U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5133

In Cooperation with Teton Conservation District

Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, 

Teton County, Wyoming, 2004
On the cover: Site R3D/R4U in August (left photograph) and November (right photograph), 2004.
Seepage Investigation on Selected 

Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, 

Wyoming, 2004

By Jerrod D. Wheeler and Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller

In cooperation with Teton Conservation District

Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5133

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.
iii

Contents

Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................. 2

Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................... 2

Approach ....................................................................................................................................................... 2

Site Description .................................................................................................................................... 2

Field Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 2

Seepage Investigation ................................................................................................................................ 9

Ground-Water Gain/Loss Calculation and Error Estimation ......................................................... 9

August Seepage Results .................................................................................................................... 9

November Seepage Results .............................................................................................................. 9

Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 15

References ................................................................................................................................................... 15

Figures

1. Map showing general location of Fish Creek, Wyoming ...................................................... 3

2. Graph showing mean daily discharge during 2004 at Fish Creek at Wilson gaging 

station (station 13016450) (site R5D) ......................................................................................... 4

3a. Map showing Fish Creek seepage investigation study area, reaches, and site 

locations ........................................................................................................................................ 7

3b. Schematic of Reach 1 measurement sites for Fish Creek seepage investigation ........... 8

Tables

1. Fish Creek seepage measurement site descriptions and locations. .................................. 5

2. Discharge measurements on selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County,

Wyoming, August 17-19, 2004 .................................................................................................. 10

3. Summary of discharge measurements, selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton

County, Wyoming, August 17-19, 2004 .................................................................................... 11

4. Discharge measurements on selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County,

Wyoming, November 3-4, 2004 ................................................................................................ 13

5. Summary of discharge measurements, selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton

County, Wyoming, November 3-4, 2004 .................................................................................. 14
iv

Conversion Factors and Datums

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Volume

cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) 

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.
Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, 

Teton County, Wyoming, 2004

By Jerrod D. Wheeler and Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller

Abstract

A seepage investigation was conducted on Fish Creek, a 

tributary to the Snake River in Teton County in western Wyoming, near Wilson. Mainstem, return flow, tributary, spring, 

and diversion sites were selected and measured on six reaches 

along Fish Creek. Flow was measured under two flow regimes, 

high flow in August 2004 and base flow in November 2004.

During August 17-19, 2004, 20 sites had quantifiable 

discharge with median values ranging from 0.93 to 384 ft3/s 

for the 14 mainstem sites on Fish Creek, and from 0.35 to 

12.2 ft3/s for the 5 return, spring, and tributary sites (inflows). 

The discharge was 2.23 ft3/s for the single diversion site (outflow). Estimated gains or losses from ground water were calculated for all reaches using the median discharge values and 

the estimated measurement errors. Reach 1 had a calculated 

gain in discharge from ground water (23.8 ±3.3 ft3/s). Reaches 

2-6 had no calculated gains in flow, greater than the estimated 

error, that could be attributed to ground water.

A second set of measurements were made under baseflow conditions during November 3-4, 2004. Twelve of the 

20 sites visited in August 2004 were flowing and were measured. All of the Reach 1 sites near Teton Village were dry. 

Median discharge values ranged from 10.3 to 70.0 ft3/s on the 

nine Fish Creek mainstem sites, and from 2.32 to 3.71 ft3/s on 

the three return, spring, and tributary sites (inflows). Reaches 

2, 3 and 6 had a gain from ground water. Reaches 4 and 5 had 

no calculated gains in flow, greater than the estimated error, 

that could be attributed to ground water.

Introduction

Fish Creek, a tributary to the Snake River, is about 

15-river miles long, and is located in Teton County in western 

Wyoming near the town of Wilson (fig. 1). The drainage is 

located along the southwestern margin of a structural basin 

known as Jackson Hole, which is bounded by several uplifted 

ranges including the Teton, Snake River, and Gros Ventre 

Ranges (fig. 1), and the Wyoming, Hoback, and Washakie 

Ranges (not shown on fig. 1). The Teton Range is a northsouth trending upthrown fault-block, and Fish Creek flows to 

the southwest roughly parallel to the southern extent of the 

Teton fault to the west and the Snake River to the east. The 

surficial geology along Fish Creek between the Teton fault and 

the Snake River consists of Quaternary unconsolidated clay, 

silt, sand, gravel, cobble, and boulders. These deposits primarily include alluvium, colluvium, glacial till, and outwash 

deposits as a result of fluvial deposition and Pleistocene-age 

glaciations in the valley (Nolan and Miller, 1995).

