The ground-water system in the LaGrange Aquifer near LaGrange, southeastern Wyoming
Water-Resources Investigations Report
83-4024
By: W. B. Borchert
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Abstract
Groundwater is being developed from the La Grange aquifer in southeastern Wyoming. It consists of saturated permeable alluvium that is hydraulically connected with most of the underlying White River Group. In the area of principal interest east of Horse Creek, Hawk Springs Reservoir and 14 adjacent wells used to supplement surface-water supply in the reservoir are in a natural discharge area. Upgradient of the reservoir there are 28 irrigation wells in about a 6-square-mile area. In this area, water levels declined between 3 and 12 feet from 1973 to 1978 causing concern about the effects of well pumpage on the hydrologic system. A digital model was developed and used to simulate the two-dimensional groundwater flow system in the unconfined La Grange aquifer. Transient simulations were made for 1973-78 using 12 time periods and for 1978-80 using 25 time periods. The calibrated digital model was used to simulate four 6-month pumping alternatives including three hypothetical alternatives for the area of principal interest east of Horse Creek. The reservoir altitude was held constant, approximating a reservoir volume 7,000 acre-feet. Pumping alternative 1 simulated historic conditions for 1973-78 including monthly recharge from precipitation which was included in the next three pumping alternatives. For pumping alternative 1, the calculated rate of discharge at the end of the 6-month simulation was 5.2 cubic feet per second from the aquifer to the reservoir. At the end of the 6-month simulations for pumping alternatives 2 and 3, the calculated rate of discharge to the reservoir was decreased to 0.4 cubic feet per second by pumpage from the 14 wells and to 3.8 cubic feet per second by pumpage from the 28 irrigation wells. For pumping alternative 4, pumpage from the total 42 wells resulted in a 1.0 cubic feet per second loss from the reservoir to the aquifer. (USGS)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | The ground-water system in the LaGrange Aquifer near LaGrange, southeastern Wyoming |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 83-4024 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri834024 |
| Edition | - |
| Year Published | 1985 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey, |
| Contributing office(s) | WY-MT Water Science Center |
| Description | vi, 56 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm. |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |