Seepage Study of McLeod Creek and East Canyon Creek near Park City, Summit County, Utah, 2004

Seepage investigations on McLeod Creek downstream of U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station McLeod Creek near Park City, Utah, and its confluence with Kimball Creek during the summer of 2004 indicate that this section of the creek is a gaining reach. The total seepage gains ranged from 1.8 to 2.7 cubic feet per second, or a 32 to 55 percent gain. The apparent average total seepage gain was 2.2 cubic feet per second, or an average 42 percent gain. Seepage investigations from the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station at East Canyon Creek below I-80 Rest Stop near Park City, Utah, to the station at East Canyon Creek near Jeremy Ranch, Utah, indicate that this section of East Canyon Creek is a slightly losing reach. The total seepage losses ranged from -1.2 to -2.0 cubic feet per second. This is a loss of between -18 and -27 percent from discharge measured at the upstream gaging station. The apparent average total seepage loss for the reach was -1.0 cubic feet per second, or -18 percent. Seepage information also was obtained along East Canyon Creek by using water-temperature data recorded in three shallow streambed piezometers. Surface-water temperature also was recorded at these locations. These water-temperature profiles indicate a seepage loss at all three locations along East Canyon Creek. This seepage loss appears to decrease in September and October

Estimating Streamflow Statistics for Ungaged Streams in Utah – Development of Regional Flow-Characteristic Regression Models and a Web-Based, GIS Model User Interface

Reliable estimates of a wide range of streamflow characteristics are needed by structure designers, land-use planners, and resource managers. The magnitude and frequency of floods for streams in Utah are needed for the design of near-stream or in-stream structures, floodplain delineation, and flood hazard assessment. Current estimates of flood frequency distributions for ungaged streams in Utah are based on analyses done in 1992 of data through water year 1986 and do not incorporate more recent peak-flow data or newly developed estimating techniques. Previous studies and resulting regression model sets for Utah have been limited to flood magnitude and frequency estimation and have not included an evaluation of low-flow, monthly, or annual streamflow characteristics. Annual and monthly streamflow statistics can assist planners and managers with decisions related to fish and wildlife, water rights, and land use. Estimates of low-flow characteristics also are important to local resource-management activities such as evaluating the effects of wastewater drainage or runoff from communities, industries, and agriculture on water quality. The U.S. Geological Survey operates a network of streamflow-gaging stations in Utah that provides streamflow data for a variety of purposes. Because it is not feasible to operate streamflow-gaging stations at all locations where planning, structure design, or water-management decisions must be made, the association of the physical characteristics and statistical characteristics of data from gaged sites can be used to make estimates of flow at ungaged locations. These estimates can be obtained from statistically developed regional equations. A first step in developing the statistical models used for obtaining streamflow estimates is to determine statistically significant geohydrologic regions. Following the regionalization process, regression models for each region are developed from relations between drainage basin and climatic characteristics, and computed and estimated streamflow-gaging station statistics. Finally, these equations will be incorporated into a web-based statistical tool that will provide consistent and accurate natural streamflow estimates for unregulated drainage basins that are less than about 500 square miles in size in the state of Utah

Seepage study of Mapleton Lateral Canal near Mapleton, Utah, 2003

Information on seepage gains and losses is needed by water managers at the Central Utah Water Conservancy District (CUWCD) to determine the total amount of water lost to the subsurface in an approximate 6-mi stretch of the Mapleton Lateral Canal located between the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon and the city of Mapleton, Utah (fig. 1). The canal is approximately 10 to 15 ft in width and is mostly of earthen construction except for a small section lined with concrete. Flow in the canal generally occurs during May through September, the primary irrigation season. This report describes the methods used to obtain flow measurements made along Mapleton Lateral Canal from May to September to determine the amount of seepage gains and losses and discusses the results of four sets of measurements

Seepage study of McLeod Creek and East Canyon Creek near Park City, Summit County, Utah, 2004

Information on gains and losses to McLeod Creek and East Canyon Creek is needed by water managers in Snyderville Basin and the State of Utah in order to make decisions to improve water quality and fish habitat in the area. Therefore, a study was conducted by the USGS in cooperation with the Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District during the summer of 2004. The results and interpretations from that study are presented in this report

Drought conditions in Utah during 1999-2002: a historical persspective

Utah's weather is prone to extremes-from severe flooding to multiyear droughts. Five major floods occurred during 1952, 1965, 1966, 1983, and 1984, and six multiyear droughts occurred during 1896-1905, 1930-36, 1953-65, 1974-78 (U.S. Geological Survey, 1991), and more recently during 1988-93 and 1999-2002. The areal extent of floods generally is limited in size from one to several watersheds, whereas droughts generally affect most or all of the state. Southern Utah, in particular the Virgin River drainage basin, began experiencing drought conditions during the winter of 1998-99. By 2000, drought conditions were evident throughout all of Utah. The current drought (1999-2002) is comparable in length and magnitude to previous droughts; however, with population growth and increased demand for water in Utah, the general effect is more severe

Flooding and streamflow in Utah during water year 2005

During water year 2005, new historic maximum discharge records were set at streamflow- gaging stations on the Santa Clara River at St. George; Virgin River near Bloomington; Little Bear River at Paradise; Mammoth Creek near Hatch; and Sevier River at Hatch. New total annual discharge records were set at Whiterocks River near Whiterocks; North Fork of the Virgin River near Springdale; Virgin River at Virgin; Santa Clara River at St. George; Virgin River near Bloomington; Mammoth Creek near Hatch; Sevier River at Hatch; and Coal Creek near Cedar City. New peak instantaneous discharge records were set on the Santa Clara, Virgin, and Little Bear Rivers as a result of locally intense rainfall events. The record peak discharges set on Mammoth Creek and the Sevier River were the result of snowpacks that were substantially greater than normal. The total annual discharge records for all of the stations were the result of greater-than-normal precipitation during the winter of 2005 caused by a weak El Nino event

Hydrologic conditions and water-quality conditions following underground coal mining in the North Fork of the Right Fork of Miller Creek drainage basin, Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah, 2004-2005

The effects of underground coal-mining-related land subsidence on overlying hydrologic systems generally are complex and poorly understood, particularly when the depth of overburden is shallow (less than 500 ft). From 1988 to 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (UDOGM), studied the effects of underground coal mining and the resulting land subsidence on the hydrologic system near the North Fork of the Right Fork (NFRF) of Miller Creek in Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah. This initial study was documented in a USGS report by Slaughter and others (1995). From 2004 to 2005, the USGS, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), conducted a study that reassessed the hydrologic system 13 years after the completion of longwall mining. This study compared hydrologic conditions in 2004-2005 to those observed prior to longwall mining underneath the NFRF of Miller Creek, and to those reported during 1988-1992. This study provides additional data on the long-term effects of longwall coal mining conducted at shallow-to-moderate depths (50 to 1,000 ft) of overburden on surrounding hydrologic systems. Overburden refers to material overlying a deposit of useful geological materials or bedrock

PROFIT VOLATILITY AND WATER-ENERGY , DEMAND ELASTICITIES IN CITRUS PRODUCTION

The demand for energy and irrigation water by the Florida citrus industry is shown to be relatively inelastic for energy price increases upward to 300 percent. As expected, product price increases have a more dramatic effect on profit than do energy price increases. A small product price increase can easily offset a much larger increase in energy prices