Wyoming State Water Plan
Wyoming State Water Plan
Wyoming Water Development Office
6920 Yellowtail Rd
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307-777-7626
Wyoming Water Development Office
6920 Yellowtail Rd
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307-777-7626
SUBJECT: |
Appendix D Agricultural Water Use |
PREPARED BY: | HKM Engineering Inc. |
DATE: | February 2002 |
INTRODUCTION
Water use for agriculture represents the greatest consumption of water within the boundaries of the Northeast Wyoming River Basins Plan area. A reasonable estimate of existing irrigation water use is therefore central to a comprehensive water use inventory. Estimates of water use by irrigated agriculture can generally be divided into the following three components:
The irrigated lands mapping work indicates a total of 86,882 acres of irrigated agriculture in the planning area. Of this total, 9,531 acres are currently idle. In addition, 1,636 acres are currently undergoing development and gradually being removed, to varying degrees, from traditional agriculture. There are also 30,269 acres of irrigation served by spreader dikes or 'kick-out" ditches in the planning area (Irrigation Classification S and H). The remaining area (45,446 acres) is comprised of full-service or partial service irrigation or man-induced subirrigation (Irrigated Lands Mapping and Water Rights Data, HKM, 2002).
Also from the recent irrigated lands mapping work, together with agricultural statistics and interviews with SEO Hydrographer / Commissioners and area landowners, the primary irrigated crops grown in the basin are forage crops (alfalfa and grass hay or pasture grass) accounting for 95 percent of the actively irrigated acreage. Small grains and corn account for the remaining 5 percent of the irrigation (Irrigated Crops, HKM, 2002).
The methodology used to determine the amount of water consumed by the irrigated crops (depletions), and the diversion demands is the primary subject of this memorandum.
The Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area is unique in that stock ponds are a relatively significant contributor to the total agricultural water use in the planning area. The cumulative surface area of these stock ponds results in a significant consumption of water through evaporation. The methodology used to estimate the evaporative loss from stock ponds in the planning area is also discussed in this memorandum.
HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL WATER USE IN THE BASINS
Irrigated agriculture in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area is primarily associated with forage production for the livestock industry. Ranchers depend on irrigated cropland to provide winter feed and summer grazing for a successful ranching enterprise. According to the 1972 Framework Water Plan, over 80 percent of the water consumed by man's activities in the planning area is used for irrigation.
Early in Wyoming's history, ranchers had discovered that successful farming required irrigation. By the 1890's, many ranchers were taking advantage of cheap irrigation of bottomlands along the small tributary streams, but most of the water from the large rivers was being carried, unused, into other states (SEO, 1972). As the direct flow supply of the streams became fully appropriated, reservoirs were constructed, where suitable sites could be found, to store spring runoff for late-season irrigation uses. One of the most significant of these to the planning area is Keyhole Reservoir with and active capacity of roughly 190,000 acre-feet. This reservoir which was completed in 1952 provides supplemental storage for irrigated lands predominately located in South Dakota. Ten percent of the reservoir capacity, however, is reserved for the Crook County Irrigation District and Shattuck Hills in Wyoming in accordance with the Belle Fourche River Compact. There are a total of 6 significant storage facilities in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area with capacities in excess of roughly 1000 acre-feet as well as many smaller facilities, allowing for expanded irrigation use of the natural flows in the planning area (Storage Operation and Description, HKM, 2002).
Agricultural water use has changed little in recent decades with the exception that there has been a progressive shift, in some areas, from flood irrigation practices to sprinkler irrigation.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACTUAL HISTORIC DIVERSIONS AND THEORETICAL MAXIMUM DIVERSIONS
The amount of irrigation water use is primarily dependent on the number of acres irrigated, the crop water demands, and the amount of water available to meet these demands.
Total crop water demands are dependent on the consumptive use of the crop. The crop consumptive use requirement is the maximum water use of a well-watered crop under optimum growing conditions (Pochop; et.al, October 1992). A portion of the total annual rainfall is available to meet this consumptive use requirement. Effective precipitation is defined as that part of the total rainfall during the growing season which is available to meet the consumptive water requirements of the crops (Dastane, 1974). The remaining consumptive use requirement, unmet by natural rainfall, is referred to as the Crop Irrigation Requirement (CIR).
Knowing the number of acres of irrigation, the types of crops grown, and the climatic conditions, estimates of the theoretical maximum diversions can be made for all of the irrigated lands throughout the basin. In practice however, actual diversions commonly fall short of the amount necessary to meet the full CIR of the crops. This is especially true with direct-diversion, flood-irrigated, forage crops. Actual conditions seldom represent the optimum conditions necessary to achieve maximum water consumption. The objective of this exercise, then, is to compare actual historic diversions, to the extent available, to theoretical maximum diversions in order to develop a relationship that can be used to estimate actual diversions and depletions where records of actual use are unavailable.
