Water-quality and related aquatic biological characterization of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2007-2011

Fish Creek, in western Wyoming near the town of Wilson, is a key feature in the area because it is used for irrigation, fishing, and other recreation, and adds scenic value to properties it runs through. Public concern about nuisance growths of aquatic plants in Fish Creek has been increasing since the early 2000s. To address these concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Teton Conservation District, began studying Fish Creek in 2004 to describe the hydrology of the stream and later (2007–11) to characterize the water quality and the biological communities.

In particular, the study was designed to address three specific questions:

•Is algal growth in Fish Creek typical for a stream of its size and geographic area?

•Are nutrients entering Fish Creek from nearby land use?

•What is the quality of the water in Fish Creek and the health of its biological communities?