Fish Creek’s drainage area includes part of the southern extent of the Teton Range and the southwestern part of 

the Snake River valley, and is 71 mi2 at the U.S. Geological 

Survey gaging station, Fish Creek at Wilson, Wyoming (station 13016450) (Swanson and others, 2002). Discharge in Fish 

Creek is intermittent in the upper reaches and perennial by the 

time the flow reaches Wilson, Wyoming. In a typical year, the 

mean daily discharge in Fish Creek increases over its reach 

from about 4 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) near Teton Village 

to more than 500 ft3/s near Wilson during high flow in early 

summer, and from no flow near Teton Village to about 40 ft3/s 

near Wilson during base-flow conditions (Swanson and others, 2002; 2003). Figure 2 shows the mean daily discharge in 

Fish Creek at Wilson, Wyoming (gaging station 13016450) 

during 2004. The changes in flow can be attributed to both 

ground water and surface water. The ground-water table near 

Fish Creek can rise due to recharge from local flood irrigation, 

injection of tertiary treated sewage, or the loss of water from 

Lake Creek (a diversion from the Snake River) (Nelson Engineering, 1992). Surface-water inputs were springs, irrigation 

return flows, and tributary streams, and outputs were diversions.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with 

the Teton Conservation District conducted a seepage investigation of selected reaches of Fish Creek during 2004. The 

objective of the investigation was to estimate the magnitude of 

gains and losses in streamflow over six independent reaches 

of Fish Creek during two different flow regimes. In August, 

the stream discharge is high and highly affected by irrigation 

infiltration and return flows. In November, the stream is at 

base-flow conditions, when the primary source of water gain 

to the stream is from ground water (fig. 2). Measurements 

were made prior to the low-flow period, because snow depths 

after mid-November would preclude finding the locations of 

channel inflows and outflows.
This investigation was conducted to better understand 

the ground-water/surface-water interaction between Fish 

Creek and the local ground water. The scope of the investigation was limited to measuring discharge at the upstream and 

downstream end of a selected reach, measuring all identifiable 

surface-water inputs and diversions from the stream reach, 

then calculating the change in flow. The change in flow can be 

attributed to the sum of the ground-water input/output to the 

stream and undetermined surface-water inputs.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to present the results of the 

seepage investigation on Fish Creek during August 17-19 and 

November 3-4, 2004. The discharge measurements at 20 sites, 

which include 14 mainstem sites, 2 return flow sites, 1 spring, 

2 tributary sites, and 1 diversion site, are presented. The calculated streamflow gains and losses attributed to ground water 

along six reaches of Fish Creek also are presented.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous assistance of area landowners near Fish Creek who provided access 

to their property for this study. The authors also acknowledge 

assistance from Brian Remlinger, Teton Conservation District, 

with site selection and from Kirk Miller and Ty Blacklock, 

U.S. Geological Survey, with discharge measurements.

Approach

Six reaches along Fish Creek were selected for the 

investigation (figs. 3a and 3b). The reaches were selected to 

be a distance long enough to potentially determine change, 

but short enough to provide interpretable and useful data. The 

reaches were selected to be approximately the same length. 

All visible inputs to and outputs from the creek in each reach 

were georeferenced using a Global Positioning System (GPS) 

and documented. The most upstream site (R1U) was located 

approximately where Fish Creek leaves the Teton Range 

and enters the Snake River valley. The most downstream site 

(R6D) was located approximately 1 mile south of Wilson, 

Wyoming. No reaches were selected downstream from R6D, 

as Fish Creek enters a very marshy area with many braided 

inflows to and outflows from the creek, and determinations of 

discharge would not have been feasible.

Two sets of discharge measurements were made on the 

selected reaches on Fish Creek. The first set was measured 

during August 17-19, 2004 during high-flow conditions. The 

second set was measured on November 3-4, 2004, during 

base-flow conditions.

Site Description

A total of 20 sites (14 mainstem, 2 return flow, 1 spring, 

2 tributary, and 1 diversion) were selected in the 6 reaches 

evaluated during the investigation (figs. 3a and 3b; table 1). 

Two sites (R3D/R4U and R4D/R5U) served as both the 

downstream point for one reach and the upstream point for the 

next reach. Site R5D is located at the Fish Creek at Wilson, 

Wyoming gaging station (13016450).

The entire section of Fish Creek in Reach 1 was recently 

rechannelized (December 2003-January 2004 (Brian Remlinger, personal commun., 2004)). The creek was changed 

from a straight channel through a meadow to an engineered, 

meandering stream. The creek in and downstream from 

Reach 2 has had minimal channel adjustments.

Discharge from springs enter the creek between Reach 1 

and Reach 2. That section of Fish Creek was not included in 

the study, however, because a large amount of overland flow 

into the creek from irrigation return flows occurred in August, 

which could not be quantified.