The CIR used in this planning effort was provided directly by Dr. Pochop for each month and year of his study period (1951 through 1990), for each crop evaluated, and for each climatic station included (Pochop; et.al., October 1992). Only data specific to the study period of the current investigation (1970 through 1999) was used. Average values were used for those years outside of the Pochop study (1991 through 1999). These CIR values were averaged for the specific wet years, normal years, and dry years selected through the surface water hydrology work to represent these three hydrologic conditions (Surface Water Hydrology, HKM, 2002).
Diversion Records
The methodology utilized by HKM to estimate actual water use by irrigated agriculture is based on records of actual irrigation diversions. Unfortunately, there is very little available data on historical diversions in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area. Diversion records are available only for the Murray Ditch on Redwater Creek and much of this irrigation is located in South Dakota, outside the limits of this planning study (Irrigation Diversion Operation and Description, HKM, 2002). Lacking this information for the planning area, the relationships between actual irrigation water use and theoretical maximum water use based on diversion records for the adjacent Powder/Tongue River Basin planning area are used. The derivation of these relationships and the application to the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area is presented herein.
HKM compiled diversion records for approximately 70 key ditches in the Powder/Tongue River Basin planning area as described in the Irrigation Diversion Operation and Description memorandum for the Powder/Tongue River Basin Plan (HKM, 2002). Monthly diversion volumes are summarized as well as the first and last days of irrigation for each year of record. Key ditches to water use in the basin were selected with assistance from the SEO Division 2 Superintendent. These diversions provide a representative coverage of diversion operations in that basin. These records took the form of continuous monthly records as well as periodic instantaneous spot measurements. Missing daily flow records were estimated using the methodology described in the Irrigation Diversion Operation and Description memo for the Powder/Tongue River Basin Plan. Although these records have shortcomings, they represent the best available information regarding actual irrigation diversion amounts.
Service Area Delineation
Lands served by a common supply ditch are grouped together into Service Areas as described in the Irrigated Lands Mapping and Water Rights Data memoranda for the two planning areas (HKM, 2002). In total, approximately 1200 service areas were delineated in the Powder/Tongue River Basin planning area including the service areas for the selected ditches with diversion records. Irrigation in the Northeast Wyoming Basins planning area is divided into 1175 surface water service areas. A crop distribution was assigned to each of these service areas as described in the Irrigated Crops memoranda for the two planning areas (HKM, 2002). Additionally, the representative climatic station(s) were also assigned to each service area. With this information, Crop Irrigation Requirements (CIRs) can be determined for each service area.
Theoretical Maximum Diversion Requirements during Period of Recorded Diversions
Based on conversations with SEO hydrographer/commissioners, the first and last entry in the annual record of diversions for the selected "spot measurement" ditches was sometimes after diversions began in the spring and before diversions ended in the fall. The records for the ditches with "continuous recorders" are less subject to this limitation. In order to provide a common basis for comparison of recorded diversions to theoretical maximum diversions, the CIR was first adjusted to reflect the crop water demand during the recorded period of irrigation. To this end, the number of days of recorded irrigation was determined for each month and year of record and for each of the selected ditches. The average recorded number of days of irrigation for each ditch selected for this study and each hydrologic condition is provided at the back of this memorandum. The average number of days of recorded diversion for the selected ditches in comparison to the representative number of growing days per Dr. Pochop's study are summarized in Table 1 for wet, normal, and dry years.
Table 1 Average Number of Days of Irrigation | ||||||||
Hydrologic Condition | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Annual |
Wet | 1 | 10 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 112 |
Normal | 2 | 16 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 18 | 1 | 120 |
Dry | 5 | 18 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 0 | 111 |
Average Growing Days (From Pochop Study) |
25 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 14 | 192 |
Not all of the water diverted for irrigation goes to meeting the CIR, in fact, the CIR often times represents only a minority portion of the total diversion amount. A significant portion of the diverted flow is lost to seepage from the main conveyance ditch, lateral ditches, and field ditches, headgate leakage, evaporative losses from sprinklers, ditch tailwater waste, field wastewater, and deep percolation past the crop root zone. The proportion of water ultimately consumed by the crop to the total volume of water diverted from the stream is referred to as the overall efficiency (Cuenca, 1989). The required amount of irrigation water diverted from the stream to fully meet the CIR during the period of irrigation is then defined as follows:
Theoretical Maximum Diversion Requirement = (Acres x adjusted CIR) / Overall EfficiencyAn average annual overall efficiency of 40 percent is used for this study. Efficiency typically varies through the irrigation season and is largely dependent on the ratio of water supplied to the water requirements of the crop. The irrigation efficiency decreases as the amount of water applied relative to the crop water requirement increases (Cuenca, 1989). By way of example, overall efficiency would typically be at a minimum during the early irrigation season when water supply from the snowmelt runoff is abundant but crop water requirements are minimal. Conversely, overall efficiency would typically be at a maximum during the summer months (July and August) when water supply is limited, soil moisture is depleted, and crop water requirements are at a maximum. The overall monthly irrigation efficiency used for this study is shown in Table 2. This efficiency pattern was developed as part of the calibration process for the water availability models developed for the planning area as described in the Spreadsheet Model Development and Calibration memorandum (HKM, 2002).
