The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

provides maps, reports, and information to 

help others meet their needs to manage, 

develop, and protect America’s water, 

energy, mineral, biological, and land 

resources. In this capacity, the USGS in 

Wyoming works in partnership with more 

than 30 local, State, and Federal agencies 

and two Indian tribes. Local agencies 

include county and municipal agencies, 

natural resources agencies, and county and 

regional planning agencies. This Fact 

Sheet describes some of the current USGS 

activities in Wyoming.

Oil and Gas Resources

Several petroleum-resource projects are 

being conducted by the USGS in Wyoming. Among the most prolific petroleumproducing basins in the State are the Wind 

River and the Greater Green River. The 

USGS, in cooperation with the Bureau of 

Indian Affairs (BIA), has been investigating the petroleum potential on Indian lands 

in the Wind River Basin and has provided 

the BIA and the Indian tribes with geologic information needed to determine that 

potential.

USGS investigations indicate that the 

Greater Green River Basin may contain a 

vast, untapped supply of clean-burning 

natural gas. This gas, however, may be in 

low-permeability reservoirs from which 

production is often difficult.

Copper and Zinc Resources in 

Southeastern Wyoming

In the Hartville Uplift, which is north of 

Cheyenne, USGS scientists identified 

favorable areas for copper and zinc deposits. The USGS is conducting more detailed 

studies to determine the geologic setting of 

this geographically complex area. This 

information will be available to assess the 

resource potential of the area.

Hydrologic Information for 

Local Water Management

General information about the occurrence, variability, and quality of surface 

and ground waters within political boundaries commonly is needed for local water 

management. To meet that need, the 

USGS, in cooperation with the Wyoming 

State Engineer, has conducted a series of 

county-level water-resources investigations in Wyoming since the 1950’s (fig. 1); 

the Lincoln County study is in progress 

(1996). The USGS completed similar 

investigations of Yellowstone National 

Park (1973) in cooperation with the 

National Park Service, and of the Wind 

River Indian Reservation (1996) in cooperation with the Shoshone Tribe, Northern 

Arapahoe Tribe, and the BIA. Results of 

the investigations are used by all levels of 

government to manage and protect Wyoming’s finite water resources under everincreasing demands.

Flood Investigations

Where human activity meets rivers and 

streams, hydrologic and hydraulic inforFigure 1. County-level water-resources 

investigations reports in Wyoming.

EXPLANATION

Reports completed

Report in progress

Yellowstone

National

Park

Wind River

Indian

Reservation

Rock Springs

Casper

Sheridan

Cheyenne

mation about floodflows is needed. Since 

1958, the USGS, mainly in cooperation 

with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, has conducted a series of integrated investigations to determine the 

flood characteristics of Wyoming streams. 

USGS hydrologists use information from 

streamflow-gaging stations to develop and 

refine procedures for estimating the size of 

floods of a given frequency at unmeasured 

sites throughout Wyoming. These procedures are being used by government agencies and private engineering and naturalresource companies to delineate areas of 

potential inundation, to determine the optimum size of highway bridges and culverts 

for safety and cost effectiveness, and to 

plan drainage systems at surface mines.

Geologic Mapping

Geologic maps provide information 

useful for exploration and development of 

minerals, as well as for planning and locating industrial and housing developments. 

The USGS is funding geologic mapping of 

selected quadrangles (1:24,000 scale) by 

Index of Subjects

Oil and Gas Resources

Copper and Zinc Resources in 

Southeastern Wyoming

Hydrologic Information for Local Water 

Management

Flood Investigations

Geologic Mapping

Ground-Water Studies

Water Use

Selenium in the Environment

Outreach Activities in Wyoming

Studies of Soil and Water Contamination

Volcanic and Earthquake Hazards in the 

Yellowstone Region

Topographic Mapping

Mapping Agreements

National Coal Resources Data System

State Cooperatives

Coal-Quality Studies

Special Studies in Teton County

Collection of Hydrologic Data

Earth Science Information

Cooperative Programs

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

U.S. Geological Survey

Programs in Wyoming

Earth Science in the Public Service
the Wyoming State Geological Survey. 

Funds for the mapping projects are administered by the USGS through its State Geologic Mapping Program (STATEMAP). 

