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Hydrologic conditions in the Wheatland Flats area, Platte County, Wyoming

Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4047
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri834047

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Abstract

The area includes about 260 square miles in central Platte County that consists of Wheatland Flats and a border region. Wheatland Flats is an area of about 100 square miles that is bounded by Chugwater Creek on the east, the Laramie River on the north, and Sybille Creek on the west. The southern boundary is approximately the southernmost limit of alluvial terrace deposits. Surface water diverted from the Laramie River along with ground water from wells is used to irrigate about 57,000 acres most of which are on and adjacent to Wheatland Flats. More than 200 wells are used for irrigation, industrial, and municipal supplies. The wells are completed in an upper aquifer consisting primarily of shallow alluvial deposits of Quaternary age and a lower aquifer, the Arikaree Formation of early Miocene age. Net water-level decline after approximately 20 years (1958-60 to 1979) generally is less than 10 feet in each aquifer , although declines of as much as 13 feet have occurred in the Airkaree Formation at specific locations. A digital model was used to simulate hydrologic conditions in the Wheatland Flats area. The model indicated that ground-water discharge to streams decreased by 10 percent from 1971 to 1978. Stream-discharge measurements are not available to verify the loss. However, it is reasonable to assume, on the basis of hydraulic-head decline in the aquifers, that there has been some ground-water contribution to the stream. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Crist, M.A., 1983, Hydrologic conditions in the Wheatland Flats area, Platte County, Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4047, v, 41 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri834047.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Hydrologic conditions in the Wheatland Flats area, Platte County, Wyoming
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 83-4047
DOI 10.3133/wri834047
Year Published 1983
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Contributing office(s) WY-MT Water Science Center
Description v, 41 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
Additional publication details