The elevation of Fish Creek decreases from about 

6,280 feet above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 

1929 (NGVD 29) at the uppermost part of the study (site R1U) 

to about 6,120 feet above the NGVD 29 at the lower part of 

the study (site R6D). The length of Fish Creek studied (from 

R1U to R6D) is about 10 miles.

Field Methods

All discharge measurements collected during this study 

were made using standard USGS discharge measurement 

protocols (Rantz and others, 1982; Nolan and Shields, 2000). 

Acoustic Doppler Velocity (ADV) meters were used exclusively due to their ability to provide high-resolution velocity 

data and their suitability in shallow stream environments. 

Fluctuations in stage were monitored at each measurement 

location either by using existing staff gages or by setting up 

temporary reference marks and measuring to the water surface. 

At all sites, stage did not substantially change during each set 

of discharge measurements at individual sites, with observed 

maximum fluctuations of ±0.03 ft.

Cross-section locations were selected where possible to 

maximize favorable flow conditions (for example, uniform 

cross-section, perpendicular flow, non-turbulent flow) and 

minimize potential errors due to factors such as heavy aquatic 

plant growth, uneven streambeds, and irregular velocity 

profiles. Some cross-section locations were dictated by stream 

access, and as such, channel and flow conditions may not have 

been ideal.

Discharge was measured in upstream to downstream 

order during both flow regimes. At least two measurements, 

performed either concurrently or sequentially, were made at 

each mainstem site. If the difference between the two measurements was greater than 5 percent, an additional measurement was performed to improve precision. Single measure2 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004
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Figure 1. General location of Fish Creek, Wyoming.

Approach 3
Figure 2. Mean daily discharge during 2004 at Fish Creek at Wilson gaging station (station 13016450) (site R5D).

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4 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004
ments were made for very small channels, return flows, and 

springs. Exceptions were a single measurement made at R6U 

during August and two measurements at R1DrnA.

Notations were made in the field to indicate sites that 

were dry or where flow was less than 0.1 ft3/s. At sites where 

the flow was less than 0.1 ft3/s, the flow was reported as zero. 

For sites where flow was greater than 0.1 ft3/s, the discharge 

was rounded to three significant figures.

The hydrograph for the stream gaging station, Fish Creek 

at Wilson, Wyoming (13016450), was examined to ensure 

that any effect of rain falling on the Fish Creek watershed had 

dissipated prior to making discharge measurements. Measurements made on a specific reach were completed in 1 day 

to minimize any variations in flow rates that might occur 

overnight.

Consideration was given to the computed discharge at 

the Fish Creek gaging station at Wilson, Wyoming, located 

at site R5D, as an indicator of the general hydrologic conditions in the study area. Mean daily discharge at gaging station 

13016450 ranged from 335 to 336 ft3/s during August 17-19, 

2004, and was 53 ft3/s during November 3-4, 2004, demonstrating consistent flow conditions.

Table 1. Fish Creek seepage measurement site descriptions and locations.

U.S. Geological Survey 

station number

Location number 

(figs. 3a, b) Discharge site location Latitude1 Longitude1

Reach 1

433505110494001 R1U Fish Creek, upstream end of Reach 1 43o 35’ 5.1” 110o 49’ 39.7”

433459110494301 R1A Fish Creek, upstream from Drain A 43o 34’ 59.3” 110o 49’ 43.0”

433459110494302 R1DrnA Mouth of Drain A 43o 34’ 59.1” 110o 49’ 43.0”

433445110495201 R1B Fish Creek, upstream from Drain B 43o 34’ 44.8” 110o 49’ 52.5”

433444110495201 R1C Fish Creek, below confluence with Drain B 43o 34’ 44.2” 110o 49’ 52.0”

433438110495901 R1D Fish Creek, downstream end of Reach 1 43o 34’ 38.2” 110o 49’ 59.1”

Reach 2

433253110504401 R2U Fish Creek, upstream end of Reach 2 43o 32’ 53.2” 110o 50’ 43.8”

433238110504401 R2Rtn Irrigation return to Fish Creek 43o 32’ 38.1” 110o 50’ 43.6”

433234110504501 R2D Fish Creek, downstream end of Reach 2 43o 32’ 33.8” 110o 50’ 44.8”

Reach 3

433140110513701 R3U Fish Creek, upstream end of Reach 3 43o 31’ 40.1” 110o 51’ 36.9”

433117110515101 R3D/R4U Fish Creek, downstream end of Reach 3 43o 31’ 17.2” 110o 51’ 50.6”

Reach 4

433117110515101 R3D/R4U Fish Creek, upstream end of Reach 4 43o 31’ 17.2” 110o 51’ 50.6”

433109110515201 R4Rtn Fish Creek Road culvert 43o 31’ 9.1” 110o 51’ 52.5”

433040110521901 R4D/R5U Fish Creek, downstream end of Reach 4 43o 30’ 39.5” 110o 52’ 19.2”

Reach 5

433040110521901 R4D/R5U Fish Creek, upstream end of Reach 5 43o 30’ 39.5” 110o 52’ 19.2”

13016450 R5D Fish Creek, downstream end of Reach 5 

(Gaging Station 13016450)

