a r t v i l l e H i l l s i n S.E. Wyo. S t . Eng., 1974

ETSI W e l l f i e l d ( N i o b r a r a Co.) Stockdale, 1974, a l s o Hantush method f o r l e a k y

Anderson and K e l l y , 1974 aquifers

Rahn, 1975 J a c o b Method

Rahn, 1975 T h e i s c u r v e , no l e a k a g e

Near Douglas, i n S o u t h Wyo. S t . Eng., 1974

Midwest Area Konikow, 1976 Flow n e t a n a l y s i s

Konikow , 197 6 Steady s t a t e model c a l i b r a t i o n

Near Bighorn M t s . i n N.W. Wyo. S t . Eng., 1974

E n t i r e B a s i n Average Konikow, 1976 Recharge based s t e a d y s t a t e

model c a l i b r a t i o n
Konikow, 1976 ~ o t e n t i o m e ' t r i c based s t e a d y
s t a t e model c a l i b r a t i o n
.

* Value t e m p e r a t u r e d e p e n d e n t .
a c c u r a t e l y due t o t h e v a r i a b i l i t y of l o c a l secondary p e r m e a b i l i t y .

Kelly and o t h e r s (1981) propose a conceptual model which c o n s i d e r s

t h e Madison a " v e r t i c a l l y zonated d o u b l e - t r a n s m i s s i v i t y a q u i f e r ' ' t o

e x p l a i n observed d a t a .

M i l l e r (1976) used d r i l l s t e m t e s t s t o e s t i m a t e t r a n s m i s s i v i t y

of t h e Madison Group i n t h e Powder River b a s i n i n Montana, a r r i v i n g

a t a range of v a l u e s from 0.07 t o 40,000 g p d / f t . A t t h e U.S. Geological

Survey Madison test w e l l i n Crook County d r i l l s t e m tests gave v a l u e s

of about 21,000 and 3,000 g p d f f t f o r two i n t e r v a l s i n t h e Madison

(Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977).

Konikow (1976), u s i n g flow n e t a n a l y s i s , e s t i m a t e d a r e g i o n a l

average t r a n s m i s s i v i t y v a l u e of 8,400 g p d / f t f o r t h e Madison n o r t h

of Casper, Wyoming, b u t f e l t incomplete pumpage d a t a s e v e r e l y l i m i t e d

t h e v a l u e s ' accuracy.

Swenson and o t h e r s (1976), e s t i m a t i n g from s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y

c o r r e c t e d f o r c a l c u l a t e d w e l l l o s s e s , determined t r a n s m i s s i v i t y a t

a Madison w e l l n e a r Newcastle (45/61-28) t o be 30,000 g p d / f t , much

h i g h e r t h a n t h e g e n e r a l e s t i m a t e of 5,000 t o 15,000 g p d / f t f o r t h e

Newcastle a r e a r e p o r t e d by t h e Wyoming S t a t e Engineer (1974). Kelly

and o t h e r s (1980a) imply t h a t most p r e v i o u s Madison t r a n s m i s s i v i t y

e s t i m a t e s from s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y a r e t o o low because they do n o t

c o n s i d e r drawdown a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t u r b u l e n t flow i n near-well f r a c t u r e s .

Localized Madison t r a n s m i s s i v i t y e s t i m a t e s i n e x c e s s of 100,000 g p d / f t

a r e d e r i v e d by Kelly and o t h e r s (1980a) from "low y i e l d s p e c i f i c

c a p a c i t i e s " of Madison w e l l s .

I n t e r p r e t a t i o n s of r e c e n t Madison a q u i f e r pump t e s t s have been

d i s c u s s e d by s e v e r a l workers ( O f f i c e of Technology Assessment, 1978;

Eisen and o t h e r s , 1980; Woodward-Clyde, 1980). The r e p o r t e d transmis-

s i v i t y v a l u e s a r e summarized i n Table IV-6.

L i t t l e t r a n s m i s s i v i t y d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r water w e l l s completed

i n o t h e r formations comprising t h e Madison a q u i f e r system. D r i l l stem

tests of t h e Red River Formation a t t h e U.S. Geological Survey t e s t

w e l l i n Crook County i n d i c a t e a t r a n s m i s s i v i t y of about 6,400 g p d / f t

(Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977). Data i n t e r p r e t e d from o i l f i e l d

pay t h i c k n e s s and p e r m e a b i l i t i e s i n d i c a t e t h e upper Minnelusa and

Tensleep g e n e r a l l y have t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s of s e v e r a l hundred g p d / f t

o r less (Table IV-5). These o i l f i e l d d a t a may n o t be comparable

with water w e l l data. Reported pay t h i c k n e s s i s o f t e n less than t o t a l

a q u i f e r t h i c k n e s s due t o a r b i t r a r y p o r o s i t y c u t o f f s imposed i n i n t e r -

pretation. A d d i t i o n a l l y , oil f i e l d tests a r e g e n e r a l l y f o r t h e most

porous and permeable i n t e r v a l s w i t h i n a formation and, i f t r a n s l a t e d

f o r t h e e n t i r e a q u i f e r thickness, give l i b e r a l transmissivity estimates.

Ground-Water Movement

The g e n e r a l c i r c u l a t i o n p a t t e r n of Madison a q u i f e r water i s basin-

ward flow from exposed outcrop r e c h a r g e a r e a s , w i t h subsequent n o r t h -

ward s u b s u r f a c e outflow t o Montana (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1980; U.S. Depart-

ment of t h e I n t e r i o r , 1974; Wyoming S t a t e Engineer, 1974). Subsurface

o u t f l o w t o t h e s o u t h e a s t h a s been t e n t a t i v e l y i n f e r r e d , as h a s s u b s u r f a c e

i n f l o w a c r o s s t h e Casper a r c h from t h e west (Wyoming S t a t e Engineer,

1974; Rahn, 1975). I n t e r p r e t a t i o n of Madison a q u i f e r water flow i s

complicated by b o t h s t r u c t u r e - r e l a t e d a q u i f e r inhomogeneity and t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y of v e r t i c a l leakage.
 I n t h e upper Minnelusa a q u i f e r t h e r e i s shallow o u t c r o p - r e l a t e d

water c i r c u l a t i o n , w i t h water moving down-dip, d i s s o l v i n g gypsum,

then m i g r a t i n g u p s e c t i o n t o emerge a s s p r i n g s (Bowles and Braddock,

1963). Eisen and o t h e r s (1981) r e p o r t r e g i o n a l flow p a t h s i n t h e

upper Minnelusa i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n a r e s i m i l a r

t o t h o s e i n t h e Madison.

A v a i l a b l e Madison head d a t a have been compiled i n t o p o t e n t i o m e t r i c

maps by s e v e r a l workers (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1980; Wyoming S t a t e Engineer,

1974; U.S. Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , 1974; Swenson, 1974; Swenson

and o t h e r s , 1976; Konikow, 1976). Since e s s e n t i a l l y t h e same d a t a

were used by most workers, t h e maps produced a r e s i m i l a r ; a r e p r e s e n t a -

t i v e example i s shown i n F i g u r e IV-1. The map must b e considered

only a g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n of t h e p o t e n t i o m e t r i c s u r f a c e (Swenson

and o t h e r s , 1976) due t o s p a r s e d a t a , a t h i r t y - y e a r range i n d a t a

age, and v a r i a b l e d a t a sources, i n c l u d i n g s h u t - i n p r e s s u r e s , w a t e r

l e v e l e l e v a t i o n s , and d r i l l s t e m tests.

Sparse d a t a p r o h i b i t d e t a i l e d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of flow i n t h e b a s i n

center. The a p p a r e n t g r a d i e n t d e c r e a s e i s thought by Swenson and

o t h e r s (1976) t o b e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e i t h e r l i t t l e water c i r c u l a t i o n

o r high t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s . Konikow's (1976) h y p o t h e s i s of c e n t r a l

b a s i n temperature-associated e f f e c t i v e t r a n s m i s s i v i t y i n c r e a s e s u p p o r t s

Swenson and o t h e r s ' second a l t e r n a t i v e . Conversely, Huntoon (1976)

c o n s i d e r s c e n t r a l b a s i n p e r m e a b i l i t i e s lower than t h o s e of o u t c r o p s

i n t h e Bighorn Mountains.
 0
0

7 C R O O K

ran e in age from 1946 to

1973. Contour interval is
500 feet with supplemental
contours.

0 Data Site

- - -- - -
25 0

25 0
25

25 50
50

75
75

100 Kilometers
100 M11e-s

Figure I V - 1 . Potentiometric surface in the Madison aquifer (after

Swenson and others, 1976).
E f f e c t s of S t r u c t u r e

F r a c t u r e zones may d i v i d e t h e Madison i n t o d i s c r e t e h y d r o l o g i c

u n i t s b u t t h e e x a c t h y d r o l o g i c e f f e c t s of t h e s e boundaries a r e a s

y e t undetermined (Cushing, 1977). Steep p o t e n t i o m e t r i c g r a d i e n t s

i n t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n are a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e Black H i l l s monocline,

and s t e e p g r a d i e n t s i n t h e western and s o u t h e r n b a s i n a r e a s s o c i a t e d

w i t h t h e s t r u c t u r a l l y s t e e p and f a u l t e d b a s i n a x i s . Woodward-Clyde

(1980) c o n s i d e r t h e s e a r e a s l i k e l y low-transmissivity zones. Black-

s t o n e (1981) c o n s i d e r s t h e f a u l t e d w e s t b a s i n f l a n k a t o t a l h y d r o l o g i c

d i s c o n t i n u i t y i n t h e Madison. Konikow (1976) i n t e r p r e t e d t h e western

and s o u t h e r n b a s i n marginal a r e a s a s low-transmissivity boundaries,

impeding basinward flow, b u t d i d n o t do s o f o r t h e e a s t e r n a r e a . In

t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n and s o u t h e a s t e r n p a r t s of t h e b a s i n t h e r e i s a major

change i n t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s of Madison w a t e r a c r o s s b o t h t h e

monocline and t h e Fanny Peak lineament (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1980), i n d i -

c a t i n g t h e s e f e a t u r e s a r e h y d r o l o g i c boundaries. S i m i l a r water q u a l i t y

d i f f e r e n c e s and c o n c l u s i o n s a r e noted f o r t h e upper Minnelusa a q u i f e r

a t t h e Black H i l l s monocline (Woodward-Clyde, 1980).

A l t e r n a t i v e l y , f r a c t u r e a r e a s have been i n t e r p r e t e d a s l o c a l

h i g h - t r a n s m i s s i v i t y zones. For example, t h e Fanny Peak lineament

i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n p r o v i d e s a p a r t i a l l y r e c h a r g i n g zone n e a r

t h e proposed ETSI Niobrara County w e l l f i e l d (Office of Technology

Assessment, 1978). I n t h e western b a s i n Huntoon (1976) c a l c u l a t e s

30 p e r c e n t of t h e deep-basin r e c h a r g e o c c u r s along g e o g r a p h i c a l l y

l i m i t e d permeable zones a s s o c i a t e d w i t h Laramide s t r u c t u r e s s u b s i d i a r y

t o t h e Bighorn Mountains.
V e r t i c a l Leakage

V e r t i c a l leakage between t h e Madison a q u i f e r and s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y

a d j a c e n t a q u i f e r s h a s been proposed (Eisen and C o l l e n t i n e , 1981; Woodward-

Clyde, 1980; Konikow, 1976). Eisen and C o l l e n t i n (1981) e s t i m a t e d

t h e middle Minnelusa v e r t i c a l leakage c o e f f i c i e n t t o be between

5 x lo-'' and 10-I3 sec-l, based on s u l f a t e mass b a l a n c e computations.

Woodward-Clyde (1980) s p e c i f i e d t h e leakage c o e f f i c i e n t between t h e

Madison and Red River a s lo-' sec

-1
. The leakage c o e f f i c i e n t between
-11
t h e Minnelusa and Madison h a s been s p e c i f i e d a s e i t h e r 10-lo t o 10
-1 -1
sec (Woodward-Clyde, 1980) o r 10-I' t o 10-l3 s e c (Konikow, 1976)

i n t h e models of t h e Madison a q u i f e r .

Recharge

Recharge t o t h e Madison a q u i f e r w i t h i n t h e Powder River b a s i n

i s p r i n c i p a l l y through d i r e c t i n f i l t r a t i o n of p r e c i p i t a t i o n i n outcrop

a r e a s ; t h e r e a r e no r e p o r t s of e x t e n s i v e i n t e r f o r m a t i o n a l v e r t i c a l

leakage o r s t r e a m l o s s e s . Most p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t s on r e c h a r g e have

s p e c i f i c a l l y c o n s i d e r e d r e c h a r g e t o Madison Limestone o u t c r o p s r a t h e r

t h a n t o t h e e n t i r e Madison a q u i f e r system. Recharge e s t i m a t e s range

from 75,250 a c r e - f e e t / y r (Old West Regional Commission, 1976) t o 8,300

acre-feet/yr (Rahn, 1975). Also o f t e n c i t e d i s a n e s t i m a t e of r e c h a r g e

"considerably i n e x c e s s of 100,000" acre-£ e e t / y r (Bishop, 1975).

D i s c r e p a n c i e s r e f l e c t v a r y i n g d e f i n i t i o n s of r e c h a r g e and d i f f e r e n t

t e c h n i q u e s of c a l c u l a t i o n . Eisen and o t h e r s (1980) have r e c e n t l y

reviewed r e c h a r g e e s t i m a t e s f o r t h e Madison i n t h e Powder River b a s i n .

They p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e h i g h e s t r e c h a r g e e s t i m a t e s i n c o r p o r a t e shallow

i n f i l t r a t i o n which r e s u r f a c e s a t s p r i n g s and does n o t e n t e r t h e r e g i o n a l

ground-water c i r c u l a t i o n ; they a l s o n o t e t h a t ~ a h n ' s (1975) e s t i m a t e

e r r o n e o u s l y included a p o r o s i t y c o r r e c t i o n .

The Old West Regional Commission (1976) study of n e t s t r e a m g a i n s

and l o s s e s concluded t h a t Madison water l o s t t o streams c o n t r i b u t e s

a s i g n i f i c a n t p o r t i o n of b a s e flow. Exceptions were noted i n t h e

c e n t r a l Bighorn Mountains and p o s s i b l y t h e n o r t h e r n Laramie Mountains.

N e t a g g r e g a t e s t r e a m g a i n from t h e Bighorn and Madison a q u i f e r s was

e s t i m a t e d a s 78 c f s (56,000 a c r e - f e e t / y r ) . Included f i e l d r e p o r t s

n o t e a d d i t i o n a l g a i n s and l o s s e s a c r o s s t h e Tensleep Sandstone b u t

f o r t h e Commission study t h e Tensleep was n o t c o n s i d e r e d p a r t of t h e

Madison system. Gries and Crooks (1968) found t h a t s i m i l a r measurements

of s t r e a m g a i n s and l o s s e s a c r o s s Madison o u t c r o p s i n t h e e a s t e r n

Black H i l l s i n South Dakota were s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e d by underflow

i n v a l l e y alluvium, a f a c t o r n o t addressed i n t h e Commission study.

PEW-TRIASSIC AQUIFERS

Within t h e Powder River b a s i n Permo-Triassic r o c k s a r e l o c a l l y

developed a s low-yielding w a t e r sources. The Minnekahta Limestone

i s developed i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n , and redbeds of

t h e Chugwater (Spearf i s h ) Formation a r e tapped b o t h i n t h e nor t h e a s t e r n

p a r t of t h e b a s i n and by a few w e l l s i n Natrona County.

I n Natrona County, Crist and Lowry (1972) r e p o r t 9 w e l l s , a l l

y i e l d i n g l e s s than 20 gpm, d r i l l e d i n t o t h e Chugwater, although two

were l a t e r abandoned and a t h i r d deepened. Springs, y i e l d i n g over

100 gpm, which i s s u e from t h e Permo-Triassic a r e considered Madison

a q u i f e r system w a t e r r i s i n g a l o n g geologic s t r u c t u r e s ( C r i s t and Lowry,

1972).
 I n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e Powder River b a s i n 8 3 w e l l s tapping

t h e S p e a r f i s h a q u i f e r have been i n v e n t o r i e d (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1980,

1981), of which t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y a r e s t o c k and/or domestic w e l l s

i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Crook County. Average y i e l d of t h e i n v e n t o r i e d w e l l s

i s about 1 3 gpm. Two pump tests of S p e a r f i s h w e l l s n o r t h e a s t of H u l e t t ,

i n c e n t r a l Crook County, have r e p o r t e d s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s of 0.5

and 0.6 gpm/ft of drawdown, p e r m e a b i l i t i e s of 6 and 8 g p d / f t 2 , and

t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s of 150 and 370 g p d / f t (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964).

Minnekahta a q u i f e r w e l l s i n v e n t o r i e d by Eisen and o t h e r s (1980,

1981) i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n numbered 29, w i t h an average

y i e l d of 7 gpm. Whitcomb and Morris (1964) d i d n o t c o n s i d e r t h e

Minnekahta Limestone t o have development p o t e n t i a l b u t a t t h e U.S.

Geological Survey Madison test w e l l i t showed good p o t e n t i a l f o r low-

y i e l d development (Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977). A t t h i s well,

t h e Minnekahta flowed 1 2 gpm, had a s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y of 0 . 1 gpmlft

of drawdown, and had a n e f f e c t i v e t r a n s m i s s i v i t y of 330 g p d / f t . The

average p e r m e a b i l i t y f o r t h e e s t i m a t e d 10 f e e t of e f f e c t i v e p o r o s i t y

was 33 g p d / f t
2
.
SUNDANCE AQUIFER

The middle H u l e t t Sandstone Member of t h e Sundanee Formation

i s a n important l o c a l shallow a q u i f e r i n Crook County, where w e l l s

a r e g e n e r a l l y c a p a b l e of y i e l d i n g more w a t e r than r e q u i r e d f o r domestic

and s t o c k purposes (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). Other sandstones

p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e Sundance a l s o y i e l d w a t e r i n Crook County, although

i t may b e of lesser q u a l i t y (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). Sandstones

i n t h e Sundance i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n and southwestern p a r t s of t h e

b a s i n of t e n y i e l d o i l .

Eisen and o t h e r s (1980, 1981) i n v e n t o r i e d 177 w e l l s i n t h e e a s t e r n

p a r t of t h e b a s i n which produce from t h e Sundance a q u i f e r ; most a r e

domestic/stock w e l l s i n c e n t r a l Crook County w i t h an average y i e l d

of 9 gpm. One r e p o r t e d pump test (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964) showed

a s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y of 0 . 1 gpm/ft of drawdown.

Data from o i l f i e l d s w i t h Sundance producing zones a r e p r e s e n t e d

i n Table IV-7. I n g e n e r a l , p o r o s i t y i s 10 t o 25 p e r c e n t , p e r m e a b i l i t y

i s l e s s t h a n 8 g p d / f t 2 , and c a l c u l a t e d t r a n s m i s s i v i t y i s l e s s than

150 g p d / f t . A t Lance Creek h i g h e r than t y p i c a l pay t h i c k n e s s r e s u l t s

i n c a l c u l a t e d t r a n s m i s s i v i t y of about 400 g p d / f t .

DAKOTA AQUIFER SYSTEM

The U.S. Geological Survey (1979) d e f i n e s t h e Dakota a q u i f e r

system t o i n c l u d e a l l E a r l y Cretaceous age sandstones p r e s e n t i n t h e

Powder River b a s i n , t o g e t h e r w i t h i n t e r v e n i n g s h a l e s . The p r i n c i p a l

a q u i f e r s comprising t h e system, g e n e r a l l y marine, f l u v i a l , o r d e l t a i c

l e n t i c u l a r sandstones, a r e , i n t h e e a s t , t h e F a l l River ("Dakota")

and lower Lakota formations, members of t h e Inyan Kara Group; and,

i n t h e w e s t , t h e lower p a r t of t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y e q u i v a l e n t Cloverly

Formation. The Newcastle (Muddy) Sandstone i s a minor a q u i f e r included

i n t h e a q u i f e r system due t o geologic s i m i l a r i t y . The Newcastle i s

a l a t e r a l e q u i v a l e n t of t h e upper Dakota Sandstone, which i s t h e most

important a q u i f e r of t h e system i n South Dakota.

Aggregate t h i c k n e s s of t h e a q u i f e r system ranges from 350 t o

800 f e e t , although much of t h i s i n t e r v a l i s s h a l e y h o r i z o n s which

 Table IV-7. Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of t h e Sundance a q u i f e r i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , determined
from o i l f i e l d d a t a .

Approximate pay Calculatedt

Locat i o n Thickness Porosity Permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (TIN (ft) (%) (ma (gpd/ft) Source

Casper Creek South 33-34/83 23 14 20 8 1

Lance Creek 35-36/65 55 20-30 0-1250 ~1250

64 21 338 394

Lightning Creek 36/65-66 8 11.5 <1 0.15 1

Poison Spider 33/82-83 35 20 200

30 18 241

S u s s e x / ~ e a d o wCreek 41-43/78-80 15 20 440 120 2

03

AM^ x 18.2 x l f 3 = g p d / f t 2 , assuming f l u i d i s w a t e r a t 60°F.

l-Assuming f l u i d i s w a t e r a t 6 0 ' ~ and pay t h i c k n e s s e q u a l s a q u i f e r t h i c k n e s s .

Data Sburces: 1 - Wyoming Geological A s s o c i a t i o n , 1957

2 - Wyoming Geological A s s o c i a t i o n , 1958
3 - C o l l e n t i n e and o t h e r s , 1981
do n o t produce s i g n i f i c a n t amounts of water. The Dakota a q u i f e r system

i s e x t e n s i v e l y developed i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n Powder River b a s i n , o f t e n

by w e l l s completed i n more than one component a q u i f e r , and s e r v e s

a s a shallower w a t e r s o u r c e t h a n t h e Madison a q u i f e r system. Wells

i n t h e c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e b a s i n , where t h e Dakota i s r e l a t i v e l y deeply

b u r i e d ( s e e P l a t e I ) , o f t e n produce o i l , e s p e c i a l l y from t h e Muddy

Sandstone. Unproductive o i l t e s t s o c c a s i o n a l l y a r e l e f t a s flowing

w a t e r w e l l s f o r s t o c k w a t e r i n g purposes. I n t h e s o u t h e r n Powder River

b a s i n t h e Dakota system i s l o c a l l y tapped f o r s t o c k and i n d u s t r i a l

use. I n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e outcrop band i s narrow,

t h e sandstones a r e less e x t e n s i v e l y developed, and c u r r e n t u t i l i z a t i o n

of t h e a q u i f e r system i s l i m i t e d because s t e e p d i p s r e s u l t i n a narrow

band of economically a t t r a c t i v e d r i l l i n g depths. Potential artesian

y i e l d t o deep w e l l s i s p o s t u l a t e d (Lowry and Cummings, 1966; Whitcomb

and o t h e r s , 1966).

Claystones of t h e J u r a s s i c Morrison Formation a r e t h e lower boundary

of t h e a q u i f e r system; t h e upper boundary i s t h e b e n t o n i t i c Mowry

Shale. The U.S. Geological Survey (1979) proposes a model t h a t i n c l u d e s

v e r t i c a l leakage, implying t h e r e i s some flow through t h e s e bounding

shales. The S k u l l Creek Shale and s h a l e y upper p a r t of t h e Lakota

Formation may be p a r t i a l hydrologic b a r r i e r s , s u b d i v i d i n g t h e a q u i f e r

system. A v a i l a b l e d a t a a r e inadequate t o determine such d i v i s i o n

r e g i o n a l l y , a l t h o u g h l o c a l evidence i n d i c a t e s t h a t a t l e a s t t h e i n d i v i -

d u a l Muddy/~ewcastle sandstone b o d i e s a r e h y d r a u l i c a l l y i s o h t e d ~

(Stone, 1972; Wulf, 1963). H a r r i s (1976) c o n s i d e r s t h e S k u l l Creek

Shale a s e a l i n g caprock f o r petroleum accumulations.

 Hydrologic P r o p e r t i e s

Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of t h e a q u i f e r system have n o t been exten-

s i v e l y i n v e s t i g a t e d ; t h e r e f o r e only g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n s a r e

possible. Regional v a r i a b i l i t y of l i t h o l o g i e s and s p a r s e d a t a p r o h i b i t

comprehensive d e s c r i p t i o n . Completion of w e l l s i n more than one a q u i f e r

of t h e system f u r t h e r c o m p l i c a t e s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . Aquifer p r o p e r t i e s

i n d i c a t e only moderate ground-water development p o t e n t i a l compared

t o o t h e r systems i n t h e b a s i n , although high-capacity w e l l s have been

developed a t t h e expense of hundreds of f e e t of drawdown.

Y i e l d and S ~ e c i f i cC a ~ a c i t v

Moderate y i e l d s a r e o b t a i n a b l e from t h e a q u i f e r system. In the

n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n w e l l s flowing 1 t o 10 gpm a r e common

and y i e l d s up t o 150 gpm a r e r e p o r t e d (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964) .

I n Natrona County Cloverly a q u i f e r w e l l s flow 1 t o 40 gpm, y i e l d s

a r e u s u a l l y 5 t o 20 gpm, and pumped y i e l d s of up t o 250 gpm a r e

p o s s i b l e ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972).

Reported Dakota a q u i f e r system s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s g e n e r a l l y

range from about 0 . 1 t o l e s s t h a n 1.0 gpmlft (Table IV-8). Most of

t h e t a b u l a t e d d a t a a r e f o r t h e Lakota a q u i f e r . No c o n s i s t e n t d i f f e r -

e n c e s between w e l l s completed only i n t h e Lakota and o t h e r completion

zones a r e i d e n t i f i a b l e due t o t h e l i m i t e d r e p o r t e d d a t a base. Specific

c a p a c i t i e s exceeding 4.0 gpm/ft have been r e p o r t e d f o r two w e l l s i n

s o u t h e r n Niobrara County i d e n t i f i e d a s completed i n t h e Inyan Kara

Group (Whitcomb, 1965). A t both t h e s e w e l l s t h e Inyan Kara i s d i r e c t l y

o v e r l a i n by t h e White River Formation, which may c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e

yield. No r e l a t i o n s h i p between s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y and s a t u r a t e d a q u i f e r

 Table IV-8. Reported specific capacities (yield per unit drawdown) of wells in the Dakota aquifer system,
Powder River basin, Wyoming.
-
Test Specific
Well Location Geologic Test Duration Drawdown Discharge Capacity Data
(T/R-Sec. k k) Formation(s) Date (hrs) (ft) kpm> (gpm/ft) Source Remarks

CROOK COUNTY

55161-8 DC Kfr & Klk 8/3/56 2 flowing well

56/62-28 BB Kfr & Klk 7/21/56 4 flowing well

--29DD Klk 7/21/56 2

56165-8 CC Klk 11/2/56 ? flowing well

JOHNSON COUNTY

41180-30 DB Kcv 125 2

41/81-25 DA Kcv 120 18

NIOBRARA COUNTY

Kik 50 E 60

Kik 50 E 220

Kik 35 140 flowing well test

Klk 300 40
Klk 15 7 bailer test

Klk 44 30

Klk 120 6

Klk 350 8
Table IV-8. (continued)
-
Test S~ecific
Well Location Geologic Duration Drawdown Discharge Capacity Data
(T/R-Sec. % %) Formetion(s) (hrs) (ft) (gpd (gpm/ft) Source I__. _ Remarks
_.__ __
WESTON COUNTY

44/62-11 CC Kfr & Klk pumped flowing well; drawtlown

may not include pressure head
component

Klk swab test on flowing well;

drawdown may not include
pressure head component

46/63-18 AD Klk 21 flowing well

46/64-13 AA Kfr & Klk - flowing well

-13 CCA Klk - flow test

1 flow test
%9 mos. long term pumpage

-24 ADA Klk ? flow test

-24 ADA Klk? ? flow test

47/63-30 CC Klk ? flow test

47/65-1 DAB Klk 2.5

48/65-25 CAB Klk 72

-35 AB Kfr? 3

-35 CCB Klk? 72

Abbreviations:
-
--- Kik = Inyan Kara Group
Kfr = Fall River Formation
Rlk = Lakota Formation
Kcv = Cloverly Formation
E = Estimated

Data-
- Sources.: 1 - Whitcomb and Morris, 1964
2 - U.S. Department of the Interior, 1974
3 - Whitcomb, 1965
4 - Wyoming State Engineer's Office permit files
5 - Whitcomb, 1960
t h i c k n e s s p e n e t r a t e d by t h e w e l l i s a p p a r e n t ; v a l u e s vary by t h r e e

o r d e r s of magnitude. No geographic t r e n d s i n s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y a r e

noticeable. V a r i a b i l i t y of Dakota system s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s i s

probably a s s o c i a t e d w i t h l o c a l l i t h o l o g i c changes.

Permeability

Most a v a i l a b l e p e r m e a b i l i t y measurements f o r a q u i f e r s of t h e

Dakota system a r e from tests conducted i n producing o i l f i e l d s (Table

IV-9); v a l u e s range up t o 36 g p d / f t
2
. The F a l l River Formation e x h i b i t s

s l i g h t l y h i g h e r v a l u e s than t h e Lakota and Newcastle. The most v a r i -

a b i l i t y i n p e r m e a b i l i t y v a l u e s i s f o r t h e ~ewcastle/MuddySandstone,

reflecting lithologic variations.

Only two a q u i f e r t e s t s , which determined p e r m e a b i l i t y of t h e

whole Inyan Kara s t r a t i g r a p h i c i n t e r v a l , have been noted i n t h e ground-

water l i t e r a t u r e (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). The r e p o r t e d permeabil-

2
i t i e s , 1 4 and 2 g p d / f t a t w e l l s 56/62-28 and 55161-8, respectively,

a r e comparable t o t h e o i l f i e l d d a t a . They r e p r e s e n t an a q u i f e r average

s i n c e p e r m e a b i l i t i e s were c a l c u l a t e d by d i v i d i n g t r a n s m i s s i v i t y by

aquifer thickness.

Transmissivitv

T r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s of 810 and 220 g p d / f t , f o r w e l l s 56/62-28 and

55161-8, r e s p e c t i v e l y , a r e t h e only two published v a l u e s f o r Dakota

system w a t e r w e l l s and a r e considered only order-of-magnitude estimates

due t o s h o r t test d u r a t i o n (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964).

T r a n s m i s s i v i t y v a l u e s c a l c u l a t e d from o i l f i e l d d a t a range from

one t o l e s s t h a n 1,000 g p d l f t (Table IV-9). These v a l u e s a r e c a l c u l a t e d

u s i n g p e r m e a b i l i t i e s and pay t h i c k n e s s e s r e p o r t e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e .
T a b l e IV-9. Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of Lower Cretaceous r o c k s of t h e Dakota a q u i f e r system, Powder
R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming, determined from o i l field data.

Approximate Pay Calculatedt

Location Thickness Porosity Permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (TIN (ft) (% ) bd) (gpd/f t ) Source

~ e w c a s t l e / ~ u d dSs.
y

Bertha
Big Muddy E a s t
Chan
Clareton
Cole Creek
Col_lums
Fence Creek
F i d d l e r Creek West
F i d d l e r Creek E a s t
Gas Draw
Glenrock South

Hilight
Hunter Ranch
J o e Creek
Kitty
Lance Creek
Lazy "B"
L i g h t n i n g Creek

L o n e t r e e Creek-
Lodgepole Creek
L-X Bar Ranch
0 'C o m e r
Oedekoven
 T a b l e IV-9. (continued)

Approximate Pay Calculated?

Locat i o n Thickness Porosity permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (T/R) (ft> (%) (ma (gpd/f t ) Source

Osage

Poison S p i d e r
Recluse

Q
Rozet E a s t
o Rozet
S k u l l Creek
Slat t e r y
Springen Ranch
S t e i n l e Ranch

Timber Creek
Ute
Whitetail

Fall ~ i v e r / ~ a k o tSs.
a

Big Muddy E a s t 33/75-76 10 14 75

Bridge Creek 39/61 4 23.5 733
Burke Ranch 37/78 12 15 44
20 13 40
12 14 29
 Table IV-9. (continued)

Approximate Pay Calculatedt

Location Thickness Porosity ~ermeabilit~*Transmissivity Data
Field (T/R) (ft) (%I (md) (gpd/ft) Source

Cole Creek South

Coyote Creek
Coyote Creek South
Donkey Creek Area

Glenrock South

Kummerfeld
F
Lance Creek East
Lonetree Creek-
Lodgepole Creek
Miller Creek

Sage Spring Creek

Dakota-Lakota Interval

Big Muddy
Cole Creek

Fm.
~akota/~loverlv

Cole Creek South 34-35/76

Meadow Creek 41/78
 T a b l e IV-9. (continued)

--

Approximate Pay Calculatedt

Locat i o n Thickness Porosity Permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (TIN (ft) (%I (ma (gpd/f t ) Source

Sherwood 40/77 15 16 <25 <7

Sussex 42/78-79 25 15.8 - -
Sussex-Meadow 41-431
Creek Area 78-80 20 15 40-200 15-73
T i s d a l e North 41/81 65 18 195 231

* Md x 18.2 x = g p d / f t 2 , assuming f l u i d i s w a t e r a t 60°F.

t Assuming f l u i d i s w a t e r a t 6 0 O ~and pay t h i c k n e s s e q u a l s a q u i f e r t h i c k n e s s .

a
Reported a s g r o s s f o r m a t i o n t h i c k n e s s r a t h e r t h a n n e t pay.

Data Sources: 1- Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1957 (supplemented, 1961)

2 - Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1976
3 - Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1968
4 - Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1963
5 - Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1958
6 - Wyoming G e o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 1954
7 - C o l l e n t i n e and o t h e r s , 1981
They a r e n o t s t r i c t l y comparable t o ground-water t e s t s , a s they r e p r e s e n t

v a l u e s i n t e r p r e t e d f o r only t h e most porous, and o i l c o n t a i n i n g , sandy

intervals. Because t h e s e i n t e r v a l s have t h e b e s t a q u i f e r p r o p e r t i e s

of t h e formation, t h e v a l u e s r e f l e c t a l i b e r a l e s t i m a t e of t r a n s m i s s i v i t y

i f t r a n s l a t e d f o r t h e t o t a l aquifer thickness.