Table 2 Overall Monthly Irrigation Efficiency | ||||||||
Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Annual | |
25% | 30% | 45% | 65% | 60% | 30% | 25% | 40% |
Proportion of Actual Historic Diversions to Theoretical Maximum Diversions
The proportion of actual historic diversion volumes to the theoretical maximum diversion volumes during the period of recorded irrigation was calculated for each month and year of record for each of the selected ditches. These proportions were then averaged for each ditch for the wet years, normal years, and dry years. The area-weighted average proportions for the ditches directly serving irrigated lands (excluding transbasin diversion ditches and reservoir supply ditches), are summarized in Table 3.
Table 3 Area-Weighted Average Proportion of Historic to Theoretical Maximum Diversions | ||||||||
Hydrologic Condition | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Annual |
Wet | 3% | 40% | 69% | 78% | 75% | 79% | 5% | 73% |
Normal | 13% | 64% | 73% | 68% | 77% | 68% | 4% | 71% |
Dry | 26% | 91% | 56% | 56% | 50% | 44% | 4% | 56% |
As shown in Table 3, the average proportion of actual historic diversions to theoretical maximum diversions during the period of irrigation, is at a maximum in wet years (73 %), is somewhat lower in normal years (71 %), and is considerably lower in dry years (56 %).
ESTIMATED ACTUAL HISTORIC DIVERSIONS
As mentioned previously, records of irrigation diversions are not available for essentially any of the irrigation in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area. The proportions presented in the preceding section for the Powder/Tongue River Basin planning area provide a means of making reasonable estimates of actual historic diversions in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area. The crop types, climatic conditions, period of irrigation, overall irrigation efficiency, and number of acres for each service area are used to determine the theoretical maximum diversions across the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area. The wet year, normal year, and dry year proportions are then applied to estimate actual historic diversions. The theoretical maximum diversion requirements during the irrigation season and the estimated actual diversions for wet, normal, and dry years are provided in Tables 4 and 5. This information is aggregated into areas represented by the same climate station(s). These climatic areas are shown on Figure 1.
Table 4
Theoretical Maximum Surface Water Diversion Requirements (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Climate Stations1 |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
Colony, Weston |
9,799 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
4,309 4,419 7,974 |
5,998 7,381 10,251 |
6,617 8,289 9,450 |
8,384 8,480 9,522 |
8,227 7,692 8,033 |
8,332 8,039 7,954 |
493 687 1,053 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
42,361 44,987 54,237 |
Upper Belle Fourche River |
Gillette | 3,312 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
445 707 1,867 |
1,695 2,136 2,390 |
2,447 2,546 3,285 |
2,830 2,721 2,987 |
2,835 2,594 2,550 |
2,618 2,436 2,469 |
26 92 85 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
12,894 13,233 15,633 |
Middle Belle Fourche River |
Moorcroft | 9,011 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,074 1,193 2,600 |
3,760 4,316 6,341 |
5,284 6,591 8,314 |
6,381 6,517 6,906 |
6,988 6,582 7,002 |
7,059 6,768 6,653 |
151 209 195 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
30,697 32,175 38,011 |
Lower Belle Fourche River |
Colony | 5,584 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,065 1,117 2,500 |
2,353 3,050 5,913 |
3,338 4,466 5,374 |
4,800 4,947 5,360 |
4,415 4,307 4,360 |
4,837 4,715 4,385 |
204 325 468 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
21,013 22,927 28,359 |
Redwater Creek |
Sundance | 2,213 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
129 198 289 |
636 746 1,183 |
1,112 1,508 1,603 |
1,568 1,766 1,766 |
1,376 1,551 1,364 |
1,285 1,342 1,441 |
4 15 14 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
6,110 7,127 7,659 |
Upper Beaver Creek |
Upton | 669 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
85 61 134 |
300 248 533 |
474 453 547 |
509 458 558 |
454 462 429 |
612 615 601 |
27 23 18 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,461 2,320 2,821 |
Middle Beaver Creek |
Newcastle, Upton |
6,000 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
926 734 1,384 |
2,698 2,286 4,763 |
4,610 4,495 5,305 |
4,673 4,371 5,200 |
3,816 4,167 3,871 |
5,595 5,670 5,433 |
216 194 169 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
22,534 21,927 26,125 |
Lower Beaver Creek |
Morrisey, Newcastle |
3,561 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
679 737 994 |
1,414 1,372 2,580 |
2,257 2,716 3,015 |
2,094 2,578 2,559 |
1,787 2,606 2,007 |
2,483 3,311 2,902 |
218 287 277 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
10,933 13,608 14,335 |
Northern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Morrisey | 7,958 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,574 1,710 3,427 |
2,151 4,700 7,911 |
5,962 5,726 9,081 |
4,740 4,873 6,274 |
5,410 5,382 4,551 |
4,466 5,512 7,549 |
1,628 972 1,565 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
25,931 28,875 40,356 |
Southern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Redbird | 12,736 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,606 5,609 8,021 |
