Wyoming State Water Plan, Wyoming Water Development Office
Rafting on Snake River Lake Marie, Snowy Mountains Wyoming Wind River Range picture

Bear River Basin Water Plan
Technical Memoranda

SUBJECT: Appendix D
Key Structures and Diversions
SOUTH BRANCH IRRIGATING DIVERSION

PREPARED BY: Bear River Basin Planning Team

DATE: August 7, 2000









Diversion Description: The South Branch Irrigating headgate consists of a 48-inch culvert with 
a canal gate.  There is no headwall.  The bank at the diversion is experiencing significant 
erosion.



South Branch Irrigating headgate structure





Diversion Location: The South Branch Irrigating diversion is actually located on the North 
Branch of the Smiths Fork, tributary to the Bear River.  The Diversion is regulated as part 
of the Central Division of the Bear River Compact. See location map hereafter.

					

Latitude  	N   42° 05' 38.7"	

Longitude     	W 110° 57'  43.9"





Conveyance Description: Open channel canal, approximately 10,560 feet in length.1



Direct Flow Water Rights:2





Priority Date 
Permit 
Number		
Permitted Use 
Permitted 
Acres		 
Flow 
(CFS)		
Cumulative 
(CFS)		 
Comments


06-16-1887 
Terr
Irrigation, Domestic, Storage 
435
6.21 
6.21 



05-30-1903 
1065E
Irrigation, Domestic, Storage 
115
1.64 
7.85 



08-26-1937 
5081E
Irrigation 
82
1.17 
9.02 





 




 
Irrigation Practices:  Approximately 60% of the land is irrigated using hand line or wheel roll 
sprinklers.   The remaining 40% is flood irrigated.3 



Estimated Diversion Efficiency: 



Calculated Diversion Efficiency = Conveyance Efficiency X Application Efficiency:





Conveyance Efficiency: 60%


Application Efficiency: 70%


Overall Diversion Efficiency: 42%








Conveyance efficiency is estimated by total length of main canal. Application efficiency 
for flood irrigation and sprinkler irrigation is estimated at 55% and 85% respectively.





Crop Types / Consumptive Use:  Irrigated acreage is primarily alfalfa and grain (mostly oats).  
Crops are rotated.3


Return Flows:  Return flow is received directly into the Bear River.


The following return flow pattern was adopted for modeling in this study are as follows: 

	
		Month
      (after initial Diversion)	 Percent of Return
		0			50%
		1			25%
		2			15%
                3                       10%
                                       100%
		



	



References:

    

  1. 	USDA -Soil Conservation Service Economic Research Service-Forest Service in Cooperation 
with the States of Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Irrigation Conveyance Systems, Working Paper for 
the Bear River Basin Type IV Study, Idaho-Utah-Wyoming, April 1976

    

  2. 	Water rights summary obtained from State Engineer Interstate Reglist - revised April 14, 
1999

    

  3. 	Irrigation practices based on field investigation and interview with Mr. Kevin Wilde, 
Hydrographer / Commissioner -  November 30, 1999.

    

  4. 	State of Utah Natural Resources, Water Budget Studies - Utah, Bear River Study Area, 
September 1994.






Monthly Diversion Records

South Branch Irrigating (on the North Channel of Smiths Fork)







YEAR
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER


Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft		
Total of Daily Ave for Month
Average
CFS		
Monthly Total
Ac-Ft


1970
0
0.0
0.0
988
32.9
1959.7
221
7.1
438.3
191
6.2
378.8
4
0.1
7.9


1971
0
0.0
0.0
260
8.7
515.7
405
13.1
803.3
471
15.2
934.2
0
0.0
0.0


1972
0
0.0
0.0
60
2.0
119.0
36
1.2
71.4
0
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0


1973
0
0.0
0.0
313
10.4
620.8
475
15.3
942.1
357
11.5
708.1
335
11.2
664.5


1974
316
10.2
626.8
624
20.8
1237.7
440
14.2
872.7
338
10.9
670.4
0
0.0
0.0


1975
749
24.2
1485.6
923
30.8
1830.7
56
1.8
111.1
804
25.9
1594.7
0
0.0
0.0


1976
227
7.3
450.2
554
18.5
1098.8
42
1.4
83.3
662
21.4
1313.1
30
1.0
59.5


1977
156
5.0
309.4
170
5.7
337.2
0
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0


1978
1498
48.3
2971.2
1289
43.0
2556.7
0
0.0
0.0
0
0.0
0.0
181
6.0
359.0


1979
641
20.7
1271.4
781
26.0
1549.1
491
15.8
973.9
18
0.6
35.7
0
0.0
0.0


1980
89
2.9
176.5
406
13.5
805.3
435
14.0
862.8
409
13.2
811.2
0
0.0
0.0


1981
507
16.4
1005.6
639
21.3
1267.4
295
9.5
585.1
126
4.1
249.9
12
0.4
23.8


1982
821
26.5
1628.4
913
30.4
1810.9
611
19.7
1211.9
319
10.3
632.7
97
3.2
192.4


1983
911
29.4
1806.9
1930
64.3
3828.1
841
27.1
1668.1
292
9.4
579.2
0
0.0
0.0


1984
508
16.4
1007.6
1663
55.4
3298.5
694
22.4
1376.5
196
6.3
388.8
30
1.0
59.5


1985
194
6.3
384.8
744
24.8
1475.7
422
13.6
837.0
0
0.0
0.0
5
0.2
9.9


1986
1320
42.6
2618.2
2139
71.3
4242.6
1396
45.0
2768.9
371
12.0
735.9
132
4.4
261.8


1987
365
11.8
724.0
426
14.2
845.0
202
6.5
400.7
76
2.5
150.7
346
11.5
686.3


1988
502
16.2
995.7
563
18.8
1116.7
260
8.4
515.7
62
2.0
123.0
60
2.0
119.0


1989
429
13.8
850.9
672
22.4
1332.9
367
11.8
727.9
230
7.4
456.2
180
6.0
357.0


1990
1314
42.4
2606.3
894
29.8
1773.2
308
9.9
610.9
146
4.7
289.6
0
0.0
0.0


1991
501
16.2
993.7
403
13.4
799.3
364
11.7
722.0
218
7.0
432.4
153
5.1
303.5


1992
202
6.5
400.7
180
6.0
357.0
186
6.0
368.9
54
1.7
107.1
0
0.0
0.0


1993
294
9.5
583.1
775
25.8
1537.2
593
19.1
1176.2
236
7.6
468.1
95
3.2
188.4


1994
261
8.4
517.7
257
8.6
509.8
136
4.4
269.8
7
0.2
13.9
54
1.8
107.1


1995
629
20.3
1247.6
636
21.2
1261.5
512
16.5
1015.5
286
9.2
567.3
216
7.2
428.4


1996
435
14.0
862.8
855
28.5
1695.9
295
9.5
585.1
303
9.8
601.0
155
5.2
307.4


1997
473.7
15.3
939.6
514.5
17.2
1020.5
286.8
9.3
568.9
381.8
12.3
757.3
246.4
8.2
488.7


1998
656.2
21.2
1301.6
608.6
20.3
1207.1
338.9
10.9
672.2
454.6
14.7
901.7
262.1
8.7
519.9





AVERAGES


15.6
957.5


24.3
1448.6


11.9
732.4


7.8
479.3


3.0
177.4













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