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Upper Laramie River Subbasin Groundwater Quality and Development

 
 

Groundwater Quality
The best quality groundwater is usually derived closest to the geologic outcrop areas of each aquifer. Generally, the water quality of groundwater derived from each aquifer is variable and dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not necessarily limited to, distance from the recharge area, aquifer transmissivity and storage, groundwater flow rates, aquifer rock type, dissolution of soluble salts and minerals within the aquifer matrix, and leakage of poor quality water into the aquifer from adjacent units.

Groundwater Development
About 98 percent of total permitted groundwater use in the Upper Laramie River subbasin is for agricultural, industrial, and municipal purposes. Agricultural wells are permitted to use approximately 71 percent of total permitted groundwater use, and most of these wells obtain water from the Quaternary Aquifer System for irrigation purposes. Several agricultural wells also obtain groundwater from the Late Paleozoic Aquifer System southeast of Laramie for stock and irrigation purposes. A few wells scattered throughout the subbasin obtain water from the Early Tertiary, Late Cretaceous, Early Cretaceous, and Triassic-Jurassic Aquifer Systems. Municipalities and community public water systems are the second largest permitted users at up to 18 percent of the total permitted groundwater use in the subbasin. Five community public water systems are located in the subbasin. The City of Laramie supplements its groundwater wells with a surface water supply. Industrial wells are permitted to use approximately 9 percent of total subbasin use, with the Union Pacific Railroad and mining companies as the major industrial users. Industrial wells obtain water from the Quaternary and Late Paleozoic Aquifer Systems. Domestic use is a minor groundwater use in the Upper Laramie River subbasin.

 

 
 


The Platte River Basin Plan is a planning tool developed for the Wyoming Water Development Office. It presents estimated current and estimated future uses of water in WyomingÆs Platte River Basin. The Plan is not used to determine compliance with or administration of state law, federal law, court decrees, interstate compacts, or interstate agreements.
Wyoming Water Development Commission
6920 Yellowtail Road
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Ph. (307) 777-7626
Fax (307) 777-6819