7,055 7,900 14,594 |
10,743 12,199 16,352 |
9,505 10,931 12,156 |
10,259 9,871 9,744 |
10,072 11,755 9,504 |
80 44 424 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
50,320 58,309 70,794 |
Lower Cheyenne River |
Morrisey, Redbird |
2,602 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
462 501 1,036 |
667 1,467 2,541 |
1,939 1,876 2,989 |
1,549 1,592 2,053 |
1,751 1,743 1,475 |
1,447 1,783 2,443 |
461 279 442 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
8,275 9,241 12,979 |
Niobrara River |
Lusk | 847 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
11 92 265 |
479 404 167 |
822 826 602 |
626 620 642 |
746 605 556 |
498 776 442 |
0 6 12 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3,181 3,329 2,687 |
Table 5
Estimated Actual Surface Water Depletions (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Climate Stations1 |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
Colony, Weston |
9,799 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,456 2,128 3,101 |
3,491 3,795 4,837 |
4,062 4,443 4,030 |
5,273 4,480 4,061 |
5,137 4,190 3,341 |
5,258 4,254 3,239 |
288 331 412 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
25,965 23,622 23,021 |
Upper Belle Fourche River |
Gillette | 3,312 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
229 316 690 |
936 1,147 1,375 |
1,550 1,492 1,518 |
1,891 1,543 1,381 |
1,864 1,569 1,116 |
1,762 1,386 1,029 |
14 41 32 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
8,264 7,494 7,142 |
Middle Belle Fourche River |
Moorcroft | 9,011 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
414 437 866 |
1,873 2,485 4,607 |
3,495 4,313 4,239 |
4,600 4,031 3,522 |
4,904 4,513 3,268 |
5,154 4,213 2,860 |
70 76 63 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
20,510 20,066 19,425 |
Lower Belle Fourche River |
Colony | 5,584 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
397 400 824 |
1,161 1,766 4,362 |
2,215 2,944 2,758 |
3,478 3,078 2,752 |
3,112 2,978 2,044 |
3,551 2,952 1,889 |
92 115 149 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
14,007 14,232 14,777 |
Redwater Creek |
Sundance | 2,213 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
24 47 83 |
279 459 1,010 |
761 1,069 876 |
1,194 1,163 965 |
1,013 1,159 667 |
994 891 634 |
1 3 3 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
4,266 4,790 4,238 |
Upper Beaver Creek |
Upton | 669 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
8 11 37 |
125 156 475 |
327 327 304 |
393 306 311 |
339 353 213 |
481 415 266 |
4 3 2 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,678 1,571 1,607 |
Middle Beaver Creek |
Newcastle, Upton |
6,000 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
49 108 369 |
1,105 1,448 4,307 |
3,197 3,277 2,971 |
3,630 2,944 2,913 |
2,856 3,217 1,926 |
4,424 3,851 2,410 |
20 13 13 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
15,280 14,858 14,908 |
Lower Beaver Creek |
Morrisey, Newcastle |
3,561 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
215 237 314 |
671 812 2,014 |
1,515 1,841 1,585 |
1,546 1,639 1,346 |
1,281 1,856 956 |
1,861 2,120 1,260 |
88 89 80 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
7,177 8,595 7,555 |
Northern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Morrisey | 7,958 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
837 783 1,287 |
1,207 2,491 4,320 |
3,744 3,276 4,108 |
3,116 2,710 2,839 |
3,508 3,167 1,964 |
2,955 3,076 3,127 |
913 447 594 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
16,280 15,949 18,238 |
Southern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Redbird | 12,736 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,294 2,447 2,922 |
3,838 4,289 8,776 |
6,858 7,294 7,697 |
6,440 6,297 5,724 |
6,827 6,115 4,315 |
6,884 6,800 3,984 |
43 19 156 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
32,184 33,262 33,574 |
Lower Cheyenne River |
Morrisey, Redbird |
2,602 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
231 220 379 |
364 794 1,511 |
1,235 1,116 1,400 |
1,046 913 962 |
1,161 1,073 651 |
985 1,027 1,023 |
250 123 163 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
5,273 5,266 6,089 |
Niobrara River |
Lusk | 847 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3 28 82 |
223 242 134 |
555 567 320 |
466 399 342 |
539 437 267 |
377 502 193 |
0 2 3 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,163 2,176 1,341 |
ESTIMATED ACTUAL HISTORIC DEPLETIONS
The estimated actual depletions for wet, normal, and dry years are provided in Tables 6 and 8. The depletions summarized here represent the crop water consumption during the period of irrigation. It should be noted that depletions to the river system for any given month are calculated as diversions in that month less lagged return-flows which return back to the stream in that same month. These diversions minus return flows may, in fact, actually result in negative depletions (accretions) to the stream system in the post irrigation season months, when return flows arrive back into the system and diversions have ceased. The difference is typically small on an annual basis but is significant from month to month. The method which utilizes estimated actual diversions and subsequent return flows is used in the water availability models developed for this planning effort rather than the CIR based depletions reported here (Spreadsheet Model Development and Calibration, HKM, 2002).