This Program is a component of the 

National Mapping Act of 1992, in which 

States and the Federal Government share 

equally in the cost of selected geologic 

mapping projects. The program in Wyoming is in its third year. The current (1995) 

mapping project is the Guernsey Quadrangle, which includes northeastern Platte and 

northwestern Goshen Counties. This quadrangle is within the Hartville Uplift, where 

there is active production of industrial 

minerals and decorative stone. Past mapping projects include the Laramie, the Red 

Buttes, and the Howell Quadrangles in the 

southeastern part of the State.

Ground-Water Studies

Although about 95 percent of the water 

used in Wyoming is from rivers and 

streams, only ground water is available in 

many areas. The USGS, principally in 

cooperation with the Wyoming State Engineer, has conducted numerous small- and 

large-scale studies of the ground-water 

resource. Examples include a statewide 

series of hydrologic atlases that provide 

ground-water and related information for 

the major geologic basins of Wyoming, 

quantitative studies of the availability of 

ground water for irrigation and the estimated effects of future ground-water withdrawals, and continuous, long-term 

monitoring of water levels and water quality in a statewide network of observation 

wells. Large multi-State studies of regional 

aquifers that are partly in Wyoming were 

sponsored by the USGS—the Madison 

Limestone and the Northern Great Plains 

aquifer systems in northeastern Wyoming, 

the High Plains aquifer in southeastern 

Wyoming, and the Upper Colorado River 

Basin aquifer system in southwestern 

Wyoming.

 Water Use

Every 5 years since 1950, the USGS has 

compiled water-use estimates for the 

United States. Estimates for Wyoming for 

1990 (fig. 2) include total water use, public 

supply, domestic, commercial, irrigation, 

livestock, industrial, mining, thermoelectric and hydroelectric power, and wastewater release. The information may be useful to water-resource managers, State planners, industries, and the general public as a 

source of data to use in economic and 

resource allocation.

Selenium in the Environment

Although selenium is an essential element for animals and humans, excessive 

amounts can have potentially adverse 

effects on fish, birds, and human health. In 

Wyoming, areas where water flows over 

and through seleniferous soil and rocks are 

of special concern, especially where water 

drains into wildlife refuges, wetlands, 

lakes, reservoirs, and streams.

As part of the U.S. Department of the 

Interior’s National Irrigation Water-Quality 

Program, the USGS, together with the 

Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the BIA, and the Shoshone and the Northern Arapahoe Tribes, 

conducted studies of three irrigation areas 

in Wyoming—the Kendrick Reclamation 

Project near Casper, the Riverton Reclamation Project, and the Wind River Indian 

Reservation. Samples of water, bottom sediments, and fish and bird tissue were collected and analyzed for selenium and other 

trace elements. Selenium concentrations in 

the food chain exceeded threshold concentrations, which are known to cause adverse 

effects in fish and aquatic birds, only in the 

Kendrick area. Results of the studies are 

being used by local, State, and Federal 

agencies to help evaluate potential cleanup 

options, irrigation practices, and changes 

in land use in the Kendrick area.

Outreach Activities in 

Wyoming

USGS personnel frequently are asked to 

present exhibits and to give presentations 

to schools and organizations. As part of a 

Partnership Agreement with Cole Elementary School in Cheyenne, USGS personnel 

teach science to the 5th grade class each 

Ground water

5.3 percent

Surface water

94.7 percent

Figure 2. Estimated total off-stream water use 

in Wyoming by source in 1990.

week. The USGS, in cooperation with the 

city of Evanston, created informational 

signs along the Bear River Greenway.

Studies of Soil and Water 

Contamination

The USGS is assisting the U.S. Air 

Force in studies of soil and water contamination at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Because of contamination and the 

proximity of numerous suburban domestic 

wells, the Base was placed on the National 

Priorities List by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA) in February 

1990. The USGS is characterizing the 

hydrology to predict the movement of contaminants on and from the Base in surface 

and ground water. The results of these 

studies are the basis for assessments of the 

actual and potentially adverse effects that 

contamination might have on human health 

and the environment and for the design of 

cleanup options, if needed.

Increased pesticide use has resulted in 

increased crop production but also has 

raised concerns about the effects of pesticides on the environment and human 

health. Ground water, in many cases the 

sole source for rural residents, is particularly susceptible to contamination. The 

Wyoming Department of Agriculture, in 

cooperation with other State and Federal 

agencies, including the USGS, initiated the 

preparation of a State pesticide management plan for the USEPA. The plan 

includes a pesticide- monitoring program 

in selected agricultural areas to determine 

the extent of pesticides in ground water. 

This information may be useful to State 

and local entities that make decisions about 

pesticide use.