The e s t i m a t e d t r a n s m i s s i v i t y range from s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y d a t a

i s a few hundred t o a few thousand g p d / f t . Due t o u n c e r t a i n t i e s i n

w e l l c o n s t r u c t i o n , test procedure, and w e l l e f f i c i e n c y , i t i s only

p o s s i b l e t o o b t a i n an order-of-magnitude estimate u s i n g t h i s technique.

A d d i t i o n a l u n c e r t a i n t y i s introduced because t h e t e c h n i q u e ' s assumption

of an i s o t r o p i c , homogeneous a q u i f e r i s n o t s t r i c t l y met.

Ground-Water Movement

Few p o t e n t i o m e t r i c maps and l i t t l e p o t e n t i o m e t r i c d a t a have been

p u b l i s h e d f o r t h e Dakota a q u i f e r system i n t h e Powder River b a s i n .

M. E. Lowry of t h e U.S. Geological Survey ( p e r s o n a l communication,

November, 1979) suggested t h a t v a r y i n g completion p r a c t i c e s and p a r t i a l

hydrologic i s o l a t i o n of i n d i v i d u a l a q u i f e r s may n e c e s s i t a t e s e p a r a t e

head c o m p i l a t i o n s f o r each component a q u i f e r due t o head d i f f e r e n c e s

of s e v e r a l t e n s of f e e t .

A p r e l i m i n a r y p o t e n t i o m e t r i c - s u r f a c e map 02 heads i n t h e Lower

Cretaceous r o c k s of t h e b a s i n (Lobmeyer, 1980) i s reproduced a s F i g u r e

IV-2. The map shows a low-pressure anomaly, l o c a t e d a t t h e Montana-

Wyoming s t a t e boundary, f o r which s e v e r a l t e n t a t i v e e x p l a n a t i o n s have

been o f f e r e d (Hoxie and Glover, 1981).

The r e g i o n a l s t r u c t u r a l c h a r a c t e r , a r t e s i a n n a t u r e of t h e a q u i f e r

system, and t h i c k e x t e n s i v e c o n f i n i n g s h a l e s imply t h a t p r i n c i p a l

 0

8o
N A T R O N A O0 0
C O N V E R S E
0 \ 3

NIOBRAR

Potentiometric Contour - Contour

interval 1000 f e e t with
supplemental contours

Data Site

Outcrop of Lower Cretaceous or older rocks

Figure IV-2. Potentiometric surface in the Dakota aquifer system

(from Lobmeyer , 1980) .
r e c h a r g e i s t o basin-marginal outcrops, w i t h subsequent down-dip flow.

T h i s flow p a t t e r n i s s u b s t a n t i a t e d by p o t e n t i o m e t r i c d a t a , t o t a l

d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s v a r i a t i o n s , and compositional changes r e f l e c t i n g

p o s t u l a t e d geochemical e v o l u t i o n of t h e w a t e r s ( s e e Chapter V ) . Eisen

and o t h e r s (1981) r e p o r t down-dip flow i n t o South Dakota from outcrop

r e c h a r g e a r e a s a t t h e Old Woman a n t i c l i n e on t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n

margin.

Geochemical evidence (Chapter V) s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e Black H i l l s

monocline i n f l u e n c e s ground-water flow and composition. There i s

n o t s u f f i c i e n t evidence t o conclude whether t h e monocline p a r t i a l l y

impedes r e c h a r g e t o t h e deeper p a r t of t h e a q u i f e r system o r enhances

i n t e r f o r m a t i o n a l mixing.

Bowles (1968) suggested t h e r e i s r e c h a r g e t o t h e Dakota from

t h e Minnelusa a q u i f e r . T h i s deep upwelling i s hypothesized t o occur

a l o n g b r e c c i a c o l l a p s e p i p e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h gypsum d i s s o l u t i o n i n

t h e Minnelusa. Available potentiometric d a t a a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o

s u p p o r t Bowlest geochemically based conclusion.

Whitcomb (1960) r e p o r t e d d e c l i n e s i n flowing y i e l d s and p o t e n t i o -

m e t r i c e l e v a t i o n s d u r i n g t h e 1950's. He a t t r i b u t e d t h e d e c l i n e s t o

e i t h e r d e t e r i o r a t e d w e l l c o n d i t i o n s , i n c r e a s e d withdrawals, o r subnormal

recharge.

ISOLATED UPPER CRETACEOUS SANDSTONE AQUIFERS

I s o l a t e d sandstones which a r e c a p a b l e of y i e l d i n g water t o w e l l s

a r e l o c a l l y p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e t h i c k Upper Cretaceous s h a l e sequence

of t h e Powder River b a s i n . They a r e most s i g n i f i c a n t and numerous

i n t h e southwestern p a r t of t h e b a s i n where, i n ascending o r d e r , they

i n c l u d e t h e F r o n t i e r Formation (Wall Creek s a n d s ) , Shannon and Sussex

sands of t h e Cody Shale, and t h e Mesaverde Formation (Parkman and

Teapot s a n d s ) .

The F r o n t i e r a q u i f e r y i e l d s up t o 10 gpm t o flowing w e l l s ( C r i s t

and Lowry, 1972) n o r t h and west of Casper, on t h e Casper a r c h . Yields

up t o 50 gpm a r e c o n s i d e r e d p o s s i b l e ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972). North-

e a s t of Casper, where t h e Casper a r c h bounds t h e Powder River b a s i n ,

t h e Wall Creek sands of t h e F r o n t i e r Formation a r e o i l - b e a r i n g . Available

hydrogeologic d a t a a r e l i m i t e d t o a r e a s of o i l p r o d u c t i o n (Table IV-10)

and, a t producing o i l f i e l d s , r e p o r t e d p e r m e a b i l i t i e s range from 0 . 1

t o 9.0 g p d / f t 2 , w i t h most below 2 g p d / f t 2 . A l l t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s calcu-

l a t e d u s i n g r e p o r t e d p e r m e a b i l i t i e s and pay t h i c k n e s s e s a r e less than

150 gpd/f t (Table IV-10).

The Shannon and Sussex a q u i f e r s a r e s h a l e - i s o l a t e d e l o n g a t e marine

sand b o d i e s w i t h i n t h e Cody Shale. Few water w e l l s t a p t h e s e sands;

C r i s t and Lowry (1972) e s t i m a t e a l i k e l y maximum y i e l d of 20 gpm.

Where t h e Powder River b a s i n bounds t h e Casper a r c h t h e Shannon produces

o i l , i t s p e r m e a b i l i t y r a n g e s from n i l t o 8 gpd/f t 2 , and c a l c u l a t e d

t r a n s m i s s i v i t y r a n g e s up t o 85 g p d / f t (Table IV-10).

The Mesaverde Formation i s considered a p o t e n t i a l l y important

a q u i f e r i n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n (Hodson and o t h e r s , 1973).

Few w e l l s t a p t h e a q u i f e r and l i t t l e h y d r o l o g i c d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e

because i n most of t h e b a s i n t h e formation i s a b s e n t o r o v e r l a i n by

t h e Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n ca qe u i f e r system. One w e l l about 20 m i l e s n o r t h

of Casper i s r e p o r t e d t o have a y i e l d g r e a t e r t h a n 100 gpm, b u t i n

g e n e r a l expected y i e l d s a r e 10 t o 20 gpm ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972).

I n t h e Dead Horse-Barber Creek a r e a i n w e s t - c e n t r a l Campbell County,

 Table IV-10. Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of s a n d s t o n e a q u i f e r s w i t h i n t h e Upper Cretaceous s h a l e sequence,
Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming, determined from o i l f i e l d d a t a .

Approximate Pay Calculatedt

Locat i o n Thickness Porosity Permeability* Transmissivity Data
Field (T/R) (ft) (2) (md) (gpd/f t ) Source

F r o n t i e r Fm. (Wall Creek Sands):

Big Muddy

Big Muddy South

Brooks Ranch

C a s t l e Creek
b
Coyote Creek South
Meadow Creek
Meadow Creek North
LD
4 S a l t Creek

S a l t Creek E a s t
S a l t Creek West
Thornton
Twenty M i l e H i l l
Wakeman F l a t sb

Shannon Sand of Cody Shale:

Ask Creek 58/84-85

l5a c
17
Cole Creek 35/77 17.5
Cole Creek South 34/76 7.5
Dugout Creek 42/78-79 17
Meadow Creek 41/78 16
Sussex 42/78-79 12
38
Teapot E a s t 38-39/78 10
 Table IV-10. (continued)

Approximate Pay Calculatedt

Location Thickness Porosity permeabilityX Transmissivity Data
Field (T/R) (ft) (a bd) (gpd/ft) Source

Sussex Sand of Codv Shale:

Sussex

Cody Shale:

Poison Spider 33/82 - 10-12 <1 - 1

Mesaverde (Parkman) Fm.

Barber Creek 50/76 - 18.3 76.9

- 1
Deadhorse creek/ 48-50/75-76 25 15-21 ~265 <120 2
Q
00 Barber Creek
Deadhorse Creek 47-49/75-76 - 18 50 - 1
15-35 16 0-68 0-43 3
Poison Draw
e
38-40/68-69 21 17.3 - - 1

* Md x 18.2 x = gpd/ft2 , assuming fluid is water at 6o0I?.

t Assuming fluid is water at 60'~ and pay thickness equals aquifer thickness.
a Gross sand thickness
Turner and Greenhorn formations
C
Upper sand
Lower sand
Tecla sand
Data sources: 1 - Collentine and others, 1981
2 - Wyoming Geological Association, 1957
3 - Wyoming Geological Association, 1958
t h e formation c o n t a i n s o i l ; p e r m e a b i l i t y and c a l c u l a t e d t r a n s m i s s i v i t y
2
a r e l e s s than 5 gpd/f t and 120 g p d / f t , r e s p e c t i v e l y (Table IV-10).

FOX HILLSILANCE AQUIFER SYSTEM

The Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n ca eq u i f e r system i n c l u d e s t h e l a t e s t Cretaceous

Fox H i l l s Sandstone and Lance Formation and a l s o t h e Paleocene Tullock

Member of t h e F o r t Union Formation. It i s composed of numerous i n d i v i -

d u a l , o f t e n l e n t i c u l a r , sandstone a q u i f e r s , i s o l a t e d by interbedded

s h a l e s and s i l t s t o n e s . D e f i n i t i o n of t h e a q u i f e r system i s i n p a r t

based on water w e l l development, because t h e system corresponds t o

t h e s t r a t i g r a p h i c i n t e r v a l f o r which supply w e l l s a t t h e H i l i g h t O i l

F i e l d (Lowry, 1972) and deep w e l l s a t G i l l e t t e (Northern Great P l a i n s

Resource Program, 1974) a r e p e r f o r a t e d , I n Montana t h e upper H e l l

Creek (Lance) Formation i s s h a l i e r , and excluded from t h e a q u i f e r

system (Northern Great P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974). The P i e r r e

Shale i s t h e lower a q u i f e r system boundary.

The upper boundary i s a r e g i o n a l s t r a t i g r a p h i c horizon of low

expected w e l l y i e l d s , which i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n i s s t r a t i -

g r a p h i c a l l y e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e Lebo Shale Member of t h e F o r t Union

Formation. The Lebo Shale i s l e s s pronounced i n t h e southern p a r t

of t h e b a s i n , and t h e s h a l e y upper F o r t Union Formation may s e r v e

a s t h e upper a q u i f e r system boundary. Shaley h o r i z o n s may a l s o l o c a l l y

subdivide t h e a q u i f e r system h y d r o l o g i c a l l y (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1981).

The a q u i f e r system c r o p s o u t i n a n a r r o w b a n d on t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n

b a s i n margin and i n wide a r e a s on t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n and southwestern

margins. I n t h e s o u t h and w e s t i t i s b u r i e d by younger r o c k s along

t h e b o r d e r i n g mountain f l a n k s . I n t h e c e n t r a l b a s i n , i t i s b u r i e d by
over 3,000 f e e t of younger sediments. Its a g g r e g a t e t h i c k n e s s i n c r e a s e s

southward, ranging from 2,000 t o 3,500 f e e t .

The Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n ca qe u i f e r system h a s been e x t e n s i v e l y developed

i n outcrop a r e a s f o r s t o c k and domestic supply. It i s u t i l i z e d f o r

i n d u s t r i a l a p p l i c a t i o n s a t t h e Hilight O i l Field, i n southeastern

Campbell County, and a t Rozet, i n e a s t - c e n t r a l Campbell County. Fox

Hills/Lance w e l l s a t G i l l e t t e , Glenrock, Edgerton, and Moorcroft c o n t r i -

b u t e water t o t h e municipal systems.

Hydrologic P r o p e r t i e s

Most hydrologic d a t a f o r t h e Fox ~ i l l s f ~ a n ca qe u i f e r system a r e

f o r shallow w e l l s n e a r t h e outcrop zone. Because t h e s e a r e commonly

low-yield s t o c k w e l l s e x t e n s i v e a q u i f e r t e s t i n g i s n o t conducted and

r e p o r t e d d a t a a r e u s u a l l y a s i n g l e yield/drawdown t e s t r e s u l t .

Yield and Spec i f i c Capacity

A v a i l a b l e d a t a i n d i c a t e moderate t o good p o t e n t i a l f o r development

of r e l a t i v e l y low-yield w e l l s (under 20 gpm). Large-drawdown high-

c a p a c i t y i n d u s t r i a l w e l l s which a r e p e r f o r a t e d f o r t h e e n t i r e s t r a t i -

g r a p h i c i n t e r v a l have y i e l d s up t o 380 gpm.

S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y of Fox H i l l s / L a n c e a q u i f e r system w e l l s a v e r a g e s

about 0.6 gpm/ft of drawdown. Values g e n e r a l l y range from 2 t o less

than 0 . 1 gpm/ft (Table I V - l l ) , b u t two anomalously high v a l u e s of

5 and 60 gpm/ft a r e p r e s e n t i n one d a t a compilation (Northern Great

P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974). High-capacity w e l l s i n s o u t h e a s t e r n

Campbell County w i t h an average y i e l d of 323 gpm have an average s p e c i f i c

c a p a c i t y of only 0.3 gpm/ft.

 Table IV-11. Reported specific capacities (yield per unit drawdown) of wells in the Fox IIills/~ance
aquifer system, Powder River basin, IJyoming.

Test Specir lc
Well Location Geologic Test Duration Drawdown Discharge Capacity Data
- -
(T/R-~ec. !t) Formation(s) Date (hrs) (ft) (gpm) (gpm/ft) Source Remarks -- .___

CAMPBELL COUNTY

Kfh,Kl,Tft 1728 309

d0 1021 265

d0 610 378

do 1050 356

d0 584 379

do 1707 231

do 1428 251

do 1600 380

do 2200 357

Kfh 240 90

Kfh 345 1688

CROOK COUNTY

Tft 4.1

Tf t 17.3

Tft 12.2

Tft 14.0

K1 3.4 aquifer test

K1 2.6 aquifer test

K1 28.6

K1 3.8 aquifer test

Kfh 26.4 aquifer test

K1 50.
Table IV-11. (continued)

-- -- - - - --

Test Specific
Well Location Geologic Test Duration Drawdown Discharge Capacity Data
(T/R-Sec. k k ) Formation(s) Date (hrs) (ft) (gpm) (gpm/f t) Source -- Remarks_
---- -- - --

JOHNSON COUNTY

NATRONA COUNTY

40178-11 ABC Kfh,Kl - 25 6 hour step testing

-11 AC Kfh 249 22

-11 DBA Kfh,Kl 11 S hour step testing

-15 ABB Kfh 10.9

NIOBRARA COUNTY

Kfh

Kfh

Kfh

Kfh

Kfh

K1

Kfh

K1

K1
Table IV-11. (continued)

-- -- -- -

Test Specific
Well Location Geologic Test Duration Drawdown Discharge Capacity Data
( T / R - ~ ~ c$. $) Formation (s) Date (hrs) ( f t) (gpd (gpmlft) Source -- Remarks
--- ----- -- - - - -- -- - - - -- - - --.

SHERIDAN COUNTY

WESTON COUNTY

42/65-6 CA Kfh 81-/60 200 47 0.24 3

Abbreviations
- -- -- - -- - : Kfh = Fox Hills Sandstone
K1 = Lance Formation
Tft = Tullock member of Fort Union Formation
E = Estimated

Data Sources: 1 - Lowry, 1972

Littleton, 1950
Northern Great Plains Resource Program, 1974
Whitcomb and Morris, 1964
Whitcomb and others, 1966
Crist and Lowry, 1972
Whitcomb, 1965
Lowry and Cummings, 1966
 No g e n e r a l geographic t r e n d s of s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y v a l u e s a r e

apparent. No r e l a t i o n s h i p e x i s t s between s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y and e i t h e r

geologic formation o r l o c a t i o n w i t h r e s p e c t t o outcrop zones.

I n t h e H i l i g h t O i l F i e l d i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Campbell County n i n e

Fox H i l l s / L a n c e water w e l l s show a s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y range of about

0.1 t o 0 . 3 gpm/ft p e r thousand f e e t of a q u i f e r p e n e t r a t e d . These

d a t a i n d i c a t e t h e r e i s l o c a l i z e d hydrologic v a r i a b i l i t y w i t h i n t h e

a q u i f e r system b u t l a c k of s p e c i f i c geologic and completion information

for the w e l l s prohibits further interpretation.

Permeability

I n Crook County Lance Formation p e r m e a b i l i t y h a s been e s t i m a t e d

2
a t 6 t o 35 g p d / f t (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964) and i n Natrona County
2
Fox H i l l s p e r m e a b i l i t y h a s been e s t i m a t e d a t 34 g p d / f t ( C r i s t and

Lowry, 1972). These v a l u e s were d e r i v e d through d i v i d i n g e s t i m a t e d

t r a n s m i s s i v i t y by p e n e t r a t e d s a t u r a t e d t h i c k n e s s ( s e e Table IV-12),

b u t may only be order-of-magnitude e s t i m a t e s due t o u n c e r t a i n t y of

t h e e s t i m a t e d t r a n s m i s s i v i t y (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964) .

Transmissivity

The g e n e r a l range of r e p o r t e d Fox ~ i l l s / L a n c et r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s

i s from 100 t o 2,000 g p d / f t (Table IV-12). T e s t i n g of w e l l s h a s been

l i m i t e d t o two a r e a s , and methodology was n o t s p e c i f i e d f o r most of

the tests.

T r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s d e r i v e d from s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y d a t a u s i n g t h e

method d e s c r i b e d by T h e i s and o t h e r s (1963) range from l e s s than 100

t o over 5,000, w i t h most below 2,000 g p d j f t . Lowry (1972) determined

a minimum t r a n s m i s s i v i t y of about 250 g p d / f t f o r t h e e n t i r e a q u i f e r

 Table IV-12. Reported transmissivities and permeabilities for wells in the Fox Hills/Lance aquifer
system, Powder River basin, Wyoming.
----- -.

Test Saturated Calculated*

Well Location Geolo ic Test Duration Aquifer Thickness Transmissivity Permeability
( ~ 1 R - s ~+~$.1- ~ormatgon Date (hr) (ft) &Uf t) inpd/ft2) -- -Data Source/Remarks
-- -- --- --

CROOK COUNTY

49/68-36 DB Lance 6/19/56 2 29 6 Whitcomb and Morris, 1964

order of magnitude estimate
due to short test duration.

Lance 6/21/56 2% 40 1060 26 Same as above

Lance 6/21/56 2 60 2100 35 Same as above

NATRONA COUNTY

40178-11 ACB Fox Hills 9/7/65 8 Crist and Lowry, 1972

& Lance

-11 DBA Crist and Lowry, 1972

-15 ABB Fox Hills 153 7 47 Babcock and Morris, 1953;

Crist and Lowry, 1972
Theis recovery method.
- - - - - ..

*Calculated by dividing transmissivity by the saturated aquifer thickness.

system t h i c k n e s s i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Campbell County u s i n g s i m i l a r methods.

With t h i s t r a n s m i s s i v i t y , and a time-prodution-drawdown d a t a s e t from

a s i n g l e o b s e r v a t i o n w e l l , Lowry (1972) a l s o e s t i m a t e d a s t o r a g e coef-

f i c i e n t of 1 . 8 x u s i n g t h e T h e i s equation.

Ground-Water Movement

P o t e n t i o m e t r i c d a t a (Figure IV-3) i n d i c a t e northward flow i n

t h e a q u i f e r system i n t h e G i l l e t t e a r e a (Northern Great P l a i n s Resource

f
Program, 1974). Recent d a t a (Eisen and o t h e r s , 1981) a l s o i n d i c a t e

northward flow from o u t c r o p s i n Niobrara County. However, a comparison

of p o t e n t i o m e t r i c e l e v a t i o n s i n t h e s e two a r e a s i n d i c a t e s a ground-

water d i v i d e e x i s t s i n southernmost Campbell County.

Recharge

V e r t i c a l leakage from t h e o v e r l y i n g ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union

rt aquifer

system h a s been proposed a s t h e major r e c h a r g e mechanism f o r t h e Fox

H i l l s / L a n c e (Lowry, 1972; Northern Great P l a i n s Resource Program,

1974; U.S. Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , 1974). The evidence c i t e d

i s t h a t p o t e n t i o m e t r i c heads i n t h e o v e r l y i n g s t r a t a a r e s e v e r a l hundred

f e e t h i g h e r than t h o s e i n t h e a q u i f e r system. Some r e c h a r g e from

e a s t e r n o u t c r o p s of t h e a q u i f e r system i s a l s o i n d i c a t e d by p o t e n t i o -

m e t r i c d a t a (Northern Great P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974; Eisen and

o t h e r s , 1981). No q u a n t i f i c a t i o n of a q u i f e r r e c h a r g e h a s y e t been

attempted. A v a i l a b l e geochemical d a t a a r e t o o s p a r s e l y d i s t r i b u t e d

t o u s e i n v e r i f i c a t i o n of t h e p o s t u l a t e d r e c h a r g e mechanisms.

Discharge

The p r i n c i p a l d i s c h a r g e mechanism of t h e a q u i f e r system i s sub-

s u r f a c e underflow i n t o Montana, where upward leakage o c c u r s a t

 R75W. R.74W. R73W R7ZW R.7IW R70W. R69W R.W" R 6 7 ~ . .U,
T SIN.

tnn. -

T.Srn.

Number r h o n olhtuda of w o r n h r l , m fw.

I foal = XHll m r t u r

dsao
Control poim whvr w d l fbrr at lsnd surfacr Numbw
s ~ w oppoxmotr
r oltltudr ol land rurfaca. ln faat
I loot 3048 m8trrs

-4lOO- Wotrr-lrwl contour. S l i m m4tttu&. m feat of

watrr bvrl C m t w intrrvol 100 frat (30 5 m)
Datum ID m a n rmo lavat.

0t 1 2 3 4YIiIS
0 1 2 3 4 ¶ ~CILO*CT€.S

Figure IV-3. Contours on water levels in wells finished

in the Fox Hills Sandstone, Lance Formation,
and lower part of Fort Union Formation in
the Gillette area, Wyoming (from Northern
Great Plains Resource Program, 1974).
t o p o g r a p h i c a l l y low a r e a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e Yellowstone River (Northern

Great P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974). The U.S. Department of t h e

I n t e r i o r (1974) noted t h a t i n Wyoming l o c a l d i s c h a r g e a r e a s on i t s

p o t e n t i o m e t r i c map were c o i n c i d e n t w i t h major d r a i n a g e s . One of t h e i r

examples e a s t of G i l l e t t e i s co-located w i t h an a r e a of i n d u s t r i a l

w a t e r withdrawal, complicating t h i s i d e a l i z e d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . The

p o t e n t i o m e t r i c d a t a i n Niobrara County, i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e postu-

l a t e d Campbell County ground-water d i v i d e , i n d i c a t e t h e t o p o g r a p h i c a l l y

low Cheyenne River i s an a d d i t i o n a l l o c a l d i s c h a r g e a r e a (Eisen and

o t h e r s , 1981).

WASATCH/FORT UNION AQUIFER SYSTEM

The s h a l l o w e s t bedrock a q u i f e r system i n t h e c e n t r a l p a r t of

t h e Powder River b a s i n i s t h e Lower T e r t i a r y W a s a t c h l ~ o r tUnion a q u i f e r

system. It c o n s i s t s of up t o 3,000 o r more f e e t of h i g h l y v a r i a b l e

l e n t i c u l a r fine-grained sandstones, s h a l e s , c l a y s t o n e s , and c o a l s .

High l i t h o l o g i c v a r i a b i l i t y p r e v e n t s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of any e x t e n s i v e

water-bearing zone--most of t h e c o a l s and sandstones can produce water

i f s a t u r a t e d , b u t y i e l d s and q u a l i t y vary g r e a t l y .

Most e x i s t i n g w e l l s a r e p r i v a t e low-yielding domestic and s t o c k

w e l l s , over 90 p e r c e n t of which a r e less t h a n 300 f e e t deep (King,

1974). I n g e n e r a l , d r i l l i n g d e p t h s a r e t h e minimum a t which d e s i r e d

y i e l d s a r e found; y i e l d g e n e r a l l y i n c r e a s e s w i t h w e l l depth a s more

water-bearing sands a r e p e n e t r a t e d .

The lower a q u i f e r system boundary i s i l l - d e f i n e d , represents

a deep zone n o t g e n e r a l l y e x p l o i t e d due t o low expected y i e l d , i s

approximately e q u i v a l e n t s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y t o t h e Lebo Shale of t h e

F o r t Union Formation i n t h e n o r t h , and may be e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e shaley

upper p a r t of t h e F o r t Union Formation i n t h e south.

Hydrologic P r o p e r t i e s

Local i n v e s t i g a t i o n s of t h e hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of t h e Wasatchl

F o r t Union a q u i f e r system have been made e i t h e r t o a s s e s s impacts

of energy r e s o u r c e development o r t o p l a n w a t e r development p r o j e c t s .

I n t h e remaining b a s i n a r e a a v a i l a b l e d a t a a r e l i m i t e d t o yieldfdraw-

down r e p o r t s of d r i l l e r s . L e n t i c u l a r i t y and l i t h o l o g i c v a r i a b i l i t y

of t h e i n d i v i d u a l water-bearing u n i t s r e s u l t i n extreme l o c a l v a r i a b i l i t y

of a q u i f e r p r o p e r t i e s , although a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c range i s p r e s e n t .

Y i e l d and S p e c i f i c Capacity

Y i e l d s over 250 gpm may be o b t a i n e d from w e l l s p e n e t r a t i n g t h i c k

s a t u r a t e d s a n d s t o n e s , l o c a l l y o c c u r r i n g c o a r s e sand l e n s e s , zones

of h i g h secondary f r a c t u r e p e r m e a b i l i t y , a r e a s i n hydrologic connection

w i t h s u r f a c e w a t e r s , o r a r e a s a d j a c e n t t o " c l i n k e r " r e c h a r g e zones.

Most shallow w e l l s i n a r e a s t h a t a r e void of t h e s e f e a t u r e s produce

less t h a n 20 gpm.

S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y ( y i e l d p e r u n i t drawdown) d a t a f o r t h e a q u i f e r

system a r e widely d i s t r i b u t e d g e o g r a p h i c a l l y b u t a r e g e n e r a l l y l i m i t e d

t o t h e upper few hundred f e e t of rock and r e p r e s e n t an "averagingt'

of numerous i n d i v i d u a l water-bearing sands. Because most w e l l s i n

t h e system a r e p a r t i a l l y p e n e t r a t i n g and developed f o r low y i e l d s ,

t h e a v a i l a b l e s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y d a t a may n o t t r u l y r e f l e c t t h e o v e r a l l

a q u i f e r system development p o t e n t i a l .

Reported s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s of t h e a q u i f e r system range from

less t h a n 0.1 t o 3.0 gpm/ft of drawdown. Averages r e p o r t e d f o r t h e

Wasatch i n Johnson and Sheridan c o u n t i e s a r e 0.23 and 0.33 gpm/ft,

r e s p e c t i v e l y (Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966; Wyoming Water Planning Program,

1972). Average v a l u e s f o r t h e F o r t Union Formation a r e 0.42 and "less

than 1.0" f o r Sheridan County and t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n , r e s p e c t i v e l y

(Wyoming Water Planning Program, 1972). Values over 1 gpm/ft i n t h e

western b a s i n 'may be a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c o a r s e r , conglomeratic a q u i f e r s .

Extremely h i g h v a l u e s , up t o 2,250 gpm/ft ( L i t t l e t o n , 1950), a r e

associated with "clinker" areas.

Some d r i l l e r ' s l o g s (Hodson, 1971a) f o r flowing w e l l s r e p o r t

i n c r e a s e d flow a s deeper sands a r e tapped, i n d i c a t i n g e i t h e r i n c r e a s e d

s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t y o r head w i t h depth. Although a v a i l a b l e d a t a do

n o t permit f u r t h e r a n a l y s i s , i n c r e a s e d heads w i t h depth a r e n o t com-

p a t i b l e w i t h p o s t u l a t e d downward leakage (see "Ground-Water ~ o v e m e n t " ) .

Permeability

P e r m e a b i l i t y of t h e v a r i o u s a q u i f e r m a t e r i a l s comprising t h e

Wasatch/Fort Union a q u i f e r system i s l i t h o l o g i c a l l y dependent and

very v a r i a b l e . Reported v a l u e s cover a range of f o u r o r d e r s of magnitude.

The " c l i n k e r " i s most permeable, followed by c o a l s and then sandstones.

Most r e p o r t e d p e r m e a b i l i t y d a t a have been d e r i v e d from pump t e s t

determined t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s (Table IV-13). Clinker permeability i s

2
s e v e r a l hundred g p d / f t o r h i g h e r , and c o a l i s g e n e r a l l y between 1

and 100 g p d / f t
2
. Wasatch sandstones a r e very v a r i a b l e and r e p o r t e d

p e r m e a b i l i t i e s range from over 10 t o l e s s t h a n 0 . 1 g p d / f t

2
. Data

f o r F o r t Union sands a r e s p a r s e b u t suggest a s i m i l a r range. Permeability

2
measurements of 1 5 t o 25 g p d / f t have been o b t a i n e d from Wasatch Sand-

s t o n e c o r e s a t t h e Highland Mine i n c e n t r a l Converse County (Wyoming

Department of Environmental Q u a l i t y b i n e p l a n E i l e s ) .
 Table IV-13. T r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s o f t h e W a s a t c h I F o r t Union a q u i f e r s y s t e m , Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming.

...-
p- --
Tested
Location Test Test Thickness Transmissiv t y Permeabilitg Storage Data
(T/R) Date T V D ~ ~ (ft) (gpd/ft16 (gpd/ft ) Coefficient Source Remarks --

F o r t Union Formation

Black Thunder Mine 43/70 - pumped w e l l - J a c o b method, d a t a skewed

& recovery

Belle ~ ~Miner ' 48/71 - Pump & 60

recovery
10/6/76 slug 20
10/6/76 slug 20 no r e c o v e r y a f t e r 1 5 min.
1016176 slug 20 no r e c o v e r y a f t e r 1 5 min.

USGS T e s t s 49/68 6/21/56 pumped well 30 2.5 h o u r t e s t

6/22/56 pumped well 87 7 hour t e s t
6/22/56 pumped well 107 2 hour t e s t
6/27/56 pumped well 70 3 hour t e s t

E a s t G i l l e t t e Mine 50171 10/26/76 s l u g 20 bad packer s e a l

shaley material i n interval
tested

F o r t Union Mine 50171 - slug? 140

City of G i l l e t t e 2/1/77 pump 150 Jacob method on pumped w e l l

Jacob method on obs. well
2/14/77 pump 150 Jacob method on pumped w e l l
Jacob method on ohs. well

USGS T e s t 54/84 - pumped w e l l - 24 h r . t e s t , b o t h Jacob 6

& recovery T h e i s methods

USGS T e s t 5 5 / 84 - recovery - 1 . 3 h r . recovery test-

Sheridan Enterprises 57/84 - f a l l . head -

Welch # 1 Mine - - -

Coal

Black Thunder Mine pumped w e l l 1 Jacob met hod

& recovery
do 1 Jacob method, data sltewc~d
do 1 .facob method, data skewed
do 1 .lacob method, data skewed
do 1 Jacob method, data erratic
d0 1 ,Jacob method, data erratic
do 1 .lacob method, data erratic
T a b l e IV-13. (continued)

----
Tested
Locat ion Test Test Thickness Transmissiv'ty Permeabili y Storage Data
S i t e Name
- (TIR) Date Typea (ft) ( g p d l f t)6 (gpdlf t )fCoefficient Source Remarks

Black Thunder Mine ( c o n t ) . Jacob method, d a t a e r r a t ic

recovery .Jacob rrc tllod, d a t a skewed
recovery Jacob method, d a t a skewed
recovery Jacob method, data erratic
Pump & Leaky aquifer method
recovery
Pump Theis method, s l i g h t 1 y sltew'cl
recovery data
Pump & Theis method, p o o r c u r v e f i t
recovery Theis method, b e t t e r f i t t h a n
leaky
Jacob method, s l i g h t l y skewed
data
Jacob method

B e l l Ayr Mine 48/71 - Pump & 62 0.01 2 e x c e s s i v e drawdown a f t e r 1 h r .

recovery a t 1 gpm
- Pump & 60 3. 8x10-3 2
recovery
10/6/76 s l u g ' 80 >13C - 3 c o m p l e t e r e c o v e r y < 3 min.
10/6/76 s l u g 20 0 . 2 ~ .L~xI.o-~ 3
10/6/76 s l u g 20 0.3C SO. 4 3
10127176 s l u g 2 >128C - 3 c o m p l e t e r e c o v e r y 2 min.