Lacking diversion data for the lands served from ground water, the same methodology is applied to these lands. The estimated actual depletions for the lands supplied by ground water are provided on Tables 7 and 9. A GIS data theme of agricultural ground water wells with capacities greater than 49 gpm has been developed and is shown on Figure 2.
Table 6
Estimated Actual Surface Water Depletions (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Climate Stations1 |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
Colony, Weston |
9,799 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
614 532 775 |
1,047 1,138 1,451 |
1,828 2,000 1,813 |
3,427 2,912 2,640 |
3,082 2,514 2,005 |
1,577 1,276 972 |
72 83 103 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
11,648 10,455 9,759 |
Upper Belle Fourche River |
Gillette | 3,312 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
57 79 173 |
281 344 413 |
698 671 683 |
1,229 1,003 898 |
1,118 942 669 |
529 416 309 |
4 10 8 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3,915 3,465 3,152 |
Middle Belle Fourche River |
Moorcroft | 9,011 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
103 109 216 |
562 745 1,382 |
1,573 1,941 1,908 |
2,990 2,620 2,290 |
2,942 2,708 1,961 |
1,546 1,264 858 |
17 19 16 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
9,734 9,406 8,630 |
Lower Belle Fourche River |
Colony | 5,584 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
99 100 206 |
348 530 1,309 |
997 1,325 1,241 |
2,261 2,001 1,789 |
1,867 1,787 1,226 |
1,065 886 567 |
23 29 37 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
6,661 6,656 6,374 |
Redwater Creek |
Sundance | 2,213 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
6 12 21 |
84 138 303 |
342 481 394 |
776 756 627 |
608 696 400 |
298 267 190 |
0 1 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,115 2,350 1,937 |
Upper Beaver Creek |
Upton | 669 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2 3 9 |
38 47 142 |
147 147 137 |
256 199 202 |
203 212 128 |
144 124 80 |
1 1 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
791 733 698 |
Middle Beaver Creek |
Newcastle, Upton |
6,000 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
12 27 92 |
331 435 1,292 |
1,439 1,475 1,337 |
2,360 1,914 1,894 |
1,714 1,930 1,156 |
1,327 1,155 723 |
5 3 3 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
7,188 6,938 6,496 |
Lower Beaver Creek |
Morrisey, Newcastle |
3,561 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
54 59 79 |
201 244 604 |
682 828 713 |
1,005 1,065 875 |
768 1,114 574 |
558 636 378 |
22 22 20 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3,291 3,969 3,242 |
Northern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Morrisey | 7,958 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
209 196 322 |
362 747 1,296 |
1,685 1,474 1,848 |
2,025 1,762 1,845 |
2,105 1,900 1,178 |
886 923 938 |
228 112 148 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
7,501 7,113 7,577 |
Southern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Redbird | 12,736 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
323 612 730 |
1,151 1,287 2,633 |
3,086 3,282 3,464 |
4,186 4,093 3,721 |
4,096 3,669 2,589 |
2,065 2,040 1,195 |
11 5 39 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
14,919 14,988 14,371 |
Lower Cheyenne River |
Morrisey, Redbird |
2,602 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
58 55 95 |
109 238 453 |
556 502 630 |
680 594 625 |
697 644 391 |
295 308 307 |
63 31 41 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,458 2,372 2,542 |
Niobrara River |
Lusk | 847 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1 7 20 |
67 73 40 |
250 255 144 |
303 259 222 |
323 262 160 |
113 151 58 |
0 0 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,057 1,007 646 |
Table 7
Estimated Actual Ground Water Depletions (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Climate Stations1 |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
Colony, Weston |
0 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
Upper Belle Fourche River |
Gillette | 352 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
25 32 37 |
146 121 112 |
177 171 108 |
89 72 49 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
437 396 306 |
Middle Belle Fourche River |
Moorcroft | 112 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 2 |
5 10 11 |
38 33 30 |
51 50 34 |
28 23 15 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
123 117 91 |
Lower Belle Fourche River |
Colony | 186 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 3 |
5 12 37 |
28 40 38 |
81 72 66 |
75 76 49 |
44 37 22 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
233 237 215 |
Redwater Creek |
Sundance | 163 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3 11 10 |
53 49 42 |
63 66 45 |
40 33 24 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
159 159 120 |
Upper Beaver Creek |
Upton | 0 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
Middle Beaver Creek |
Newcastle, Upton |
143 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 1 |
14 14 13 |
54 44 43 |
58 64 39 |
43 37 24 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
168 159 120 |
Lower Beaver Creek |
Morrisey, Newcastle |
0 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
Northern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Morrisey | 127 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 1 1 |
12 11 16 |
33 29 31 |
46 44 27 |
20 21 20 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
112 105 95 |
