USGS

Atlas of Water Resources in the Black Hills Area, South Dakota

U.S. Geological Survey, Hydrologic Investigations Atlas HA-747

By J.M. Carter, D.G. Driscoll, and J.E. Williamson, U.S. Geological Survey and V.A. Lindquist, West Dakota Water Development District

 

Prepared in cooperation with the

South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
and the West Dakota Water Development District

 

The full report is available in pdf.  Links to the pdf.



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Cover (PDF, 82 KB)

Front cover page (PDF, 1.4 KB)

Table of content (PDF, 4.3 KB)

Back cover page (PDF, 8 KB)

 

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INTRODUCTION

The Black Hills area is an important resource center that provides an economic base for western South Dakota through tourism, agriculture, the timber industry, and mineral resources. In addition, water originating from the area is used for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and recreational purposes throughout much of western South Dakota. The Black Hills area also is an important recharge area for aquifers in the northern Great Plains.

 

Population growth, resource development, and periodic droughts have the potential to affect the quantity, quality, and availability of water within the Black Hills area. Growth has resulted in competing interests for available water supplies. The Black Hills Hydrology Study was initiated in 1990 to address these concerns. This long-term study is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the West Dakota Water Development District, which represents various local and county cooperators.

 

CONTENTS

Summary of Major Findings

Precipitation

Ground Water

Surface Water

Water Quality

Hydrologic Budgets

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Description of Study and Study Area

Overview of Study

Description of Study Area

Hydrologic Processes and Framework

Hydrologic Processes

Local Hydrologic Framework

Climate

Geology

Ground Water

Surface Water

Regional Ground-Water Framework

Water Resources

Ground-Water Resources

Characteristics of Major Aquifers

Overview of Other Aquifers

Ground-Water Levels

Temporal Trends

Comparisons between Madison and Minnelusa Aquifers

Comparisons for Other Aquifers

Responses to Climatic Conditions

Ground-Water Quality

Background

General Characteristics for Major Aquifers

General Characteristics for Minor Aquifers

Susceptibility to Contamination

Ground-Water Quality Relative to Water Use

Surface-Water Resources

Streamflow Characteristics

Streamflow Variability

Annual Yield Characteristics

Surface-Water Quality

Standards and Criteria

General Characteristics

Human Influences on Water Quality

Surface-Water Quality Relative to Water Use

Hydrologic Budgets

Methods for Estimating Basin Yield and Recharge

Ground-Water Budgets

Surface-Water Budgets

Combined Ground-Water and Surface-Water Budget

Madison and Minnelusa Flow System

Flowpaths

Springs

Future Information Needs

References

Definition of Terms




For more information about USGS activities in South Dakota, visit the USGS South Dakota District home page.

 



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