Calculation of area and volume for the south part of Great Salt Lake, Utah

Open-File Report 2005-1327
Prepared in cooperation with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources
By:

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, collected bathymetric data for the south part of Great Salt Lake during 2002-04 using a single-beam, high-definition fathometer and real-time differential global positioning system. About 7.6 million depth measurements were collected along more than 930 miles (1,690 kilometers) of survey transects. Sound-velocity profiles were obtained in conjunction with the bathymetric data to provide time-of-travel corrections to the depth calculations. Data were processed with commercial hydrographic software and exported into geographic information system (GIS) software for mapping and calculation of area and volume. Area and volume calculations show a maximum area of about 508,000 acres (2,056 square kilometers) and a maximum volume of about 9,257,000 acre-feet (11.42 cubic kilometers) at a water-surface altitude of 4,200 feet (1,280 meters). Minimum water-surface altitude of the south part of Great Salt Lake is just below 4,167 feet (1,279 meters) in the area just south of the Union Pacific railroad causeway halfway between Promontory Point and the western edge of the lake. At this altitude, and continuing up to about 4,176 feet (1,279 meters), the south part of the lake is separated into two areas by a ridge extending from Promontory Point to Hat Island. Calculations for area and volume are based on a low altitude of 4,167 feet (1,279 meters) to a high altitude of 4,200 feet (1,280 meters).

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Calculation of area and volume for the south part of Great Salt Lake, Utah
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2005-1327
DOI 10.3133/ofr20051327
Edition Version 1.0
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 6 p.
Public Comments Use with Scientific Investigations Map 2894
Country United States
State Utah
Other Geospatial Great Salt Lake
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