The Smith River watershed is an important recreational and agricultural area in Meagher and Cascade counties in west-central Montana. Thousands of visitors travel to the area annually to float and fish the Smith River. Additionally, most of the water used to irrigate 36,000 acres of the upper Smith River watershed is withdrawn from the Smith River or its tributaries. During a recent drought, streamflow was not sufficient to meet the needs of all irrigators and recreationists, and minimum streamflow for fish viability was not met on several occasions. Largely in response to the lack of available surface water for irrigation, some irrigators have switched to or proposed switching from flood to sprinkler irrigation, and some have considered using groundwater as a source of irrigation water. The effect of these changes in irrigation practices on the hydrologic system in the upper Smith River watershed is not well understood. Existing data are not sufficient to adequately describe the hydrologic system and the existing interaction between the surface-water and groundwater systems in the watershed.
Objectives:
- Assess the groundwater and surface-water systems within the Smith River watershed including characterization of the hydrogeology, development of a conceptual groundwater-flow model, and characterization of streamflow.
- Assess the interaction between groundwater and surface water along the Smith River and its major tributaries.
- Estimate the water available in the system through development of a hydrologic framework and water budget.
- Evaluate the consumptive use of irrigated water.
- Provide large-scale background information that will improve the knowledge and understanding of the hydrology of the area and provide a basis for potential future studies of a more-detailed nature.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Using remote sensing to characterize and compare evapotranspiration from different irrigation regimes in the Smith River Watershed of central Montana
Evaluating the impact of irrigation on surface water – groundwater interaction and stream temperature in an agricultural watershed
A precipitation-runoff model for simulating natural streamflow conditions in the Smith River watershed, Montana, water years 1996-2008
Groundwater and surface-water interaction within the upper Smith River Watershed, Montana 2006-2010
Hydrologic data for an investigation of the Smith River Watershed through water year 2010
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The Smith River watershed is an important recreational and agricultural area in Meagher and Cascade counties in west-central Montana. Thousands of visitors travel to the area annually to float and fish the Smith River. Additionally, most of the water used to irrigate 36,000 acres of the upper Smith River watershed is withdrawn from the Smith River or its tributaries. During a recent drought, streamflow was not sufficient to meet the needs of all irrigators and recreationists, and minimum streamflow for fish viability was not met on several occasions. Largely in response to the lack of available surface water for irrigation, some irrigators have switched to or proposed switching from flood to sprinkler irrigation, and some have considered using groundwater as a source of irrigation water. The effect of these changes in irrigation practices on the hydrologic system in the upper Smith River watershed is not well understood. Existing data are not sufficient to adequately describe the hydrologic system and the existing interaction between the surface-water and groundwater systems in the watershed.
Objectives:
- Assess the groundwater and surface-water systems within the Smith River watershed including characterization of the hydrogeology, development of a conceptual groundwater-flow model, and characterization of streamflow.
- Assess the interaction between groundwater and surface water along the Smith River and its major tributaries.
- Estimate the water available in the system through development of a hydrologic framework and water budget.
- Evaluate the consumptive use of irrigated water.
- Provide large-scale background information that will improve the knowledge and understanding of the hydrology of the area and provide a basis for potential future studies of a more-detailed nature.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Using remote sensing to characterize and compare evapotranspiration from different irrigation regimes in the Smith River Watershed of central Montana
According to the 2005 U.S. Geological Survey national water use compilation, irrigation is the second largest use of fresh water in the United States, accounting for 37%, or 484.48 million cubic meters per day, of total freshwater withdrawal. Accurately estimating the amount of water withdrawals and actual consumptive water use (the difference between water withdrawals and return flow) for irrigatEvaluating the impact of irrigation on surface water – groundwater interaction and stream temperature in an agricultural watershed
Changes in groundwater discharge to streams caused by irrigation practices can influence stream temperature. Observations along two currently flood-irrigated reaches in the 640-square-kilometer upper Smith River watershed, an important agricultural and recreational fishing area in west-central Montana, showed a downstream temperature decrease resulting from groundwater discharge to the stream. A wA precipitation-runoff model for simulating natural streamflow conditions in the Smith River watershed, Montana, water years 1996-2008
This report documents the construction of a precipitation-runoff model for simulating natural streamflow in the Smith River watershed, Montana. This Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System model, constructed in cooperation with the Meagher County Conservation District, can be used to examine the general hydrologic framework of the Smith River watershed, including quantification of precipitation, evapGroundwater and surface-water interaction within the upper Smith River Watershed, Montana 2006-2010
The 125-mile long Smith River, a tributary of the Missouri River, is highly valued as an agricultural resource and for its many recreational uses. During a drought starting in about 1999, streamflow was insufficient to meet all of the irrigation demands, much less maintain streamflow needed for boating and viable fish habitat. In 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Meagher CoHydrologic data for an investigation of the Smith River Watershed through water year 2010
Hydrologic data collected through water year 2010 and compiled as part of a U.S. Geological Survey study of the water resources of the Smith River watershed in west-central Montana are presented in this report. Tabulated data presented in this report were collected at 173 wells and 65 surface-water sites. Figures include location maps of data-collection sites and hydrographs of streamflow. Digital - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.