Volcanic and Earthquake 

Hazards in the Yellowstone 

Region

The geologic features and phenomena in 

the Yellowstone region in northwestern 

Wyoming are the result of active volcanic 

and mountain-building processes that have 

persisted for several million years. Volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes have 

occurred many times in Yellowstone’s 

recent past and will likely continue to 

affect the region. The USGS, in cooperation with the National Park Service and the 

University of Utah, is studying past volcanic and seismic activity in Yellowstone and 
monitoring signs of continued activity. 

These signs include frequent small earthquakes, rapid uplift and subsidence of the 

ground surface, and persistent, but everchanging, hydrothermal activity. One goal 

is to provide the scientific basis for timely 

warnings of any future volcanic and earthquake activities.

Topographic Mapping

The National Mapping Program of the 

USGS strives to ensure that map data in 

graphic and digital form are available to 

the public through timely and effective 

data collection and revision procedures. 

Among the most popular and versatile 

products of the USGS are its 1:24,000-

scale topographic maps (1 inch on the map 

represents 2,000 feet on the ground). These 

maps show natural and cultural features of 

the landscape, such as lakes and streams, 

highways and railroads, boundaries, and 

geographic names. Contour lines show the 

elevation and shape of terrain. Wyoming is 

represented by 1,922 maps at this scale, 

which are useful for civil engineering, 

land-use planning, natural-resource monitoring, and other technical applications. 

These maps have long been favorites with 

the general public for a wide variety of outdoor uses.

For many years, the USGS has worked 

with the Wyoming Geographic Information 

Advisory Council (formerly the Wyoming 

State Mapping Advisory Council) through 

the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office to 

provide accurate map products to the public at a nominal cost. Accomplishments 

include accelerated completion of statewide coverage of 1:24,000-scale printed 

and digital topographic maps, preparation 

of 1:100,000-scale digital maps for identification of irrigated areas in the Wind River 

area and other parts of Wyoming, and 

revised 1:24,000-scale paper and digital 

topographic maps that represent the Cheyenne area.

Mapping Agreements

The USGS, in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service 

(NRCS), is producing 350 digital orthophotoquads (DOQ’s) that will cover the 

Wind River Indian Reservation in western 

Wyoming. A DOQ is a digital image of an 

aerial photograph in which displacements 

caused by the camera and the terrain have 

been removed. A DOQ combines the 

image characteristics of a photograph with 

the geometric qualities of a map. The 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 

the BIA are participating in this project by 

establishing horizontal control (land-surveyed data). The NRCS, in cooperation 

with land-resource managers in Wyoming, 

will use the DOQ’s for conservation planning, habitat analysis, and soil surveys. 

The USGS, in cooperation with the BLM, 

is producing 35 DOQ’s that will cover the 

Jackson Hole area. These DOQ’s will be 

used by Federal, State, and local agencies 

for planning and impact studies for the 

Snake River drainage area in and around 

Jackson Hole.

National Coal Resources Data 

System State Cooperatives

Current, credible, understandable, and 

standardized information on the location, 

quantity, and quality of the coal resources 

of the United States is needed by Federal, 

State, and regional planners, as well as scientists and industry. The USGS, in cooperation with the State Geological Surveys, 

including the Wyoming State Geological 

Survey, initiated a study in 1975 to develop 

the National Coal Resources Data System 

(NCRDS). The USGS provides the central 

hardware, software, and analytical capabilities; the USGS and the States contribute 

data and use the data bases. Currently 

(1996), Wyoming and 21 other States, representing 98 percent of current U.S. coal 

production, are participating in cooperative 

projects. The NCRDS data bases provide 

baseline information that can be accessed 

for annual State resource updates and used 

to meet many needs.

Coal-Quality Studies

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 

created a renewed interest in locating coals 

that have low concentrations of hazardous 

air pollutants, sulfur, and ash. Coal of Tertiary age in Wyoming, Montana, and North 

Dakota has low sulfur and ash contents, but 

detailed studies of the distribution of hazardous air pollutants have only recently 

begun. USGS scientists have developed 

models for the distribution of coal on the 

basis of the environment that shaped and 

formed these deposits. The USGS, in cooperation with the Office of Surface Mining 

and the Wyoming State Geological Survey, 

is evaluating the models in anticipation of 

increased coal production during the next 

two decades. This work is an important 

step because most of the coal in Wyoming, 

Montana, and North Dakota is on publicly 

owned land.