43o 30’ 3.0” 110o 52’ 15.0”

Reach 6

433000110521201 R6U Fish Creek, upstream end of Reach 6 43o 29’ 59.6” 110o 52’ 11.8”

432942110522901 R6Spring Wilson Spring at Rossetters 43o 29’ 41.8” 110o 52’ 29.4”

432936110522401 R6Ross Fish Creek at Rossetters 43o 29’ 35.8” 110o 52’ 24.0”

432927110523201 R6TrailCk Trail Creek secondary channel 43o 29’ 27.0” 110o 52’ 31.7”

432904110522901 R6Div Fish Creek Ranch diversion headgate 43o 29’ 4.5” 110o 52’ 29.1”

432906110522601 R6D Fish Creek, downstream end of Reach 6 43o 29’ 5.8” 110o 52’ 25.7”

1

All latitude and longitude measurements were obtained with a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS).

Approach 5
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Figure 3a. Fish Creek seepage investigation study area, reaches, and site locations.

6 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004 Approach 7
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Figure 3b. Schematic of Reach 1 measurement sites for Fish Creek seepage investigation.

8 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004
Seepage Investigation 

Ground-water gain/loss was calculated for each of the 

six reaches for both the August and November investigations. 

Error estimation was determined for all reaches.

Ground-Water Gain/Loss Calculation and Error 

Estimation

For all reaches with measurable flow, streamflow gains 

and losses attributed to ground water were calculated using 

the median discharge values for each site. The change in 

streamflow for each reach was calculated by subtracting the 

discharge at the most upstream site from the most downstream 

site. Streamflow gains and losses attributed to ground water 

within each reach were calculated by subtracting input flows 

(irrigation returns, tributaries, or springs), and by adding 

output flows attributed to diversions to the difference of the 

upstream and downstream discharge. For these calculations, 

the springs were considered a surface-water input to the creek. 

The original source of spring water is ground water; however, 

the effect of that spring on Fish Creek is that of a quantifiable 

surface-water input. 

A level of uncertainty or measurement error is associated 

with each discharge measurement made during this investigation. This uncertainty, also know as measurement error, 

standard error, or indeterminate error, results from inherent 

inaccuracies associated with the equipment and techniques 

used during each individual discharge measurement. The 

source of these uncertainties in USGS discharge measurements 

have been analyzed and a rating system has been developed 

to estimate this measurement error of individual discharge 

measurements (Sauer and Meyer, 1992). This rating system 

was used in this investigation to estimate measurement error 

for each discharge measurement as follows: good (measured 

discharge within 5 percent of the actual discharge (5 percent 

used for calculations in this report)); fair (between 5 and 8 percent (8 percent used for calculations in this report)); and poor 

(measured discharge 8 percent greater or less than the actual 

discharge (10 percent used for calculations in this report)). The 

measurement error associated with a calculated streamflow 

gain/loss attributed to ground water is a function of the measurement errors from all of the discharge measurements used 

to calculate that loss or gain.

The calculated value of each ground-water gain/loss has 

an associated estimated measurement error. This estimated 

error(s) was calculated by using the following propagation of 

error formula:

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where s is the error propagated from all estimated individual 

errors and a, b, ..., n are the estimated errors for the median 

discharge measurement at each site.

Estimated measurement accuracy ranged from approximately 3-5 percent error at sites with high discharge, typically 

at downstream reaches, to greater than 8 percent error at sites 

with very low discharge and/or considerable aquatic growth.

August Seepage Results

All 20 selected sites had appreciable flowing water during August 17-19, 2004, and discharge was measured on the 

mainstem, return flow, tributary, and diversion sites of Fish 

Creek (table 2). A summary of the measurements and calculated gains/losses from ground water are shown in table 3. 

Median discharges ranged from 0.93 to 384 ft3/s for the 

mainstem of Fish Creek, and from 0.35 to 12.2 ft3/s for return, 

spring, and tributary sites (inflows). Discharge was 2.23 ft3/s 

for the single diversion (outflow) measurement at the diversion 

structure located on the downstream end of Reach 6. Reach 1 

had a calculated gain of ground water (23.8 ±3.3 ft3

/s) greater 

than the estimated measurement error (table 3). Calculated 

streamflow gains/losses attributed to ground water in Reaches 

2-6 were smaller than the estimated measurement errors.