E a s t G i l l e t t e Mine 50171 10122176 pump 4 near "clinker"

10112176 pump 4 r e c h a r g i n g image w e l l e f f e c t s

11/3/76 pump 4 r e c h a r g i n g image w e l l e f f e c t s

a v e r a g e o f two o h s . w e l l s
10/29/76 pump 4
8/7/76 pump 4 analyzed f o r anistropy
10125176 slug 4
10/25/76 slug 4
10126176 slug 4
10126176 slug 4
10126176 slug 4
10126176 slug 4

F o r t Union Mine 50171 - slug? ? 11-18.8 5.5-3.2 - 4 i n c l u d e s t h i n ss l e n s

- slug? 4 6.13 1.02 - 4
- slug? 2 0.3 0.15 - 4
- slug? 2% 0.45 0.18 - 4 includes shale
P a b l c JV-13. (continued)

__ . _
Tested
Location Test Test Thickness Transmissivity Permeability Storage Data
Site Name -Date ~~e~ (ft) (npd/ft) ( g ~ d / tf 2 ) b C o e f f i c i e n t Sonrce ----Bemarks- -_ - - --

USGS T e s t 54/81 - pumped w e l l - 2.4x10-~ 6 24 h r . t e s t , b o t h .Jacob and

& recovery T h e i s met hods

Sheridan Enterprises 57/84 - r i s i n g head - 57 19 - 4

Welch # 1 Mine - f a l l i n g head - 14 0.72 4
- Pump - 100 4.2 ;x1~-4 4
S h e r i d a n Area Coal - - - - 454 18 1.8~101: 4 D i e t z #1 c o a l a v e r a g e or 9 t e s t s
- - - 54 2 38 1.8 ~ 1 0 - ~ 4 D i e t z # 2 c o a l a v e r a g e of h t e s t s
- - - 449 11 5.3~10 4 Dietz #3 coal average of 2 t e s t s

"Clinker"

E a s t G i l l e t t e Mine 50171 1/19/76 pump pumped w e l l i n c o n l / c l i n k e r

obs. w e l l i n c o a l
obs. w e l l i n coal
10122176 pump pumped w e l l i n c o a l
o b s . w e l l i n c l i n k e r , no drawclown
obs. w e l l i n c l i n k e r
obs. w e l l i n c o a l / c l i n k e r

F o r t Union Mine slug?

slug? well a l s o i n sandstone

Wasatch Formation

T e t o n Nedco T h e i s method, a v g . of 6 ( ~ b sw e l l s
Cooper .Jacob method, avgi of 6
obs. w e l l s
T h e i s r e c o v e r y method, nvy: c7f 7
wells
T h e i s method, a v g . of 4 o b s wells
Cooper J a c o b method, avg o f 4
obs. w e l l s
T h e i s r e c o v e r y method, a v g o f 5
wells

Highland Mine 36/72 - core

analysis
- do
- do
- do
- do
- do
- do

B e l l e Ayr Mine 48/71 - Pump &

recovery
- do
1016176 slug
10/6/76 slug
T a b l e IV-13. (continued)

-- . --

Tested

s!Le- NE
Location
(TIN
Test
Date
Test
T ~ ~ e a
Thickness
(f t>
Transmissivity
(gpdlf tP 4%
Permeabi 1 y S t o r a g e Data
_ ?P!A~CT _--_ _
( g p d j f t )-- Coef f i~ik!~!- -_ _ _ -. Kcmarks-
-_

E a s t C i l l e t t e Mine 50/71 12/6/76 slug 20 38 1.9C 3x 4 s h a ley zone t e s t e d

USGS ' r e s t 51/82 9/2/61 pumped w e l l 145 2500 17 - 7 3.75 h r . t e s t

USGS 'Test 57/83 - recovery - 2200 - - 6 3.5 h r . r e c o v c r v t c ' ; ~

-- - -- --- --- - -- -- - -- ---- -- --- - - -

a ,I
pump" i n d i c a t e s e x i s t e n c e o f o b s e r v a t i o n w e l l s ; "pumped w e l l " i n d i c a t e s no o b s e r v a t i o n w e l l s .
C i n d i c a t e s t a b l e e n t r y is d e r i v e d by c a l c u l a t i o n from o t h e r , r e p o r t e d v a l u e s .
Data Sources: 1 - Bergman and Marcus, 1976
D a v i s , 1975
Davis and Rechard, 1977
Wyoming Department o f Environmental Q u a l i t y mine p l a n f i l e s
Wyoming Water Development Commission f i l e s
Lowry and Cummings, 1966
Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966
Whitcomb and M o r r i s , 1964
 Coal p e r m e a b i l i t y i s p r i n c i p a l l y f r a c t u r e - r e l a t e d (Northern Great

P l a i n s Resource Program, 1974), and a n i s o t r o p i c c o n d i t i o n s r e l a t e d

t o f r a c t u r i n g a r e a p p a r e n t i n s e v e r a l c o a l a q u i f e r s (Wyoming Depart-

ment of Environmental Q u a l i t y Mine P l a n F i l e s ) . Stone and Snoeberger

(1977) r e p o r t e d maximum and minimum p e r m e a b i l i t i e s of 6.6 and 3.7

gpd/ft2, respectively, i n t h e F e l i x c o a l of t h e Wasatch Formation

a t a study s i t e 1 5 m i l e s s o u t h of G i l l e t t e , and found c l e a t ( j o i n t )

o r i e n t a t i o n produced d i r e c t i o n a l a n i s o t r o p y .

Transmissivity

T r a n s m i s s i v i t y d e t e r m i n a t i o n s (Table IV-13) have g e n e r a l l y been

l i m i t e d t o a r e a s of proposed mining development, and many have been

s p e c i f i c a l l y l i m i t e d t o c o a l horizons. Many d i f f e r e n t t e c h n i q u e s ,

i n c l u d i n g s l u g tests, recovery t e s t s , and pump t e s t i n g , have been

used i n d e t e r m i n a t i o n of r e p o r t e d t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s . Interpretations

have been complicated by i n t e r f o r m a t i o n a l leakage, poor w e l l completion

d a t a , r e c h a r g i n g boundaries, and a n i s o t r o p i c c o n d i t i o n s ,

Coal t r a n s m i s s i v i t y ranges from l e s s t h a n 1 t o over 5,000 g p d / f t ,

r e f l e c t i n g v a r i a b l e t h i c k n e s s and occurrence of f r a c t u r e p e r m e a b i l i t y .

The h i g h e r r e p o r t e d v a l u e s appear t o be r e l a t e d t o i s o l a t e d l o c a l

f a u l t s o r f r a c t u r e zones (Davis and Rechard, 1977). Gypsum f r a c t u r e

i n f i l l i n g s a p p a r e n t l y can reduce c o a l t r a n s m i s s i v i t y by two o r d e r s

of magnitude (Davis, 1976), l o c a l l y n e g a t i n g i n c r e a s e s a s s o c i a t e d

with fracturing.

Most t e s t s on sandstones of t h e a q u i f e r system have been i n t h e

Wasatch of t h e southern b a s i n , where t h e average t r a n s m i s s i v i t y i s

about 500 g p d / f t . Brown (1980) r e p o r t s a range of 1 t o 4,000 g p d / f t

near G i l l e t t e . F o r t Union sandstones have t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s of s e v e r a l

thousand gpd/f t n e a r G i l l e t t e .

High-yield pump t e s t s w i t h no observed drawdown have been conducted

i n " c l i n k e r " zones and i n t e r p r e t e d a s i n d i c a t i n g p e r m e a b i l i t i e s and

t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s "too h i g h t o a l l o w a c c u r a t e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of a q u i f e r

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s by pump test methods" (Wyoming Department of Environ-

mental Q u a l i t y Mine P l a n F i l e s ) . Davis (1976) s t a t e s t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s

up t o 3,000,000 g p d / f t a r e p r e s e n t .

The wide range of r e p o r t e d s t o r a g e c o e f f i c i e n t s (Table IV-13)

i n d i c a t e hydrologic c o n d i t i o n s vary from water t a b l e t o f u l l y con£ined.

Ground-Water Movement - - -

S e v e r a l s i t e - s p e c i f i c s t u d i e s of a s i n g l e c o a l o r sandstone a q u i f e r

o r a shallow ( l e s s than 500 f e e t ) m u l t i a q u i f e r system have been conducted

throughout t h e a r e a , p r i m a r i l y i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h c o a l o r uranium

r e s o u r c e development (Davis, 1975; Bergman and Marcus, 1976; Dahl

and Hagmaier, 1976; Davis and Rechard, 1977). Local a r e a l s t u d i e s

have a l s o been conducted (King, 1974; Northern Great P l a i n s Resource

Program, 1974); a n example i s shown i n Figure IV-4. No r e g i o n a l s t u d i e s

of a q u i f e r system flow have been completed.

I n t e r p r e t a t i o n of ground-water movement i n t h e a q u i f e r system

i s complicated by poor s t r a t i g r a p h i c c o n t r o l , inadequate w e l l completion

d a t a , improper w e l l c o n s t r u c t i o n , m u l t i p l e completion zones i n some

w e l l s , and t h e l e n t i c u l a r i t y and d i s c o n t i n u i t i e s of component a q u i f e r s .

An a d d i t i o n a l complication i s t h e probable presence of a gas-pressure

head component i n w e l l s completed i n c o a l - r i c h h o r i z o n s (Lowry and

Cummings, 1966).
 EXPLANATION

F i g u r e IV-4. Water l e v e l s and d i r e c t i o n of h o r i z o n t a l movement

of ground w a t e r in t h e F o r t Union and Wasatch
f o r m a t i o n s i n t h e G i l l e t t e a r e a , Wyoming (modified
a f t e r King, 1974; from Northern Great P l a i n s
Resource Program, 1974).
 Based on a comparative review of e x i s t i n g study r e s u l t s t h e follow-
I ,

i n g c o n c l u s i o n s can be made about flow i n t h e ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union

rt aquifer

system: (1) flow w i t h i n t h e a q u i f e r system i s p r i m a r i l y w i t h i n s e v e r a l

l o c a l flow regimes and no r e g i o n a l c i r c u l a t i o n p a t t e r n s a r e known;

(2) i n g e n e r a l , r e c h a r g e i s t o topographic h i g h p o i n t s , which a r e

o f t e n o u t c r o p s of t h e r e s i s t a n t a q u i f e r l i t h o l o g i e s (sandstone and

c l i n k e r b o d i e s ) ; ( 3 ) d i s c h a r g e a r e a s a r e u s u a l l y c o l o c a t e d w i t h topog-

r a p h i c lows; (4) topographic c o n t r o l of flow i s t y p i c a l ( s e e King,

1974); and (5) i n confined a q u i f e r s , flow t e n d s t o f o l l o w s t r u c t u r e .

P o t e n t i o m e t r i c d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t downward leakage through t h e system

r e c h a r g e s deeper a q u i f e r s ; b u t l i t t l e leakage may a c t u a l l y occur due

t o low v e r t i c a l p e r m e a b i l i t y (Northern Great P l a i n s Resource Program,

1974; Davis and Rechard, 1977). No r e g i o n a l e s t i m a t e of r e c h a r g e

r a t e s h a s been p u b l i s h e d . Two l o c a l e s t i m a t e s of i n f i l t r a t i o n r a t e

were b o t h 0.15 i n c h e s / y r (Davis and Rechard, 1977; Brown, 1980).

Local v a r i a b i l i t y of r e c h a r g e r a t e s due t o v a r i a b l e microclimates,

s u r f i c i a l g e o l o g i c m a t e r i a l s , and topography i s l i k e l y .

Areas u n d e r l a i n by c l i n k e r a r e considered very f a v o r a b l e l o c a l

r e c h a r g e s i t e s f o r c o a l a q u i f e r s (Lowry and Cummings, 1966; Davis,

1976) b u t can a l s o a c t a s ground-water s i n k s (Brown, 1980). Low perme-

a b i l i t y of c o a l - a s s o c i a t e d c l a y s i n d i c a t e s almost a l l c o a l a q u i f e r

r e c h a r g e may be from c o a l o u t c r o p s and a s s o c i a t e d c l i n k e r zones, r a t h e r

than downward l e a k a g e (Davis and Rechard, 1977). Coal a q u i f e r r e c h a r g e

from s u r f a c e w a t e r s and a s s o c i a t e d a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s i s l o c a l l y documented

i n a r e a s where t h e c o a l subcrops i n t h e f l o o r of a l l u v i u m - f i l l e d v a l l e y s

and p o t e n t i o m e t r i c g r a d i e n t s a r e downward (Davis and Rechard, 1977).

 Discharge from t h e a q u i f e r system i s t y p i c a l l y t o stream v a l l e y s

(Dahl and Hagmaier, 1976; Northern Great P l a i n s Resource Program,

1974). Davis (1976) i n d i c a t e s r e c h a r g e t o t h e F o r t Union Formation

i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n probably flows down-dip and d i s c h a r g e s

i n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n t o t h e Tongue River, maintaining

t h e b a s e flow.

MIDDLE TERTIARY AQUIFERS

The Middle T e r t i a r y White River and Arikaree formations a r e only

e x t e n s i v e l y p r e s e n t w i t h i n t h e study a r e a i n southern Converse and

Niobrara c o u n t i e s , where t h e i r t o t a l t h i c k n e s s i s between 1,000 and

1,500 f e e t . They a r e e x p l o i t e d a s shallow water s o u r c e s where p r e s e n t ,

and a r e e x t e n s i v e l y developed s o u t h e a s t of t h e b a s i n boundary i n t h e

Denver-Julesberg b a s i n .

Although most d a t a a v a i l a b l e a r e f o r w e l l s s p e c i f i c a l l y developed

f o r low y i e l d , y i e l d s i n e x c e s s of 1,000 gpm a r e r e p o r t e d i n Niobrara

County. Reported s p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s ( y i e l d p e r u n i t of drawdown)

range from less than 0 . 1 t o 232 gpm/ft ( s e e Table IV-14) b u t most

l i e between 0 . 2 and 4 gpmlft.

L i t t l e permeability d a t a a r e available. Measured p e r m e a b i l i t i e s

of t h e White River Formation range from 0.0002 t o 0.03 g p d / f t 2 , whereas

r e p o r t e d A r i k a r e e Formation p e r m e a b i l i t i e s range from 0.001 t o 80

2
gpdlft (Whitcomb, 1965). P e r m e a b i l i t y i n t e r p r e t e d from pump t e s t

d a t a f o r t h e A r i k a r e e a q u i f e r e a s t of Lusk i s 30 t o 310 g p d / f t
2
.
F r a c t u r e s and j o i n t s i n c r e a s e p e r m e a b i l i t y of t h e Middle T e r t i a r y

a q u i f e r s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e White River a q u i f e r .
Table IV-14. S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s of w e l l s completed i n Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s of t h e Powder River b a s i n ,
Wyoming.

Total Test Specific

Completion Depth Duration Yield Drawdown Capacity
Locat i o n Date (ft> (hr) (gpm) (ft> (gpdft) Remarks

CONVERSE COUNTY

5 min. 0.25
? 1.0
1 1.0
1 0.40
+ 0.33 flowing w e l l
2 - "complete" drawdown
6 - I1
zero" drawdown
7 0.33
1 0.16
1 10 .
2 1.2
3 3.3
12 1.5
1.5 5.0
4 0.29
3 0.15
4 7.5
2 0.15
3 - 11
zero" d r awdown
2.5 1.5
1 - 11
zero" drawdown
0.5 1.44
10 - drawdown : "none"
1 0.73
3 0.040
24 1.7
5 0.21
 Table IV-14. (continued)

Total Test Specific

Completion Depth Duration Yield Drawdown Capacity
Location Date (ft) (hr) (gpm) (ft) (gpdft) Remarks

32/71-35 cc - drawdown: "no"

32/72-10 db 1.0
32/72-12 ac 0.13
32/72-13 cb 5.0
32/72-13 dd - drawdown: "none"
32/72-23 cc 3.6
32/72-23 cc 0.83
32/72-23 da - drawdown: "no"
32/72-24 ab 0.50
32/72-24 ac 0.83
32/72-24 ac 0.16
I-'
32/72-24 ad 0.90
w
I-'
32/72-24 ba 0.37
32/72-24 ba 0.62
32/72-24 bd 2.5
32/72-24 bd -
32/72-24 bd 0.50
32173-3 aa 2.0
32173-9 bc 1.3
34167-8 0.13 flowing well

NIOBRARA COUNTY
0.5 Whitcomb (1965)
1.0 Whitcomb (1965)
- "zero" drawdown
4.9
2.0
0.62
- drawdown: "none"
71. Whitcomb (-1965)
232. Whitcomb (1965)
31. Whitcomb (1965)
Table IV-14. (continued)

Total Test Specific

Completion Depth Duration Yield Drawdown Capacity
Location Date (ft) (hr) ( g ~ d ( f t) (gpdft ) Remarks

25. Whitcomb (1965)

9.0
- " t o t a l " drawdown
0.35 Whitcomb (1965)
0.25 Whitcomb (1965)
- 11zero" drawdown

-
0.47 Whitcomb (1965)
1.5 Whitcomb (1965)
0.25
12.5
0.17

0.7
1.2
1.6
0.23
20.
- pumped d r y
5.0
1.6
1.7

--- - --
-

Source: Data from Wyoming S t a t e Engineer's O f f i c e permit f i l e s u n l e s s otherwise s p e c i f i e d under " ~ e m a r k s . "
 Reported t r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s f o r t h e Arikaree a q u i f e r e a s t of Lusk

range from 8,000 t o 77,000 gpd/f t (Whitcomb, l 9 6 5 ) , although a l l f o u r

w e l l s t e s t e d only p a r t i a l l y p e n e t r a t e t h e a q u i f e r . Specific capacity

based t r a n s m i s s i v i t y e s t i m a t e s i n d i c a t e a range from 100 t o 500,000

g p d / f t , w i t h most w e l l s between 500 and 10,000 g p d / f t .

I n g e n e r a l , t h e Middle T e r t i a r y a q u i f e r s a r e water t a b l e a q u i f e r s

b u t well-cemented c o n c r e t i o n a r y sandstones a r e l o c a l c o n f i n i n g beds

(Whitcomb, l 9 6 5 ) , and t h e complex n a t u r e of channel d e p o s i t s w i t h i n

t h e White River Formation o f t e n c a u s e s l o c a l hydrologic complexity.

Springs which i s s u e from t h e b a s e of t h e A r i k a r e e a q u i f e r i n d i c a t e

t h e u n d e r l y i n g White River Formation a c t s r e g i o n a l l y a s a p a r t i a l

flow b a r r i e r .

QUATERNARY AQUIFERS

Quaternary alluvium i s p r e s e n t i n most stream v a l l e y s of t h e

Powder River b a s i n , both a s f l o o d p l a i n and t e r r a c e d e p o s i t s . Extensive

Quaternary a e o l i a n d e p o s i t s a r e p r e s e n t n o r t h e a s t of Casper.

I n t h e western and s o u t h e r n b a s i n t h e alluvium i s n e a r p o p u l a t i o n

c e n t e r s (Sheridan and Casper) and h a s been e x t e n s i v e l y e x p l o i t e d f o r

domestic, community, and o c c a s i o n a l l y i r r i g a t i o n s u p p l i e s .

T y p i c a l l y , t h e younger v a l l e y f l o o r d e p o s i t s a r e c l a y - r i c h Holocene

sandy s i l t s w i t h sand and g r a v e l l e n s e s , and t h e o l d e r t e r r a c e d e p o s i t s

a r e P l e i s t o c e n e sands and g r a v e l s , o f t e n i r o n - s t a i n e d . Both d e p o s i t s

become c o a r s e r and more e x t e n s i v e n e a r t h e mountain u p l i f t s ; t h i c k n e s s

v a r i e s g r e a t l y and can exceed 100 f e e t . The a e o l i a n d e p o s i t s a r e

f i n e - g r a i n e d sand and s i l t which l o c a l l y exceed 100 f e e t i n t h i c k n e s s .

 Well y i e l d s of over 1,000 gpm can be obtained from Quaternary

a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972). S p e c i f i c c a p a c i t i e s vary

widely, r a n g i n g from 0 . 3 up t o 1 8 gpm/f t of drawdown (Lowry and Cummings,

1966; Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). I n some a r e a s y i e l d i s l i m i t e d

by minimal s a t u r a t e d t h i c k n e s s e s (Lowry and Cummings, 1966).

Hydrologic p r o p e r t i e s of t h e alluvium v a r y w i t h sediment s i z e .

Measured p o r o s i t i e s range from 28 t o 45 p e r c e n t (Whitcomb and Morris,

1964). P e r m e a b i l i t i e s of c l a y - and s i l t - r i c h alluvium range from

0 . 1 t o 2 g p d / f t 2 , c o a r s e r d e p o s i t s g e n e r a l l y have p e r m e a b i l i t i e s of
2
1 5 t o 180 g p d / f t 2 , and v a l u e s of over 600 g p d / f t have been r e p o r t e d

(Whitcomb and Morris, 1964; Lowry and Cummings, 1966; Whitcomb, 1965).

T r a n s m i s s i v i t i e s vary from 1 5 t o 350 g p d / f t (Davis and Rechard, 1977;

Whitcomb and Morris, 1964) and range up t o 64,000 g p d / f t ( C r i s t and

Lowry, 1972); s a t u r a t e d t h i c k n e s s i s a s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r a f f e c t i n g

transmissivity values.

The Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s a r e i n h y d r a u l i c connection

w i t h a l l bedrock a q u i f e r s i n outcrop a r e a s , and a l s o w i t h s u r f a c e

waters. I n l a r g e r v a l l e y s they provide h y d r a u l i c i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n

between o t h e r w i s e h y d r a u l i c a l l y i s o l a t e d sandstones of t h e shallow

bedrock a q u i f e r system (Whitcomb, 1965). Induced r e c h a r g e from s u r f a c e

w a t e r s t o t h e alluvium i s probable i n a r e a s of e x t e n s i v e w e l l develop-

ment b u t h a s n o t been s p e c i f i c a l l y s t u d i e d .
V. W A T E R Q U A L I T Y
 V. WATER Q U A L I T Y

Roughly 900 water q u a l i t y a n a l y s e s were reviewed f o r t h i s r e p o r t .

Data s o u r c e s included: t h e U.S. Geological Survey WATSTOR d a t a system,

t h e Wyoming Water Resources Research I n s t i t u t e (WRRI) d a t a system

(WRDS), a compilation of water w e l l a n a l y s e s by Hodson (1971b), compila-

t i o n s of o i l f i e l d water a n a l y s e s by Crawford (1941) and Crawford

and Davis (1962), and a n a l y s e s conducted f o r t h i s r e p o r t . Additionally,

a n a l y s e s of Madison and Minnelusa a q u i f e r w a t e r s have been compiled

by Hodson (1974) and Wells and o t h e r s ( l 9 7 9 ) , r e s p e c t i v e l y . All

a n a l y s e s used, e x c e p t t h o s e by WRRI, a r e published o r a v a i l a b l e e l s e -

where and t h e r e f o r e a r e n o t t a b u l a t e d i n t h i s r e p o r t . The r e s u l t s

of t h e a n a l y s e s c o l l e c t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r t h i s study a r e t a b u l a t e d

i n Appendix C.

The f i r s t p a r t of t h i s c h a p t e r d i s c u s s e s t h e g e n e r a l water q u a l i t y

of major a q u i f e r systems and o t h e r a q u i f e r s i n terms of d i s s o l v e d

s o l i d s c o n t e n t and major i o n composition. Total dissolved s o l i d s

c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o r t h e major a q u i f e r systems a r e shown on P l a t e s 4

through 8. Due t o t h e l i m i t e d amount of d a t a a v a i l a b l e f o r o t h e r

a q u i f e r s i n t h e b a s i n t h e d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s a r e summarized

i n Table V-3. Where p o s s i b l e , t r e n d s i n c o n s t i t u e n t s and t h e mechanism

c a u s i n g them have been i d e n t i f i e d . The second p o r t i o n of t h e c h a p t e r

a d d r e s s e s water q u a l i t y r e l a t e d t o U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency

d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d s .
 GENERAL WATER QUALITY

Madison Aquifer System

Extensive chemical d a t a e x i s t on w a t e r s of t h e Madison a q u i f e r

system, a l t h o u g h most a n a l y s e s a r e of waters from t h e Madison and

Minnelusa a q u i f e r s and t h e i r e q u i v a l e n t s . Varying degrees of h y d r a u l i c

connection have been p o s t u l a t e d between t h e Madison and Minnelusa

aquifers. For t h i s r e a s o n , t h e q u a l i t y and g e n e r a l chemical c h a r a c t e r

of t h e i r w a t e r s a r e d i s c u s s e d s e p a r a t e l y , and then compared.

Madison Aquifer

I n t h e e a s t h a l f of t h e Powder River b a s i n t h e Madison a q u i f e r

h a s a l i m i t e d outcrop a r e a . Chemical a n a l y s e s of water from one outcrop

w e l l (48160-4) and one Madison s p r i n g (50161-24) show t o t a l d i s s o l v e d

s o l i d s (TDS) c o n t e n t s of 248 mg/l and 558 m g l l , r e s p e c t i v e l y . Near-

outcrop w e l l s i n t h e e a s t h a l f of Niobrara, Crook, and Weston c o u n t i e s

produce w a t e r s w i t h less than 500 mg/l TDS ( P l a t e 4 ) . Several analyses

from w e s t e r n Crook County and Campbell County show t h a t TDS l e v e l s

i n c r e a s e r a p i d l y a c r o s s t h e Black H i l l s monocline, w i t h t h e 3,000

mg/l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s i s o - l i n e roughly p a r a l l e l i n g t h i s s t r u c t u r e .

Basinward i n c r e a s e s i n TDS c o i n c i d e w i t h changes i n major i o n

composition ( F i g u r e V-1). Waters c o n t a i n i n g less than 500 mg/l TDS

a r e p r i m a r i l y calcium-magnesium b i c a r b o n a t e , w h i l e t h o s e w i t h 500

mgll t o 1,000 mg/l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s a r e calcium-magnesium s u l f a t e

i n character. More s a l i n e w a t e r s a r e predominantly sodium s u l f a t e

o r sodium s u l f a t e - c h l o r i d e .

S i m i l a r downgradient t r e n d s a r e seen i n t h e west h a l f of t h e

basin. S p r i n g s from Madison o u t c r o p s g e n e r a l l y y i e l d calcium b i c a r b o n a t e

 -
TDS
0 0-500 mg/l
500-1000 mg/l
A 1000-5000 mg/l
>5000 mg/l

F i g u r e V-1. T r i l i n e a r p l o t of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e Madison a q u i f e r w a t e r s ,
e a s t e r n Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming. Numbers p l o t t e d
a r e p e r c e n t of t o t a l m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r l i t e r . Arrows
i n d i c a t e g e n e r a l basinward t r e n d s of TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n
and major i o n composition.
w a t e r s , c o n t a i n i n g l e s s than 500 mg/l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s ( P l a t e 4 , Figure

V-2). Away from outcrop, a v a i l a b l e d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t TDS concentra-

t i o n s i n c r e a s e t o g r e a t e r than 3,000 mg/l, w i t h t h e w a t e r s p r o g r e s s i v e l y

e n r i c h e d i n d i s s o l v e d s u l f a t e , sodium, and c h l o r i d e . The most r a p i d

change i n d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s c o n t e n t and major i o n composition occurs

i n western Converse County, and i s probably r e l a t e d t o t h e s t r u c t u r a l l y

complex n a t u r e of t h e n o r t h e r n f l a n k of t h e Laramie Mountains.

Minnelusa Aquifer

Minnelusa a q u i f e r water q u a l i t y i n t h e e a s t h a l f of t h e b a s i n

i s more v a r i a b l e than Madison a q u i f e r water q u a l i t y . Outcrop and

near-outcrop w e l l s produce w a t e r s c o n t a i n i n g from 200 mg/l t o over

3,000 mg/l TDS ( P l a t e 5 ) . ' Many w a t e r s w i t h low TDS o r i g i n a t e i n t h e

lower Minnelusa Format i o n ( s e e "Comparison of Madison and Minnelusa

Waters," below). D i l u t e w a t e r s ( l e s s t h a n 500 mg/l TDS) a r e calcium-

magnesium b i c a r b o n a t e i n c h a r a c t e r (Figure V-3) , whereas an i n c r e a s e

t o 1,000 mg/l TDS shows an a s s o c i a t e d i n c r e a s e i n d i s s o l v e d s u l f a t e .

Waters from 1,000 mg/l t o about 3,000 mg/l c o n t a i n predominantly calcium

and s u l f a t e i o n s from s o l u t i o n of gypsum beds i n t h e upper Minnelusa.

Away from outcrop b u t e a s t of t h e Black H i l l s monocline, TDS

c o n c e n t r a t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y g r e a t e r than 3,000 mg/l, w i t h d i s s o l v e d

calcium, sodium, and s u l f a t e t h e major i o n s i n s o l u t i o n . West of

t h e monocline, d a t a from o i l f i e l d tests i n d i c a t e t h a t upper Minnelusa

w a t e r s become h i g h l y s a l i n e , w i t h TDS exceeding 100,000 mg/l i n p l a c e s ,

and d i s s o l v e d sodium and c h l o r i d e t h e dominant i o n s . A s the majority

of Minnelusa o i l t r a p s a r e s t r a t i g r a p h i c ( S t r i c k l a n d , 1958) t h e s e

w a t e r s may r e p r e s e n t trapped formation w a t e r .

F i g u r e V-2. T r i l i n e a r p l o t of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e Madison a q u i f e r w a t e r s ,
western Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming. Numbers p l o t t e d
a r e p e r c e n t of t o t a l m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r l i t e r . Arrows
i n d i c a t e g e n e r a l basinward t r e n d s of TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n
and major i o n composition.
F i g u r e V-3. T r i l i n e a r p l o t of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e Minnelusa a q u i f e r w a t e r s ,
e a s t e r n Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming. Numbers p l o t t e d
a r e p e r c e n t of t o t a l m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r l i t e r . Arrows
i n d i c a t e g e n e r a l basinward t r e n d s of TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n
and major i o n composition.
 I n t h e west h a l f of t h e b a s i n , Tensleep a q u i f e r (Minnelusa equi-

v a l e n t ) outcrop w a t e r s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y c o n t a i n under 500 mg/l

d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s ( P l a t e 5). Available d a t a i n d i c a t e a generally east-

ward (basinward) i n c r e a s e i n TDS. High TDS w a t e r s , p r e s e n t i n t h e

deep p a r t s of t h e a q u i f e r i n t h e e a s t h a l f of t h e b a s i n , a r e n o t found

i n t h e western p a r t .

Low TDS ( l e s s t h a n 500 mg/l) Tensleep a q u i f e r outcrop w a t e r s

a r e p r i m a r i l y magnesium-calcium b i c a r b o n a t e i n c h a r a c t e r (Figure V - 4 ) .

One a n a l y s i s of Tensleep w a t e r s w i t h a d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s c o n t e n t of

approximately 600 mg/l i s e n r i c h e d i n calcium s u l f a t e . Increasing

TDS i s g e n e r a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h i g h e r sodium s u l f a t e o r sodium s u l f a t e -

chloride levels.

Comparison of Madison and Minnelusa Waters

Madison and Minnelusa w a t e r s i n t h e e a s t h a l f of t h e b a s i n show

s e v e r a l s i m i l a r i t i e s a s a r e s u l t of s i m i l a r hydrogeologic c o n t r o l s .

D i l u t e ( l e s s than 500 mg/l TDS) Minnelusa outcrop w a t e r s a r e of t h e

same chemical c h a r a c t e r (calcium-magnesium b i c a r b o n a t e ) a s d i l u t e

Madison w a t e r s and compositionally c o n t r o l l e d by c a r b o n a t e d i s s o l u t i o n .

With i n c r e a s e d TDS, w a t e r s from w e l l s c l o s e t o formation o u t c r o p s

have i n c r e a s e d s u l f a t e c o n t e n t , due t o gypsum and a n h y d r i t e d i s s o l u t i o n .

Waters of b o t h a q u i f e r s show s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e i n TDS and sodium

c h l o r i d e enrichment a c r o s s t h e Black H i l l s monocline. These i n c r e a s e s

may be due t o r e s t r i c t e d c i r c u l a t i o n i n t o t h e deeper p a r t s of t h e

a q u i f e r , o r t o f r a c t u r i n g along t h e monocline, allowing f o r interforma-

t i o n a l mixing of Madison and Minnelusa w a t e r s w i t h h i g h e r TDS sodium

chloride waters.
Figure V-4. T r i l i n e a r p l o t of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e Tensleep (Minnelusa)
a q u i f e r w a t e r s , western Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.
Numbers p l o t t e d a r e p e r c e n t of t o t a l m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s
p e r l i t e r . Arrows i n d i c a t e g e n e r a l basinward t r e n d s
'of TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n and major i o n composition.
 S t r a t i g r a p h i c c o n t r o l s on t h e composition of Madison a q u i f e r

system w a t e r s i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e Powder River b a s i n a r e

apparent. Eisen and o t h e r s (1981) found t h a t lower Minnelusa and

Madison w a t e r c h e m i s t r i e s i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n a r e very

s i m i l a r , a l t h o u g h upper Madison water h a s s l i g h t l y h i g h e r TDS and

s u l f a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , a t t r i b u t a b l e t o a n h y d r i t e which i s commonly

p r e s e n t (Andrichuk, 1955). They a l s o i d e n t i f i e d TDS and d i s s o l v e d

s u l f a t e d i f f e r e n c e s between b a s a l ~ i n n e l u s a / ~ a d i s own a t e r s and upper/

middle Minnelusa w a t e r s . They concluded t h a t t h e b a s a l Minnelusa

and Madison a r e h y d r a u l i c a l l y connected and t h e middle Minnelusa Forma-

tion i s a hydraulic barrier.

Comparison of F i g u r e s V-2 and V-4 shows a s t r o n g resemblance

i n major i o n composit ion be tween Madison and Tensleep a q u i f e r

w a t e r s i n t h e west h a l f of t h e b a s i n . Dissolved s o l i d s i n c r e a s e more

q u i c k l y downgradient i n Tensleep w a t e r s than i n Madison w a t e r s .

S a l i n i t y d i f f e r e n c e s a r e n o t g r e a t , however, and may r e p r e s e n t incom-

p l e t e mixing of t h e r e s p e c t i v e w a t e r s , a s opposed t o a l a c k of h y d r a u l i c

connection between t h e formations.