Southern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Redbird | 387 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 1 6 |
11 21 69 |
72 93 102 |
146 145 135 |
161 161 102 |
84 83 46 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
474 505 461 |
Lower Cheyenne River |
Morrisey, Redbird |
0 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
Niobrara River |
Lusk | 11,566 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1 29 207 |
687 948 615 |
3,397 3,650 2,064 |
4,528 3,880 3,351 |
5,105 4,271 2,527 |
1,797 2,407 898 |
0 1 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
15,515 15,185 9,663 |
Table 8
Estimated Actual Surface Water Depletions (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
9,799 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
614 532 775 |
1,047 1,138 1,451 |
1,828 2,000 1,813 |
3,427 2,912 2,640 |
3,082 2,514 2,005 |
1,577 1,276 972 |
72 83 103 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
11,648 10,455 9,759 |
Belle Fourche River |
17,907 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
260 288 595 |
1,191 1,619 3,103 |
3,267 3,937 3,832 |
6,480 5,624 4,976 |
5,928 5,436 3,856 |
3,140 2,565 1,733 |
44 58 61 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
20,310 19,526 18,157 |
Redwater Creek |
2,213 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
6 12 21 |
84 138 303 |
342 481 394 |
776 756 627 |
608 696 400 |
298 267 190 |
0 1 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,115 2,350 1,937 |
Beaver Creek |
10,230 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
68 89 180 |
570 725 2,038 |
2,268 2,450 2,187 |
3,620 3,178 2,970 |
2,685 3,256 1,857 |
2,030 1,916 1,181 |
28 26 24 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
11,269 11,640 10,437 |
Cheyenne River |
23,295 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
590 862 1,147 |
1,623 2,272 4,382 |
5,327 5,259 5,942 |
6,892 6,448 6,192 |
6,898 6,213 4,158 |
3,247 3,271 2,440 |
302 147 228 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
24,878 24,473 24,489 |
Niobrara River |
847 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1 7 20 |
67 73 40 |
250 255 144 |
303 259 222 |
323 262 160 |
113 151 58 |
0 0 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,057 1,007 646 |
Table 9
Estimated Actual Ground Water Depletions (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
0 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
Belle Fourche River |
650 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 3 |
6 12 39 |
58 81 86 |
265 227 207 |
304 297 191 |
161 132 86 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
793 750 612 |
Redwater Creek |
163 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3 11 10 |
53 49 42 |
63 66 45 |
40 33 24 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
159 159 120 |
Beaver Creek |
143 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 1 |
14 14 13 |
54 44 43 |
58 64 39 |
43 37 24 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
168 159 120 |
Cheyenne River |
514 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 1 6 |
11 21 71 |
85 104 119 |
178 174 166 |
207 205 129 |
105 104 66 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
586 610 556 |
Niobrara River |
11,566 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1 29 207 |
687 948 615 |
3,397 3,650 2,064 |
4,528 3,880 3,351 |
5,105 4,271 2,527 |
1,797 2,407 898 |
0 1 1 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
15,515 15,185 9,663 |
A total of 30,269 acres of irrigation served by spreader dikes or "kick-out" ditches were mapped in the planning area (Irrigation Classification S and H). These systems are typically located in the bottomlands of ephemeral tributaries and use the water to the extent it is available, whenever it is available. Depletions for these lands do not depend on operation of stream diversion works or pumps as do conventional irrigation systems and therefore are treated differently. Depletions for these lands are not constrained by the number of days of irrigation diversion but, rather, are based on the growing season as presented in Dr. Pochop's study (Pochop; et.al, October 1992). It is assumed that the actual annual water use for these lands is 40% of the theoretical maximum water use in dry years, 50% of theoretical maximum in normal years, and 60% in wet years.
FULL SUPPLY DIVERSION REQUIREMENTS
The results of the agricultural water use estimates are used, in part, as inputs to the water availability models prepared for this planning effort. The modeling is used to determine the availability of excess flows for future development and also as a means of determining where there are needs for supplemental water supplies under existing conditions. The need for these supplemental supplies should be consistent with irrigators' perceptions of those needs. HKM utilized the diversion records during non supply-limited conditions (wet years) in the Powder/Tongue River Basin planning area as a measure of the level of supply that irrigators have settled on, under existing conditions, as a balance between maximizing crop yields while conserving their limited resources. This is defined here as the "full supply diversion requirement". This level of supply may be defined by a number of conditions including how much money and effort the irrigator is willing to expend on repairing and maintaining diversion works or pumping facilities and managing on-farm irrigation. This level of supply is typically less than the theoretical maximum diversion requirement and this is especially true for relatively low-value forage crops.