Special Studies in Teton 

County

Recent geologic mapping by the USGS 

in the Jackson Hole area addresses several 

issues important to local residents and visitors to this scenic part of the State. The 

mapping project emphasizes three aspects 

of geology in this area—the glacial history 

of the valley, the extent of recent faulting, 

and the geology associated with 10 archeological sites around Jackson Lake. The 

work is coordinated with and benefits 

Grand Teton National Park, the Bureau of 

Reclamation, the Bridger-Teton National 

Forest, and Yellowstone National Park. 

Ever-increasing urbanization of the 

Snake River Valley in Teton County has 

placed greater needs for accurate and reliable hydrologic and hydrogeologic data 

and related interpretive investigations. The 

USGS, in cooperation with the Teton 

County Board of Commissioners, the 

Teton County Natural Resource District, 

the Wyoming State Engineer, and Grand 

Teton National Park, is collecting data and 

investigating various aspects of groundand surface-water interchange and waterquality issues and is reevaluating the 

ground-water resources within the Valley. 

This information may be used for comprehensive water-resources management planning for the area.

Gravel is used extensively as aggregate 

for asphalt-road surfacing. The cost of 

transporting gravel from mine site to application site is a major factor in the economics of road maintenance. The USGS, in 

cooperation with the Teton County Planning Office, is conducting a study to determine the availability and quality of gravel 

in the Jackson Hole area for road surfacing 

in Teton County. Several gravel sites along 

the Snake River near Jackson have been 

selected for the study. Availability includes 

an assessment of the quantity of gravel to a 

depth of 20 feet below land surface and the 

presence and depth of the water table. 

Quality includes gravel size distribution, 

sediment content, presence of fractures in 

the gravel, and quartzite content of the 

gravel.
Collection of Hydrologic Data

Since 1895, the USGS has collected 

continuous, intermittent, and single-measurement surface-water data at more than 

2,000 sites throughout Wyoming (fig. 3). 

Water-quality data have been collected at 

more than 1,600 sites. About 170 surfacewater stations currently (1996) are in operation. The data-collection program is done 

in cooperation with many local, State, and 

Federal agencies. These data are used for 

the daily administration and management 

of water resources, interpretive hydrologic 

studies, determining the extent and severity 

of droughts, characterizing and predicting 

conditions during floods, and monitoring 

the effects of human activities on streamflow and water quality.

Earth Science Information

The Earth Science Information Centers 

(ESIC’s) provide information about USGS 

programs, products, and technological 

developments to the public. The ESIC in 

Laramie was established under a cooperative agreement between the USGS and the 

Wyoming State Geological Survey at its 

Cartographic Information Center. As part 

of the National ESIC network, the ESIC in 

Laramie provides information on such 

earth science topics as cartography, geography, digital data, remote sensing, geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, 

geohydrology, aerial photography, and land 

use in Wyoming. The USGS supports the 

ESIC in Laramie with reference materials, 

technical assistance, training and outreach 

activities, and access to USGS data bases.

Cooperative Programs

Cooperative activities include waterresources data collection, interpretive 

water-availability and water-quality studies, mineral-resource assessments, and 

mapping. When local and State agencies 

are involved, activities typically are funded 

on a matching-funds basis. In addition to 

agencies already mentioned, the USGS 

cooperates with the cities of Cheyenne and 

Lander, the Midvale Irrigation District, the 

Fremont County Weed and Pest Control 

District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Wyoming Water Development 

Commission, the Wyoming Department of 

Environmental Quality, the Lingle-Fort 

Laramie Conservation District, the Shoshone and Heart Mountain Irrigation District, the South Goshen Conservation 

District, the Star Valley Conservation District, and the Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District.

WYOMING

Figure 3. Surface- and water-quality data-collection sites in Wyoming

USGS State representative

2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B

Cheyenne, WY 82001-5662

(307) 778-2931

Fax: (307) 778-2764

Email: dc_wy@usgs.gov

Additional earth science

information can be found by

accessing the USGS Home Page

on the World Wide Web at

http://www.usgs.gov/

For more information on

all USGS reports and products

(including maps, images,

and computerized data), call

1-800-USA-MAPS

The USGS provides maps,

reports, and information to help

 others meet their needs to manage,

develop, and protect America’s water,

 energy, mineral, biological, and land

resources. We help find the natural

resources needed to build tomorrow

and supply the scientific understanding needed to help minimize or mitigate the effects of natural hazards

and environmental damage caused

by natural and human activities. The

results of our efforts touch the daily

life of almost every American.

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