Permo-Triassic A q u i f e r s

Few a n a l y s e s of w a t e r from Permo-Triassic a q u i f e r s of t h e Powder

River b a s i n a r e a v a i l a b l e . Two a n a l y s e s of Minnekahta a q u i f e r water

from Crook County have mixed i o n composition and 650 and 1,800 mg/l

TDS. Most ~ h u g w a t e r / S p e a r f i s h water w e l l s w i t h i n t h e b a s i n f o r which

water a n a l y s e s a r e a v a i l a b l e produce calcium s u l f a t e w a t e r s , w i t h

between 2,240 and 3,420 mg/l TDS, a s a r e s u l t of gypsum d i s s o l u t i o n .

Some v a r i a b i l i t y of S p e a r f i s h water i s n o t i c e a b l e , even w i t h t h e l i m i t e d

d a t a base. One w e l l (53/61-5 a d ) i n t h e outcrop produces calcium-

magnesium b i c a r b o n a t e water w i t h a TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n of 414 mg/l;

c o n v e r s e l y , one s p r i n g (45/61-98 d) i s s u i n g from t h e formation h a s

sodium c h l o r i d e w a t e r w i t h 30,000 mg/l TDS. I n Natrona County one

Chugwater w e l l (39/83-7 aab) produces mixed c a t i o n s u l f a t e water w i t h

1,330 mg/l TDS.

Sundance Aquifer

The few a v a i l a b l e water w e l l d a t a i n d i c a t e much v a r i a b i l i t y i n

Sundance w a t e r composition. I n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n

TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n s range from 894 t o 1,870 mg/l. Crook County Sundance

w a t e r s a r e sodium s u l f a t e dominated, w h i l e t o t h e s o u t h Weston County

Sundance w a t e r s a r e mixed i o n i n c h a r a c t e r . Two a n a l y s e s from t h e

west s i d e of t h e b a s i n suggest a s i m i l a r north-south compositional

zonation.

Away from o u t c r o p s , Sundance Formation w a t e r s from o i l f i e l d s

on t h e s o u t h e r n margins of t h e b a s i n range from 4,044 t o 15,568 mg/l

i n TDS, b u t only exceed 10,000 mg/l TDS i n n o r t h e a s t e r n Natrona and

s o u t h e a s t e r n Johnson c o u n t i e s . A t Lance Creek i n Niobrara County

Sundance w a t e r i s sodium s u l f a t e i n composition, w h i l e i n t h e southwest

p a r t of t h e b a s i n i t i s predominantly sodium c h l o r i d e , although some

a n a l y s e s have codominant s u l f a t e . The source of s u l f a t e i n Sundance

water i s unknown a s t h e formation i s n o t r e p o r t e d t o be g y p s i f e r o u s .

Dakota Aquifer System

The g e n e r a l chemical c h a r a c t e r of Dakota system w a t e r s i s h i g h l y

v a r i a b l e , due t o r a p i d v e r t i c a l and h o r i z o n t a l l i t h o l o g i c changes

w i t h i n i n d i v i d u a l water-bearing u n i t s , and l i t h o l o g i c d i f f e r e n c e s
between t h e i n d i v i d u a l a q u i f e r s themselves. However, e x i s t i n g a n a l y s e s

of Dakota w a t e r s show a s y s t e m a t i c s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of g r o s s water

t y p e s and t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s range.

I n t h e e a s t h a l f of t h e b a s i n , w a t e r s from Dakota o u t c r o p s c o n t a i n

350 t o 3,300 mg/l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s , and a r e calcium-magnesium s u l f a t e

i n character. T o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s i n c r e a s e away from o u t c r o p ,

w i t h t h e most r a p i d i n c r e a s e s o c c u r r i n g t o t h e west and southwest

where TDS i s o - l i n e s roughly p a r a l l e l t h e Black H i l l s monocline (compare

P l a t e s 1 and 6 ) .

Between outcrop a r e a s and t h e monocline, Dakota w a t e r s g e n e r a l l y

c o n t a i n less than 3,000 mg/l TDS, and show a basinward change i n chemical

c h a r a c t e r from calcium-magnesium s u l f a t e a t t h e outcrop t o sodium

s u l f a t e t o sodium b i c a r b o n a t e (Figure V-5). Bowles (1968) noted a

s i m i l a r e v o l u t i o n of Dakota w a t e r s i n southwest South Dakota, and

suggested t h e change i n i o n i c composition was due t o exchange of d i s -

solved calcium and magnesium f o r sodium, followed by b a c t e r i a l r e d u c t i o n

of s u l f a t e and t h e r e s u l t i n g production of b i c a r b o n a t e . In the analyses

used f o r t h i s r e p o r t , t h e s e changes i n chemical c h a r a c t e r a r e n o t

accompanied by s i g n i f i c a n t changes i n t h e d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s c o n t e n t ,

implying t h a t exchange-type r e a c t i o n s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e observed

downgradient e v o l u t i o n s of Dakota w a t e r s .

Across t h e Black H i l l s monocline, TDS i n c r e a s e s r a p i d l y from

l e s s t h a n 3,000 mg/l t o g r e a t e r than 10,000 mg/l, w i t h sodium c h l o r i d e

dominating t h e i o n s i n s o l u t i o n . The sudden change i n Dakota water

chemistry a t t h e monocline s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e s t r u c t u r e e i t h e r a c t s

t o r e s t r i c t ground-water movement i n t o t h e deeper p a r t s of t h e a q u i f e r ,

 EXPLANATION

/
Na' -CI'
Distribution and Type of
Major Ions in Solution

Bf:::$ Generalized Outcrop o f

Lower Cretoceous rocks
(from Love and others,
19551

SOURCES : Crawford and D a v i s , 1 9 6 2 ;

Hodson, 1971b

Figure V-5. Major ion composition of Dakota a q u i f e r system w a t e r ,

e a s t e r n Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.
o r t h a t f r a c t u r i n g along t h e monocline a l l o w s f o r i n t e r f o r m a t i o n a l

mixing of Dakota water w i t h more s a l i n e w a t e r s from s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y

adjacent shales.

I n t h e southwest p a r t of t h e b a s i n , t h e l i m i t e d amount of d a t a

a v a i l a b l e i n d i c a t e t h a t near-outcrop w e l l s g e n e r a l l y c o n t a i n l e s s

than 1,500 mg/l TDS and a r e sodium b i c a r b o n a t e i n c h a r a c t e r . Dissolved

s o l i d s i n c r e a s e r a p i d l y t o t h e n o r t h and e a s t a s t h e Dakota system

d i p s s t e e p l y basinward. A v a i l a b l e d a t a i n d i c a t e t h a t d i s s o l v e d sodium

and c h l o r i d e a r e dominant i n w a t e r s w i t h more than 3,000 mg/l TDS.

Data from "Muddy" sandstone w a t e r s a r e l i m i t e d t o a n a l y s e s of

o i l f i e l d waters. I n t h e western p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e "Muddy" produces

sodium c h l o r i d e w a t e r s w i t h TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n s from 9,786 t o 17,419

mg/l. I n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n TDS ranges from 3,241 t o 33,624

and most w a t e r compositions a r e sodium c h l o r i d e . Bicarbonate i s o f t e n

a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t l y p r e s e n t , and may dominate i n t h e Newcastle a r e a .

Muddy w a t e r s s o u t h of T. 37 N. on t h e e a s t s i d e of t h e b a s i n a r e more

d i l u t e t h a n t h o s e t o t h e n o r t h (Crawford and Davis, 1962).

Upper Cretaceous A q u i f e r s

F r o n t i e r Aquifer

Water w e l l s completed i n t h e F r o n t i e r a q u i f e r produce w a t e r s

ranging from sodium b i c a r b o n a t e t o sodium s u l f a t e i n composition and

from 812 t o 3,030 mg/l i n TDS, on t h e b a s i s of a v a i l a b l e d a t a . Sulfate

i s more prominent i n t h e w a t e r s w i t h h i g h e r TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n s .

Crawford and Davis (1962) r e p o r t o i l f i e l d F r o n t i e r w a t e r s have

l i t t l e s u l f a t e , a r e sodium b i c a r b o n a t e t o sodium c h l o r i d e i n composition,

and range from 1,417 t o 24,950 i n TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n . They a s s o c i a t e d

s u l f a t e found i n a few samples w i t h s u r f a c e water i n f i l t r a t i o n ; and

TDS and h i g h c h l o r i d e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s w i t h low sand p e r m e a b i l i t y , l e n t i -

c u l a r i t y , and i n c r e a s e d d i s t a n c e from outcrop.

Shannon Aquifer

Four a n a l y s e s of water from w e l l s completed i n t h e Cody Shale

a r e r e p o r t e d (Hodson, 1971b) b u t t h e Shannon a q u i f e r was n o t i d e n t i f i e d

a s a s p e c i f i c source. Three samples were sodium s u l f a t e water ranging

from 2,180 t o 12,580 mg/l TDS; t h e f o u r t h , from a w e l l 285 f e e t deep

(43181-5 b ) , was calcium-magnesium s u l f a t e water w i t h 780 mg/l TDS.

Shannon w a t e r s from o i l f i e l d s a r e of s e v e r a l types. Water from

f i e l d s n o r t h of Casper i s sodium s u l f a t e i n c h a r a c t e r , o f t e n a l s o

h a s s i g n i f i c i a n t amounts of calcium and magnesium, and ranges i n TDS

c o n c e n t r a t i o n from 2,874 t o 5,937 mg/l. O i l f i e l d s e a s t of Casper

have sodium c h l o r i d e w a t e r s w i t h over 9,000 mg/l TDS. The B i l l y Creek

O i l F i e l d (T. 48 N . , R. 82 W.) h a s w a t e r s w i t h from 2,132 t o 3,269

mg/l TDS which a r e sodium bicarbonate-chloride i n composition.

Crawford (1940) f e l t exchange r e a c t i o n s c o n t r o l l e d c a t i o n s p e c i e s ,

and composition of s u r f a c e w a t e r s a t o u t c r o p s c o n t r o l l e d anion compo-

sition. He a s s o c i a t e d s u l f a t e w a t e r s w i t h nearby o u t c r o p s i n c o n t a c t

w i t h s u l f a t e s u r f a c e w a t e r , and c h l o r i d e - b i c a r b o n a t e w a t e r s w i t h deeply

b u r i e d o i l f i e l d s "fed only by a f r e s h water source" i n t h e mountains.

For t h e c h l o r i d e - b i c a r b o n a t e w a t e r s changes i n TDS l e v e l s a r e a s s o c i a t e d

with chloride concentration.

Mesaverde Aquifer

L i t t l e d a t a on Mesaverde a q u i f e r water a r e a v a i l a b l e . Water

w e l l s produce e i t h e r d i l u t e ( l e s s than 600 mg/l TDS) w a t e r s of calcium

o r sodium b i c a r b o n a t e composition o r sodium s u l f a t e w a t e r s w i t h TDS

c o n c e n t r a t i o n s ranging from 1,360 t o 3,980 mg/l.

Fox H i l l s / ~ a n c eAquifer System

Chemical d a t a f o r Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n ca qe u i f e r system w a t e r s a r e s p a r s e

and l a r g e l y l i m i t e d t o outcrop a r e a s . No s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s

i n d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o r d i s t r i b u t i o n of major i o n s a r e

seen between Fox H i l l s and Lance w a t e r s .

North of Niobrara County, i n t h e e a s t h a l f of t h e b a s i n , Fox

~ i l l s / ~ a n cwea t e r s from outcrop a r e a s have a TDS c o n t e n t ranging from

600 t o 1,500 mg/l ( P l a t e 7). These w a t e r s a r e p r i m a r i l y sodium b i c a r -

b o n a t e - s u l f a t e i n c h a r a c t e r , although t h r e e a n a l y s e s from Weston County,

w i t h l e s s t h a n 700 mg/l TDS, were calcium and magnesium enriched.

Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n cwea t e r s from outcrop a r e a s i n Niobrara County

a r e s i m i l a r i n c h a r a c t e r t o t h o s e found in t h e n o r t h b u t c o n t a i n h i g h e r

c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s , varying from 1,000 mg/l t o 3,300

mg/l. Existing data a r e insufficient t o explain the elevated levels

of d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s i n t h i s a r e a ; however, p o t e n t i o m e t r i c d a t a i n d i c a t e

a s e p a r a t e flow system e x i s t s (see Chapter IV) .

Outcrop w e l l s i n t h e w e s t h a l f of t h e b a s i n y i e l d w a t e r s c o n t a i n i n g

between 450 and 4,060 mg/l TDS ( P l a t e 7). The chemical c h a r a c t e r

of t h e s e w a t e r s v a r i e s from calcium b i c a r b o n a t e t o calcium s u l f a t e

t o sodium s u l f a t e t o sodium b i c a r b o n a t e . There i s no a p p a r e n t c o r r e l a -

t i o n between chemical c h a r a c t e r and TDS, and except f o r a band of

p r i m a r i l y calcium s u l f a t e w a t e r s extending from T. 43 N. t o T. 52 N . ,

no s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of water t y p e s i s e v i d e n t .
 Local l i t h o l o g i c v a r i a t i o n l i k e l y c o n t r o l s anion composition,

through d i s s o l u t i o n of c a r b o n a t e , gypsum, o r p y r i t e , and exchange

r e a c t i o n s i n f l u e n c e c a t i o n composition, f a v o r i n g sodium replacement

of calcium (Thorstenson and o t h e r s , 19791,

Analyses of Fox H i l l s l L a n c e w a t e r s away from outcrop a r e a s show

a TDS range of 288 mg/l (well 45/71-36 bd, Appendix C ) t o 3,530 mg/l

(well 49/75-32) and a r e sodium b i c a r b o n a t e o r sodium bicarbonate-

sulfate i n character. I n an e x t e n s i v e study of t h e a q u i f e r i n North

Dakota (Thorstenson and o t h e r s , 1979) l i g n i t e was found t o cause down-

g r a d i e n t s u l f a t e r e d u c t i o n which, i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h c a t i o n exchange,

r e s u l t e d i n dominantly sodium b i c a r b o n a t e w a t e r s away from r e c h a r g e

zones. S i m i l a r e v o l u t i o n of Fox ~ i l l s / L a n c ew a t e r s i s l i k e l y i n t h e

Powder River b a s i n , p a r a l l e l i n g t h a t of t h e Dakota system.

Wasatch/Fort Union Aquifer System

The ~ a s a t c h / F o r tUnion a q u i f e r system i s exposed over a l a r g e

p o r t i o n of t h e c e n t r a l b a s i n , and e x t e n s i v e chemical d a t a e x i s t on

i t s waters. The d i s c o n t i n u o u s , l e n t i c u l a r n a t u r e of t h e water-bearing

sandstones comprising t h e system r e s u l t s i n s i g n i f i c a n t water q u a l i t y

d i f f e r e n c e s over s h o r t geographic d i s t a n c e s . Several generalizations

can b e made, however, w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e o v e r a l l chemical c h a r a c t e r

of WasatchlFort Union w a t e r s .

Dissolved s o l i d s c o n t e n t v a r i e s from l e s s than 250 mg/l t o over

6,500 mg/l. Generally t h e r e i s l i t t l e c o r r e l a t i o n between TDS and

w e l l d e p t h , although a d e c r e a s e i n d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s w i t h i n c r e a s i n g

depth h a s been suggested f o r some p a r t s of t h e a q u i f e r (Whitcomb and

o t h e r s , 1966; Davis, 1976). An apparent though unsystematic geographic

zonation of d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s c o n t e n t i s p r e s e n t ( P l a t e 8). An a r e a

of r e l a t i v e l y d i l u t e ( l e s s t h a n 1,000 mg/l TDS) water r u n s northwest-

southwest through t h e e a s t - c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e b a s i n , while w e l l s

i n s e v e r a l s p o r a d i c a l l y l o c a t e d zones produce w a t e r s c o n t a i n i n g g r e a t e r

t h a n 3,000 mg/l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s .

~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union
rt w a t e r s from r e l a t i v e l y shallow w e l l s have

a widely v a r i a b l e major i o n composition. Most a n a l y s e s show e i t h e r

a mixed c a t i o n c o n t e n t o r sodium enrichment (Figure V-6). Waters

c o n t a i n i n g less t h a n 500 mg/l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s a r e e n r i c h e d i n b i c a r -

bonate, w h i l e more s a l i n e w a t e r s a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y h i g h i n d i s s o l v e d

sulfate.

Major i o n composition h a s a r e l a t i o n s h i p t o w e l l depth. Figure

V-7 shows a r e l a t i v e i n c r e a s e i n d i s s o l v e d sodium and b i c a r b o n a t e

w i t h depth. The i n c r e a s e i n sodium h a s been a s c r i b e d t o c a t i o n exchange

of sodium f o r d i s s o l v e d calcium and magnesium. The presence of hydrogen

s u l f i d e i n some Wasatch/Fort Union w a t e r s i m p l i e s t h a t b a c t e r i a l reduc-

t i o n of s u l f a t e r e s u l t s i n t h e observed change i n anion composition

(Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966; Lowry and Cumming, 1966). It i s probable

t h a t t h e s e v a r i a t i o n s r e s u l t from h o r i z o n t a l flow w i t h i n h y d r o l o g i c a l l y

i s o l a t e d sand b o d i e s , and t h a t depth i s only an i n d i c a t o r of r e l a t i v e

d i s t a n c e from outcrop r e c h a r g e zones, r a t h e r than a l a r g e component

of v e r t i c a l downward flow through t h e system.

Wells p e n e t r a t i n g c o a l seams o r o t h e r carbonaceous d e p o s i t s o f t e n

y i e l d b o t h water and gas. The discharged g a s i s mainly methane and

i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h s m a l l e r q u a n t i t i e s of n i t r o g e n and oxygen (Whitcomb

and o t h e r s , 1966; Lowry and Cummings, 1966). Gas-to-water ratios

 TDS

F i g u r e V-6. T r i l i n e a r p l o t of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union
rt aquifer
system w a t e r s , Powder R i v e r b a s i n , Wyoming. Numbers
p l o t t e d are p e r c e n t of t o t a l m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r l i t e r .
 T o t a l Depth
0-200 f e e t
200-500 f e e t
500-1000 f e e t
>I000 f e e t

F i g u r e V-7. T r i l i n e a r p l o t of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e W a s a t c h / ~ o r tUnion a q u i f e r
system w a t e r s , Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming. Numbers
p l o t t e d a r e p e r c e n t of t o t a l m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r l i t e r .
Arrows i n d i c a t e g e n e r a l t r e n d of composition w i t h depth.
a s l a r g e a s 2.2 have been measured a t c e r t a i n w e l l s i n Johnson County

(Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966).

Middle T e r t i a r y Aquifers

Limited water q u a l i t y d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e Middle T e r t i a r y

White River and Arikaree a q u i f e r s i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e

Powder River b a s i n . T y p i c a l l y water from t h e s e a q u i f e r s c o n t a i n s

l e s s than 1,000 mg/l TDS and i s sodium b i c a r b o n a t e i n c h a r a c t e r , b u t

one a r e a 1 2 m i l e s west of Douglas (33/73-27 and 34) h a s sodium s u l f a t e

dominated w a t e r s w i t h about 4,500 mg/l TDS. Existing data a r e insuf-

f i c i e n t t o e x p l a i n t h e observed c o n d i t i o n s .

Quaternary Aquifers

A v a i l a b l e a n a l y s e s of w a t e r s from Quaternary a q u i f e r s show a

TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n range of 106 t o 9,300 mg/l. Cation composition

ranges from calcium t o sodium and anion composition ranges from b i c a r -

bonate t o s u l f a t e . Carbonate o r gypsum d i s s o l u t i o n i n conjunction

w i t h c a t i o n exchange on t h e fine-grained component of t h e a l l u v i a l

d e p o s i t s a r e probable c o n t r o l s on t h e composition.

DRINKING WATER STANDARDS

Primary Standards

E x i s t i n g chemical a n a l y s e s i d e n t i f y two of t h e t e n i n o r g a n i c

s p e c i e s w i t h primary d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d s (Table V-1) a s having

r e l a t i v e l y h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n Powder River b a s i n ground waters:

selenium and f l u o r i d e .

Few a n a l y s e s f o r t h e o t h e r e i g h t inorganic c o n s t i t u e n t s w i t h

e s t a b l i s h e d primary d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d s a r e a v a i l a b l e , and even

Table V-1. Drinking water q u a l i t y i s t a n d a r d s .

Primary Drinking Secondary Drinking

Constituent Water s tandarda Water standarda

Arsenic
Bar ium
Cadmium
Chloride
Chormium

Coliform B a c t e r i a
Color 15 color u n i t s
Copper 1. C
Corrosivity Noncorrosive
Fluoride

Foaming Agents
Iron
Lead
Manganese
Mercury

N i t r a t e ( a s N)
Odor 3 t h r e s h o l d odor u n i t s
Organic Chemicals-Herbicides
2,4-D
2,4,5-TP

Organic Chemicals-Pest i c i d e s
Endr i n
L indane
M e t hoxyc h l o r
Toxap hene
pH 6.5-8.5 units

Radioactivity
Ra-226 + Ra-228
Gross Alpha A c t i v i t y
Tr i t ium
Sr-90

Selenium
Silver
Sodium
Sulfate
T o t a l Dissolved S o l i d s
Table V-1 . (continued)

Primary Drinking Secondary Drinking

Constituent Water standard" Water standardd

Turbidity 1 turbidity unitg

Zinc 5.

a
A l l c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n mg/l u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e noted.

b ~ h es t a n d a r d i s a monthly a r i t h m e t i c mean. A c o n c e n t r a t i o n of 4
c o l o n i e s / 1 0 0 d i s allowed i n one sample p e r month i f less t h a n 20
samples a r e analyzed o r i n 20 p e r c e n t of t h e samples p e r month i f
more t h a n 20 samples a r e analyzed.
C
The c o r r o s i o n index i s t o be chosen by t h e S t a t e .

d ~ h ef l u o r i d e s t a n d a r d i s temperature-dependent .
This standard a p p l i e s
t o l o c a t i o n s where t h e annual average of t h e maximum d a i l y a i r tempera-
t u r e i s 58.4OF t o 63.8OF.
e
The s t a n d a r d i n c l u d e s r a d i a t i o n from Ra-226 b u t n o t radon o r uranium.

'NO s t a n d a r d h a s been s e t , b u t monitoring of sodium i s recommended.

g ~ pt o f i v e t u r b i d i t y u n i t s may be allowed i f t h e s u p p l i e r of water

can demonstrate t o t h e S t a t e t h a t higher t u r b i d i t i e s do n o t i n t e r f e r e
with disinfection.

Source: U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency, 1976.

fewer exceedences a r e r e p o r t e d : uranium mine monitoring w e l l s i n

t h e Wasatch a q u i f e r (38/73-10, 11, 15) produce w a t e r s w i t h v a r y i n g

c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of l e a d and mercury, ranging up t o 0 . 1 and 0.01 mg/l,

r e s p e c t i v e l y ; a l s o , a Wasatch(?) s p r i n g (36/72-33) h a s 0.24 mg/l of

mercury. Exceedences of t h e n i t r a t e s t a n d a r d a r e r e p o r t e d a t a few

shallow w e l l s . The t a p water a t Osage c o n t a i n s 0.09 mg/l s i l v e r ;

however, t h e Madison a q u i f e r supply w e l l produces water w i t h less

than 0.01 mg/l s i l v e r .

Selenium

Generally, h i g h selenium w a t e r s ( g r e a t e r than 0.01 mg/l) a r e

l i m i t e d g e o g r a p h i c a l l y t o t h e extreme southwest p a r t of t h e b a s i n

(Figure V-8) and s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y t o w e l l s completed i n t h e upper

Cretaceous sandstone a q u i f e r s o r i n nearby Quaternary t e r r a c e and

alluvial aquifers. E x i s t i n g d a t a show t h a t 1 7 w e l l s completed i n

t h e Mesaverde Formation, Cody Shale, o r F r o n t i e r Formation produce

w a t e r s which exceed t h e primary d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d . Seven of

t h e s e w e l l s , a l l i n t h e Cody Shale, produce w a t e r s w i t h selenium concen-

t r a t i o n s exceeding 0 . 1 mg/l and ranging up t o 6.5 mg/l. Of t h e 49

w e l l s completed i n Quaternary a q u i f e r s which have r e p o r t e d exceedences

of t h e selenium s t a n d a r d , 24 have w a t e r s w i t h over 0 . 1 mg/l selenium,

and a l l t h e s e w e l l s r e c e i v e r e c h a r g e from nearby i r r i g a t i o n . The

h i g h e s t recorded c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n Quaternary a q u i f e r w a t e r s i s 1 . 8

mg/l. Large f l u c t u a t i o n s i n t h e selenium l e v e l w i t h time a t any one

s i t e a r e common; whether t h e observed f l u c t u a t i o n i s t h e r e s u l t of

a n a t u r a l p r o c e s s o r a n a l y t i c a l e r r o r s cannot b e determined. Crist

(1974) found c o n f l i c t i n g t r e n d s when he r e l a t e d selenium l e v e l s t o

 Dakota 0 25 50 75 100 Miles
I I

0 25 50 75 100 Kilometers
Madison I

a High selenium zone

F i g u r e V-8. Location of r e p o r t e d h i g h selenium and f l u o r i d e i n Powder

River b a s i n ground w a t e r s . P o i n t s i n d i c a t e f l u o r i d e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n e x c e s s of 2.4 mg/l, by source. A l l
a n a l y s e s of w a t e r s from Upper Cretaceous o r Quaternary
a q u i f e r s w i t h g r e a t e r than 0.01 mg/l selenium a r e found
w i t h i n t h e shaded a r e a .
a q u i f e r r e c h a r g e by s u r f a c e w a t e r s of t h e Kendrick I r r i g a t i o n P r o j e c t ,

b u t he d i d conclude t h a t i r r i g a t i o n "has a c c e l e r a t e d movement of

selenium w i t h i n and from t h e i r r i g a t e d a r e a s . "

Only t h r e e w e l l s w i t h i n t h e study a r e a which t a p a q u i f e r s o t h e r

t h a n t h o s e n o t e d above show e x c e s s i v e selenium c o n c e n t r a t i o n s on t h e

b a s i s of a v a i l a b l e a n a l y s e s . One w e l l (40178-26 cba) i s developed

i n t h e Fox H i l l s Formation, a n o t h e r (32181-21 a c a ) t a p s t h e Lance

Formation, and t h e t h i r d (55161-26 da) produces from t h e F a l l River

a q u i f e r of t h e Dakota a q u i f e r system. These w e l l s produce w a t e r s

c o n t a i n i n g 0.02 t o 0.04 mg/l selenium.

Fluoride

High c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of f l u o r i d e ( g r e a t e r t h a n 2.4 mg/l) i n Powder

River b a s i n ground w a t e r s a r e widely d i s t r i b u t e d , both s p a t i a l l y and

s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y (Figure V-8). F l u o r i d e enrichment i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c

of Madison system w a t e r s throughout much of t h e b a s i n , and of Fox

H i l l s l ~ a n c ew a t e r s i n t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n . Only f i v e a n a l y s e s of Dakota

w a t e r s show f l u o r i d e t o exceed 2.4 mgfl, w h i l e h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n s

i n Wasatch/Fort Union w a t e r s a r e s p o r a d i c a l l y s c a t t e r e d and probably

due t o l o c a l l i t h o l o g i c v a r i a t i o n s . Waters from Upper Cretaceous

a q u i f e r s a l s o show f l u o r i d e enrichment.

Secondary Standards

Major Aquifer Systems

The secondary d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d s f o r which water a n a l y s e s

i n t h e Powder River b a s i n a r e widely a v a i l a b l e i n c l u d e s u l f a t e , c h l o r i d e ,

i r o n , and t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s . T o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s ranges f o r

a11 major a q u i f e r systems a r e s p a t i a l l y d i s p l a y e d on P l a t e s 4 t o 8.

Table V-2 summarizes s u l f a t e , c h l o r i d e , and i r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o r

each major a q u i f e r system by county. The w a t e r s from each a q u i f e r

system show a wide range i n t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of t h e s e c o n s t i t u e n t s

i n a given geographic a r e a , although some s p a t i a l and s t r a t i g r a p h i c

d i s t r i b u t i o n of c o n c e n t r a t i o n ranges does e x i s t .

E x i s t i n g d a t a show s u l f a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s c o n s i s t e n t l y exceed

t h e recommended maximum (250 mg/l) i n Madison a q u i f e r w a t e r s from

Campbell and Natrona c o u n t i e s , i n Minnelusa a q u i f e r w a t e r s from Converse

County, i n Fox ~ i l l s / ~ a n cwea t e r s from Natrona County, and i n ~ a s a t c h /

F o r t Union w a t e r s from Crook and Niobrara c o u n t i e s .

Chloride c o n c e n t r a t i o n s c o n s i s t e n t l y exceed t h e recommended maximum

(250 mg/l) i n Madison system and Dakota system w a t e r s on t h e west

s i d e of t h e Black H i l l s monocline a s w e l l a s i n Dakota w a t e r s from

Converse, Natrona, and Niobrara c o u n t i e s .

High i r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s occur s p o r a d i c a l l y i n w a t e r s from a l l

major a q u i f e r systems.

Minor and Local A q u i f e r s

Table V-3 summarizes t h e ranges of t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s , s u l f a t e ,

c h l o r i d e , and i r o n f o r w a t e r s from minor and l o c a l a q u i f e r s w i t h i n

t h e Powder River b a s i n , on t h e b a s i s of a v a i l a b l e a n a l y s e s . The second-

a r y TDS s t a n d a r d of 500 mg/l i s o f t e n exceeded even i n outcrop r e c h a r g e

a r e a s , w h i l e i n t h e more c e n t r a l oil-producing p a r t s of t h e b a s i n

TDS c o n c e n t r a t i o n of bedrock a q u i f e r w a t e r s u s u a l l y exceeds 3,000 mg/l.

I n outcrop a r e a s exceedences of t h e s u l f a t e s t a n d a r d a r e t y p i c a l ,

w h i l e most o i l f i e l d w a t e r s exceed c h l o r i d e s t a n d a r d s . Water from

Quaternary a l l u v i a l a q u i f e r s o f t e n exceeds s t a n d a r d s f o r TDS and s u l f a t e .

Table V-2. Concentration r a n g e s ' o f s u l f a t e , c h l o r i d e , and i r o n i n w a t e r s of
major a q u i f e r systems, Powder River b a s i n , by county (concentra-
t i o n s expressed a s m i l l i g r a m s p e r l i t e r ) .

--- -- - -- - - -

Aquifer System Aquifer County Sulfate Chloride Iron

Mad i s o n Madison Campbell

Converse
Crook
Johnson
Natrona
Niobrara
Sheridan
Weston
Madison Minnelusa Campbell
Converse
Crook
Johnson
Natrona
Niobrara
Sheridan
Weston
Dakota (Newcastle/ Campbell
Muddy i s Converse
excluded) Crook
Johnson
Natrona
Niobrara
Sheridan
Weston
Fox ~ i l l s / Campbell
Lance Converse
Crook
Johnson
Natrona
Niobrara
Sheridan
Weston
Wasatch/ Campbell
F o r t Union Conver se
Crook
Johnson
Natrona
Niobrara
Sheridan
Weston

Sources: Hodson, 1971b, 1974; Wells and o t h e r s , 1979; Crawford, 1940; Crawford
and Davis, 1962; Water Resources Research I n s t i t u t e , WRDS Data System.
Table V-3. Ranges of t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s , s u l f a t e , c h l o r i d e , and i r o n
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n w a t e r s from minor a q u i f e r s , Powder River b a s i n ,
Wyoming ( c o n c e n t r a t i o n s expressed a s milligrams per l i t e r ) .

- -- - --- - --- -
- - - --

Aquifer ( s ) Vicinity TDS Sulfate Chloride Iron

Minnikaha t a Crook Co. 650-1800 261-1050 3-38 0-0.03

Chugwa ter / Northeast 414-30000 84-3190 3-15600 0.02-1.9

Spear f i s h Southwest 1330-2410 789-1460 6-8 0.01-0.06

Sundance Northeast 894-1870 475-1080 3-14 0.31-1.4

Southwest 416-4100 156-2750 5-18 0.07-5
O i l fields 4044-15568 0-5879 145-7409 -
Frontier Northwest
Natrona Co.
O i l fields

Cody Shale Southwest

Sands O i l fields

Mesaverde Northwest
Natrona Co.
Converse Co.

Middle T e r t i a r y Converse Co.

Niobrara Co.

Quaternary Campbell Co.

Alluvium Converse Co.
Crook Co.
Johnson Co.
Natrona Co.
Niobrara Co.
Sheridan Co.

Sources: Crawford, 1940; Crawford and Davis, 1962; Hodson, 1971b.

Almost a l l minor a q u i f e r s show s p o r a d i c exceedences of t h e i r o n

standard.

Radionuclear S p e c i e s

E x i s t i n g d a t a on r a d i o n u c l e a r s p e c i e s i n Powder River b a s i n ground

waters generally include determinations f o r gross alpha, gross b e t a ,

d i s s o l v e d uranium, and radium-226, a decay product of uranium-238.

Primary d r i n k i n g water s t a n d a r d s have been e s t a b l i s h e d f o r radium-226

and g r o s s a l p h a r a d i a t i o n (Table V-1) .

A n a l y s i s f o r radium-226, g r o s s a l p h a , and g r o s s b e t a c o n t a i n

an e r r o r l i m i t t h a t g e n e r a l l y i n d i c a t e s t h e 95 p e r c e n t confidence

i n t e r v a l of t h e a n a l y s i s . Variance i n measured c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i s

u s u a l l y due t o e i t h e r (1) instrument i n s e n s i t i v i t y a t low c o n c e n t r a t i o n s

o r (2) p a r t i c l e a b s o r p t i o n i n samples c o n t a i n i n g h i g h d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s .

Where t h e confidence i n t e r v a l i s l a r g e r e l a t i v e t o t h e given a b s o l u t e

v a l u e , i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of r e s u l t s i s d i f f i c u l t .