November Seepage Results

All of the study sites that were measured during August 

17-19, 2004 were revisited during November 3-4, 2004 to 

make base-flow measurements (table 4); 12 sites had flowing water and were remeasured. All of the Reach 1 sites near 

Teton Village were dry. The return flow on Reach 2, site 

R2Rtn, was estimated as less than 0.10 ft3/s and was reported 

as zero. In addition, the diversion structure on Reach 6 was 

no longer diverting water and site R6Div was dry. A summary 

of the measurements and calculated streamflow gains/losses 

attributed to ground water are shown in table 5. Median 

discharge at the nine mainstem sites ranged from 10.3 to 

70.0 ft3/s, and from 2.32 to 3.71 ft3/s on the three return, 

spring, and tributary sites (inflows). Reaches 2, 3, and 6 had 

calculated gains from ground water (2.8 ±1.1 ft3/s for Reach 2; 

7.2 ±5.6 ft3/s for Reach 3; and 8.4 ±7.5 ft3/s for Reach 6) that 

were greater than the estimated measurement errors (table 5). 

Calculated streamflow gains/losses attributed to ground water 

in Reaches 4 and 5 were smaller than the estimated measurement errors.

Seepage Investigation 9
10 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004

Table 2. Discharge measurements on selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, August 17-19, 2004.

[Discharge Measurement Quality: (G), good (less than 5 percent error), (F), fair (5-8 percent error), (P), poor (greater than 8 percent error); ft3/s, cubic feet per 

second; ft/s, feet per second; ft, feet; --, not applicable]

Location 

number

Discharge 

measurements on 

mainstem (ft3/s)

Discharge 

measurements 

on return/spring/

tributary (+) or 

diversion (-)

(ft3/s)

Mean 

velocity1

(ft/s)

Mean 

depth1

(ft)

Mean 

channel 

width1

(ft) Remarks

Reach 1

R1U 0.83, 0.93, 0.96 (P) -- 0.61 0.23 6.40 Very shallow with slow velocities. Minor 

aquatic growth.

R1A 3.27, 3.39 (P) -- .80 .72 5.90 Very shallow, irregular bed.

R1DrnA -- (+) 3.81, 3.82 (P) 1.17 .58 5.60 Very shallow, turbulent flow.

R1B 19.7, 20.0 (F) -- 1.22 1.38 11.5 Uniform bed. Even, steady flow.

R1C 32.0, 32.1 (G) -- 2.74 1.06 11.0 Uniform bed. Even, steady flow on riffle.

R1D 40.7, 40.9 (G) -- 1.70 1.46 16.4 Good cross-section. Even, steady flow.

Reach 2

R2U 113, 110 (G) -- 2.04 1.26 43.5 Uniform bed. Minor aquatic growth near left 

bank.

R2Rtn -- (+) 0.35 (P) .41 .33 2.60 Shallow and narrow, only 8 subsections 

measured. Heavy aquatic growth.

R2D 118, 120 (G) -- 3.32 1.22 29.5 Fairly even cross-section. Smooth, steady 

flow.

Reach 3

R3U 297, 300 (G) -- 2.56 1.70 69.0 Good cross-section. Left bank vertical. Even 

flow, unsteady velocity.

R3D/R4U 293, 299 (F) -- 2.62 1.82 62.2 Fair cross-section. Moderate aquatic growth. 

Uneven flow.

Reach 4

R3D/R4U 293, 299 (F) -- 2.62 1.82 62.2 Fair cross-section. Moderate aquatic growth. 

Uneven flow.

R4Rtn -- (+) 6.31 (F) .99 .76 8.40 Small uniform channel, fair section.

R4D/R5U 313, 318 (F) -- 2.42 2.18 60.0 Moderate to heavy aquatic growth in channel.

Reach 5

R4D/R5U 313, 318 (F) -- 2.42 2.18 60.0 Moderate to heavy aquatic growth in channel.

R5D 333, 325 (G) -- 3.88 1.44 59.0 Uneven, turbulent flow on riffle 100 ft upstream from gaging station.

Reach 6

R6U 376 (G) -- 3.71 1.58 64.0 Good cross-section. Even, smooth flow with 

swift, steady velocities.

R6Spring -- (+) 6.10 (P) 1.58 0.58 6.70 Measured outflow from two culvert pipes 

150-200 ft upstream from spring/stream 

confluence.

