Characterization and Quantification of Salinity Loads from Blacks Fork above Smiths Fork near Lyman, Wyoming Completed
Blacks Fork
Quantifying Salinity Loads
The Blacks Fork is a stream that contributes a salinity load to the Colorado River Basin. In order to quantify the salinity load, collection of continuous streamflow and specific conductance data, and monthly sampling for total-dissolved solids will occur from April 2018 through September 2019. Calculations of monthly and annual salinity loading from the Blacks Fork were published in 2021.
The Blacks Fork is a stream in Wyoming that starts in the Uinta Mountains and flows in a U-shaped path to Flaming Gorge Reservoir, becoming a tributary to the Green River in Wyoming. Application of irrigation water to fields located on top of some geologic materials, such as shales, allows infiltrating water to dissolve salts from the rocks. These dissolved minerals increase the salinity of Blacks Fork and nearby streams from surface-water irrigation return flows and baseflow from groundwater.
Previous investigations of the salinity of the Blacks Fork, downstream of the Smiths Fork, have found that the Blacks Fork does contribute salinity to the Colorado Basin. In order to determine the contribution from the Blacks Fork upstream of the Smiths Fork,
- a streamgage (site 09219200) has been installed and will begin collecting continuous streamflow and specific conductance begining in April 2018.
- Monthy water samples for total-dissolved solids analysis will be collected from April 2018 through September 2019.
- Using methods described in Clark and Davidson, 2009, a regression equation between the total-dissolved solids concentrations and continuous specific conductance will enable continuous total-dissolved solids concentrations to be calculated and salinity loads will be determined for the 2018 and 2019 irrigation seasons.
Additionally, samples will be collected at a total of seven sites during three samples events in both 2018 and 2019 irrigation seasons to describe the water-quality changes in the Blacks Fork as it flows downstream approximately 35 miles from the outlet of Meeks Cabin Reservoir to the Blacks Fork above Smiths Fork streamgage.
These data will help the Colorado River Basin Salinity Forum members determine areas of the Blacks Fork drainage basin that are contributing the highest salinity loads to the system.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Blacks Fork synoptic sampling sites
Streamflow and water-quality samples collected during 2018 and 2019
Discharge and dissolved-solids characteristics of Blacks Fork above Smiths Fork, Wyoming, April 2018 through September 2019
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The Blacks Fork is a stream that contributes a salinity load to the Colorado River Basin. In order to quantify the salinity load, collection of continuous streamflow and specific conductance data, and monthly sampling for total-dissolved solids will occur from April 2018 through September 2019. Calculations of monthly and annual salinity loading from the Blacks Fork were published in 2021.
The Blacks Fork is a stream in Wyoming that starts in the Uinta Mountains and flows in a U-shaped path to Flaming Gorge Reservoir, becoming a tributary to the Green River in Wyoming. Application of irrigation water to fields located on top of some geologic materials, such as shales, allows infiltrating water to dissolve salts from the rocks. These dissolved minerals increase the salinity of Blacks Fork and nearby streams from surface-water irrigation return flows and baseflow from groundwater.
Previous investigations of the salinity of the Blacks Fork, downstream of the Smiths Fork, have found that the Blacks Fork does contribute salinity to the Colorado Basin. In order to determine the contribution from the Blacks Fork upstream of the Smiths Fork,
- a streamgage (site 09219200) has been installed and will begin collecting continuous streamflow and specific conductance begining in April 2018.
- Monthy water samples for total-dissolved solids analysis will be collected from April 2018 through September 2019.
- Using methods described in Clark and Davidson, 2009, a regression equation between the total-dissolved solids concentrations and continuous specific conductance will enable continuous total-dissolved solids concentrations to be calculated and salinity loads will be determined for the 2018 and 2019 irrigation seasons.
Additionally, samples will be collected at a total of seven sites during three samples events in both 2018 and 2019 irrigation seasons to describe the water-quality changes in the Blacks Fork as it flows downstream approximately 35 miles from the outlet of Meeks Cabin Reservoir to the Blacks Fork above Smiths Fork streamgage.
These data will help the Colorado River Basin Salinity Forum members determine areas of the Blacks Fork drainage basin that are contributing the highest salinity loads to the system.
- Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Blacks Fork synoptic sampling sites
Streamflow and water-quality samples collected during 2018 and 2019
- Publications
Discharge and dissolved-solids characteristics of Blacks Fork above Smiths Fork, Wyoming, April 2018 through September 2019
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum was formed in 1973 to coordinate salinity control efforts among the States in the Colorado River Basin, including Wyoming. The Colorado River Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–320) authorized “the construction, operation, and maintenance of certain works in the Colorado River Basin to control the salinity of water delivered to users in theAuthorsCheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Jerrod D. Wheeler, Ruth M. Law, Shaun W. Moran - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.