Pre-Tert i a r v S t r a t a

A v a i l a b l e d a t a on r a d i o n u c l i d e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n ground water

from p r e - T e r t i a r y s t r a t a i n c l u d e 10 a n a l y s e s from t h e Madison a q u i f e r

system, s i x a n a l y s e s from t h e Dakota system, and seven a n a l y s e s from

t h e Fox H i l l s / L a n c e (Table V-4). I n g e n e r a l , e x i s t i n g d a t a on t h e

p r e - T e r t i a r y formations of t h e b a s i n a r e t o o s p a r s e t o a l l o w f o r i n t e r -

pretation.

Two a n a l y s e s of Madison a q u i f e r water exceed b o t h t h e 5 p ~ i / l

primary s t a n d a r d f o r radium-226 and 1 5 p ~ i / ls t a n d a r d f o r g r o s s a l p h a

radiation. One of t h e s e Madison water a n a l y s e s shows extremely h i g h

l e v e l s of t h e above parameters: 476.3 + 6.2 p C i / l of radium-226, and

Table V-4. Radionuclear a n a l y s e s of ground w a t e r s , Powder River b a s i n , Wyoming.

Geologic Location U Radium-226 Gross Alpha Gross Beta [>at a

Format i o n (T/R-Sec-%-%I ( d l ) (pCi/l) (pCi/l) (pCi/l) Remarks Sot~rce

Quaternary 33/79-7 V i s t a West Water Company, Casper 1

Alluvium Composite of 4 samples from C i t y of 1
33179-7, 18
Casper w a t e r p l a n t

Wasatch 36/72 High: 7,000 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s I

Low: 1
N ~ : 19
High: 1,800 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s -
)

Low: 5
N: 13
High: 334 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s 2
Low: 0.5
N: 16
High: 10,113 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s
Low: 17
N: 48

C i t y of G i l l e t t e w e l l H-16

F o r t Union 32/72 High: 240 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s

Low: 160
N: 2
High: 3,550 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s
Low: 5
N: 19
High: 410 Mine monitor w e l l a n a l y s e s
Low: 5
N: 10

Lance
 Table V-4. (continued)

-- -- - -

Geologic Locat ion U Radium-226 Gross Alpha Gross Beta

Format i o n (T/R-Sec-a-k) ( d l ) (pCi/l) (pCi/l) (pCi/l) Remarks -

Fox H i l l s 36177-5 bb 0.85

37/63-13 cb 17
40178-26 c b 17.9
42/62-30 a a 0
50/72-21 Composite of C i t y of C i l l e t t e
Fox H i l l s w e l l s

Lakota

F a l l River 48/64-18 bd 16.2

w 57/61-27 bd
Ln
Minnelusa 56/63-25 d c C i t y of Sundance w e l l 113

Mad i s o n 33175-8 bd 10.2

39178-2 bcdc
40/79-26 c a 6.8
40179-31 bca
45/61-33 ab
56/62-18 bdc
52/63-25 dc C i t y of Sundance Well #3A
57/65-15 d a 6.3

Flathead 57/65-15 d a <O. 4 14 lga

a ~ r o s sb e t a a s Cs-137, p C i / l .

b~ r e f e r s t o t h e number of a n a l y s e s a v a i l a b l e .

Data Sources-: 1 - U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency, unpublished d a t a

2 - Nyoming Department of Environmental Q u a l i t y d a t a f i l e s
3 - U . S . Geological Survey d a t a
4 - IJRRI samples analyzed f o r t h i s r e p o r t
342 + 193 p C i / l of g r o s s a l p h a r a d i a t i o n . These v a l u e s a r e f a r g r e a t e r

than o t h e r s r e p o r t e d f o r Madison w a t e r s (Table V-3; Eisen and o t h e r s ,

1980), though t h e d i s s o l v e d uranium c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n t h i s a n a l y s i s

i s 10.2 p g / l , only s l i g h t l y above t h e normal uranium c o n t e n t of ground

waters, which i s 0 v g / l t o 10 y g / l (Hem, 1970; Davis and Dewiest,

1966).

The anomalously h i g h r a d i o a c t i v i t y of t h e above a n a l y s i s cannot

be r e a d i l y e x p l a i n e d . Deposition of c a r b o n a t e r o c k s such a s t h e Madison

t a k e s p l a c e only from w a t e r s s a t u r a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o c a l c i t e and/or

dolomite. The m o b i l i t y of uranium i n such a s o l u t i o n i s h i g h due

t o t h e formation of s o l u b l e uranyl-carbonate complexes ( P a t t e n and

Bennett, 1963). Consequently, c a r b o n a t e r o c k s a r e r a r e l y e n r i c h e d

i n uranium o r i t s decay product, radium-226. S i m i l a r l y , gypsum and

anhydrite deposits, o f t e n associated with carbonates, a r e character-

i s t i c a l l y low i n uranium and radium-226 due t o t h e formation of s o l u b l e

u r a n y l - s u l f a t e complex d u r i n g d e p o s i t i o n (Davis and Dewiest, 1966).

R a d i o a c t i v i t y i n ground w a t e r s from c a r b o n a t e r o c k s may o r i g i n a t e

from i n t e r b e d s of c l a y and s h a l e , o r upward movement from underlying

sandstones o r c r y s t a l l i n e rocks.

The two a v a i l a b l e a n a l y s e s of Lance a q u i f e r water both exceed

t h e g r o s s a l p h a s t a n d a r d , w h i l e a l l a n a l y s e s of Fox H i l l s water show

low a l p h a r a d i a t i o n (Table V-4). Two a n a l y s e s of Lakota a q u i f e r water

a l s o exceed t h e g r o s s a l p h a s t a n d a r d , w h i l e F a l l River a q u i f e r w a t e r s

a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y low i n g r o s s a l p h a r a d i a t i o n . Available data

a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o determine whether t h e s e apparent d i f f e r e n c e s a r e

l o c a l o r basinwide i n n a t u r e .
 Dissolved uranium c o n c e n t r a t i o n s i n p r e - T e r t i a r y ground w a t e r s

show a f a i r l y w e l l d i s t r i b u t e d range, from l e s s than 0 . 1 p g / l t o 38

1.1811, which i s somewhat h i g h e r than normal ground-water uranium l e v e l s

(Hem, 1970; Davis and Dewiest, 1966).

Wasatch/Fort Union Aquifer System

Numerous r a d i o n u c l e a r a n a l y s e s of wasatch/Fort Union w a t e r s e x i s t ,

due mainly t o t h e p r e s e n c e of economic uranium d e p o s i t s . Available

d a t a show a wide range i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s (Table V - 4 ) . Radium-226

ranges from less t h a n 0 . 1 p c i / l t o over 950 p ~ i / l . Gross a l p h a and

b e t a r a d i a t i o n vary from 0 p ~ i / lt o 4,691 p c i / l and 835 p c i / l , respec-

tively. Dissolved uranium c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of over 10,000 p g / l a r e

r e p o r t e d , approaching t h e h i g h e s t known ground-water uranium c o n t e n t

i n t h e United S t a t e s , which i s 18,000 p g / l (Davis and Dewiest, 1966).

High c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of r a d i o n u c l i d e s a r e g e o g r a p h i c a l l y and s t r a t i -

g r a p h i c a l l y r e s t r i c t e d t o a r e a s a d j a c e n t t o uranium o r e zones. Mobili-

z a t i o n of uranium l i k e l y t a k e s p l a c e through t h e a c t i o n of shallow

o x i d i z i n g ground water on reduced uranium m i n e r a l s , and t h e formation

of s o l u b l e uranyl-carbonate complexes (Barker and S c o t t , 1958).

E x i s t i n g a n a l y s e s from non-mining a r e a s show no exceedences of

t h e radium-226 o r g r o s s a l p h a s t a n d a r d s , c o n t a i n less than 1 p g / l

d i s s o l v e d uranium, and show g r o s s b e t a l e v e l s below 1 5 p c i / l .

VI. R E F E R E N C E S
 VI. R E F E R E N C E S

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water supplies from the Madison Limestone, Niobrara County,
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.
28th Ann. Field Conf , p. 27-281.

Andrichuk, J. M., 1955, Mississippian Madison Group stratigraphy and

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Babcock, H. M., and Morris, D. A*, 1953, Ground water in the vicinity
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Barker, F. B., and Scott, R. C., 1958, Uranium and radium in the ground
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Bates, R. L., 1955, Permo-Pennsylvanian formations between Laramie

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Bishop, F. A., 1975, Statement before the Committee on Interior and

Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.,
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Blackstone, D. L., Jr., 1980, Compression as an agent in the deforma-

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, 1981, Structural uncoupling of the Madison aquifer, west margin,

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~ E Sec.
~ 15, T. 57 N., R. 65 W., Crook County,
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, and Braddock, W. A., 1963, Solution breccias of the Minnelusa

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Brobst, D. A., and Epstein, J. B., 1963, Geology of the Fanny Peak
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Brown, D. L., Blankennagel, R. K., Busby, J. F., and Lee, R. W.,

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of the Laramie R nge, Hartville Uplift, Black Hills, and western
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Crist, M. A,, 1974, Selenium in waters in and adjacent to the Kendrick
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, and Lowry, M. E., 1972, Ground-water resources of Natrona

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Cushing, E. M., 1977, The Madison Aquifer Study--current status: U.S.

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Cygan, N, E., and KOUC~Y,F. L., 1963, The Cambrian and Ordovician
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Dahl, A. R., and Hagmaier, J. L., 1976, Genesis and characterstistics

of the southern Powder River basin uranium deposits, Wyoming.
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Davis, R. W., 1975, Results of a hydrological investigation of AMAX's

Belle Ayr Mine and vicinity near Gillette, Wyoming: Water
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, 1976, Hydrologic factors related to coal development in the

eastern Powder River basin. In Guidebook, -
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28th Ann. Field Conf , p 2 0 3 m 7 .

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Gold, H., and Goldstein, D. J., 1976, Water-related environmental

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.
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Head, W. J., Kilty, K. T., and Knottek, R. K., 1979, Maps showing
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Headley, J. B., Jr., 1958, Oil in Mesaverde, Powder River basin,

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 A P P E N D I X A

G R O U N D - W A T E R U S E F O R C O M M U N I T Y

D R I N K I N G W A T E R S U P P L Y A N D B Y

I N D U S T R Y I N T H E

P O W D E R R I V E R B A S I N , W Y O M I N G

Ground-water user Page

Water sources for municipalities , ...... A- 1

Permitted municipal wells .......... A- 4
Non-municipal community systems . . . . . . . A- 14
Petroleum recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-21
Petroleum refineries . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-27
Coalmines. ................. A-28
Electric power plants . . . . . . . . . . . . A- 30
Uranium industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-31
Table A-1. Primary and secondary w a t e r s o u r c e s f o r i n c o r p o r a t e d m u n i c i p a l i t i e s w i t h i n t h e Powder River b a s i n .

Primary Source Secondary Source Average

Municipality Source Source Average P r o d u c t i o n Population* g a l l c a p / d a y
County EPA PWS I D # Type Source Type Source gallday* AF/yr* Served Production Supplementary I n f o .

Campbell

G i l l e tt e ground Wasatchl ground Fox ~ i l l s l 1,200,000 1,345 12,000 100 The c i t y of G i l l e t t e is pre-
5600019 F o r t Union Lance a q u i f e r s e n t l y developing a d d i t i o n a l
aquifer system ground-water s u p p l i e s from t h e
system Madison a q u i f e r , i n Crook
County, t o be used a s an addi-
t i o n a l water source s t a r t i n g
1981.

Converse

Douglas ground Box E l d e r surface N. P l a t t e R. 1,600,000 1,743 7,500 213 Box E l d e r s p r i n g i s l i k e l y

5600137 spring Madison a q u i f e r system w a t e r .

Glenrock ground Quaternary surface Deer Creek 420,000 471

5600199 alluvial
a q u i f e r and
Fox ~ i l l s /
Lance a q u i f e r
s y s tem

Crook

Hule t t ground Minnelusa

5600026 aquifer

Moorcrof t ground Fox H i l l s / 1,200 125 Town of Moorcroft may purchase

5600036 Lance a q u i f e r f u t u r e a d d i t i o n a l w a t e r from
system G i l l e t t e Madison w e l l f i e l d

Sundance ground Mad is on,

5600055 Minnelusa,
Minnekah t a , and
Spearf i s h
aquifers.
Johnson

Buff a10 surface C l e a r Creek 500,000 560 4,500 111 System b a s e demand i s c o l l e c t e d
5600005 through i n f i l t r a t i o n g a l l e r i e s .

Kaycee surface Powder River ground Quaternary 85,000 95

5600196 alluvial
aauifer
T a b l e A-1. (continued)

Primary Source Secondary Source Average

MunicipaliQ Source Source Average P r o d u c t i o n Population* g a l l c a p l d a y
County EPA PWS I D # Type Source Type Source gallday* AF/yr* Served Production Supplementary I n f o .

Na t r o n a

Casper ground Quaternary surface N. P l a t t e R. 10,000,000 11,209 45,000

5600009 alluvial
aquifers
a l o n g N.
P l a t t e R.

Edgergon ground Fox H i l l s /

5600017 Lance a q u i f e r
system

Evansville surf ace N. P l a t t e R. ground Quaternary 250,000 280

5600018 alluvial
aquifer

Midwest surf ace N. P l a t t e R. 45,000 50

5600201

Mills ground Quaternary surface N. P l a t t e R. 500,000 560

5600036 alluvial
aquifer

Niobrara

Manville ground Middle

5600100 Tertiary
aquifers

Platte

Glendo ground Hartville 44 Hartville aquifer is a

5600023 aquifer Minnelusa e q u i v a l e n t .

Sheridan

Clearmont ground Wasatchl

5600013 F o r t Union
aquifer
system

Dayton surf ace Tongue R i v e r

5600202
 Table A-1 . (continued)

Primary Source Secondary Source Average

Municipality Source Source Average Production Population* gal/cap/day
County EPA PWS ID # Type Source Type Source gallday* AF/yr* Served Production Supplementary Info.

Ranchester surface Tongue River

5600044

Sheridan surface Big Goose

5600052 Creek

Weston

Newcastle ground Madison

5600256 aquifer

ground Madison
aquifer
& Dakota
aquifer
system

TOTAL: 21,149,080 23,704 101,827 208

?
W

*U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1979.

T a b l e A-2. P e r m i t t e d m u n i c i p a l w e l l s w i t h i n t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n ( d a t a from Wyoming S t a t e E n g i n e e r ' s P e r m i t F i l e s ,
F e b r u a r y , 1980).

State Total S t a t i c Reported

Permit Depth Water E l . Y i e l d Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility L o c a t i o n of F a c i l i t y Number Aquifer (ft) (ft) (gallmin) Date Analysis Status Information

Campbell

C i t y of
Gillette

51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison I G i l l e t t e Madison w e l l

f i e l d s u p p l i e s muni-
51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison I c i p a l i t i e s of G i l l e t t e
and M o o r c r o f t , a s w e l l
51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison I a s l o c a l r a n c h e r s and
industry. Total
51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison I permitted production
i s 7000 AF/y w i t h a
51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison I peak l i m i t of 6000 gpm
Well completion s t a t e -
51N 66W Sec. 6 Mad is on I ments n o t f i l e d w i t h
S t . Engineer a s of
51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison I 6/81.

51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison

51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison

51N 66W Sec. 6 Madison

50N 72W Sec. 1 9 F t . Union 7-11-78 Yes P

(upper
lower)

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch before 6/65 Yes Abd 76

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch before 6/65 Yes Abd 72

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Unk Abd 72

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 7 1

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 72

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 72

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 1 2 / 7 8

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 1 2 / 7 6

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 Wasatch b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 70

50N 72W Sec. 2 1 P41987W Wasatch 1960 ' s Yes P

Table A-2. (continued)

State Total Static Reported

Permit Depth Water El. Yield Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility Location of Facility Number Aquifer (f t) (ft) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

City of
Gillette (cont.)

H-12 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 1965 Yes

H-13 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 11-21-69 Yes
H- 14 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 12-1-69 Yes Abd 9/78
H-15 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 3-9-70 Yes
H-16 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 2-6-70 Yes
H-22 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 2-9-70 Yes Abd 8/77
H-26 50N 72W Sec. 21 Wasatch 3-3-70 Yes
H-3 50N 72W Sec. 21 - before 6/65 Yes P Originally completed
in Ft. Union (#S-3),
subsequently in
Wasatch.
50N 72W Sec. 21 Upper before 6/65 Yes Abd 6/79
Ft. Union

50N 72W Sec. 21 Upper before 6/65 No Abd 8/77

Ft. Union

50N 72W Sec. 21 Upper before 6/65 Yes

Ft. Union

50N 72W Sec. 21 - before 6/65 Yes Unk Originally completed

in Ft. Union, subse-
quently in Wasatch.
50N 72W Sec. 21 - before 6/65 Yes Abd8/78 Originally completed
in Ft. Union, Subse-
quently in Wasatch.

50N 72W Sec. 21 Ft. Union before 6/65 Yes Abd 76

50N 72W Sec. 21 Upper 8-13-76 NO P Converted oil test
Ft. Union hole.
50N 72W Sec. 21 Upper P Converted oil test
Ft. Union hole.
Fox Hills #1 50N 72W Sec. 21 - before 6/65 Unk P Originally completed
in Fox Hills/Lance
system, plugged back
to Ft. Union.
T a b l e A-2. (continued)

State Total S t a t i c Reported

Permit Depth Water E l . Y i e l d Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility L o c a t i o n of F a c i l i t y Number Aquifer (f t ) (f t ) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status I n f ormat i o n

C i t y of
G i l l e t t e (cont.)

Fox H i l l s # 3 50N 72W Sec. 2 1 P30005W Fox H i l l s / 4436 Yes P High l e v e l s o f

Lance f l u o r i d e and g a s .
System

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 12-5-69 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 3-5-70 Yes Unk

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 12-29-69 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 12-11-69 Yes Abd 6 / 7 8

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 2-2-70 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 1-28-70 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 1-22-70 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 22 Wasatch 12-18-69 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 22 Upper before 6/65 Yes Abd 10178

.
F t Union

S-17 50N 72W Sec. 22 F t . Union Yes

(upper 6
lower)

Fox H i l l s #2 50N 72W Sec. 22 Yes P O r i g i n a l l y completed

i n Fox H i l l s j L a n c e
system, plugged back
t o F o r t Union.

50N 72W Sec. 27 P1220W Wasatch 500 100 90 b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Unk

50N 72W Sec. 27 P1221W Wasatch 500 100 80 b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Unk

50N 72W Sec. 27 P1225W Upper 814 400 60 b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 77
F t . Union

50N 72W Sec. 27 P1228W Upper 855 350 60 b e f o r e 6/65 Yes Abd 1 1 / 7 8
F t . Union

50N 72W Sec. 28 P52003W Wasatch 382 189 80 2-24-70 Yes P

50N 72W Sec. 28 P1231W Upper 1015 400 65 b e f o r e 6/65 No Abd 77

F t . Union
T a b l e A-2. (continued)

State Total S t a t i c Reported

Permit Depth Water E l . Y i e l d Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility L o c a t i o n of F a c i l i t y Number Aquifer (f t ) (f t ) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

C i t y of
G i l l e t t e (cont.)

S-14 50N 72W Sec. 28 P1227W Upper 980 450 60 b e f o r e 6/65 No Abd 8/78
F t . Union

S-18 50N 72W Sec. 3 3 P41830W F t . Union 1732 520 140 9-6-78 Yes P

S-19 50N 72W Sec. 3 3 P41831W F t . Union 1720 750 130 8-11-80 Yes P

S-11 50N 72W Sec. 34 P42006W F t . Union 2323 520 125 2-77 Yes P Plugged a t 1800.

S-12 50N 72W Sec. 34 P42007W F t . Union 2295 463 125 6-17- 77 Yes P Plugged a t 1800.

Converse

Glenrock

Fox H i l l s 33N 75 W Sec. 4.NE NE P44855W Fox H i l l s 706 0 240 5-1-80 Unk Unk Flowing Well
i/ 2

Fox H i l l s 33N 75W Sec. 4 NW NE P44473W Fox H i l l s 508 20 125 5-1-80 Yes Unk
b1
Glenrock 33N 75W Sec. 4 NW SW P17439W alluvium 35 5 150 3-31-73 No Unk
#1

Glenrock 33N 75W Sec. 4 NW SW P17441W alluvium 33 5 70 3-31-73 No Unk

.1/ 3

Glenrock 33N 75W Sec. 4 NW NW P17442W alluvium 31 5 80 4-17-73 No Unk

t4

Glenrock 33N 75W Sec. 4 SW NW P17440W alluvium 35 5 120 3-31-73 No Unk

t2
Crook

Sundance

Cole # 3 52N 63W Sec. 25 SE SW P1544W Minnelusa 517 471 240 9-10-65 No Unk

Cole #3A 52N 63W Sec. 25 SE SW P8377W Madison 1123 432 300 8-15-71 Yes P

Cole #3B 52N 63W Sec. 25 SE SE P50484W Madison 1236 429 260 7-80 NO P

Loydcole 51N 63W Se. 11 SE NE P2522W Minnekahta 110 23 22 3-57 Unk Unk
114

Hard 5 1 N 6 3 W S e c . 23 P2523W Minnelusa 440 120 200 9-54 Yes Unk Y i e l d e n l a r g e d 200
water well gpm by p e r m i t i12580.
#5
T a b l e A-2. (continued)

State Total S t a t i c Reported

Pewit Depth Water E l . Y i e l d Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility L o c a t i o n of F a c i l i t y Number Aquifer (f t ) (f t ) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

.
Sundance ( c o n t )

Loafman 51N 63W Sec. 24 Spearf i s h 140 16 8 7-34 Unk Unk

w e l l ill

Loaf man 51N 63W Sec. 27 Spearf i s h 115 5 15 6-58 Unk Unk
w e l l 52

Hulet t Hulet t 54N 64W Sec. 7 Minnelusa 620 0 480 9-15-34 Unk P Flowing w e l l .
Artesian
w e l l ill

Hulett 54N 64W Sec. 7 Minnelusa 690 0 250 9-1-51 Unk P Flowing w e l l .
Artesian
w e l l 82

Hulet t
Artesian
54N 64W Sec. 7 (Madison) .
N R. N.R. N.R. N.R. Unk I Pending p e r m i t , 6/81:
anticipated depth
well #3 1,500 f e e t , a n t i c i -
p a t e d y i e l d 500 gpm.

Moorcrof t

Moorcroft #4 SON 67W Sec. 3 1 P993W Fox H i l l s 485 90 6-4-74 Unk Unk
/Lance

Moorcroft 1 5 50N 67W Sec. 3 1 P33968W Fox H i l l s 485 310 8-76 Yes Unk Yieldenlarged25gpm
/Lance by p e r m i t il 42845

Moorcroft i l l 50N 67W Sec. 3 1 P990W Fox H i l l s 500 150 4-22-64 Unk Unk
/Lance

Moorcroft il2 50N 67W Sec. 3 1 P991W Fox H i l l s 400 150 5-1-64 Unk Unk
/Lance

M o o r c r o f t il3 49N 67W Sec. 6 P992W Fox H i l l s 385 125 5-15-64 Unk Unk
/Lance

Moorcroft #6 50N 68W Sec. 36 P43549W Fox H i l l s 760 89 2-21-79 Unk Unk
/Lance

Johnson

Kaycee

Kaycee 43N 82N Sec. 1 2 PllW alluvium 20 12 347 10-1-58 Unk Unk
Well #2 NE SW

Kaycee 48N 82W Sec. 1 2 P4327W (alluvium) N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. Unk I Pending permit, 6/81
Well iI3 NE SW a n t i c i p a t e d d e p t h 40
f t . ; anticipated
y i e l d 70 gpm.
T a b l e A-2. (continued)

State Total Static Reported

Permit Depth Water E l . Y i e l d Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility Location of F a c i l i t y Number Aquifer (ft) (ft) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

Buff a10

Buff a10 50N 82W Sec. 6 PIG alluvium 18 11 990 10-30-47 Unk Unk Infiltration gallery.
Underground
Water Supply
No. 1

C l e a r Creek 50N 82W Sec. 6 P42W dlluvium 25 12 790 Unk ~ n f i l t r a t i o ng a l l e r y .

t2

Nat r o n a

Casper

P a r k W e l l 82 34N 79W Sec. 34 alluvium No Unk "Park" w e l l s a r e

SE SW p r i n c i p a l l y f o r park
irrigation but are
P a r k Well 113 34N 79W Sec. 34 alluvium No Unk a l s o permitted f o r
SE SW municipal use.

P a r k Well 114 34N 79W Sec. 34 alluvium No Unk

SE SE

P a r k Well 111 33N 79W Sec. 3 alluvium No Unk

NE NW

C a s p e r #14 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium Unk Unk

SW NW

Casper 1/15 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium Unk Unk

SW SW

C i t y of 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium No Unk

Casper 1116 SW SE

C i t y of 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium No Unk

C a s p e r #17 SE SW

C i t y of 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium No . Unk

C a s p e r #18 SE SW

Casper 114 33N 79W Sec. 1 8 alluvium Unk Unk

NW NE

Casper 111 33N 79W Sec. 1 8 alluvium Unk Unk

NW NE

C a s p e r /I2 33N 79W Sec. 1 8 alluvium Unk Unk

NW NE

Casper 8 3 33N 79W Sec. 1 8 alluvium Unk Unk

NW NE
Table A-2. (continued)

State Total Static Reported

Permit Depth Water El. Yield Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility Location of Facility Number Aquifer (ft) (ft) (gallmin) Date Analysis Status Information

Casper (cont ) .
Ranney 8 1 33N 79W Sec. 18 alluvium Unk Cassion
NW NW

Ranney 112 33N 79W Sec. 18 alluvium Unk Cassion

NWNW

Ranney # 3 33N 79W Sec. 18 alluvium Unk Cassion

NW NW

Morad 82 alluvium No Unk

Morad # 3 33N 79W Sec. 18 alluvium No Unk

SW NE

Morad 111 33N 79W Sec. 18 alluvium No Unk

SW NW

City of 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium No Unk

Casper I111 SE NE

City of 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium No Unk

Casper 1112 SE NE

Casper #5 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium Unk Unk

SE SE

Casper 86 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium Unk Unk

SE SE

Casper IC7 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium Unk Unk

SE SE

Casper #8 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium Unk Unk

SE SE

Casper J19 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium Unk Unk

SE SE

Casper 1/10 33N 80W Sec. 12 alluvium Unk Unk

SE SE
Table A-2. (continued)

State Total Static Reported

Permit Depth Water El. Yield Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility Location of Facility Number Aquifer (ft) ( f t) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

Natrona

Edgerton

Edgerton 41N 78W Sec. 36 P53598W (Fox Hills) N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. Unk I Pending permit, 6/81:
t7 anticipated depth
1900 ft, anticipated
yield 200 gpm.
Edgerton 41N 78W Sec. 36 Fox Hills N.R. 60 10-9-70 No Unk
Water Well
/I5
Edgerton 86 40N 78W Sec. 1 Fox Hills 290 55 9-5-78 Yes Unk
NW NW

Edgerton 40N 78W Sec. 11 Fox Hills 330 34 10-4-66 No Abd Deepened 8/75, 2/76.
Well W3 NE NW /Lance 10/79
Edgerton 40N 78W Sec. 11 Fox Hills 800 30 N.R. Unk Abd
Water Well SE NW /Lance 4/61
t1
Edgerton 40N 78W Sec. 11 Fox Hills 225 30 10-4-66 No Unk Deepend 8/75.
Well %la SE NW /Lance
Edgerton 40N 78W Sec. 15 Fox Hills 80 11 6-38 Unk Unk
Parsons /I1 NE NW
Evansville

Evansville 34N 79W Sec. 36 alluvium 9 250 8-19-61 No Unk

86 SE NW
Mills

Mills Well 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium 9 N.R. N.R. Unk Abd 1/70
/) 4 NE SW

Mills Well 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium 11 500 9-15-70 Yes Unk
%5 NWNW

Mills #I 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium 6 300 10-1-48 Yes Unk

SW NW

Mills /I2 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium 6 300 10-1-45 Yes Unk
SW NW
Mills #3 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium 6 500 6-16-61 Yes Unk
SW NW

Mills 116 33N 79W Sec. 7 alluvium 9 600 12-19-80 Unk Unk
SW NW
 Table A- 2. (continued)

State Total Static Reported

Permit Depth Water El. Yield Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility Location of Facility Number Aquifer (f t) ( f t) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

Niobrara
Manville
Manville 32N 65W Sec. 1 P594C Middle 185 30 150 1913 Unk Unk
Well %1 SW NE Tertiary

Manville 32N 65W Sec. 1 P595C Middle 185 40 100 1913 Unk Unk
Well 82 SW NE Tertiary

Platte

Glendo

Cemetary 29N 68W Sec. 19 P548G alluvium 72 41 1000 8-15-56 Unk Unk Originally drilled in
Well 111 1905. Also permitted
for industrial and
cemetary use.

Downey 29N 68W Sec. 20 P433C Hartville 410 0 225 11-16-41 Unk Unk Flowing well.
Well fl Hartville is a
Minnelusa equivalent.
n,
Sheridan

Clearmont

Clearmont 111 54N 79W Sec. 16 P37666W Wasatch 522 110 30 May 1978 Unk P

Clearmont #2 54N 79W Sec. 16 P45802W (~t.union) N.R. N.R. N. R. N.R. Unk I Pending permit, 6/81:
anticipated depth
1400 feet; antici-
pated yield 200 gpm.

Clearmont 54N 79W See. 21 P1665W Wasatch 130 90 7 7-31-23 Yes Abd Well is currently
Water Well tl pumping large
quantities of
sand-completion
statement has not
been filed.

Clearmont 54N 79W Sec. 21 P1666W Wasatch 172 90 35 6-17-58 Yes P

Water Well #2

Weston

Upton

Town of 48N 65W Sec. 25 P28334W Dakota 547 440 38 5-1957 No

Upton Well NW SW System
81
T a b l e A-2. (continued)

State Total S t a t i c Reported

Permit Depth Water E l . Yield Completion Chemical Well Supplementary
County Municipality Facility L o c a t i o n of F a c i l i t y Number Aquifer (f t ) (f t ) (gal/min) Date Analysis Status Information

Upton ( c o n t . )

Town of 48N 65W Sec. 25 P28335W Madison 0 205 10-19-49 Yes P

Upton Well SW NW
112

Town of 48N 65W Sec. 35 P28336W Dakota 200 35 3-1959 Yes P

Upton Well SW NE System
83
Town of P28337W Madison N.R. 205 4-1963 Yes P
Upton Well
#4

Town of 48N 65W Sec. 35 P28338W Dakota 120 35 Yes P

Upton # 5 SW SW System

Newcas t l e

Newcastle 45N 61W Sec. 20 P38G Madison 2638 0 1600 2-14-49 Yes P Flowing w e l l .
Artesian SE SW
Well d l

Newcas t l e 45N 61W Sec. 20 P39352W Madison 3245 0 640 6-25-78 Yes P Flowing w e l l .
114 SE SW

Municipal 45N 61W Sec. 2 1 P1317W Madison 2872 0 463 9-10-65 Yes P Flowing w e l l .
Well # 3 SW NW

Newcastle P389W Madison 3028 28 650 6-30-61 Yes P

112

Abreviations: I - Incomplete
P - Producing
Abd - Abandoned
N.R. - None Reported
Unk - Unknown
T a b l e A-3. Non-municipal community w a t e r supply systems w i t h i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , omin in^.^

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS Owneg Population Production Water Source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location ID # Type Served (gallday) Source Location Permit # (ft) Aquifer (gpm) Date I n £ormation

CAMPBELL COUNTY
Anderson S u b d i v i s i o n 5600193 A 2 20 22,000 Anderson #1 50172-23 ba 20855 1,050 Fort Union 25 12/10/73
Homeowners Assn., 1st Enl. 81 50172-23 ba 27231 1,050 Fort Union 50 N.A.
1 mi E of G i l l e t t e 2nd Enl. #1 50172-23 ba 52223 1,050 Fort Union 50 N.A.
Anderson 62 50172-23 ab 27033 1,270 Fort Union 45 7/7/75
Enl. #2 50172-23 ab 52224 1,270 Fort Union 50 N.A.
Antelope Valley 5600251 A 200 2,500 Antelope 49/72-13 c c 37361 (1,400) ( F o r t Union) (100) -- Permit 37361 pending com-
S u b d i v i s i o n , 5 mi Valley # I p l e t i o n a s of 6 / 8 1
SE of G i l l e t t e
Big W T r a i l e r C o u r t , 5600126 I 70 3,500 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base lists 2 w e l l s
Gillette
Black H i l l s Power d 5600135 C 5 70 50,000 Wyodak $1 F o r t Union 13 11/20/35 A l l w e l l s supply Wyodak
L i g h t , Wyodak Wyodak 83 F o r t Union 23 2/13/54 power p l a n t , some a l s o
Wyodak #4 F o r t Union 50 4/14/50 supply t h e company town.
Wyodak #5 F o r t Union 38 3/54 Wells d l , 9, 1 0 , 11, and 1 2
Wyodak #6 F o r t Union 26 4/55 a r e only permitted f o r
Wyodak #7 F o r t Union 27 1/54 i n d u s t r i a l use. Well #4
Wyodak #8 F o r t Union 25 7/30/70 i s abandoned.
Wyodak #9 F o r t Union 15 2/15/72
Wyodak 810 Fox H i l l s ? 1,400 5/4/73
Wyodak #ll Lance ? 1,300 6/24/77
Wyodak #12 F o r t Union 1,200 12/2/73
B u t l e r Court, 1,750 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 1 w e l l
Gillette
Campbell County 5600192 A 54,000 K e n i t z e r 11 50171-18 dd 5670 335 Wasatch 30 5/17/71 P e r m i t s 5670 & 17453 a r e
Countryside Water K e n i t z e r #2 50/71-18 bc 41246 320 Wasatch 10.5 -/-I69 cancelled
Users, 1 m i NE of K e n i t z e r #3 50171-18 ca 14345 365 Wasatch 50 8/6/72
Gillet t e Countryside 50171-18 bc 24605 1,190 F o r t Union 150 6/17/74
Water Users
bl
Outer L i m i t s 50171-18 d a 17453 (330) (Wasatch) (20) --
#1
Carson Mobile Home 5600117 I 5,400 Carson # l 50/72-34 a a 2402 1,112 F o r t Union 27 5/18/68
P a r k , 1%mi S of Carson #2 50172-34 a a 2403 1,106 F o r t Union 32 8/27/68
Gillette
~ o l i i n sH e i g h t s 5600129 I 15,000 Collins f l 50171-19 dc 32002 1,234 F o r t Union 20 81.-172
S u b d i v i s i o n , 3 mi C o l l i n s #2 50/71-19 dc 32003 1,050 F o r t Union 100 71-175
E of G i l l e t t e
Diamond Mobile Home 5600131 I 14,500 S u l l i v a n #2 50172-25 a a 32660 1,040 F o r t Union 50 4/30/76
Park, 2 mi E of
Gillette
Fox Park S u b d i v i s i o n , 5600745 I 5,000 Drum-Coulter 50171-31 a b 37958 1,775 F o r t Union 300 2120178
3 m i SE of G i l l e t t e b1
Green's T r a i l e r Court, 5600122 I 15,000 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base lists 1 w e l l
S of G i l l e t t e
 Table A-3. (continued)

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS Ownet Population Production Water Source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location ID # Type Served (gallday) Source Location Permit # (ft) Aquifer (g~m) Date Information

CAMPBELL COUNTY (continued)

Heritage Village 5600249 Anderson 1 3 Fort Union 50 91-176
S u b d i v i s i o n , 2 mi Enl. #3 Fort Union 100 N.A.
NE of G i l l e t t e Anderson #4 Fort Union 50 9/25/77
Enl. #4 Fort Union 100 N .A.
Hidden Valley Home- 5600144 Hidden Valley ( F o r t Union) (150) -- Permit 49066 i s pending
owners Assn., 4 mi #l completion a s of 6 / 8 1 and
SW of G i l l e t t e Hidden V a l l e y F o r t Union 80 10/1/79 i s a r e f i l i n g of c a n c e l l e d
t2 p e r m i t 30012.
Hitching Post T r a i l e r 5600119 Hitching Post F o r t Union 25 5/8/69 Hitching Post # l is i d e n t i f i e d
Court, G i l l e t t e 81 ? a s supply w e l l on EPA d a t a
Edwards #3 ? (Wasatch) (25) -- base b u t permitted f o r
domestic u s e only. Edwards
83, same owner, i s a can-
c e l l e d p e r m i t t o supply on
80 s p a c e mobile home park.
Hoy Mobile Home P a r k , 5600141 UNK 100 UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 1 w e l l
G i l l et t e
F
Ln I m p e r i a l T r a i l e r Court, 5600120 I 68 Acres # l ? 211 Wasatch 25 4/8/70 Well #1 p e r m i t t e d f o r
2% mi S of G i l l e t t e Enl. ? 211 Wasatch 0 N .A. domestic use o n l y , EPA
Acres 82 1,120 F o r t Union 25 7/5/74 d a t a b a s e i d e n t i f i e d #2
Enl. #2 1,120 F o r t Union 25 N.A. a s s o l e source.
J and J Mobile Home Dickinson # I 1,255 F o r t Union 200 7/17/77 EPA d a t a base l i s t s 2 w e l l s ,
Park, 2 mi W of deep and shallow.
Gillette
Jones T r a i l e r Court, J o n e s #2 ? 399 Wasatch 25 4/12/78 Well p e r m i t t e d f o r
3 mi SW of G i l l e t t e domestic use only.
Knutson's T r a i l e r UNK UNK LJNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 1 w e l l .
Park, G i l l e t t e
Lakeside Proper t i e s , Lakeside #3 1,100 F o r t Union 100 10/25/70 EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 2 w e l l s ,
I n c . , 2 mi S of Enl. #3 1,100 F o r t Union 0 N.A. ill and #2
Gillette
McCulloch Gas T r a i l e r McCulloch Water 45/71-26 c c 5492 831 F o r t Union 15? 5/15/70
Court, H i l i g h t Well I1
Morgan T r a i l e r Court, Morgan # l o ? 48/72-25 bd 26012 190 Wasatch 15 7/75 EPA d a t a base l i s t s d i f f e r e n t
Gillette m a i l i n g a d d r e s s and 2 w e l l s .
Nepstad T r a i l e r Court, Nepstead # 1 49172-3 a c 14694 1,211 F o r t Union 100 11/28/72
2 nii S of G i l l e t t e
Nickelson Farms Water Nickelson's 49/71-26 c a 37957 1,300 F o r t Union 100 8/15/77 Permit 52304 pending comple-
Co., 1 0 mi SE of L i t t l e Farms t i o n a s of 6 / 8 1
Gillette bl
8 2 ~ i c k e l s o n ' s 49/71-26 c a 52304 (1,500) ( F o r t Union) (250) --
P h i l l i p s Petroleum, 5600279 I Hay Booster 45/71-10 ad 6758 7 78 F o r t Union 5 12/9/70
Hilight Water Well #1
 Table A-3. (continued)

--

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS Owner Population Production Water Source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location LD /I ~~~e~ Served (gallday) Source Location Permit # (f t ) Aquifer (gpm) Date I n f ormat i o n

CAMPBELL COUNTY (continued)

P r a i r i e T r a i l e r Court, 5600134 I 90 4,500 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 2 w e l l s ,
Rozet deep and shallow.
Prospector Village - 5600123 I 400 30,000 P r o s p e c t o r #1 51/72-17 c c 34920 1,100 F o r t Union 75 11/3/76
AMAX, 8 mi N of P r o s p e c t o r %2 51/72-17 cc 44003 1,130 F o r t Union 100 311 180
Gillette
Rawhide V i l l a g e , 7 mi 5600128 I 400 40,000 Kon t ono 51/72-20 aa 29719 1,020 F o r t Union 15 7/15/75 Well # 1 s e r v e s Rawhide
N of G i l l e t t e Well # I V i l l a g e I & 11, w e l l 12
Kon tono 51/72-20 a a 49324 1,097 F o r t Union 100 11/1/76 s e r v e s Rawhide V i l l a g e 111.
Well #2 W e l l #1completion s t a t e -
Enl. 1 2 51/72-20 aa 50566 1,097 F o r t Union 300 N.A. ment i n d i c a t e s 100 gpm y i e l d
b u t 1 5 gpm i s a d j u d i c a t e d
amount .
Rocky P o i n t Homeowners 5600259 A P o i n t I1 1,420 F o r t Union 100 121-176
Assn. , 4 m i SW of
Gillette
S t a n l e y T r a i l e r Court, 5600121 I UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 1 w e l l .
I-' NE of G i l l e t t e
cn --
Stroup T r a i l e r C o u r t , 5600145 I S t r o u p #1 (448) (Wasatch) (20) Permit pending completion
2 mi S of G i l l e t t e a s of 6/81.
Sunburst Water and 5600116 A Sunburst ill 200 Wasatch 15 -1-159 More t h a n 3 w e l l s may be
Sewer D i s t r i c t , 2 mi Enl. # l l,253? F o r t Union 751 N.A. r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e s e p e r m i t s ;
S of G i l l e t t e Sunburst #2 540 Wasatch 25 61- /66 2nd Enl. 82 i s f o r p o i n t s
1st Enl. #2 s1,2001 F o r t Union 75 N.A. of u s e only.
2nd Enl. 12 s1,200? F o r t Union 0 N.A.
Sunburst #3 675 F o r t Union 30 8/1/69
Sundog Addition Home- 5600148 A Sundog I 1,150 F o r t Union 35 8/4/75 Well I i s backup; w e l l I1
owners Assn., 4 mi Sundog I1 1,520 F o r t Union 90 7/20/80 i s primary supply.
SW of G i l l e t t e
Tomek T r a i l e r C o u r t , 5600139 I Tomek lil (380 (Wasatch) (25) -- Permit 6500 c a n c e l l e d .
Gillette
Westridge Water Users 5600146 A E l l i s o n 62 1,186 Fort Union 25 8/25/72
Assn. , 2 m i S of Enl. #2 1,186 Fort Union 45 N.A.
Gjillette Wenger I1 1,360 Fort Union 109 7/24/73
Wenger 112 1,250 Fort Union 100 8/17/77
Wright Water and Sewer 5600136 A RJ ill1 643 Wasatch 50 6/25/75 Cancelled p e r m i t s 27638,
D i s t r i c t , Wright RJ 12 2,660 F o r t Union 350 5/17/76 29417, 31916, and 37539
2,730 F o r t Union 325 11/79 apply t o w e l l s #1, 2. 2,
RJ
RJ
#3
#4 (2,800) ( F o r t Union) (600) -- and 3, r e s p e c t i v e l y .
RJ 85 (2,800) ( F o r t Union) (400) -- . P e r m i t s 48090 and 48091
a r e pending completion
 T a b l e A-3. (continued)

-- -

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS OwnerPopulation Production Water Source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location ID f ~~~r~ Served (gallday) Source Location Permit # (ft) Aquifer (gpm) Date Inf ormation

CONVERSE COUNTY
Coles T r a i l e r Park, 5600270 I 100 5,000 E. Cole ill ? 32/71-21 bb 14621 90 Middle T e r t i a r y 8 -1-128 Wells p e r m i t t e d f o r
2 mi S of Douglas E. Cole #2 ? 32/71-21 bb 29898 200 Middle T e r t i a r y 25 10/20/75 domestic u s e only.
KOAKampgrounds,Wof 5600247 I 120 6,000 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 2 w e l l s .
Douglas #

McClure 's T r a i l e r 5600277 I 24 1,200 McClure #1 32/71-4 bd 22223 65 Fortunion 10 UNK Well f 3 r e p l a c e s w e l l f l y
Sales & Service, McClure 112 32171-4 ba 30584 80 F o r t Union 23 9/18/75 which h a s sanding problem.
1 mi N of Douglas Enl. #2 32171-4 ba 53707 80 F o r t Union 25 N .A.
McClure 113 32171-4 bd 53708 100 F o r t Union 25 5/4/81
Ridgewater E s t a t e s 5600285 I 70 11,025 Ridgewater # l 32/72-13 d c 56453 185 Middle T e r t i a r y 40 8/1/78
One, 2 mi SW of Smith # I 32/72-13 c d 56454 500 Middle T e r t i a r y 50 7/12/80
Douglas
S c h r a n d t s Mobile V i l l a , 5600269 I 70 3,500 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 2 w e l l s .
SE of Douglas
Tennessee E r n i e ' s 5600234 I 75 3,750 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 1 w e l l .
T r a i l e r Acres,
F Douglas
4
Westland T r a i l e r P a r k , 5600274 UNK 90 4,500 Westland E s t . 32/72-24 bd 28274 127 Middle T e r t i a r y 26 5/18/75 Well 82 p e r m i t t e d f o r
, 2% m i SW of Douglas f1 domestic u s e only.
Westland E s t . 32/72-24 ab 28131 71 Middle T e r t i a r y 10 -1-144
t2 ?

CROOK comm
P i n e Haven Water Co., 5600191 I 55 3,200 Keyhole #1 29613 4.110 Minnelusa 150 11/10/77 Permit 29613 c a n c e l l e d b u t
8 m i NE of Moorcroft & Madison? TFN 812-2-373 i s a
r e f i l i n g f o r same w e l l .
EPA d a t a base l i s t s 2 w e l l s .
Roberts T r a i l e r Park, 5600377 I 25 1,875 Roberts f l ? 8113 700 Minnelusa 25 2/28/71 Well p e r m i t t e d f o r
1 m i NE of H u l e t t domestic use o n l y .
V i s t a West S u b d i v i s i o n , 5600246 A 120 12,000 Ogden S p r i n g -- -- -- -- -- No ground-water permit a t
N of Sundance? S t . Engineer's Office.

JOHNSON COUNTY
Bald Mountain T r a i l e r 5600258 I 80 8,000 Wilson f l 2320 7 200 Wasatch 20 6/8/73 EPA d a t a base l i s t s 3 w e l l s .
C o u r t , 2% mi W of Wilson #2 33490 200 Wasatch 30 7/16/76
Buff a10
C r o s s C Campground, 5600229 I 50 2,500 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e lists 1 w e l l .
2 mi W of B u f f a l o
Linch U t i l i t y , Linch 5600241 A 100 5 79G 471 Lance 18 3/5/49 P e r m i t s 6539 and 6540 a r e f o r
580G 425 Lance 25 11/5/49 same e l l s a s 5796 and 580G.
58 7G 1,936 Fox H i l l s ? 90 9/14/55 A l l 5 permits a r e c u r r e n t l y
(6181) c a n c e l l e d .
Table A-3. (continued)

--

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS Owner Population Production Water Source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location ID # Type Served (gallday) Source Location Permit i/ ( f t ) Aquifer kpm) Date Inf orma t i o n

NATRONA COUNTY
A i r Base Acres, 6 m i 5600080 A 150 12,000 Purchase -- -- -- -- Purchased from C i t y of
NW of Casper Casper
Alcova Acres Investment 5600071 I 340 54,600 Jade H i l l s # l 33180-22 ad 1994 35 Alluvium 75 6/14/67 #1 a l s o h a s c a n c e l l e d
Corp., 6 m i SW of J a d e 62 33180-27 aa 933 6001 Frontier? 251 b e f o r e 11/62 p e r m i t #2161?.
Casper Alcova #3 33180-27 dd 29634 (1,000) (Dakota Sy s ? ) (350-500) -- Permit 29634 c a n c e l l e d .
Alcova #4 33180-27 ac 30903 903 Dakota Sys? 4001 9/75 Well #4 abandoned 9/75.
Alcova 85 33180-22 da 32606 (40) (Alluvium) (300) -- Permit 32606 pending
Enl. #5 33180-22 da 42904 (40) (Alluvium) (75) N.A. completion a s of 6/81.
Ardon S u b d i v i s i o n 5600083 A 18 2,000 Purchase -- -- -- -- Purchased .
Casper from C i t y of
Water Users, Casper
Brooks Water & Sewer 5600070 A 4,000 672,000 N. P l a t t e R. -- -- -- -- Surface water.
D i s t r i c t , W of
Casper (Mountain View)
H i l l c r e s t Development, 5600074 I 80 10,000 H i l l c r e s t De- 32179-6 bb 4943 51 Cody? 40
6 m i S of Casper velopment #1
H i l l c r e s t De- 32179-6 bb 42673 16 Alluvium? 23 9/1/78 12 i s a developed s p r i n g ;
velopment #2 p e r m i t 42674 pending com-
H i l l c r e s t De- 32179-6 bb 42674 (100) (Cody 1) (100) -- p l e t i o n 6/81. EPA d a t a
velopment #3 b a s e l i s t s a t o t a l of 3
springs.
Masek S u b d i v i s i o n Prop. 5600084 I 45 5,000 Purchase -- -- -- -- Purchased from C i t y of
Owners, W. of Casper Casper .
(Mills)
Natrona County I n t e r - 5600079 UNK 970 80,000 Purchase -- -- -- -- Purchased from C i t y of
national Airport, Casper .
8 m i NW of Casper A i r p o r t #1 34180-21 c a 1062 3,100
Lakota 12/26/63 Wells a r e flowing w e l l s .
A i r p o r t 82 34180-21 dd 1502 2,821 Lako t a 3/15/66
P a r a d i s e Valley 5600010 I 3,000 300,000 Voorhies 1/12 33180-14 dd 16 45 Alluvium 4/58 EPA d a t a base l i s t s e x i s t i n g
U t i l i t y Co., 4 m i SW C l a i r e h'll 33180-14 da 17 45 Alluvium 4/58 w e l l names a s North, E a s t ,
of Casper Bryan 1\14 33/80-14 da 18 45 Alluvium 4 158 and West; permit 7808
P a r a d i s e Valley 33180-14 da 7808 (35) (Alluvium) UNK c a n c e l l e d ; p e r m i t s 42416,
1/4 43266, and 43267 a r e pending
P a r a d i s e Valley 33180-14 da 42416 (45) (Alluvium) -- completion a s of 6/81.
t5
p a r a d i s e Valley 33180-27 da 43266 (45) (A1luvium)
%6
P a r a d i s e Valley 33/80-27 da 43267 (45) (Alluvium)
87
leisa ant View Water 6,000 Purchase -- -- -- -- Purchased from C i t y of
Co., W. of Casper Casper .
(Mills)
Poison S p i d e r Water 20,000 Poison S p i d e r 32181-3 5992 22 Alluvium 32.5 7/6/71
Co., 1 2 m i SW of #1
Casper (Bessemer Bend) N . P l a t t e R. -- -- -- -- -- -- River water i s o b t a i n e d v i a
infiltration gallery.
Table A-3. (continued)

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS Ownet; P o p u l a t i o n Production Water source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location ID /I Type Served (gallday) Source Location Permit # (ft) Aquifer (gpm) Date Information

NATRONA COUNTY (continued )

Red B u t t e V i l l a g e , 8 m i Red B u t t e 33180-22 dc 30848 31 Alluvium 8/4/77 SEO d a t a i n d i c a t e Red B u t t e
SW of Casper Improvement #1 Improvement # l i s s o l e
R i v e r s i d e Ter- 33/80-22 dd 40 27 Alluvium 7/15/60 s o u r c e . Permit 934
r a c e Well # l cancelled.
R i v e r s i d e Ter- 33180-22 dc 78 27 Alluvium 7/15/60
r a c e Well 62
Red B u t t e 84 33180-22 dc 934 (30) (Alluvium) UNK
Riverside T r a i l e r Riverside # l ? 33179-4 a b 18658 20 Alluvium 6/47 Wells p e r m i t t e d f o r
C o u r t , 1 mi N of R i v e r s i d e #2? 33179-4 b a 18659 20 Alluvium -152 domestic u s e only ( y i e l d
Casper c o r r e c t e d by SEO from
r e p o r t e d t o t a l of 700 gpm).
V i s t a West Water Co., Purchase -- -- -- -- -- Purchased w a t e r from C i t y of
6 m i NW of Casper #1 Deep Water 34180-28 c c 35838 2,338 Lakota UNK Casper; w e l l s a r e flowing
(Air Base Acres) #2 Deep Water 34180-33 c b 35871 2,030 Lakota 12/16/76 w e l l s ; # l abandoned
9/19/76.
Wardwell Water & Sewer Wardwell 11 33179-7 ba 13699 35 Alluvium 5/15/72
D i s t . , 2 mi W of
Casper ( M i l l s )

NIOBRARA COUNTY
~ a t e w aWater,
~ 5600163 I 34 3,400 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 1 w e l l .
Lance Creek
Marathon O i l , 5600109 I 96 22,350 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 2 w e l l s .
Lance Creek

SHERIDAN COUNTY
Acme R e a l t y , Acme UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 2 w e l l s .
Home Ranch S u b d i v i s i o n , 5600245 PFP #1? 55/84-10 bc 36916 (300) (Fortunion?) UNK -- Wells HR #1-4 s e r v e South Home
3 m i S of Sheridan PFP #2? 55/84-10 bc 36917 (20) (Alluvium) UNK -- Ranch 1st add-ition .Wells
HR ill 55/84-15 bc 55604 570 F o r t Union 5 8/15/80 PFP b l & 2, and some s u r f a c e
HR #2 55/84-15 bc 55605 550 F o r t Union 5 8/30/80 water, a r e projected t o
HR 83 55/84-16 ad 55606 380 F o r t Union 5 9/10/80 s e r v e 190 u n i t s i n a t r a i l e r
HR #4 55/84-15 bc 55607 586 F o r t Union 5 9/10/80 c o u r t and South Home Ranch
S u b d i v i s i o n Phase 11.
P e r m i t s 36916 & 36917 a r e
pending completion a s of
6/81.
KOA Mobile Home P a r k , 5600242 I 25 2,500 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e l i s t s 2 w e l l s .
N of Sheridan
S o l d i e r Creek Water 5600244 A 400 22,000 Purchase -- -- -- -- Purchased from C i t y of
Co., N of Sheridan Sheridan.
Table A-3. (continued)

Average Total Reported

F a c i l i t y Name EPA PWS Owner P o p u l a t i o n Production Water Source SEO Depth Yield Completion Supplementary
and Location ID # ~~~e~ Served (gallday) Source Location Permit # (ft) Aquifer (gpm) Date Information

SHERIDAN COUNTY ( c o n t i n u e d )
Sun V i l l a g e , 2 mi SE I 40 2,000 Ohm # I 55184-2 c a 33472 649 Wasatch/Fort 15 10/8/77 Flowing w e l l .
of Sheridan Union System
T r a i l e r V i l l a g e , S of I 25 1,250 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a b a s e lists 1 w e l l .
Sher idan
V i l l a Capri T r a i l e r I 32 2,400 UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK UNK EPA d a t a base l i s t s 1 w e l l .
C o u r t , Sheridan
Woodland Park V i l l a g e , I 300 15,000 TML #4? 55/84-23 bb 27233 (450) (Fort Union?) (35) -- P e r m i t s pending completion
5 m i S of Sheridan TML #5? 55/84-23 bb 27234 (450) (Fort Union?) (35) -- ' a s of 6/81.
TML #6? 55/84-23 bb 27235 (450) (Fort Union?) (35) --
TML #7? 55/84-23 bc 27236 (450) (Fort Union?) (35) --

WESTON COUNTY
Black H i l l s Power & Osage Town Lakota 30 8/1/48 Madison w e l l s a r e flowing
L i g h t , Owge Osage # 1 Madison 5 30 -1-142 w e l l s . Osage 12 w e l l i s
Enl. # I Mad i s o n 0 N.A. p r i n c i p a l community water
Osage 12 Madison 500 1/10/51 s o u r c e . Wells a l s o supply
Enl. #2 Madison 0 N.A. cooling water f o r e l e c t r i c a l
Osage #3 (Madison) (2,500) -- g e n e r a t i o n p l a n t a t Osage.
Osage #4 (Madison) (2,500) -- P e r m i t s 4698, 50143, and
Osage #5 (Mad i s o n ) (2,500) -- 50144 pending completion a s
of 6/81.
S a l t Creek Water 5600133 A 300 36,000 Purchase Purchased from Water
D i s t r i c t , E of Unlimited I n c . of Newcastle.
Newcas t l e
Water Unlimited I n c . , 5600132 I 120 13,200 Carlson W 1 45/61-28 ab 607 2,738 Madison 1,200 4/1/62 Flowing w e l l .
E of Newcastle

a ~ a t afrom U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency (EPA), 1979, P u b l i c Water Supply I n v e n t o r y , and Wyoming S t a t e E n g i n e e r ' s O f f i c e (SEO) F i l e s . Parentheses i n d i c a t e
d a t a were o b t a i n e d from w e l l p e r m i t n o t w e l l completion s t a t e m e n t .

bOwner types: A = association

C = corporation
D = individual
 Table A-4. Ground water used f o r secondary and t e r t i a r y r e c o v e r y of o i l i n t h e Powder River b a s i n , 1979, by f i e l d . a Inactive u n i t s a r e not tabulated.

Injected No. I n j e c t o r s I n j e c t e d Water - Produced w a t e r = C a l c u l a t e d MakeupL Makeup Water

Field countyb Unit Formation Active (Inactive) (1979, b b l ) (1979, b b l ) Water ( b b l ) Source Remarks

Ash Creek Shannon Shannon Parkman? P a r t of f i e l d i s in Montana and

may n o t b e i n c l u d e d in ~ r o d u c e d
w a t e r volume.

Barber Creek Parkman Parkman F t . Union

Basin, NW Piney Ranch Minnel usa F t . Union Uses Minnelusa produced water
Minnelusa only.
Big Muddy Wall Creek Wall Creek Sundance, Lakota Also u s e s Dakota produced water.
Dakota Dakota Sundance, Lakota Also u s e s Wall Creek produced
water.
South Block Wall Wall Creek Tensleep, Madison
Creek
South Block Dakota Dakota May u s e o n l y Dakota produced
Dakota water.
East Dakota Alluvium
TOTAL
Bishop Ranch, S Bishop Ranch Minnelusa Minnelusa Uses Minnelusa produced water
South only a c c o r d i n g t o O i l & Gas
3;
t'J
Comission f i l e s .
Brooks Ranch Brooks Ranch Frontier Uses F r o n t i e r produced water
only.
Burke Ranch Dakota Dakota Parkman
C-H Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Chan Muddy Muddy Fox H i l l s
Cole Creek Dakota "A" Dakota Parkman
Cole Creek, S Cole Creek l e a s e Dakota -- Uses Cole Creek South produced
w a t e r only.
Shannon Uses Cole Creek South produced
w a t e r only.
Lako t a Uses Cole Creek South produced
w a t e r only.
TOTAL
Coyote Creek Watt "A" Dakota Fox H i l l s
Watt "B" Dakota Fox H i l l s
TOTAL
Coyote Creek, S Boxelder Draw Turner Lance
Dead Horse Creek Caballo Ferguson F t . Union
North Block Parkman F t . Union
TOTAL
Table A-4. (continued)

Injected . No. I n j e c t o r s I n j e c t e d Water - Produced Water = C a l c u l a t e d MakeupC Makeup Water

Field ~ o u tyb
n Unit Format i o n Active (Inactive) (1979, b b l ) (1979, b b l ) Water ( b b l ) Source Remarks

Dead Horse Parkman Unknown

Creek, S
Deadman Creek Deadman Creek Minnelusa Fox H i l l s May n o t use any produced w a t e r .
Dewey Dome Dewey Bradley Sundance Dakota, Lakota I n j e c t i o n w e l l s ordered shut-in
i n 1974.
D i l l i n g e r Ranch Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s No i n j e c t i o n d a t a 1 month.
Donkey Creek Dakota "A" Dakota Minnelusa Uses Minnelusa produced w a t e r
from nearby f i e l d .
Dugout Creek Shannon Shannon Madison P a r t of Sussex F i e l d .
Duvall Ranch Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
F i d d l e r Creek East Fiddler Newcast l e Madison
Creek
West F i d d l e r Newcastle Madison
Creek
TOTAL
Gas Draw Muddy Fox H i l l s , Lance
Rogers Muddy Muddy Fox H i l l s , Lance
Sand
TOTAL
Glenrock, S Block A Dakota Alluvium
Upper Muddy Alluvium
Block B Dakota Madison, Tensleep
Lower Muddy Madison, Tensleep
Upper Muddy Madison, Tensleep
TOTAL
Grieve Muddy Muddy Unknown May merely b e s a l t w a t e r d i s p o s a l .
Guthery Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Halverson Ranch Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Ham Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s Temporarily s h u t - i n , June, 1979,
now T e r t i a r y recovery:
w a t e r /polymer.
Hilight Grady Muddy -- Uses Muddy produced w a t e r only.
Central Muddy Fox H i l l s
Jay son Muddy Fox H i l l s
TOTAL
Hunter Ranch Hunter Ranch Muddy Fox H i l l s
Keyhole 16 S t a t e Muddy Lakota
 Table A-4. (conth u e d )

- - - --

Injected No. I n j e c t o r s I n j e c t e d Water - Produced Water = C a l c u l a t e d ~ a k e u ~ ' Makeup Water

Field countyb Unit Formation Active (Inactive) (1979, b b l ) (1979, b b l ) Water ( b b l ) Source Remarks

Kuehne Ranch CA Kuehne Ranch Minnelusa 1 (1) 217832 135485 82347 Fox H i l l s Water s o u r c e may be Lakota.
Kumer f e l d CR Minnelusa Minnelusa 5 (0) 1000913 1328661 0 Fox H i l l s
Lance Creek NI Morrison Morrison 1 (1) 27595 ? 22228869 0 Leo Sand Uses Leo (Minnelusa) produced
w a t e r o n l y ; may b e no i n j e c t i o n .
Lazy B CA Muddy Muddy 5 (0) 779716 629747 149969 Fox H i l l s , Lance
L i g h t n i n g Creek NI Newcastle Newcastle 1 (0 35378 194666 0 White R i v e r , S u r f a c e
L i t t l e Mitchell CA Minnelusa Minnelusa 1 (0) 363685 101232 262453 Fox H i l l s
Creek
Meadow Creek JO Lakota Lakota "A" 4 (5) 299435 Madison
Shannon A Shannon 17 (8) 885120 . Madison
Tensleep A Tensleep 4 (2) 1784894 Madison
A2 F r o n t i e r 2nd F r o n t i e r 5 (0) 348163 Madison
TOTAL 30 (15) 3317612 0
M e l l o t t Ranch CR Minnelusa Minnelusa 2 (1) 840679 208577 Fox H i l l s
Moorcrof t , W CR Newcastle Muddy 7 (4) 969211 Dakota Uses Dakota produced water from
nearby f i e l d .
?
to Waters Newcastle 6 (3) Dakota T e r t i a r y recovery: water/polymer
W and soda a s h .
TOTAL 13 (7) 1048815 5846
Mule Creek NI Argo Lease Lako t a 2 (0) 414604 0 --
Mush Creek WE Michael #4 Newcastle 1 (0) 4363 Dakota, Lakota
Rogers Newcastle 1 (2) 30107 Dakota, Lakota
State Newcastle 1 (4) 15172 Dakota, Lakota
Thorson Newcastle 1 (1) 181 Dakota, Lakota
Upd i k e Newcas t l e 1 (7) 1990 Dakota, Lakota
Wade Newcastle 6 (2) 174870 Dakota
TOTAL 11 (16) 222383 207394
Mush Creek, W W
E West Mush Creek Newcastle 3 (2) 6490 1673 Madison?
Extension
OK CA OK Minnelusa 1 (0) 453067 366464 Fox H i l l s T e r t i a r y recovery: water polymer.
Osage WE J u n i p e r Newcastle Newcastle 42 (0) 875074 Madison
Osage Newcastle 34 (0) 400290 Madison, Dakota,
Miscellaneous Lakota
Osage J u n i p e r Newcastle 8 (0) 184435 Madison
Area
Osage West Newcastle 14 (4 765839 Madison
 T a b l e A-4. (continued)

Injected No. I n j e c t o r s I n j e c t e d Water - Produced Water = Calculated ~ a k e u ~ ' Makeup Water

Field countyb Unit Formation Active (Inactive) (1979, b b l ) (1979, b b l ) Water ( b b l ) Source Remarks

Osage (continued) B u f f a l o 028328A Newcastle Madison Only 5 mos. d a t a a v a i l a b l e .

Lease
Bradley Newcastle Newcastle Madison
Somers Area Newcastle Madison
Coronado Shallow Newcastle Madison
Lense
Osage Newcastle Madison
S t a t e Waterflood Newcastle Madison
Osage Newcastle Madison
Murray Lease Newcastle Dakota I n j e c t i o n s t a r t e d 8/79.
TOTAL
P i c k r e l l Ranch Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
P l e a s a n t Valley Heptner Minnelusa Alluvium
Poison Draw Poison Draw Tekla Lance, Lewis
3; Poison S p i d e r Bessemer Ch Sundance -- Uses Sundance produced water
t
u 03787 only.
* Raven Creek Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Recluse, N Muddy Muddy Fox H i l l s , Lance
Reel Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Reno Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s May a l s o u s e Minnelusa
produced w a t e r from Reno E a s t
field.
Robinson Ranch Minnelusa Minrfelusa -- Uses Minnelusa produced
water only.
Rourke Gap Minnelusa Rourke Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Sand
Rozet Muddy Muddy Fox H i l l s
Rozet, E Minnelusa "A" Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
E a s t Roze t Muddy Muddy Fox H i l l s
Sand
TOTAL
Rozet, S Minnelusa "A" Minnelusa -- Uses Minnelusa produced w a t e r
only.
Mitchell State Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
TOTAL
Rozet, W Minnelusa Minnelusa Fox H i l l s
Table A-4. (continued)

Injected No. I n j e c t o r s I n j e c t e d Water - Produced Water = C a l c u l a t e d ~ a k e u ~ ~ Makeup Water

Field countyb Unit Formation Active (Inactive) (1979, b b l ) (1979, b b l ) Water ( b b l ) Source Remarks

Sage Spring NA Sage S p r i n g Dakota 430085 Parkman

Creek Creek Unit A
S a l t Creek NA S t a l e y Gov't 2nd Wall Creek 10 Madison
Light O i l Unit - 1st Wall Creek 171 Madison
Lease #1
2nd Wall Creek 345 Madison
3rd Wall Creek 3 Madison
S a l t Creek Wall Creek 4 Unknown T e r t i a r y recovery: w
m ai ct eerl /l a r .