R6Ross 354, 387 (F) -- 2.80 1.38 97.0 Uniform streambed. Moderate to heavy 

aquatic growth near bottom.

R6TrailCk -- (+) 0.50 (P) .30 .48 3.50 Uneven, large cobble streambed. Turbulent 

and uneven flow.

R6Div -- (-) 2.23 (P) .60 1.24 3.00 Small, narrow ditch. Few subsections measured.

R6D 376, 391 (G) -- 2.98 1.54 84.0 Uniform, even flow. Steady velocities.

1

Mean velocity, depth, and channel width for each set of measurements at a location were calculated by averaging the mean velocities, depths, and channel

 widths of each individual discharge measurement.
Table 3. Summary of discharge measurements, selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, August 17-19, 2004.

Discharge Measurement Quality: (G), good (less than 5 percent error, with 5 percent error used in calculation), (F), fair (5-8 percent error, with 8 percent 

error used in calculation), (P), poor (greater than 8 percent error, with 10 percent error used in calculation); ft3/s, cubic feet per second; --, not applicable or no 

remarks]

Location 

number

Median 

mainstem 

discharge 

(ft3/s)

Median discharge 

from return/spring/

tributary (+) or 

diversion (-) 

(ft3/s)

Estimated 

measurement 

error 

(ft3/s)

Estimated streamflow 

gain (+) or loss (-) 

attributed to ground 

water and associated 

measurement error1

(ft3/s) Remarks

Reach 1

R1U 0.93 (P) -- ±0.1 -- --

R1A 3.33 (P) -- ±0.3 -- --

R1DrnA -- (+) 3.82 (P) ±0.4 -- --

R1DrnB -- (+) 12.2 (P) ±1.2 -- Drain B discharge calculated by subtracting R1B 

from R1C.

R1B 19.8 (F) -- ±1.6 -- --

R1C 32.0 (G) -- ±1.6 -- --

R1D 40.8 (G) -- ±2.0 -- --

(+) 23.8 ±3.3 Gaining reach.

Reach 2

R2U 112 (G) -- ±5.6 -- --

R2Rtn -- (+) 0.35 (P) ±0.1 -- --

R2D 119 (G) -- ±6.0 -- --

(+) 6.65 ±8.2 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

Reach 3

R3U 298 (G) -- ±14.9 -- --

R3D/R4U 296 (F) -- ±23.7 -- --

(-) 2.0 ±28.0 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

Reach 4

R3D/R4U 296 (F) -- ±23.7 -- --

R4Rtn -- (+) 6.31 (F) ±0.5 -- --

R4D/R5U 316 (F) -- ±25.3 -- --

(+) 13.7 ±34.7 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

Reach 5

R4D/R5U 316 (F) -- ±25.3 -- --

R5D 329 (G) -- ±16.4 -- --

(+) 13.0 ±30.2 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

Seepage Investigation 11
Location 

number

Median 

mainstem 

discharge 

(ft3/s)

Median discharge 

from return/spring/

tributary (+) or 

diversion (-) 

(ft3/s)

Estimated 

measurement 

error 

(ft3/s)

Estimated streamflow 

gain (+) or loss (-) 

attributed to ground 

water and associated 

measurement error1

(ft3/s) Remarks

Reach 6

R6U 376 (G) -- ±18.8 -- --

R6Spring -- (+) 6.10 (P) ±0.6 -- --

R6Ross 370 (F) -- ±29.6 -- --

R6TrailCk -- (+) 0.50 (P) ±0.1 -- --

R6Div -- (-) 2.23 (P) ±0.2 -- --

R6D 384 (G) ±19.2 -- --

(+) 3.63 ±40.0 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

1

Measurement error for the streamflow gain or loss attributed to ground water was calculated using the following propagation of error formula:

(2)

� ����

� �����

��������

� � �

Where s is the error propagated from all estimated individual errors and a, b, ..., n are the estimated errors for the median discharge measurement at each site.

Table 3. Summary of discharge measurements, selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, August 17-19, 2004.—

Continued

12 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004
Table 4. Discharge measurements on selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, November 3-4, 2004.

[Discharge Measurement Quality: (G), good (less than 5 percent error), (F), fair (5-8 percent error), (P), poor (greater than 8 percent error); ft3/s, cubic feet per 

second; ft/s, feet per second; ft, feet; --, not applicable]

Location 

number

Discharge 

measurements 

on mainstem 

(ft3/s)

Discharge 

measurements 

on return/spring/

tributary (+) or 

diversion (-)

(ft3/s)

Mean 

velocity1

(ft/s)

Mean 

depth1

(ft)

Mean 

channel 

width1

(ft) Remarks

Reach 1

R1U Dry -- -- -- -- --

R1A Dry -- -- -- -- --

R1DrnA -- Dry -- -- -- --

R1B Dry -- -- -- -- --

R1C Dry -- -- -- -- --

R1D Dry -- -- -- -- --

Reach 2

R2U 9.79, 12.4, 10.4, 

10.2 (F)

-- 0.51 0.44 44.0 Uniform bed with shallow depths. Minor aquatic 

growth.