The average proportion of historic diversions to theoretical maximum diversions during the period of irrigation in wet years for the Powder/Tongue River Basin planning area is 73 percent as shown in Table 3. The full supply diversion requirement for the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area is, therefore selected as 75 percent of the theoretical maximum (slightly higher than the wet year proportion) for each service area with it's unique combination of acreage, crops, and climate and for each hydrologic condition (wet, normal, and dry years).
The full supply diversion requirements are provided in Table 10 for wet, normal, and dry years.
Table 10
Full Supply Surface Water Diversion Requirements (Acre-Feet)
Source of Supply |
Climate Stations1 |
Active Irrigation (Acres) |
Hydrologic Condition |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
Little Missouri River |
Colony, Weston |
9,799 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
3,232 3,314 5,980 |
4,499 5,536 7,688 |
4,963 6,217 7,087 |
6,288 6,360 7,142 |
6,170 5,769 6,025 |
6,249 6,029 5,966 |
370 515 790 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
31,771 33,740 40,678 |
Upper Belle Fourche River |
Gillette | 3,312 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
334 530 1,400 |
1,271 1,602 1,793 |
1,835 1,910 2,464 |
2,122 2,041 2,240 |
2,126 1,945 1,912 |
1,963 1,827 1,852 |
19 69 64 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
9,671 9,925 11,725 |
Middle Belle Fourche River |
Moorcroft | 9,011 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
805 895 1,950 |
2,820 3,237 4,756 |
3,963 4,943 6,235 |
4,786 4,888 5,179 |
5,241 4,937 5,252 |
5,294 5,076 4,990 |
113 156 146 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
23,023 24,132 28,508 |
Lower Belle Fourche River |
Colony | 5,584 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
798 838 1,875 |
1,765 2,288 4,435 |
2,504 3,349 4,030 |
3,600 3,710 4,020 |
3,311 3,231 3,270 |
3,628 3,536 3,289 |
153 244 351 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
15,760 17,196 21,270 |
Redwater Creek |
Sundance | 2,213 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
96 149 217 |
477 559 887 |
834 1,131 1,202 |
1,176 1,324 1,324 |
1,032 1,164 1,023 |
963 1,006 1,081 |
3 11 10 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
4,582 5,345 5,745 |
Upper Beaver Creek |
Upton | 669 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
64 46 100 |
225 186 400 |
355 339 410 |
382 343 419 |
341 347 322 |
459 461 451 |
20 18 14 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,846 1,740 2,115 |
Middle Beaver Creek |
Newcastle, Upton |
6,000 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
695 551 1,038 |
2,023 1,714 3,572 |
3,458 3,371 3,979 |
3,505 3,278 3,900 |
2,862 3,132 2,903 |
4,196 4,252 4,075 |
162 146 127 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
16,901 16,445 19,594 |
Lower Beaver Creek |
Morrisey, Newcastle |
3,561 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
509 553 746 |
1,060 1,029 1,935 |
1,693 2,037 2,262 |
1,570 1,933 1,919 |
1,341 1,954 1,505 |
1,863 2,484 2,177 |
164 215 208 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
8,200 10,206 10,751 |
Northern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Morrisey | 7,958 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,181 1,282 2,570 |
1,613 3,525 5,933 |
4,472 4,295 6,810 |
3,555 3,655 4,705 |
4,057 4,036 3,413 |
3,349 4,134 5,662 |
1,221 729 1,174 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
19,448 21,656 30,267 |
Southern Tributaries to Cheyenne |
Redbird | 12,736 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
1,954 4,207 6,015 |
5,291 5,925 10,946 |
8,057 9,149 12,264 |
7,129 8,198 9,117 |
7,695 7,403 7,308 |
7,554 8,816 7,128 |
60 33 318 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
37,740 43,732 53,095 |
Lower Cheyenne River |
Morrisey, Redbird |
2,602 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
346 376 777 |
500 1,100 1,906 |
1,454 1,407 2,242 |
1,162 1,194 1,540 |
1,313 1,307 1,106 |
1,085 1,338 1,832 |
346 209 331 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
6,207 6,931 9,734 |
Niobrara River |
Lusk | 847 | Wet Normal Dry |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
8 69 198 |
359 303 125 |
616 619 452 |
469 465 482 |
560 453 417 |
373 582 332 |
0 5 9 |
0 0 0 |
0 0 0 |
2,386 2,497 2,015 |
STOCK POND EVAPORATION
Evaporation from stock ponds is considered to be a relatively minor contributor to total water consumption in most river basins in the State. However, given the relative scarcity of surface water in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area, together with the large number of stock ponds that exist, the accumulative evaporation loss from these ponds is relatively significant. HKM utilized two information bases to estimate evaporative loss from stock ponds:
Stock ponds, as defined by the SEO, are limited to those impoundments with a total capacity of 20 acre- feet or less. Further, the Belle Fourche River Compact permits Wyoming's unlimited use of stock water reservoirs not exceeding 20 acre-feet in capacity. This 20 acre-foot capacity then defines the upper limit of the reservoirs that are the target of this analysis. Unfortunately, the mapped ponds provide information regarding the maximum surface area but no information regarding the capacity of each pond. The SEO database of permitted stock ponds, however, provides capacity information, albeit, only for those stock ponds which were permitted as of December 2000. There were a total of 5,093 permitted stock ponds in the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area as of this date.
