Electrical Conductivity Data for the Snake River, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) have collaborated on monitoring the chloride flux in the major rivers of Yellowstone National Park by periodically sampling the rivers and analyzing chloride concentrations in discrete water samples since the 1970's. However, restrictions of winter travel, great distances between sites, and sampling and analytical costs have limited collection to approximately 28 samples per site annually. Electrical conductivity data can be used as a proxy for chloride concentrations in many of the major rivers of Yellowstone National Park. Electrical conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to pass an electrical current, and it is affected by the presence of inorganic ions such as chloride and other geothermal solutes. In 2012, an electrical conductivity probe was installed in the Snake River above Jackson Lake near Flagg Ranch. Continuous (every 15 minutes) electrical conductivity measurements provide high-resolution data that can be used to rapidly calculate chloride flux in the Snake River.