The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has compiled estimates of water use in Montana and the rest of the United States at 5-year intervals since 1950.
As part of these efforts, county-level estimated use of water in Montana for 2015 was compiled for eight categories of use—irrigation, public supply, domestic, livestock, industrial, mining, thermoelectric power, and aquaculture. In 2015, preliminary estimates indicate that a total of about 9,810 million gallons of water per day (Mgal/d) were withdrawn from Montana's streams and aquifers for these eight categories of use.
- Surface water withdrawals totaled 9,610 Mgal/d (about 98 percent of total)
- Groundwater withdrawals totaled 200 Mgal/d (about 2 percent of total)
In 2015, about 2.5 million acres in Montana were irrigated based on the ArcGIS irrigated land coverage provided by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The irrigation water use for Montana was estimated by using NWUSP-provided estimates of actual evapotranspiration based on 1-kilometer resolution satellite data which was analyzed through the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model (Senay and others, 2013) to assist in estimating consumptive-use of water on irrigated lands. The consumptive-use estimates were combined with irrigation efficiencies and transmission-loss estimates to calculate irrigation withdrawals for the 2015 growing season (April through September). Preliminary estimates indicate that irrigation accounted for about 9,450 Mgal/d or about 96.3 percent of total withdrawals for all uses. Surface water was the source of about 99 percent of irrigation withdrawals and groundwater provided about 1 percent. Not all water withdrawn for irrigation was consumed by plants or evaporated; much of the water withdrawn may result in return flow (surface runoff that reaches a surface-water source or water that infiltrates past the root zone to potentially recharge the groundwater system) thus returning to the local hydrologic system and potentially available for other uses.
Water-use estimates for the remaining seven categories were based on a variety of sources and calculations. In general, publically-available metered or reported withdrawal information is very limited for the state of Montana. As a result, withdrawal estimates are often based on the interpretation of a limited amount of reported data that are in turn used to estimate withdrawals for other facilities or areas. For example, calculated per-capita water-use estimates from a set of public-supply systems with reported withdrawals were used to calculate public-supply water use in other areas of similar climatic conditions. In addition, the USGS NWUSP provides national data sets for the livestock, mining, thermoelectric, and aquaculture categories. In the pie chart above the approximate estimates for 2015 Montana withdrawals for all eight categories can be found. Surface water was the dominant source for most water use categories, groundwater was the primary source for public supply, domestic, and industrial water uses.
Results
Montana 1985-2015 groundwater and surface water estimated total withdrawals and population served.
Montana 2015 water use population served by county.
Montana 2015 water use total withdrawals by county.
Montana 2015 water use total irrigation withdrawals by county.
Montana 2015 water use total public supply withdrawals by county.
Montana 2015 water use total livestock withdrawals by county.
Montana 2015 water use total mining withdrawals by county.
Montana 2015 water use total domestic withdrawals by county.
Montana 2015 water use total industrial withdrawals by county.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Water Use in Wyoming
Evapotranspiration and Water Use Mapping
Aquaculture Water Use
Domestic Water Use
Estimating National Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development
- Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has compiled estimates of water use in Montana and the rest of the United States at 5-year intervals since 1950.
As part of these efforts, county-level estimated use of water in Montana for 2015 was compiled for eight categories of use—irrigation, public supply, domestic, livestock, industrial, mining, thermoelectric power, and aquaculture. In 2015, preliminary estimates indicate that a total of about 9,810 million gallons of water per day (Mgal/d) were withdrawn from Montana's streams and aquifers for these eight categories of use.
- Surface water withdrawals totaled 9,610 Mgal/d (about 98 percent of total)
- Groundwater withdrawals totaled 200 Mgal/d (about 2 percent of total)
In 2015, about 2.5 million acres in Montana were irrigated based on the ArcGIS irrigated land coverage provided by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The irrigation water use for Montana was estimated by using NWUSP-provided estimates of actual evapotranspiration based on 1-kilometer resolution satellite data which was analyzed through the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model (Senay and others, 2013) to assist in estimating consumptive-use of water on irrigated lands. The consumptive-use estimates were combined with irrigation efficiencies and transmission-loss estimates to calculate irrigation withdrawals for the 2015 growing season (April through September). Preliminary estimates indicate that irrigation accounted for about 9,450 Mgal/d or about 96.3 percent of total withdrawals for all uses. Surface water was the source of about 99 percent of irrigation withdrawals and groundwater provided about 1 percent. Not all water withdrawn for irrigation was consumed by plants or evaporated; much of the water withdrawn may result in return flow (surface runoff that reaches a surface-water source or water that infiltrates past the root zone to potentially recharge the groundwater system) thus returning to the local hydrologic system and potentially available for other uses.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Water-use estimates for the remaining seven categories were based on a variety of sources and calculations. In general, publically-available metered or reported withdrawal information is very limited for the state of Montana. As a result, withdrawal estimates are often based on the interpretation of a limited amount of reported data that are in turn used to estimate withdrawals for other facilities or areas. For example, calculated per-capita water-use estimates from a set of public-supply systems with reported withdrawals were used to calculate public-supply water use in other areas of similar climatic conditions. In addition, the USGS NWUSP provides national data sets for the livestock, mining, thermoelectric, and aquaculture categories. In the pie chart above the approximate estimates for 2015 Montana withdrawals for all eight categories can be found. Surface water was the dominant source for most water use categories, groundwater was the primary source for public supply, domestic, and industrial water uses.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Results
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Bar and line chart that shows the Montana 1985-2015 groundwater and surface water withdrawals and population served. Montana 1985-2015 groundwater and surface water estimated total withdrawals and population served.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of 2015 water use compilation population served in each county in Wyoming. Montana 2015 water use population served by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 Water Use withdrawal totals for Montana counties. Montana 2015 water use total withdrawals by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 county Water Use withdrawals for Irrigation in Montana. Montana 2015 water use total irrigation withdrawals by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 county Water Use withdrawals for Public Supply in Montana. Montana 2015 water use total public supply withdrawals by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 county Water Use withdrawals for Livestock in Montana. Montana 2015 water use total livestock withdrawals by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 county Water Use withdrawals for Mining in Montana. Montana 2015 water use total mining withdrawals by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 county Water Use withdrawals for Domestic in Montana. Montana 2015 water use total domestic withdrawals by county.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Map of the 2015 county Water Use withdrawals for Industrial in Montana. Montana 2015 water use total industrial withdrawals by county.
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Water Use in Wyoming
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has compiled estimates of water use in Wyoming and the rest of the United States at 5-year intervals since 1950.Evapotranspiration and Water Use Mapping
A planet with limited water resources needs accurate, reliable and frequently-updated tools to measure water use and plan for future needs. Scientists at EROS harness the remote sensing capabilities of satellite data to offer powerful tools that resource managers across the United States can use to gain insight into the water use needs of agricultural land, forests, and public green spaces.Aquaculture Water Use
As the label in the grocery store says, "Farm Raised Tilapia Fillets" are for sale! Yes, aquaculture and fish farming are big businesses nowadays, and with the rising population of the world, more and more seafood will be grown in the future in aquatic farms.Domestic Water Use
Domestic water use is water used for indoor and outdoor household purposes— all the things you do at home: drinking, preparing food, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, brushing your teeth, watering the garden, and even washing the dog. At the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), domestic water use refers to the amount of water that is "self-supplied", or water withdrawn directly by users, such as from...Estimating National Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development
Project Period: 2016-ongoing Cooperator: U.S. Geological Survey Water Availability and Use Science Program Project Chiefs: Ryan McShane and Jeremy McDowell - Data
- Publications
- Partners