Riparian and aquatic ecosystems in semiarid landscapes like Southwest Wyoming contribute substantially to regional biodiversity. Long-term monitoring data that describe streamflow, surface-water quality, and groundwater levels are needed for assessing possible effects of changes in land use on those ecosystems.
With WLCI funding, streamflow and surface-water quality have been monitored at four sites:
- 1) Muddy Creek above Olson Draw, near Dad
- 2) Muddy Creek below Young Draw, near Baggs
- 3) New Fork River near Big Piney
- 4) Green River near Green River
Groundwater levels are monitored at four sites, and are described in the Groundwater Streamgage section.
In 2017, data collected at these four stream sites were used to describe water-quality trends. Preliminary results of the analyses of surface-water data show that some streams have increased dissolved minerals in the water over time that corresponds to increasing development, while other streams show no change in water quality with similar and even greater development. The report describing the full analyses will be published in 2018.
Back to main Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: Water Resources page
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
- Overview
Riparian and aquatic ecosystems in semiarid landscapes like Southwest Wyoming contribute substantially to regional biodiversity. Long-term monitoring data that describe streamflow, surface-water quality, and groundwater levels are needed for assessing possible effects of changes in land use on those ecosystems.
With WLCI funding, streamflow and surface-water quality have been monitored at four sites:
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Click here to access data for all WLCI funded streamgages. - 1) Muddy Creek above Olson Draw, near Dad
- 2) Muddy Creek below Young Draw, near Baggs
- 3) New Fork River near Big Piney
- 4) Green River near Green River
Groundwater levels are monitored at four sites, and are described in the Groundwater Streamgage section.
In 2017, data collected at these four stream sites were used to describe water-quality trends. Preliminary results of the analyses of surface-water data show that some streams have increased dissolved minerals in the water over time that corresponds to increasing development, while other streams show no change in water quality with similar and even greater development. The report describing the full analyses will be published in 2018.
Back to main Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: Water Resources page
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural...Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
The WLCI is a long-term science based effort to enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in Southwest Wyoming, while facilitating responsible development. - Data
- Publications
- Partners