New Fork River Periphyton and Bed Sediment Analysis

Dates

Start Date: 2011
End Date: 2012

Summary

The New Fork River, located in the northeastern part of the WLCI study area, drains about 1,200 mi2 of land in southeastern Wyoming. Currently, it is an area of active energy exploration and development, including development of conventional natural-gas wells. This study was conducted to support the Sublette County Conservation District in ascertaining effects on water quality in the New Fork River drainage associated with energy development and pipeline crossings of the river in the PAPA. The Sublette County Conservation District (SCCD) collects macroinvertebrate (aquatic insect) samples at eight sites within the PAPA. For this study, the USGS collected periphyton (algae), bed sediment, pebble count, discharge, and water-quality [...]

Summary

The New Fork River, located in the northeastern part of the WLCI study area, drains about 1,200 mi2 of land in southeastern Wyoming. Currently, it is an area of active energy exploration and development, including development of conventional natural-gas wells. This study was conducted to support the Sublette County Conservation District in ascertaining effects on water quality in the New Fork River drainage associated with energy development and pipeline crossings of the river in the PAPA.

The Sublette County Conservation District (SCCD) collects macroinvertebrate (aquatic insect) samples at eight sites within the PAPA. For this study, the USGS collected periphyton (algae), bed sediment, pebble count, discharge, and water-quality data (pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, water temperature) at five of the SCCD sites within the PAPA and at USGS streamgage 09205000 New Fork River near Big Piney, Wyo. All sites except for USGS streamgage 09205000 are within the Pinedale Anticline Project area, and all are located on the mainstem of the New Fork River. The sites represented habitats from headwaters to the confluence with the Green River. Riparian area vegetation was dominated by grasses, shrubs, willows, and cottonwoods.

In FY2012, the data were analyzed and the results were presented to the SCCD. Results also were included in a poster presented at the 2012 WLCI Science Meeting in Rock Springs, Wyo. Our results were similar to those previously obtained by the SCCD and showed little change in ecosystem services along the reach of the New Fork River that includes the PAPA.

Products Completed in 2012

Foster, K., 2012, New Fork River periphyton and bed sediment analysis, presentation to Sublette County Conservation District, April 2012.
Foster, K., 2012, Bankfull-channel geometry and discharge curves for the Rocky Mountains hydrologic region in Wyoming, presented at the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative Science Workshop, May 14-17, 2012, Rock Springs, Wyo. Workshop report available at https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/54610ad6e4b0ba83040c59f0.
Foster, K., 2012, Bankfull-channel geometry and discharge curves for the Rocky Mountains Hydrologic Region in Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5178, 20 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5178/sir2012-5178.pdf.

Products Completed in FY2011

Developed the database specific to this study, including the parameters as follows: periphyton (algae), bed sediment, pebble count, discharge and water quality (pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, water temperature). Data are specific to five sites within the PAPA and at USGS streamgage 09205000 New Fork River near Big Piney, Wyo.

Contacts

Contact :: Michael J Sweat
Data Owner :: U.S. Geological Survey

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Collecting_periphyton_samples.jpg		109.32 KB	image/jpeg

New Fork River Periphyton and Bed Sediment Analysis

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