R2Rtn -- Dry (<0.10) -- -- -- Very heavy aquatic growth. Very low flow, mostly 

seepage. Estimated at <0.10 ft3/s.

R2D 13.2, 13.0 (G) -- 0.94 0.62 23.0 Even cross-section above riffle. Even and steady 

flow.

Reach 3

R3U 47.2, 50.6, 44.5, 

42.6 (F)

-- 1.00 0.72 64.0 Uneven cross-section, shallow right side. Most of 

flow at left-center.

R3D/R4U 54.0, 50.4, 52.6, 

53.4 (F)

-- 0.85 1.04 60.0 Moderate aquatic growth, right side shallow. 

Uneven flow.

Reach 4

R3D/R4U 54.1, 52.1 (F) -- 0.90 1.05 56.0 Moderate aquatic growth, right side shallow. 

Uneven flow.

R4Rtn -- (+) 2.32 (P) 0.64 0.49 7.40 Shallow cross-section, low flow. Few subsections 

collected.

R4D/R5U 55.5, 59.0, 55.5, 

53.9 (F)

-- 1.00 0.94 59.0 Heavy aquatic growth upstream. Small island left 

edge.

Reach 5

R4D/R5U 55.5, 59.0, 55.5, 

53.9 (F)

-- 1.00 0.94 59.0 Heavy aquatic growth upstream. Small island left 

edge.

R5D 56.1, 53.9 (F) -- 2.06 0.66 40.0 Aquatic growth present but receding. Meas. 100 

ft upstream of gaging station.

Reach 6

R6U 55.7, 49.8, 52.8, 

61.9 (F)

-- 1.75 0.54 58.0 Multiple flow angles in cross-section. Moderate 

aquatic growth.

R6Spring -- (+) 3.71 (P) 1.72 0.34 6.40 Measured outflow from two culvert pipes 150-

200 ft above spring/stream confluence.

R6Ross 53.0, 49.9 (G) -- 0.91 0.63 90.0 Even cross-section. Less aquatic growth than 

August event.

R6TrailCk -- (+) 3.64 (P) 1.56 0.40 5.80 Uneven, large cobble streambed. Turbulent and 

uneven flow.

R6Div -- Dry -- -- -- --

R6D 71.5, 64.5, 68.4, 

76.8 (F)

-- 1.15 0.71 86.0 Moderate to heavy near-bottom aquatic growth. 

Flow uneven, mostly in left and right-center of 

channel.

1

Mean velocity, depth, and channel width for each set of measurements at a location were calculated by averaging the mean velocities, depths, and channel 

 widths of each individual discharge measurement.

Seepage Investigation 13
Table 5. Summary of discharge measurements, selected reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, November 3-4, 2004.

Discharge Measurement Quality: (G), good (less than 5 percent error, with 5 percent error used in calculation), (F), fair (5-8 percent error, with 8 percent 

error used in calculation), (P), poor (greater than 8 percent error, with 10 percent error used in calculation); ft3/s, cubic feet per second; --, not applicable or no 

remarks; <, less than]

Location 

number

Median 

mainstem 

discharge 

(ft3/s)

Median 

discharge from 

return/spring/

tributary (+) or 

diversion (-) 

(ft3/s)

Estimated 

measurement 

error

(ft3/s)

Estimated streamflow 

gain (+) or loss (-) 

attributed to ground 

water and associated 

measurement error1

(ft3/s) Remarks

Reach 1

R1U Dry -- -- -- --

R1A Dry -- -- -- --

R1DrnA -- Dry -- -- --

R1DrnB -- Dry -- -- --

R1B Dry -- -- -- --

R1C Dry -- -- -- --

R1D Dry -- -- -- --

Reach 2

R2U 10.3 (F) -- ±0.8 -- --

R2Rtn -- Dry (<0.10) -- -- --

R2D 13.1 (G) -- ±0.7 -- --

(+) 2.8 ±1.1 Gaining reach.

Reach 3

R3U 45.8 (F) -- ±3.7 -- --

R3D/R4U 53.0 (F) -- ±4.2 -- --

(+) 7.2 ±5.6 Gaining reach.