S a l t Creek South 2nd Wall Creek 109 Madison

TOTAL 642 0
S a l t Creek, E NA 2nd Wall Creek 2nd Wall Creek 3 Tensleep
Tensleep Tensleep 1 Uses Tensleep produced water
only.
TOTAL 101637
Semlek, W Minnelusa Minnelusa 0 Uses Minnelusa produced w a t e r
only.
Sharp Minnel usa Minnelusa 259405 32258 227147 Fox H i l l s
Shostak Shostak Muddy Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Simpson Ranch Simpson Ranch Minnelusa 122871 ? 377 122494 ? Fox H i l l s May be no i n j e c t i o n .
S k u l l Creek Newcast l e Newcastle 1288035 Lakota
Newcastle Newcastle 722053 Dakota
Bock Newcastle 148613 Lakota, Dakota
Donielson Newcastle 423409 Fox H i l l s Purchased w a t e r .
S k u l l Creek South Newcastle 491241 Lakota
TOTAL 3073351 1332532
S k u l l Creek, N S k u l l Creek North Newcastle 336731 27872 Lakota
Spr ingen Ranch Muddy Muddy 1669290 193754 Fox H i l l s , Lance
Stewart Minnelusa Minnelusa 3244230 1929934 Fox H i l l s
Sussex Lakota "A" Lako t a 38865 Madison
Shannon "C"-"E" Shannon 138179 Madison
Sussex Y" Sussex 464862 Madison
Sussex "D" Sussex 135374 Madison
Tensleep "A" Tensleep 350251 Mad i s o n
 Table A-4. (continued)

Injected No. I n j e c t o r s I n j e c t e d Water - Produced Water = C a l c u l a t e d MakeupC Makeup Water

Field countyb Unit Formation Active (Inactive) (1979, b b l ) (1979, b b l ) Water ( b b l ) Source Remarks

Sussex (continued) Tensleep "B" Tensleep 11 (1) 7151688 Madison

Shannon "D" Shannon 1 (6 140900 Madison
TOTAL 27 (41) 8420119 4650459 3769660 Makeup w a t e r used may be 213784
b b l l e s s i f s u r p l u s from Dugout
Creek Unit i s u t i l i z e d .
Sussex, W JO West Sussex Shannon 17 (19) 1568505 1923487 0 Madison
Teapot NA Teapot Dome 2nd Wall Creek 10 (0) 739713 2515930 0 Madison
Tholson CA Minnelusa "A" Minnelusa 2 (0) 485652 162707 322945 Fox H i l l s
Tisdale, N JO North T i s d a l e C u r t i s Ss. 6 (5) 780497 1475536 0 Unknown T e r t i a r y recovery: water/thermal.
Tomcat Creek CR F a l l River F a l l River 4 (0) 129882 70 30 3 59579 Lako t a
Ute CA Muddy Muddy 13 (0) 2291718 Fox H i l l s
Olmstead Muddy 4 (0) 369534 Fox H i l l s
TOTAL 17 (0 2661252 513104 2148148
Wagonspoke CA Minnelusa Minnelusa 1 (0) 621024 0 621024 Fox H i l l s
Wallace CA Minnelusa Minnelusa 9 (0) 2495907 485091 2013816 Fox H i l l s
whitetail CA W h i t e t a i l Muddy Muddy 9 (0) 2933594 Fox H i l l s
to
(m South W h i t e t a i l Muddy 3 (0 0 Fox H i l l s Injection not initiated u n t i l
5/80.
TOTAL 12 (0) 2933594 2689313 244281

a ~ a t afrom f i l e s of t h e Wyoming O i l and Gas Conservation Commission and Wyoming O i l and Gas Conservation Commission (1980b).

b ~ o u n t ya b b r e v i a t i o n s :
CA - Campbell County
CO - Converse County
CR - Crook County
JO - Johnson County
NA - Natrona County
NI - Niobrara County
SH - Sheridan County
W
E - Weston County
C h x m t of makeup w a t e r c a l c u l a t e d by s u b t r a c t i n g r e p o r t e d amount of produced w a t e r from r e p o r t e d amount of i n j e c t e d w a t e r . At s e v e r a l f i e l d s , n o t a b l y S a l t Creek, Meadow Creek, and
Sussex, t h e amount i n j e c t e d may b e mostly f r e s h w a t e r , w i t h much of t h e produced w a t e r d i s c h a r g e d a s w a s t e .
 Table A-5. Water u s e by petroleum r e f i n e r i e s i n t h e Powder River b a s i n . a

Rated Production
Capacity
Company Location (bbls/day ) Water Consumption Water Source . Discharge

Amoco O i l Co. Casper 2,000 gpm N. P l a t t e River l,4OO-l,5OO gpm

t o Soda Lake

Texaco O i l Co. Casper 21,000 3,082 gpm N . P l a t t e River Unknown

L i t t l e America R e f i n i n g Casper 24,500 347 gpm N. P l a t t e River Unknown

Co .
C & H Refining Lusk 2 50 Unknown Arikaree aquifer Unknown

Wyoming R e f i n i n g Co. Newcastle 10,500 40 gPm Madison a q u i f e r Pit

Sage Creek R e f i n i n g Cowley Unknown N e g l i g i b l e amounts Unknown Discharge t o p i t

Co. is r e c i r c u l a t e d
?
fQ
-4
a ~ a t afrom a u t h o r i z e d p e r s o n n e l a t r e s p e c t i v e r e f i n e r i e s .
Table A-6. Water use by a c t i v e c o a l mines w i t h i n t h e Powder R i v e r b a s i n . a

1979 P r o d u c t i o n Discharge from S u r f a c e Water E f f l u e n t

Company Mine Locat i o n (million tons) P i t and-.Wells Discharge P o i n t O v e r a l l Water UseC
Amax Coal Co. B e l l e Ayr P o r t i o n s of T. 48 Discharge from c o a l p i t is pumped Caballo Creek DS, DOM, Prep p l a n t ,
N . , R. 71 W. and t o NPDES s e t t l i n g ponds where & IRR
T. 47 N., R. 71 W. p o r t i o n s t h a t a r e n o t used f o r Avg. 420,000 g a l /
dust suppression a r e discharged day f o r d u s t
t o surface drainage. suppression.

3 w e l l s supply water f o r dust

s u p t e s s i o n i n c o a l prep p l a n t and
shop i n a d d i t i o n t o domestic u s e
- 28.9 x 106 g a l s . i n 1979.
Amax Coal Co. Eagle B u t t e T. 51 N . , R. 72 W. 349 a c r e - f e e t pumped from p i t L i t t l e Rawhide Ck. DS, DOM, Prep p l a n t
and a d j a c e n t " c l i n k e r " w e l l s a s
of May 1, 1979.

Big Horn Coal Co. Big Horn T. 57 N., R. 84 W. ~ v e r h ~ d ies c h a r g e from NPDES Goose Creek and Dust c o n t r o l and
s e t t l i n g ponds is 696,115 g a l / Tongue River Prep p l a n t
day (11-1-78)-(10-31-79).

Maximum groundwater d i s c h a r g e
i n t o p i t i s 14,400 g a l l d a y .

C a r t e r Mining Co. Caballo P o r t i o n s of T. 48 P i t i n f l o w s e s t i m a t e d a t 100,000- T i s d a l e Creek DS, DOM, Maintenance

N., R. 70 W., and 500,000 g a l / d a y .
T. 48 N., R. 71 W. Most of t h e water
Water from " c l i n k e r " w e l l s i s pumped from t h e p i t
used f o r d u s t c o n t r o l . i n t o NPDES s e t t l i n g
ponds is used f o r
Caballo #1 well supplies 120 dust control
gpm t o o f f i c e and maintenance
facilities.

C a r t e r Mining Co. RawhideMine T. 5 1 N . , R . 72W. P i t discharge r a t e s a r e not Dry Fork L i t t l e DS, DOM, Equipment
available. Powder R i v e r , washdown
Rawhide Creek &
Red Fox Draw.

Cordero Mining Co.
Cordero Mine P o r t i o n s of T. 46 N.
R. 71 W., and T. 47
N . , R. 71 W.
3.832 P i t discharge r a t e s not available B e l l e Fourche River DS, DOM, P l a n t wash
v i a unnamed d r a i n a g e s down
Two deep w e l l s supply p o t a b l e
water P l a n t washdown i s
returned t o s e t t l i n g
ponds

Domestic consumption
i s e s t . @ 15,000 gal/
day f o r 3 s h i f t s
 Table A-6. (continued)

1979 P r o d u c t i o n Discharge from S u r f a c e Water E f f l u e n t

Company Mine Location (million tonslb P i t and W e l l s Wells Discharge P o i n t O v e r a l l Water UseC
Glenrock Coal Co. Dave Johnston P o r t i o n s of T. 35 3.828 A l l p i t discharge water is Bishop, S h e l l y , and DS, DOM, Equipment
(NERCO) N., R. 75 W. and used f o r d u s t c o n t r o l . J e n i Draws washdown
T. 36 N . , R. 75 W.

Kerr-McGee Coal ClovisPoint T. 5 0 N . , R . 7 0 W . .293 Estimated p i t d i s c h a r g e i s Unnamed c l o s e d b a s i n s DS, DOM

Corp. 600 gpm. locations -T. 50 N . ,
R. 70 W., Secs. 22 & 28
5 w e l l s p e r m i t t e d t o withdraw
600 gpm f o r d u s t c o n t r o l .

Kerr-McGee Coal J a c o b s Ranch T.43 N., R. 70 W. 4.681 No p i t d i s c h a r g e e s t i m a t e East and west f o r k s DS, DOM, IRR
Corp. a v a i l a b l e . Barnds r e s e r v o i r Burning Coal Draw
r e c e i v e s w a t e r s pumped from
p i t 12.

Wells J R M #6 and e n l a r g e d JRM

#2 used f o r d u s t s u p p r e s s i o n
f i r e c o n t r o l and Prep p l a n t
washdown.
3;
13 Thunder Basin Coal Thunder Basin T. 43 N . , R. 70 W. 6.244 Discharge from BT P i t # 1 i s North Prong L i t t l e DS, DOM, Equipment
U3 Co. , (ARCo) pumped t o NPDES s e t t l i n g pond Thunder Creek and two washdown and sewage
5004. S u b s t a n t i a l q u a n t i t i e s unnamed p l a y a s treatment.
of NPDES pond w a t e r a r e used .
f o r d u s t c o n t r o l . 50,000 g a l / Water from NPDES
week i s d i s c h a r g e d from NPDES R e s e r v o i r 007 i s
R e s e r v o i r 004 t o N. Prong used f o r d u s t
L i t t l e Thunder Creek. suppression.

Wells BTF 17-1, 17-2, and

SWP-3 a r e used f o r equipment
wash, domestic, and maintenance.

Wyodak Resources Wyodak T. 50 N., R. 71 W. 2.364 239.6 gpm d i s c h a r g e s from p i t Donkey Creek
i n t o South P i t sediment pond.

Water used f o r d u s t c o n t r o l
i s t a k e n from p i t b e f o r e e n t e r -
i n g pond.

a ~ a t e ru s e d a t a from mining p e r m i t s and annual r e p o r t s , Department of ~ n v i r o n m e n t a lQ u a l i t y , S t a t e of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

DS - Dust Suppression
DOM - Domestic
IRR - Irrigation
NPDES - N a t i o n a l P o l l u t a n t Discharge E l i m i n a t i o n System
 Table A-7. Existing and proposed coal-fired steam-generated electric power plants within the Wyoming portion of the Powder River
basin.

-
Water
Used
Nameplate For AF Water
Generating Power Needed
Capacity Cooling Generation Supplemental Source and to produce
Plant Name Operator Location (megawatts) System (AF/YR) Water Source Domestic Supply Megawatt

EXISTING PLANTS

Dave Pacific Power 5 miles east of 750 MW Wet 9600 AF N. Platte River Ground water-Domestic supply from 12.8 AF
Johnston and Lighta Glenrock N. Platte River

Neil Black Hills WYODAK-6 miles 21.8 MW Dry 16.1 AF 1 well-Ft. Union Additional well within Ft. Union .74 AF
Simpson Power and east of Gillette aquifer, esti- Fm. capable of producing 95 gal./
~i~htb (adjoins WYODAK mated yield-10 min. is used as domestic supply
#1 plant) gal. /min. for Neil Simpson and WYODAK plants,
WYODAK mine, WYODAK Village and
other services within the area.

Osage Black Hills Osage Wet 806.5 AF 1 well-Madison Additional well within the Madison 22.7 AF
Power and aquifer, esti- Limestone is used to supply domestic
~ i tC~ h mated yield-500 needs within the plant and for the
.
gal. /min town of Osage. Any surplus from this
well is used at the plant. Estimated
yield-200 gal./min.

WYODAK 81 Pacific Power WYODAK-6 miles 330 MW Dry 324 AF Sewage effluent Domestic water supplied by Neil 1.0 AF
and Light-Black east of Gillette from-~illette Simpson Plant
Hills Power and (adjoins Neil sewage treatment
Lightd Simpson Plant) facility
TOTAL 1137.3 10,746.6 AF
PROPOSED PLANTS

WYODAK #2 Pacific Power WYODAK-6 miles 330 MW Dry 1300- Negotiations are WYODAK # 2 water requirements for 3.9-4.4
and Light-Black east of Gillette 1450 AF in progress for electricity production will be the AF
Hills Power and (will adjoin additional sewage same as for WYODAK #l. Additional
~ i ~ h t ~ WYODAK #1) effluent from water will be used for SO2 emission
Gillette. Water control.
from Gillette
Madison Project
might also be
used.

a~ersonalCommunication with Herb Roose, Electrical Engineer, Dave Johnston Plant, Pacific Power and Light Co., Glenrock, Wyoming, April 15, 1980.

b~ersonalCommunication with "ern Scl~ild,Plant Superintendent, Neil Simpson Plant, Black Hills Power and Light Co., WYODAK, Wyoming, April 15, 1980.

'personal Communication with David Eatherton, Osage Plant, Black Hills Power and Light Co., Osage, Wyoming, April 15, 1980.

dpersonal Communication with authorized personnel, Pacific Power and Light Co. , WYODAK, Wyoming, April 15, 1980.
Table A-8. Water u s e by a c t i v e c o m t e r c i a l uranium n i n e s and m i l l s , Powder R i v e r b a s i n . a

1979
Company Mine Location ~roduc t ionb Water Production O v e r a l l Water Use

Exxon M i n e r a l s Co.
Buffalo Shaft T. 36 N . , R. 72 W. 131,000 t o n s 300-500 gpm from 1 6 dewatering 4 w e l l s supply domestic and u t i l i t y
Underground Mine of o r e w e l l s around underground mine. w a t e r t o whole Exxon o p e r a t i o n
S u r f a c e w a t e r runoff and ground w a t e r
Highland O p e r a t i o n s 400-800 gpm, produced from p i t produced a r e r o u t e d t o t h e m i l l o r
Surf a c e Mine sumps ( i n c l u d e s s u r f a c e w a t e r used f o r d u s t c o n t r o l .
runoff) .
M i l1 Excess w a t e r i s r e l e a s e d i n t o North
Fork Box Creek v i a unnamed d r a i n a g e s
a c c o r d i n g t o NPDES s t a n d a r d s .

2000 tons/day of s o l i d waste (40%

s o l i d s by volume) i n t o t a i l i n g s pond.
S o l i d w a s t e s c o n s i s t of b a r r e n sand
g r a i n s and s p e n t p r o c e s s s o l u t i o n s
(primarily s u l f u r i c acid) .
S o l u t i o n Mine 1,154,000 80,000 b a r r e l s of ground w a t e r
t o n s of o r e have been produced from solu-
t i o n mining p i l o t l e a c h a r e a .

Kerr McGee 28-33 P i t T. 37 N., R. 73 W. 245,165 Average d i s c h a r g e from two Most of t h e w a t e r produced i s used f o r
Nuclear Corp. 3-10 P i t t o n s of o r e p i t s i s 150 gpm. One dust control.
domestic w e l l produces 5 gpm.

Rocky Mountain Bear Creek T. 3 8 N . , R . 73W. 420,000 P i t B-3: variable discharge Shop w e l l produces 1 8 gprn f o r domestic
Energy Co . Open P i t Mine t o n s of o r e of 400-1200 gpm; D i l t s P i t : and equipment w a t e r s u p p l i e s . Dust
and M i l l 450-550 gpm; B-1 P i t : 70-90 c o n t r o l w a t e r is t a k e n from p i t d i s -
gpm* charge.

2 w e l l s (300 gpm) supply o f f i c e domestic

and m i l l p r o c e s s w a t e r . M i l l p r o c e s s
w a t e r i s used i n c l o s e d c i r c u i t .

Excess s u r f a c e w a t e r i s d i s c h a r g e d v i a
NPDES s e t t l i n g ponds t o Dry Fork
Cheyenne River and Gene Draw.

Wyoming M i n e r a l s Irrigary In-situ T. 45 N., R. 77 W. None Net p r o d u c t i o n i s 10-12 gpm Two w e l l s c u r r e n t l y supply s a n i t a r y ,
Corp . Mine which i s d i s c h a r g e d t o l i n e d p o t a b l e , equipment wash, and f i r e
e v a p o r a t i o n ponds. 800 gprn i s protection water. Application f o r
t h e maximum amount p e r m i t t e d NPDES s u r f a c e w a t e r d i s c h a r g e p e r m i t i s
f o r recovery. Recovery minus pending a p p r o v a l by Wyoming S t a t e DEQ.
n e t discharge is injected.

a ~ a t afrom mining p e r m i t s and annual r e p o r t s , Department of Environmental Q u a l i t y , S t a t e of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

b1979 p r o d u c t i o n f i g u r e s from John T. Goodier, Department of Economic Planning and Development, S t a t e of Wyoming, 1980, p e r s o n a l communication.
 A P P E N D I X B

S T R A T I G R A P H I C V A R I A T I O N S O F

W A T E R - B E A R I N G B E D R O C K U N I T S I N T H E

P O W D E R R I V E R B A S I N
 STRATIGRAPHIC VARIATIONS OF WATER-BEARING BEDROCK UNITS
I N THE POWDER RIVER BASIN

Madison A a u i f e r Svstem

Cambrian

Basal Cambrian sandstones a r e p o t e n t i a l l y important a q u i f e r s

( ~ o d s o nand o t h e r s , 1973), b u t a r e n o t e x t e n s i v e l y u t i l i z e d c u r r e n t l y

due t o depth of b u r i a l .

The Deadwood Formation, of Upper Cambrian and Lower Ordovician

age, l i e s unconformably on Precambrian r o c k s of t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n

study a r e a . It i s composed of a b a s a l conglomeratic sandstone, a

middle u n i t of t h i n interbedded s h a l e s and d o l o m i t e s , and an upper

massive sandstone, o f t e n d o l o m i t i c o r f e r r u g i n o u s (McCoy, 1958a).

Sandstone p o r o s i t i e s of almost 20 p e r c e n t a r e p r e s e n t i n n o r t h e r n

Crook County (Blankennagel and o t h e r s , 1977).

I n t h e w e s t e r n Powder River b a s i n Cambrian d e p o s i t i o n s t a r t e d

e a r l i e r and t h r e e d i s t i n c t formations are recognized (McCoy, 1958a).

The b a s a l Cambrian Flathead Sandstone i s s i m i l a r t o t h e Deadwood.

Overlying t h e F l a t h e a d , and i s o l a t i n g i t h y d r o l o g i c a l l y where p r e s e n t

(Huntam, 1976), a r e t h e Gros Ventre Formation, a grey green s h a l e

w i t h interbedded sandstone l e n s e s and f l a t pebble limestone conglomerates,

and t h e G a l l a t i n Formation, a grey limestone c o n t a i n i n g limey s h a l e s

and f l a t pebble l i m e s t o n e conglomerates (Cygan and Koucky, 1963).

Cambrian s t r a t a , over 1,100 f e e t t h i c k i n western Sheridan County,

t h i n t o t h e s o u t h and e a s t , and a r e probably a b s e n t i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n

Powder River b a s i n (McCoy, 1958a).

Ordovician
I

Where p r e s e n t , Ordovician c a r b o n a t e s have good water-bearing

p o t e n t i a l b u t they have n o t been e x t e n s i v e l y developed i n t h e b a s i n

because they u n d e r l i e t h e Madison a q u i f e r , which produces adequate

yields.

Found only i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n (McCoy, 1958b;

Huntoon, 1976), Ordovician s t r a t a c o n s i s t of an upper c a r b o n a t e u n i t

and lower c l a s t i c sequence ( J e n k i n s and McCoy, 1958). I n t h e Black

H i l l s t h e upper u n i t , t h e Whitewood Dolomite, i s a massively bedded

dolomite, e q u i v a l e n t i n p a r t t o t h e Red River Formation i n Montana

(McCoy, 1958b). The lower sequence i n c l u d e s , from top t o bottom,

t h e Roughlock S i l t s t o n e , I c e Box Shale, and Aladdin Sandstone, and

i s roughly e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e Winnipeg Formation of Montana (McCoy,

1958b). I n t h e Bighorn Mountains t h e c a r b o n a t e u n i t , t h e Bighorn

Dolomite, i s a massive dolomite, more t h i n l y bedded a t t h e t o p (Lowry

and Cummings, 1966). The lower t h i n c l a s t i c u n i t i s e i t h e r considered

a s a b a s a l sandstone member of t h e Bighorn (Lowry and Cummings, 1966)

o r s e p a r a t e l y named (Cygan and Koucky, 1963). Aggregate t h i c k n e s s

of Ordovician s t r a t a ranges from over 400 f e e t , a t t h e ~ b n t a n as t a t e

boundary, t o zero, a t t h e Crook-Weston County boundary i n t h e e a s t

(Jenkins and McCoy, 1958) and i n s o u t h e r n Johnson County i n t h e west

(Huntoon, 1976) .
P o r o s i t i e s over 20 p e r c e n t have been recorded f o r b o t h t h e Red

River and Winnipeg i n n o r t h e r n Crook County w lank en nag el and o t h e r s ,

1977). Some secondary f r a c t u r e p o r o s i t y due t o s t r u c t u r a l deformation

of t h e more b r i t t l e c a r b o n a t e u n i t s may e x i s t b u t t h e p r e s e n t d a t a

b a s e i s inadequate f o r q u a n t i f i c a t i o n . An a c t i v e modern k a r s t i s
forming i n t h e Bighorn Dolomite b u t h a s n o t y e t become e x t e n s i v e l y

developed (Huntoon, 1976), and t h e r e f o r e i s n o t an important source

of p o r o s i t y .

Devonian and M i s s i s s i p p i a n

The upper p a r t of t h e M i s s i s s i p p i a n Madison Limestone i s t h e

most p r o d u c t i v e p a r t of t h e Madison a q u i f e r system, p r i m a r i l y due

t o l o c a l i z e d zones of secondary p o r o s i t y and p e r m e a b i l i t y .

The Madison Limestone, a r e g i o n a l term f o r e x t e n s i v e M i s s i s s i p p i a n

c a r b o n a t e beds i n n o r t h e a s t e r n Wyoming, i s g e n e r a l l y used interchange-

a b l y w i t h t h e Pahasapa Limestone of t h e Black H i l l s and t h e Guernsey

Formation of t h e H a r t v i l l e u p l i f t (Andrichuk, 1955). In the eastern

b a s i n t h e conformably u n d e r l y i n g Englewood Formation, e q u i v a l e n t

t o t h e Devonian lower Guernsey, h a s been included i n some d i s c u s s i o n s

of t h e Madison (Andrichuk, 1955). Devonian r o c k s of t h e n o r t h e r n

Bighorn Mountains i n c l u d e t h e b a s a l Madison and underlying J e f f e r s o n

Formation (Sandberg and Klapper, 1967).

The Madison i s t y p i c a l l y a l i g h t c o l o r e d , massive, medium- t o

fine-grained limestone o r d o l o m i t i c limestone (Andrichuk, 1955) .

I n t h e Black H i l l s t h e underlying Englewood Formation i s moderately

thin-bedded a l t e r n a t i n g s h a l e s and s h a l e y l i m e s t o n e s o r dolomites.

The u n d e r l y i n g J e f f e r s o n Formation, only p r e s e n t i n t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n

c o r n e r of t h e Powder River b a s i n , i s predominantly dolomite, w i t h

interbedded a r g i l l a c e o u s dolomites and sands (Sandberg, 1963). Also

p r e s e n t only i n t h e northwestern b a s i n i s a b a s a l d a r k d o l o m i t i c

s h a l e member of t h e Madison (Sandberg and Klapper, 1967). In the

s o u t h e a s t p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e b a s a l Madison i s an E a r l y M i s s i s s i p p i a n
a r k o s i c sandstone (Maughn, 1963), p r e v i o u s l y considered t h e Deadwood

Formation (Condra and Reed, 1950).

Almost 1,000 f e e t t h i c k a t t h e Montana-Wyoming s t a t e boundary,

t h e Madison t h i n s southward and is only about 200 f e e t t h i c k i n s o u t h e r n

Niobrara County (Swenson and o t h e r s , 1976), due t o nondeposition of

younger Madison u n i t s (Andrichuk, 1955). Extensive pre-Minnelusa ero-

s i o n , which may a l s o c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e southward t h i n n i n g , h a s r e s u l t e d

i n a n upper Madison s u r f a c e of c o n s i d e r a b l e l o c a l r e l i e f (Swenson and

o t h e r s , 1976). Subjacent u n i t s become p r o g r e s s i v e l y younger t o t h e

n o r t h , r a n g i n g from Precambrian t o Ordovician i n age, and r e f l e c t

e r o s i o n a l t r u n c t i o n of pre-Devonian rocks. The i s o l a t e d Devonian

occurrences r e f l e c t s i m i l a r , pre-Madison, erosion.

P o r o s i t y i n t h e Madison i s i n t e r c r y s t a l l i n e , i n t e r g r a n u l a r o r

i n t e r p a r t i c u l a t e , and vuggy, modified by secondary f r a c t u r i n g and

s o l u t i o n (Andrichuk, 1955). Head and Merkel (1977) c a l c u l a t e d Madison

p o r o s i t y from geophysical l o g s - - i t averaged 5.5 p e r c e n t , ranging

from 2 . 3 t o 1 3 p e r c e n t , and was considered by them t o b e t o o low

f o r economic w a t e r w e l l development i n t h e absence of secondary p o r o s i t y .

L i t h o l o g i c v a r i a t i o n r e s u l t s i n s t r a t i g r a p h i c p o r o s i t y zonation

(Woodward-Clyde , 1980) .
Geographically l o c a l i z e d secondary f r a c t u r e p o r o s i t y i s d e r i v e d

from b o t h M i s s i s s i p p i a n and Laramide deformation. Paleostructural

maps show a system of e x t e n s i o n a l and pure-shear f r a c t u r e zones which

r e s u l t e d from t e c t o n i c deformation d u r i n g Madison d e p o s i t i o n (Cushing,

1977). The U.S. Geological Survey test w e l l program found f r a c t u r e s

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e s e zones b u t they were g e n e r a l l y healed below

6,000 f e e t ( ~ r o w nand o t h e r s , 1977). Laramide deformation h a s a l s o

r e s u l t e d i n zones of f r a c t u r i n g and secondary p o r o s i t y i n t h e Madison

(Huntoon, 1976).

On t h e west s i d e of t h e b a s i n t h e upper 350 f e e t of t h e Madison

c o n t a i n s a n e x t e n s i v e M i s s i s s i p p i a n p a l e o k a r s t c h a r a c t e r i z e d by enlarged

j o i n t s , s i n k h o l e s , caves, and s o l u t i o n zones (Sando, 1974). Many

of t h e s e p a l e o k a r s t f e a t u r e s have been i n f i l l e d by s i l t y Pennsylvanian

sediment (Sando, 1974) and have l i t t l e modern hydrologic s i g n i f i c a n c e

according t o Huntoon (1976).

Secondary p o r o s i t y due t o s o l u t i o n i s a l s o r e p o r t e d on t h e e a s t

s i d e of t h e b a s i n . Huntoon and Womack (1975) r e p o r t an a c t i v e k a r s t i s

p r e s e n t l y developing i n and n e a r outcrop a r e a s . Swenson and othe-rs

(1976) r e p o r t l o c a l l y o c c u r r i n g p a l e o k a r s t c o l l a p s e b r e c c i a s , i n v o l v i n g

o v e r l y i n g s t r a t a , e a s t of Newcastle. Some water w e l l s d r i l l e d i n

t h e Black H i l l s r e g i o n have encountered cavernous zones i n t h e Upper

Madison (Whitcomb and Gordon, 1964; Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1958), which

a r e e i t h e r u n f i l l e d p a l e o k a r s t o r modern s o l u t i o n f e a t u r e s and y i e l d

most of t h e w e l l production.

Permo-Pennsylvanian

Permo-Pennsylvanian r o c k s of t h e Powder River b a s i n provide

adequate y i e l d s t o w e l l s b u t may c o n t a i n water of poor q u a l i t y . The

Permo-Pennsylvanian Minnelusa Formation of t h e Black H i l l s and e a s t e r n

Powder River b a s i n i s c o r r e l a t e d w i t h t h e H a r t v i l l e Formation t o

t h e s o u t h e a s t , and t h e Casper Formation t o t h e s o u t h ( F o s t e r , 1958).

S e v e r a l u n i t s of t h e formation important t o o i l production have been

i n f o r m a l l y named, such a s t h e "red s h a l e markert' a t t h e base of t h e

Permian ( F o s t e r , 1958). I n t h e w e s t e r n Powder River b a s i n t h e Tensleep

Sandstone and Amsden Formation a r e t i m e - s t r a t i g r a p h i c equivalents

t o t h e middle and lower Minnelusa, r e s p e c t i v e l y ( F o s t e r , 1958).

Minnelusa Formation nomenclature i s o f t e n used i n t h e e n t i r e b a s i n

(Foster, 1958; T r a n t e r and P e t t e r , 1963).

F o s t e r (1958) d i v i d e d t h e Minnelusa i n t o t h r e e members, s e p a r a t e d

by r e g i o n a l unconformities. Locally and r e g i o n a l l y changing l i t h o l o g i e s

r e s u l t i n v a r i a b l e a q u i f e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , and interbedded s h a l e s

i n a l l t h r e e members p a r t i a l l y i s o l a t e sandstone u n i t s . Primary

p o r o s i t y may be over 20 p e r c e n t in sandstone w i t h l i t t l e s h a l e c o n t e n t

(Head and Merkel, 1977) b u t i s g e n e r a l l y l e s s (Table IV-5).

The Permian upper Minnelusa i s t y p i c a l l y t h i c k red and yellow

sandstones, a n h y d r i t e , t h i n limestones and dolomites, and minor

red mudstones (Bowles and Braddock, 1963). The sandstones, informally

c a l l e d t h e "Converse sands,'' a r e more p r e v a l e n t i n t h e west and

n o r t h p a r t s of t h e b a s i n ( F o s t e r , 1958). Head and Merkel (1977)

r e p o r t c a l c u l a t e d primary p o r o s i t y i s lower near t h e b a s i n a x i s ,

due t o both lower sand percentages and compaction. Anhydrite and

o t h e r e v a p o r i t e d e p o s i t s a r e most p r e v a l e n t i n t h e s o u t h e a s t , b u t

a l s o occur i n t h e subsurface i n t h e n o r t h e a s t . Secondary p o r o s i t y ,

w e l l developed i n t h e e a s t e r n upper Minnelusa near outcrops, r e s u l t s

from b r e c c i a t i o n due t o c o l l a p s e a f t e r a n h y d r i t e d i s s o l u t i o n (Bowles

and Braddock, 1963) .

The middle Minnelusa, Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian i n age,

i s c h e r t y yellow d o l o m i t i c limestones and yellow sandstones, t h e

" ~ e osands," w i t h t h i n p e r s i s t e n t b l a c k s h a l e s (Bowles and Braddock,

1963; F o s t e r , 1958). Carbonate percentage i n c r e a s e s t o t h e s o u t h e a s t .

Sandstone c o n t e n t i n c r e a s e s t o t h e southwest and west ( F o s t e r , 1958),

and t h e u n i t i s termed t h e Tensleep Sandstone i n t h e Bighorn Mountains.

Although t h e Tensleep Sandstone i s a p r o d u c t i v e a q u i f e r , t h e middle

Minnelusa i s an a q u i t a r d i n t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n (Eisen and

o t h e r s , 1981).

The Lower Pennsylvanian b a s a l Minnelusa h a s , i n t h e e a s t , an

upper interbedded s h a l e and c h e r t y carbonate u n i t , a middle c h e r t y

limestone u n i t , and a b a s a l sandstone, t h e " B e l l " ( F o s t e r , 1958).

The sandstone, water-bearing and h y d r o l o g i c a l l y connected t o t h e

Madison, i s n o t always p r e s e n t ; i t s e r r a t i c d i s t r i b u t i o n i s c o n t r o l l e d

by t h e u n d e r l y i n g Madison Limestone topography ( F o s t e r , 1958). In

t h e w e s t e r n b a s i n t h e Amsden Formation h a s an upper massive c h e r t y

c a r b o n a t e , a middle r e d s h a l e and s i l t s t o n e , and a s i m i l a r b a s a l

q u a r t z sand, t h e Darwin (Mallory, 1967). Where i t i s u n f r a c t u r e d

t h e Amsden h y d r o l o g i c a l l y i s o l a t e s t h e Tensleep and Madison (Huntoon,

1976).

Thickness of t h e Minnelusa Formation and i t s e q u i v a l e n t s v a r i e s

from over 1,400 f e e t i n s o u t h e a s t e r n Niobrara County (Bates, 1955)

t o about 200 f e e t i n n o r t h e r n Sheridan County (Lowry and Cummings,

1966), due t o b o t h nondeposition and r e g i o n a l e r o s i o n a l t r u n c a t i o n

( F o s t e r , 1958). Measured s u r f a c e s e c t i o n s i n t h e Black H i l l s may

b e 250 f e e t t h i n n e r than nearby s u b s u r f a c e s e c t i o n s due t o a n h y d r i t e

d i s s o l u t i o n i n outcrop a r e a s (Bowles and Braddock, 1963).

Permo-Triassic Aauif e r s

Minnekahta Limestone

The Permian Minnekahta Limestone was d e p o s i t e d over much of

t h e Powder River b a s i n b u t i s considered a p o t e n t i a l a q u i f e r only

i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n . It i s u n d e r l a i n by t h e Opeche

Shale and o v e r l a i n by t h e Glendo Shale. I n t h e southwestern p a r t

of t h e b a s i n i t i s o f t e n considered a member of t h e Goose Egg Formation.

The Minnekahata i s a thin-bedded limestone i n Crook County

(Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). I n o t h e r p a r t s of t h e b a s i n i t may

be d o l o m i t i c o r a n h y d r i t i c (Privrasky and o t h e r s , 1958). Thickness

v a r i e s from 10 f e e t i n t h e southwestern p a r t of t h e b a s i n t o over

50 f e e t i n t h e Black H i l l s . The limestone i s absent i n Sheridan

County (Privrasky and o t h e r s , 1958) .

Chugwater Formation

The water-bearing T r i a s s i c Chugwater Formation of t h e southern

and western p a r t s of t h e b a s i n i s i n p a r t s t r a t i g r a p h i c a l l y e q u i v a l e n t

t o t h e upper p a r t of t h e S p e a r f i s h Formation i n t h e Black H i l l s .