The SEO stock pond permit data provides the location of the ponds to the nearest quarter-quarter section. A GIS data theme of permitted stock ponds was created utilizing this information, positioning the permit points in the center of the designated quarter-quarter section. The permitted stock ponds are shown on Figure 3. The inventory of mapped stock ponds can only be performed for those areas of the planning area where digital base maps were acquired for this study. The extent of the digital base map coverage is shown in the Irrigated Lands Mapping and Water Rights Data memorandum and covers roughly 74% of the total geographic area (HKM, 2002). Of the 5,093 permits, 4,034 fall within areas where digital base maps are available. HKM spatially joined the stock pond permit points with the mapped ponds within a quarter mile radius of the respective points. In many cases, there were no mapped ponds within a quarter mile of the permit points. Conversely, in many cases there were multiple mapped ponds within a quarter mile of the respective permit points and no way of knowing which one the permit pertained to. In total 1,442 permit points could conclusively be tied to stock ponds shown on the digital base maps. With this information, the permitted capacity was related to the mapped surface area of these 1,442 ponds in order to determine the typical maximum surface area of stock ponds as defined for this analysis (20 acre-feet and less). Only those ponds on the digital base maps with maximum surface areas of 6 acres or less were considered to be stock ponds as defined here. A GIS data theme of mapped stock ponds was created as illustrated on Figure 4.
The net depth of reservoir evaporation from the stock ponds was determined by reducing the gross monthly lake evaporation from the Lewis study (Lewis, 1978) by the monthly precipitation from the Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) (Daly and Taylor, 1998). The GIS data theme of gross reservoir evaporation is illustrated on Figure 5. The GIS data theme of annual precipitation from PRISM is shown on Figure 6. The net depth of evaporation was then applied to the reservoir surface areas determined from the mapping to determine the total evaporation volume. The maximum reservoir surface areas were, however, first reduced to reflect the fact that the stock ponds are typically only full for a short time each year. Based on input from the Basin Advisory Group, it is assumed that the typical stock pond is empty on May 1st, is full on June 1st, and gradually empties until it's dry on August 1st. The total volume of stock pond evaporation for the portion of the basin covered by digital base maps is estimated at 4,640 acre-feet. Extrapolating out for the remaining 26% of the planning area not covered by digital base maps, it is estimated that the total volume of stock pond evaporation for the Northeast Wyoming River Basins planning area is 6,300 acre-feet from 16,600 stock ponds.
REFERENCES
Cuenca, Richard H., 1989. Irrigation System Design . An Engineering Approach, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Daly, Chris and George Taylor, April 1998. Wyoming Average Monthly or Annual Precipitation, 1961- 1990, http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/, Portland, Oregon [new link 10/2009 HERE]
Dastane, N., 1974. Effective Rainfall in Irrigated Agriculture, Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 25, FAO, United Nations
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Irrigated Crops, Technical Memorandum, Northeast Wyoming River Basins Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Irrigated Crops, Technical Memorandum, Powder/Tongue River Basin Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Irrigation Diversion Operation and Description, Technical Memorandum, Northeast Wyoming River Basins Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Irrigation Diversion Operation and Description, Technical Memorandum, Powder/Tongue River Basin Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Irrigated Lands Mapping and Water Rights Data, Technical Memorandum, Northeast Wyoming River Basins Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Irrigated Lands Mapping and Water Rights Data, Technical Memorandum, Powder/Tongue River Basin Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Spreadsheet Model Development and Calibration, Technical Memorandum, Northeast Wyoming River Basins Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Storage Operation and Description, Technical Memorandum, Powder/ Tongue River Basin Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Surface Water Hydrology, Technical Memorandum, Northeast Wyoming River Basins Plan. Billings, Montana
HKM Engineering Inc., 2002. Surface Water Hydrology, Technical Memorandum, Powder/Tongue River Basin Plan. Billings, Montana
Lewis, Larry Eugene, May 1978. Development of an Evaporation Map for the State of Wyoming for Purposes of Estimating Evaporation and Evapotranspiration, University of Wyoming master's thesis, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and the Graduate School, Laramie, Wyoming
Pochop, Larry, Travis Teegarden, Greg Kerr, Ronald Delaney and Victor Hasfurther, October 1992. Consumptive Use and Consumptive Irrigation Requirements . Wyoming, WWRC Publication #92-06. Laramie, Wyoming
Wyoming State Engineer's Office, April 1972. Wyoming Water Planning Program, Report 10, Water & Related Land Resources of Northeastern Wyoming. Cheyenne, Wyoming