Reach 4

R3D/R4U 53.1 (F) -- ±4.2 -- --

R4Rtn -- (+) 2.32 (P) ±0.2 -- --

R4D/R5U 55.5 (F) -- ±4.4 -- --

(+) 0.1 ±6.1 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

Reach 5

R4D/R5U 55.5 (F) -- ±4.4 -- --

R5D 55.0 (F) -- ±4.4 -- --

(-) 0.5 ±6.2 Difference in measured discharge is less than the 

associated measurement error.

Reach 6

R6U 54.2 (F) -- ±4.3 -- --

R6Spring -- (+) 3.71 (P) ±0.4 -- --

R6Ross 51.4 (G) -- ±2.6 -- --

R6TrailCk -- (+) 3.64 (P) ±0.4 -- --

R6Div -- Dry -- -- --

R6D 70.0 (F) -- ±5.6 -- --

(+) 8.4 ±7.5 Gaining reach.

1

Measurement error for the streamflow gain or loss attributed to ground water was calculated using the following propagation of error formula:

(3)

� ����

� �����

��������

� � �

Where s is the error propagated from all estimated individual errors and a, b, ..., n are the estimated errors for the median discharge measurement at each site.

14 Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004
Summary

A seepage investigation was conducted during 2004 on 

Fish Creek, a tributary to the Snake River in Teton County in 

western Wyoming, by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Teton Conservation District. A total of 20 

sites including mainstem, tributary, and diversion sites, were 

selected in six different reaches along Fish Creek. The most 

upstream site was located approximately where Fish Creek 

leaves the mountains and enters the Snake River valley. The 

most downstream site was located approximately 1 mile south 

of Wilson.

Discharge was measured at all 20 sites on Fish Creek 

during August 17-19, 2004, which was representative of highflow conditions. The 14 mainstem sites had median discharge 

values ranging from 0.93 to 384 ft3/s. Median discharge values 

ranged from 0.35 to 12.2 ft3/s for the five return, spring, and 

tributary sites (inflows), and discharge was 2.23 ft3/s for the 

single diversion site (outflow). Estimated gains/losses from 

ground water were calculated for each reach using the median 

discharge values for each site. Reach 1 had a calculated gain 

from ground water (23.8 ±3.3 ft3/s) that was greater than 

the estimated measurement errors. Calculated ground-water 

gains/losses in Reaches 2-6 were smaller than the estimated 

measurement errors.

All of the sites that were measured during August were 

revisited during November 3-4, 2004, to make base-flow 

measurements; 12 sites had flowing water and were remeasured. All of the Reach 1 sites near Teton Village were dry. 

Median discharge values ranged from 10.3 to 70.0 ft3/s for 

the mainstem sites, and from 2.32 to 3.71 ft3/s on the return, 

spring, and tributary sites (inflows). Reaches 2, 3, and 6 had 

calculated gains from ground water (2.8 ±1.1 ft3/s, 

7.2 ±5.6 ft3/s, and 8.4 ±7.5 ft3/s, respectively) that were 

greater than the estimated measurement errors. Calculated 

gains/losses attributed to ground water in Reaches 4 and 5 

were smaller than the estimated measurement errors.

References

Nelson Engineering, 1992, Teton County westbank groundwater study: Jackson, Wyoming, Nelson Engineering Report, 

61 p.

Nolan, B.T., and Miller, K.A., 1995, Water resources of Teton 

County, Wyoming, exclusive of Yellowstone National Park: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 95-4204, 76 p.

Nolan, K.M., and Shields, R.R., 2000, Measurement of stream 

discharge by wading: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 00-4036, on CD-ROM.

Rantz, S.E., and others, 1982, Measurement and computation 

of streamflow: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

2175, 2 v., 631 p.

Sauer, V.B., and Meyer, R.W., 1992, Determination of error in 

individual discharge measurements: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 92-144, 21 p.

Swanson, R.B., Woodruff, R.E., Laidlaw, G.A., Watson, K.R., 

and Clark, M.L., 2002, Water-resources data, Wyoming, 

water year 2001, Volume 1. Surface Water: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Data Report WY-01-1, 518 p.

Swanson, R.B., Miller, K.A., Woodruff, R.E., Laidlaw, G.A., 

Watson, K.R., and Clark, M.L., 2003, Water-resources data, 

Wyoming, water year 2002, Volume 1. Surface Water: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Data Report WY-02-1, 526 p.

References 15
For more information concerning the 

research in this report, contact:

Director

U.S. Geological Survey

Wyoming Water Science Center

2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B

Cheyenne, WY 82001-5662

(307) 778-2931

Teton Conservation District

P.O. Box 1070

Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 733-2110
Wheeler and Eddy-Miller—Seepage Investigation on Selected Reaches of Fish Creek, Teton County, Wyoming, 2004—Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5133

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