I n most of t h e b a s i n t h e formation c o n s i s t s of 600 t o 700 f e e t of

"redbeds" which a r e predominantly s i l t s t o n e , w i t h c l a y s t o n e s and

sandstones ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972; Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). In

t h e Black H i l l s a r e a t h e lower p a r t of t h e formation i n c o r p o r a t e s

massive gypsum beds (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). I n Natrona County

t h e Alcova limestone and Crow Mountain Sandstone members o v e r l i e

t h e "redbed" sequence ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972) b u t i n t h e Black H i l l s

e q u i v a l e n t u n i t s a r e a b s e n t (Privrasky and o t h e r s , 1958). The Alcova

i s a 1 0 t o 20 f o o t t h i c k limestone; t h e Crow Mountain i s a red o r

orange fine-grained c a l c e r o u s sandstone, o f t e n s i l t y , which i s about

100 f e e t t h i c k (Privrasky and o t h e r s , 1958). P o r o s i t y of t h e Crow

Mountain i s 25 p e r c e n t a t t h e T i s d a l e a n t i c l i n e (Wyoming Geological

A s s o c i a t i o n , 1958).
 Sundance Aquifer

Sundance Format i o n

The J u r a s s i c Sundance Formation i s p r e s e n t throughout t h e Powder

River b a s i n and is l o c a l l y important a s a water source i n Crook County.

It unconformably o v e r l i e s e i t h e r t h e J u r a s s i c Gypsum Springs Forma-

t i o n , where t h i s formation i s p r e s e n t i n t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e

b a s i n , o r t h e T r i a s s i c Chugwater ( S p e a r f i s h ) Formation. Contact

w i t h t h e o v e r l y i n g Morrison Formation is g e n e r a l l y conformable and

often gradational.

T y p i c a l l y , t h e Sundance i s d i v i d e d i n t o t h e n o n g l a u c o n i t i c ,

o f t e n r e d and sandy "lower Sundance" and t h e g l a u c o n i t i c , shaley

"upper Sundance" (Love, 1958), which r e p r e s e n t d i f f e r e n t southward

marine t r a n s g r e s s i o n s (Peterson, 1958). Imlay (1947) recognized

f i v e members i n t h e Black H i l l s ; i n ascending o r d e r they a r e t h e

Canyon Springs Sandstone, Stockade Beaver Shale, H u l e t t Sandstone,

LAK, and Redwater Shale members. The f i r s t f o u r of Imlay's members

a r e e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e "lower Sundance" and t h e Redwater Shale i s

t h e "upper Sundance" (Peterson, 1958). Contacts between members

of t h e "lower Sundance" a r e g r a d a t i o n a l (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964;

P e t e r s o n , 1958) w h i l e t h e lower c o n t a c t of t h e Redwater ("upper Sun-

dance") i s sharp (Love, 1958; Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964).

The Sundance Formation t h i c k e n s t o t h e n o r t h , ranging from 150

t o 400 f e e t t h i c k i n t h e b a s i n . Thickness of i n d i v i d u a l members

of t h e formation i s v a r i a b l e b u t i n g e n e r a l s h a l e s t h i n where sand-

s t o n e s t h i c k e n (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964) .

 The Canyon Springs Sandstone Member ranges up t o 40 f e e t i n

t h i c k n e s s i n Crook County, i s discontinuous, and i s a very f i n e -

grained c a l c e r o u s sandstone which can l o c a l l y be c o a r s e and

conglomeratic (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964). I n t h e Glendo a r e a Canyon

Springs (?) Sandstones range up t o about 75 f e e t t h i c k and a r e c o a r s e ,

q u a r t z o s e , and may be o o l i t i c (Love, 1958).

The H u l e t t Sandstone Member is t h e p r i n c i p a l water-bearing

horizon. It i s a fine-grained, c a l c e r o u s , t h i n - t o thick-bedded,

well-cemented sandstone which averages 70 f e e t t h i c k , ranging from

55 t o 90 f e e t (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964). The sandstone

is b e s t developed w i t h i n t h e b a s i n i n Crook County.

P o r o s i t y of Sundance Formation sands ranges from 11 t o 30 p e r c e n t

a t producing o i l f i e l d s i n t h e southern b a s i n (Table I V - 7 ) .

Dakota Aauif er Svstem

Lakota Formation

The Lakota, t h e lower member of t h e Inyan Kara Group, u n d e r l i e s

most of t h e Powder River b a s i n and i s exposed o r n e a r t h e s u r f a c e

over l a r g e a r e a s on t h e western f l a n k s of t h e Black H i l l s , where

i t i s a n important a q u i f e r . I n t h e southern and western b a s i n e q u i v a l e n t

s t r a t a a r e included i n t h e b a s a l p a r t of t h e Cloverly Formation

(Waage, 1959). Contact w i t h t h e underlying Morrison Formation i s

v a r i a b l e , ranging from conformable g r a d a t i o n t o l o c a l angular uncon-

f o r m i t y , and i s o f t e n a r b i t r a r i l y placed a t t h e base of t h e f i r s t

massive sandstone above Morrison c l a y s t o n e s (Waage, 1959).

The Lakota i s a v a r i e d sequence of c o n t i n e n t a l rocks c o n s i s t i n g

of overlapping l e n t i c u l a r q u a r t z o s e channel sandstones and conglomerates,

interbedded w i t h s i l t s t o n e s , c l a y s t o n e s , and minor limestones and

c o a l s (Waage, 1959). The composition changes r a p i d l y , both l a t e r a l l y

and v e r t i c a l l y , b u t i n g e n e r a l t h e Lakota f i n e s upward i n t o a sequence

of v a r i e g a t e d blocky c l a y s t o n e s and s i l t y c l a y s t o n e s sometimes termed

t h e Fuson Shale (Waage, 1958). The upper boundary of t h e Lakota

i s a t r a n s g r e s s i v e disconformity (Waage, 1959).

Lakota t h i c k n e s s i s extremely v a r i a b l e , ranging from 50 t o

300 f e e t i n Crook County (Whitcomb and Gordon, 1964), and up t o

370 f e e t i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n ( ~ o d s o n and 0-thers, 1973). he

e n t i r e Cloverly Formation i s about 150 f e e t t h i c k i n t h e western

b a s i n (Hodson and o t h e r s , l 9 7 3 ) , b u t i n p l a c e s only t h e b a s a l 30 f e e t

i s sandstone (Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966).

P o r o s i t y of t h e Lakota, determined a t a few producing o i l f i e l d s ,

i s between 1 5 and 20 p e r c e n t (Table IV-9).

F a l l River Formation

The F a l l River Formation i s an important shallow water source

i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e Powder River b a s i n . It i s t h e upper

member of t h e Inyan Kara Group and is p r i n c i p a l l y marine and marginal

marine i n d e p o s i t i o n a l environment, i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e c o n t i n e n t a l

phase r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e Lakota (Waage, 1959). I n t h e western b a s i n

t h e formation i s l e s s d i s t i n c t i v e ; t h e " r u s t y beds" of t h e upper

Cloverly are e q u i v a l e n t . The F a l l River i s termed t h e "Dakota"

by t h e petroleum i n d u s t r y (Runge, 1968).

The F a l l River i s dominantly fine-grained quartzose and

l o c a l l y micaceous sandstones c o n t a i n i n g s i g n i f i c a n t f e r r u g i n o u s

m a t e r i a l (Waage, 1959). Thin-bedded s h a l e s and s i l t s t o n e s a r e

interbedded w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l sandstone bodies. Extensive b l a n k e t

sandstones and more g e o g r a p h i c a l l y l i m i t e d channel and b a r sandstones

a r e a l l p r e s e n t (Dondanville, 1963).

Thickness of t h e F a l l River i s f a i r l y uniform, ranging from

110 t o 160 f e e t i n t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n (Waage, 1958). A t i t s top

t h e formation g r a d e s r a t h e r a b r u p t l y i n t o t h e conformably o v e r l y i n g

S k u l l Creek (Thermopolis) Shale (Waage, l 9 5 9 ) , which i s considered

a s e a l i n g caprock by H a r r i s (1976).

Sandstone p o r o s i t y i n the formation i s v a r i a b l e due t o t h e

wide r a n g e of d e p o s i t i o n a l environments, b u t i n g e n e r a l , average

o i l f i e l d p o r o s i t i e s range from 1 5 t o 20 p e r c e n t (Table I V - 9 ) .

Secondary f r a c t u r e p o r o s i t y i s l o c a l l y encountered (Runge, 1968).

~ewcastle/Muddy Sandstone

Muddy Sandstone i s a common s u b s u r f a c e t e r m used by t h e

petroleum i n d u s t r y i n t h e Powder River b a s h . It c o r r e l a t e s

w i t h t h e Newcastle and Dynneson formations of t h e Black H i l l s (Wulf,

1963, 1968). It i s a sequence of a t l e a s t f i v e l e n t i c u l a r f i n e -

g r a i n e d s l i g h t l y c l a y - f i l l e d q u a r t z o s e sandstones which a r e interbedded

w i t h s i l t s t o n e s and s h a l e s , l i e unconformably between t h e S k u l l

Creek and Mowry s h a l e s , and l a t e r a l l y grade i n t o t h e s e u n i t s .

The ~ewcastle/Muddy i s a westward e x t e n s i o n of time-equivalent strata

which comprise t h e Dakota Formation, an important a r t e s i a n a q u i f e r

e a s t of t h e Black H i l l s .

Aggregate t h i c k n e s s of sandstones comprising t h e Muddy i s 0

t o 140 f e e t (Stone, 1972). The l e n t i c u l a r n a t u r e of t h e i n d i v i d u a l

sandstones and t h e p r e s e n c e of i n t e r v e n i n g s h a l e s imply t h a t t h e

i n d i v i d u a l sandstones could b e h y d r o l o g i c a l l y i s o l a t e d . Limited

o i l f i e l d d a t a (Stone, 1972) and geochemical d a t a (Wulf, 1963) support

t h i s hypothesis.

Average sandstone p o r o s i t i e s a r e 18 and 20 p e r c e n t f o r t h e

lower and upper Muddy sandstones, r e s p e c t i v e l y (Wulf, 1963).

P o r o s i t i e s range from 5 t o 27 p e r c e n t (Table IV-9) , reflecting the

l i t h o l o g i c v a r i a b i l i t y of t h e formation.

I s o l a t e d Upper Cretaceous Sandstone Aquifers

F r o n t i e r Formation

The F r o n t i e r Formation i s a marine and d e l t a i c e l a s t i c u n i t

p r e s e n t i n t h e southwest p a r t of t h e Powder River b a s i n . It i s

up t o 1,000 f e e t t h i c k i n Natrona County and c o n t a i n s s e v e r a l l o c a l l y

water-bearing sand horizons, known a s t h e Wall Creek Sands, which

grade l a t e r a l l y t o s h a l e s (Haun, 1958). Formations of approximately

e q u i v a l e n t age i n c l u d e i n t h e w e s t t h e lower Cody Shale and i n t h e

e a s t t h e B e l l e Fourche S h a l e , Greenhorn Limestone, and C a r l i l e Shale.

The Turner Sandy Member of t h e C a r l i l e Shale is equated w i t h t h e

Wall Creek Sandstone Member a t t h e t o p of t h e F r o n t i e r (Haun, 1958).

The F r o n t i e r i s o v e r l a i n by t h e Cody Shale and u n d e r l a i n by t h e

Mowry Shale.

The F r o n t i e r (Wall Creek) sandstones a r e more prominent n e a r

t h e t o p of t h e formation and are u s u a l l y interbedded w i t h and hydro-

l o g i c a l l y i s o l a t e d by s i l t s t o n e s and s h a l e s . The sandstones a r e

t y p i c a l l y t h i n l y bedded and v e r y f i n e t o fine-grained b u t coarsen

upward (Merewether and o t h e r s , 1976). They a r e q u a r t z o s e

b u t a l s o c o n t a i n f e l d s p a r s , c h e r t , and rock fragments (Goodell,

1962) and a r e o f t e n c a l c e r o u s and g l a u c o n i t i c (Merewether

and o t h e r s , 1976). Aggregate sand t h i c k n e s s up t o 300 f e e t i s

p r e s e n t i n Natrona County b u t d e c r e a s e s t o t h e n o r t h and e a s t

(Goodell, 1962).

Reported p o r o s i t i e s of F r o n t i e r Formation oil-producing h o r i z o n s

range from 1 2 t o 26 p e r c e n t (Table IV-lo).

Cody Shale

The Cody Shale i s a t h i c k marine s h a l e which i s e q u i v a l e n t t o

t h e lower p a r t of t h e P i e r r e Shale and a l s o t h e Niobrara and C a r l i l e

s h a l e s of t h e e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n . I n t h e western p a r t of

t h e b a s i n i t l i e s conformably between and i n t e r f i n g e r s w i t h t h e

F r o n t i e r Format i o n , below i t , and t h e Mesaverde Formation, above

it. I n t h e western and c e n t r a l p a r t of t h e b a s i n i t i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l

s h a l e - i s o l a t e d p o t e n t i a l l y water-bearing marine sandstone b o d i e s ,

among which a r e , i n descending o r d e r , t h e Sussex, Shannon, and Gammon

Sands (Crews and o t h e r s , 1976). The Shannon Sands a r e contempora-

neous w i t h t h e Groat sandstone bed of t h e Gammon Ferruginous Member

of t h e P i e r r e Shale i n Crook County (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964)

which may p o s s i b l y have l o c a l water-bearing p o t e n t i a l (Whitcomb and

Morris, 1964).

I n d i v i d u a l sand b o d i e s a r e d i s c o n t i n u o u s , range up t o 60 f e e t

t h i c k , and number up t o a dozen (Crews and o t h e r s , 1976). They

t y p i c a l l y occur w i t h i n l i m i t e d s t r a t i g r a p h i c i n t e r v a l s , a r e up

t o a few m i l e s wide, 30 m i l e s l o n g , and t r e n d approximately

N. 30' W., although t h e Gammon Sands a r e i n t e r p r e t e d a s more s h e e t -

l i k e (crews and o t h e r s , 1976). The sandstones a r e thin-bedded

and vary from t a b u l a r t o crossbedded. Usually they a r e f i n e -

g r a i n e d , g l a u c o n i t i c q u a r t z o s e sand, which may c o n t a i n c l a y c l a s t s

(Spearing, 1976).

Shannon p o r o s i t y ranges from 1 2 t o 25 p e r c e n t a t producing

o i l f i e l d s (Table IV-lo).

Mesaverde Formation

Within t h e Powder River b a s i n i n Wyoming t h e Mesaverde Formation

i s a r e l a t i v e l y untapped p o t e n t i a l l y important a q u i f e r (Hodson and

o t h e r s , 1973). It c o n s i s t s of two p r i n c i p a l sandstone tongues, t h e

Teapot and Parkman sands, along w i t h i n t e r v e n i n g s h a l e s . The formation

l i e s between t h e Cody and Lewis s h a l e s i n t h e western p a r t of t h e

b a s i n and g r a d e s i n t o t h e P i e r r e Shale t o t h e e a s t . Within t h e

b a s i n i t i s t h i c k e s t i n Natrona County, r e a c h i n g up t o 1,000 f e e t

t h i c k ( P u r c e l l , 1961). The sandstones r e p r e s e n t d e l t a i c d e p o s i t i o n

d u r i n g r e g r e s s i o n s of t h e s e a d e p o s i t i n g t h e P i e r r e Shale ( P u r c e l l ,

1961).

The Parkman Sandstone Member r e p r e s e n t s t h e base of t h e formation

and i s v e r y f i n e t o f i n e - g r a i n e d , micaceous, g l a u c o n i t i c , and c a l -

c e r o u s sandstones ( P u r c e l l , 1961). Grains a r e f a i r l y w e l l s o r t e d

and a n g u l a r . Coals and carbonaceous s h a l e s a r e o f t e n p r e s e n t (Headley,

1958). Bedding r a n g e s from t h i n t o massive b u t c o n t i n u i t y of i n d i -

v i d u a l beds i s l i m i t e d ( P u r c e l l , 1961). N e t t h i c k n e s s of porous

sands r a n g e s up t o 250 f e e t i n Natrona County (Headley, 1958) a l t h o u g h

t o t a l t h i c k n e s s of t h e Parkman i s up t o 500 f e e t ( C r i s t and Lowry,

1972).

The upper member of t h e Mesaverde Formation i s t h e Teapot Sand-

s t o n e Member, which i s l i t h o l o g i c a l l y s i m i l a r t o t h e Parkman sand

but has shale partings. Net Teapot p o r o s i t y w i t h i n t h e b a s i n ranges

up t o 100 f e e t (Headley, 1958),

A t t h e Dead Horse F i e l d west of Gillette p o r o s i t y of t h e o i l -

producing zone i s 1 5 t o 21 p e r c e n t .

Fox H i l l s / ~ a n c eAquifer System

Fox H i l l s Sandstone

The Fox H i l l s i s a d i s t i n c t i v e water-bearing sandstone d e p o s i t e d

a s n e a r s h o r e sand b o d i e s i n t h e r e t r e a t i n g L a t e Cretaceous s e a .

It conformably o v e r l i e s marine s h a l e s , v a r i o u s l y c a l l e d t h e Lewis,

P i e r r e , o r Bearpaw, and conformably u n d e r l i e s t h e nonmarine Lance

Format i o n ,

The sandstone i s g e n e r a l l y f i n e - t o medium-grained, thin t o

massive bedded, weakly cemented, f r i a b l e , l e n t i c u l a r , and interbedded

w i t h carbonaceous s h a l e and s i l t s t o n e s . I n t h e southwestern b a s i n

t h e b a s a l p a r t of t h e Fox H i l l s i s a massive, c l i f f - f o r m i n g sandstone

(Kohout, 1957), w h i l e t h e upper p a r t h a s i n c r e a s e d s h a l e i n t e r b e d s

( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972). I n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n b a s i n l i m o n i t i c concre-

t i o n s a r e common (Whitcomb, 1965),

I n t h e s o u t h e r n b a s i n t h i c k n e s s of t h e Fox H i l l s ranges from

400 t o 500 f e e t i n Niobrara County (Whitcomb, 1965) t o 700 f e e t

i n Natrona County ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972). The sandstone t h i n s

t o t h e n o r t h and a l s o c o n t a i n s more s h a l e . I n Crook County i t i s

150 t o 200 f e e t t h i c k (Whitcomb and Morris, 1964). I n t h e northwestern

b a s i n t h e Fox H i l l s i s n o t mapped a s a s e p a r a t e u n i t b u t e q u i v a l e n t

s t r a t a a r e included i n t h e b a s a l Lance Formation (Whitcomb and o t h e r s ,

1966).
Lance Formation

The c o n t i n e n t a l d e p o s i t s of t h e Upper Cretaceous Lance Formation

a r e c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e r e t r e a t i n g s e a which d e p o s i t e d t h e

Fox H i l l s . A t any s i n g l e p o i n t t h e nonmarine Lance g e n e r a l l y o v e r l i e s

t h e marine Fox H i l l s b u t they may l o c a l l y i n t e r f i n g e r (Lowry, 1972).

The upper c o n t a c t of t h e Lance i s a r b i t r a r i l y d e f i n e d on t h e b a s i s

of a p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l change r a t h e r than l i t h o l o g y ; t h e conformably

o v e r l y i n g Tullock Member of t h e F o r t Union Formation c o n t a i n s a

T e r t i a r y f l o r a and no d i n o s a u r bones (Brown, 1958).

The Lance i s t y p i c a l l y interbedded, l i g h t yellow grey, f i n e -

t o medium-grained, crossbedded, l e n t i c u l a r water-bearing sandstones,

grey carbonaceous s h a l e s , and s i l t s t o n e s . It a l s o c o n t a i n s t h i n

c o a l s and b e n t o n i t i c beds (Dunlap, 1958). I n d i v i d u a l sandstone

beds a r e a few i n c h e s t o a few f e e t t h i c k . I n Montana t h e upper

p a r t of t h e Lance Formation i s more f i n e - g r a i n e d .

Thickness of t h e formation v a r i e s from 3,000 f e e t i n Natrona

County ( C r i s t and Lowry, 1972) t o 1,600 t o 2,500 i n Niobrara County

(Whitcomb, 1965) t o l e s s than 1,000 f e e t i n Crook County (Whitcomb

and Morris, 1964). I n Johnson County t h e r e p o r t e d t h i c k n e s s i s

1,950 t o 2,200 f e e t (Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966), b u t t h i s i n c l u d e s

s t r a t a e q u i v a l e n t t o t h e Fox H i l l s and Tullock.

Tullock Member of t h e F o r t Union Formation

The Tullock Member of t h e F o r t Union h a s been s e p a r a t e l y mapped

only i n t h e n o r t h e a s t p a r t of t h e Powder River b a s i n . Both i t s

upper and lower boundaries a r e conformable, t r a n s i t i o n a l zones.

Lowry (1972) i n f o r m a l l y r e d e f i n e d t h e Tullock a s a t i m e t r a n s g r e s s i v e

rock s t r a t i g r a p h i c u n i t and recognized e q u i v a l e n t s t r a t a i n t h e Upper

Lance i n t h e w e s t e r n b a s i n .

O v e r a l l l i t h o l o g y of t h e Tullock i s s i m i l a r t o t h e Lance b u t

s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g c r i t e r i a have been suggested. Robinson and

o t h e r s (1964) considered t h e Tullock l i g h t e r i n c o l o r , more evenly

bedded, and r i c h e r i n c o a l . Dunlap (1958) considered Tullock sands

d i r t y , conglomeratic, and c o a l - r i c h i n comparison t o t h e Lance. Lowry

(1972) found t h a t geophysical l o g s show t h e Tullock h a s h i g h e r

e l e c t r i c a l r e s i s t i v i t y and i s thinner-bedded than t h e Lance.

Mapped t h i c k n e s s of t h e Tullock i n t h e e a s t e r n b a s i n i s g e n e r a l l y

about 1,000 f e e t b u t i t t h i n s t o 500 f e e t a t t h e Montana-Wyoming

boundary (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964) . Lowry (1972) found Tullock

l i t h o l o g y , p r e v i o u s l y mapped a s t h e Lance Formation, v a r i e d from 1,400

f e e t t h i c k i n t h e southwestern b a s i n t o about 700 f e e t n e a r Sheridan.

Wasatch/Fort Union Aquifer System

F o r t Union Formation

The F o r t Union Formation c o n s i s t s of a s much a s 4,000 f e e t of

Paleocene c o n t i n e n t a l d e p o s i t s , t h i c k e s t i n t h e southwest, d e r i v e d

from t h e surrounding low p o s i t i v e topographic f e a t u r e s of Paleocene

time. It i s conformably u n d e r l a i n by t h e Cretaceous Lance Formation

and t h e g r a d a t i o n a l c o n t a c t i s a r b i t r a r i l y d e f i n e d ( s e e above). The

Eocene Wasatch Formation unconformably o v e r l i e s t h e F o r t Union.

I n t h e n o r t h p a r t of t h e b a s i n t h e formation h a s been d i v i d e d

i n t o t h r e e members: t h e Tullock ( s e e above), Lebo Shale, and Tongue

River, i n ascending o r d e r (Robinson and o t h e r s , 1964). The Lebo Shale

i s about 250 f e e t of dark grey c l a y s t o n e and s h a l e w i t h beds of

brown carbonaceous s h a l e , t h i n d i s c o n t i n u o u s l e n s e s of fine-grained

sandstone, and an absence of c o a l . Increased s h a l e i n t h e Lebo

in comparison t o t h e underlying Tullock i s d i s t i n c t i v e on geophysical

l o g s (Lowry, 1972), and makes t h e member a p a r t i a l hydrologic b a r r i e r .

The Tongue River i s about 800 f e e t t h i c k i n t h e n o r t h e a s t b u t t h i c k e n s

westward. It i s l i g h t - c o l o r e d interbedded f i n e - g r a i n e d sandstone,

s i l t s t o n e , sandy s h a l e , and c o a l . The Tongue River and Lebo a r e

n o t d i f f e r e n t i a t e d i n e a s t e r n b a s i n o u t c r o p s s o u t h of T. 47 N.

I n t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t of t h e b a s i n , Sharp and Gibbons (1964)

have d e s c r i b e d a two-fold d i v i s i o n of t h e F o r t Union. The lower

member i s p r i n c i p a l l y flat-bedded clayey f ine-grained sandstone

w i t h minor amounts of s i l t s t o n e and c o a l w h i l e t h e upper member

i s c l a y e y s i l t s t o n e c o n t a i n i n g i r o n s t o n e l e n s e s and c o a l s .

I n t h e w e s t e r n b a s i n t h e r e a r e l o c a l i z e d l e n t i c u l a r conglomeratic

beds and coarse-grained sandstones n e a r t h e middle of t h e formation

(Whitcomb and o t h e r s , 1966).

Wasatch Formation

The Eocene Wasatch Formation r e a c h e s a t h i c k n e s s of a s much

a s 1,600 f e e t i n southwestern Campbell County although i n much of

t h e b a s i n e r o s i o n h a s removed about h a l f t h e o r i g i n a l l y d e p o s i t e d

material. The ~ a s a t c h / ~ o Union

rt c o n t a c t i s a pronounced a n g u l a r

unconformity i n t h e w e s t e r n b a s i n b u t becomes paraconformable t o

the east. The e x a c t s t r a t i g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n of t h e c o n t a c t i n t h e

e a s t e r n b a s i n h a s been d i s p u t e d (Brown, 1958; Sharp and Gibbons,

1964), b u t i t a p p e a r s t o c o i n c i d e w i t h s u b t l e m i n e r a l o g i c a l and geo-

chemical changes i n t h e sandstones (Connor and o t h e r s , 1976). The

c o n t a c t w i t h t h e o v e r l y i n g l o c a l remnants of t h e Oligocene White

River Formation is an e r o s i o n a l unconformity.

T y p i c a l l y t h e Wasatch i s v a r i e g a t e d c l a y s t o n e s , l e n t i c u l a r

and continuous thin-bedded fine-grained water-bearing sandstones,

and t h i n c o a l and carbonaceous s h a l e beds (Love, 1952). The sandstones

a r e g e n e r a l l y more a r k o s i c and v a r i a b l e than those of t h e F o r t Union.

Near t h e Bighorn Mountains t h e Wasatch i s d i v i s i b l e i n t o t h e Kingsbury

Conglomerate, c o n t a i n i n g well-rounded cobbles of sedimentary rocks,

and t h e o v e r l y i n g Montcrief boulder beds, which i n c l u d e Precambrian

rock fragments (Hose, 1955). Both members grade l a t e r a l l y i n t o

t y p i c a l Wasatch beds.

P o r o s i t y of Wasatch Formation sands measured a t t h e Highland

Mine i n c e n t r a l Converse County averaged 29 p e r c e n t (Wyoming Department

of Environmental Q u a l i t y mine permit f i l e s ) .

Coal and "Clinker "

Coals i n t h e T e r t i a r y rock sequence a r e s p e c i f i c a l l y mentioned

because they a r e t h e only water-bearing s t r a t a w i t h i n t h e a q u i f e r

system w i t h a r e a l e x t e n t . I n d i v i d u a l c o a l s a r e up t o 80 f e e t t h i c k ,

occur most abundantly i n t h e upper p a r t of t h e F o r t Union, and under-

l i e most of t h e c e n t r a l b a s i n .

Associated w i t h Powder River b a s i n c o a l beds a r e " c l i n k e r "

areas. These a r e r e g i o n s of f r a c t u r e d , baked, and fused bedrock,

which r e s u l t from near-surface burning of c o a l beds. Clinker bodies

which a r e b o t h s a t u r a t e d and r e g i o n a l l y e x t e n s i v e can produce l a r g e

q u a n t i t i e s of good q u a l i t y water.
 Middle T e r t i a r y Aquifers

Within t h e study a r e a Middle T e r t i a r y rocks a r e e x t e n s i v e l y

p r e s e n t only i n t h e southern p a r t s of Converse and Niobrara c o u n t i e s ,

where they unconformably o v e r l i e o l d e r rocks.

White River Formation

The Oligocene White River Formation i s predominantly s i l t s t o n e

and c l a y s t o n e b u t may a l s o c o n t a i n numerous channel d e p o s i t s of sand-

s t o n e and conglomerate. Thickness ranges from about 550 f e e t i n

Niobrara County t o a r e p o r t e d maximum of 1,500 i n Converse County

(Rapp, 1953).

I n Niobrara County t h e lower 200 f e e t i s a c o l o r banded s i l t y

c l a y s t o n e equated w i t h t h e Chadron Formation i n Nebraska, while t h e

upper 350 f e e t i s a massive pinkish-grey s i l t s t o n e equated w i t h t h e

Brule Formation (Whitcomb, 1965).

West of Douglas t h e formation i s a massive buff s i l t s t o n e b u t

south of Douglas i t i s more c l a y r i c h and c o n t a i n s i n c r e a s e d numbers

of channel sandstones (Rapp, 1953).

Rapp (1953) r e p o r t s t h a t numerous small f r a c t u r e s w i t h i n t h e

formation enhance i t s water-bearing c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .

Arikaree Format i o n

The Miocene Arikaree Formation i s a massive sandstone, c o n t a i n i n g

l e s s e r amounts of s i l t s t o n e , v o l c a n i c ash, and l e n t i c u l a r well-cemented

c o n c r e t i o n a r y sandstone, and i s u n d e r l a i n by a p e r s i s t e n t c o a r s e

b a s a l conglomerate. Although about 500 f e e t t h i c k n e a r Lusk, e a s t

of t h e study a r e a boundary, i t t h i n s t o less than 100 f e e t i n Converse

County.
 It unconformably o v e r l i e s t h e White River Formation and, because

i t i s more r e s i s t a n t t o e r o s i o n , c a p s numerous r i d g e s w i t h i n t h e

area. Locally, where t h e b a s a l conglomerate i s a b s e n t , t h e two

formations appear t o b e i n g r a d a t i o n a l c o n t a c t .
 A P P E N D I X C

C H E M I C A L A N A L Y S E S O F P O W D E R R I V E R

B A S I N G R O U N D W A T E R S

S A M P L E D B Y W R R I
 Table C-1. Chemical analyses of Powder River basin ground waters sampled by WRRI, June, 1980. (Values reported as mg/l unless specified otherwise).

26 ca 18 bd 21 bb 26 da 1 bb 27 bd 5 bbb 13 cb 26 cba 30 aa 36 bb 14 cd
Aquifer : ~adisonb Madison Fall River Lakota Fall River Lakota Fall River L,anceC Fox Hills Fox Hills Fox Hills LanceC Lance

Field Temperature (OC) 74 15 15 15 13 16 18 18 17 15 27

Field pH (units) 7.0 8.4 9.0 8.2 7.3 7.5 8.2 8.5 7.2 7.3 7.8
Conductivity
(micromhos @ 68OF) 3450 3450 1000 885 3050 2380 435 2000 2225 3775 1400 400 1335
Total Suspended Solids 1.6 10.0 8.8 0.4 59.6 4.8 3.6 2.8 2.0 3.2 2.8 32.2 0.4
Total Dissolved Solids 2954 2886 800 690 2552 2136 316 1524 1728 3074 1070 288 1004
Calcium 317 327 3 3 68 168 34 9 5 56 42 15 21
Magnesium 60 60 1 1 27 46 16 3 1 15 25 2 11
Sodium 492 496 250 232 750 436 44 580 625 950 308 96 334
Potassium 50 46 3 2 16 35 7 6 5 10 6 8 6
Bicarbonate 93 122 122 207 305 342 195 669 493 420 634 264 634
Carbonate 0 0 60 48 0 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 0
Sulfate 1200 1075 350 240 1290 1060 85 599 733 1700 330 18 268
I--L
Chloride 568 648 10 12 128 12 6 10 20 36 12 24 8
Arsenic (0.01) a N.D. a N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N .D. N .D. N.D. N.D. N.D.
Barium (0.05) N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D.
Cadmium (0.01) N.D. N.D. N. D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D.
Chromium (0.05) N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D.
Flouride 3.5 3.6 - 0.42 0.80 2.50 0.11 0.40 0.19 0.71 0.33 0.39 1.17 0.89
Lead (0.05) N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D.
Mercury (0.001) N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D.
Nitrate (N) (0.01) 0.02 0.33 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.02 N.D. 0.04 N.D. N.D. N.D. 0.01 0.01
Selenium (0.01) N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. 0.02 N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. 0.02 N.D. N.D. N.D.
Silver (0.01) N . D. N. D. N.D. N. D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N.D. N. D. N . D. N.D.
Uranium (U308) (0.001) 0.012 0.008 0.019 0.015 0.023 0.010 0.006 0.001 0.020 0.021 N.D. 0.011 0.044

N.D. indicates not detected; number in parentheses is detection limit (mgll).

Owner claims well is completed in Tensleep and Madison aquifers.

Owner claims well is completed in Fox Hills aquifer.

 A P P E N D I X D

L O C A T I O N - N U M B E R I N G S Y S T E M
 W e l l l o c a t i o n s a r e d e s i g n a t e d by a numbering system based on

t h e f e d e r a l system of l a n d s u b d i v i s i o n .

The f i r s t number denotes t h e township, t h e second number d e n o t e s

t h e range, and t h e t h i r d number denotes t h e s e c t i o n . One o r more

l e t t e r s f o l l o w i n g t h e s e c t i o n number denote t h e l o c a t i o n w i t h i n t h e

section. The s e c t i o n i s d i v i d e d i n t o f o u r q u a r t e r s (160 a c r e s ) and

l e t t e r e d a , b , c , and d i n a counterclockwise d i r e c t i o n , beginning i n

the northeast quarter. S i m i l a r l y , each q u a r t e r may be f u r t h e r divided

i n t o q u a r t e r s (40 a c r e s ) and a g a i n i n t o 10-acre t r a c t s and l e t t e r e d

a s before. The f i r s t l e t t e r f o l l o w i n g t h e s e c t i o n number denotes

t h e q u a r t e r s e c t i o n ; t h e second l e t t e r denotes t h e q u a r t e r - q u a r t e r

s e c t i o n ; and t h e t h i r d l e t t e r , i f shown, d e n o t e s t h e q u a r t e r - q u a r t e r -

q u a r t e r s e c t i o n , o r 10-acre t r a c t (Figure D-1).

F i g u r e D-1. W e l l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n system based on township-range

subdivisions.