U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5172

Prepared in cooperation with the Jackson Hole Airport Board and the 

Teton Conservation District

Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River 

Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009

Hydrogeology and Water Quality in 

the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at 

Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009

By Peter R. Wright

Prepared in cooperation with the Jackson Hole Airport Board and the 

Teton Conservation District

Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5172

U.S. Department of the Interior

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

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, 

natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, 

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

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.

Suggested citation:

Wright, P.R., 2010, Hydrogeology and water quality in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, 

Jackson, Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations 

Report 2010–5172, 54 p.
iii

Contents

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

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2

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

Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................2

Study Design...................................................................................................................................................4

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis .................................................................................................4

Well Construction and Ancillary Information...................................................................................4

Water Levels..........................................................................................................................................7

Water-Table Contours, Hydraulic Gradient, and Groundwater Velocity......................................7

Groundwater Sampling and Analysis..............................................................................................10

Quality Assurance/Quality Control...................................................................................................17

Hydrogeology ...............................................................................................................................................24

Water Quality................................................................................................................................................26

Chemical Composition .......................................................................................................................26

Redox Conditions ................................................................................................................................26

Anthropogenic Compounds ..............................................................................................................36

Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes .......................................................................................................36

Implications of Study Findings and Further Study Needs.....................................................................36

Summary........................................................................................................................................................38

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................39

References Cited .........................................................................................................................................40

Supplemental Information..........................................................................................................................43

Figures

1–5. Maps showing:

1. Map showing location of Jackson Hole Airport in the Jackson Hole 

valley, Wyoming ...................................................................................................................3

2. Map showing location of wells used in the study area for data collection, 

Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming ......................................................................5

3. Map showing example of a “three-point calculation” for determining 

direction of groundwater flow and hydraulic gradient, Jackson Hole 

Airport, Jackson, Wyoming..............................................................................................11

4. Map showing water-table contours and estimated direction of 

groundwater flow, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming ..................................12

5. Map showing generalized geology and geologic section in the vicinity 

of the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming.........................................................18

6. Graph showing water levels for selected wells sampled at the Jackson Hole 

Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, September 2008–February 2010.............................................25

7. Trilinear diagram showing proportional mean major-ion composition for 

groundwater samples collected from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, 

Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009 .......................................................................29
iv

Tables

1. Well construction and related ancillary information for wells used for data 

collection at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

September 2008–June 2009 ........................................................................................................6

2. Water-level data and related ancillary information for measurements 

collected at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

September 2008–June 2009. .......................................................................................................8

3. Horizontal hydraulic gradients calculated for five water-level measurement 

events at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

September 2008–June 2009 ......................................................................................................16

4. Results of groundwater-velocity calculations using hydraulic conductivity 

values of the Snake River alluvial aquifer at Teton Village and the Aspens.....................20

5. Physical properties, inorganic constituents, and other constituents analyzed 

in groundwater samples in the field or at the U.S. Geological Survey 

National Water Quality Laboratory. Samples collected at Jackson Hole 

Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.........................................................21

6. Volatile organic compounds, gasoline-range organics, glycols, and 

diesel-range organics analyzed in groundwater samples at TestAmerica 

Laboratories, Inc., laboratory reporting levels, and related 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards.....................................22

7. Summary of physical properties and inorganic constituent data for 

groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.........................................................................................27

8. Physical properties measured in groundwater samples from wells at the 

Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009 ...............................28

9. Analyses for dissolved gases in groundwater samples from wells at the 

Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, June 2009 .........................................................34

10. Assignment of redox categories and processes for groundwater samples 

from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009............................................................................................................35

11. Analytical results for chemical oxygen demand, major ions, trace elements, 

nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and stable isotopes in groundwater 

samples from wells at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009............................................................................................................44

8–11. Graphs showing:

8. Graph showing dissolved-oxygen concentrations for groundwater 

samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009...................................................................................................30

9. Graph showing dissolved iron concentrations for groundwater 

samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009...................................................................................................31

10. Graph showing dissolved manganese concentrations for groundwater 

samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009...................................................................................................32

11. Graph showing relation between oxygen-18/oxygen-16 isotopic ratio 

and deuterium/protium ratio for groundwater samples from wells at 

the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, June 2009 .........................................37
v

Conversion Factors and Datums

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 25.40 millimeter (mm)

inch (in.) 2.540 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 4,047 square meter (m2

)

Volume

ounce, fluid (fl. oz) 0.02957 liter (L) 

Flow rate

gallon per day (gal/d) 0.003785 cubic meter per day (m3

/d)

Hydraulic conductivity

foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day (m/d)

Concentration

part per million (ppm) 1.0 milligram per liter (mg/L) 

part per billion (ppb) 1.0 microgram per liter (μg/L)

Temperature can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°F = 9/5 (°C) + 32

°C = 5/9 (°F – 32)

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88), with the exception of figure 5, which 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), 

with the exception of table 1, which is referenced to both NAD 83 and the North American 

Datum of 1927 (NAD 27).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25°C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L). 

12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range 

organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, 

Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009 .......................................................................47

13. Analytical results for glycols and diesel-range organics in groundwater 

samples from wells at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009............................................................................................................53

14. Replicate data for major ions, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and 

trace elements in the groundwater sample from well JH–3, Jackson Hole 

Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, May 2009....................................................................................54
vi

Abbreviations, Initialisms, and Acronyms

ADAF aircraft deicing/anti-icing fluid

BTEX benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene

CaCO3 calcium carbonate

COD chemical oxygen demand

δ18O oxygen-18/oxygen-16 isotopic ratio

δ2H deuterium/protium isotopic ratio

DOC dissolved organic carbon

DRO diesel-range organics

DWA Drinking Water Advisory

e-tape electric tape

GMWL Global Meteoric Water Line

GPS global positioning system

GRO gasoline-range organic

HAL Lifetime Health Advisory Level

IRL interim reporting level

JHA Jackson Hole Airport

LMWL Local Meteoric Water Line

LRL laboratory reporting level

MCL Maximum Contaminant Level

MRL minimum reporting level

NTRU nephelometric turbidity ratio units

NWQL National Water Quality Laboratory

PVC polyvinyl chloride

RPD relative percent difference

RSD4 Risk-Specific Dose at 10-4 Cancer Risk

RSIL Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory

SMCL Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

VOC volatile organic compound
Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River 

Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009

By Peter R. Wright

Abstract

The hydrogeology and water quality of the Snake River 

alluvial aquifer, at the Jackson Hole Airport in northwest 

Wyoming, was studied by the U.S. Geological Survey in 

cooperation with the Jackson Hole Airport Board and the 

Teton Conservation District during September 2008–June 

2009. Hydrogeologic conditions were characterized using 

data collected from 14 Jackson Hole Airport wells. Groundwater levels are summarized in this report and the direction 

of groundwater flow, hydraulic gradients, and estimated 

groundwater velocity rates in the Snake River alluvial aquifer 

underlying the study area are presented. Analytical results of 

chemical, dissolved gas, and stable isotopes are presented and 

summarized. 

Seasonally, the water table at Jackson Hole Airport 

was lowest in early spring and reached its peak in July, with 

an increase of 12 to 14 feet between April and July 2009. 

Groundwater flow was predominantly horizontal but had 

the hydraulic potential for downward flow. The direction 

of groundwater flow was from the northeast to the westsouthwest. Horizontal groundwater velocities within the 

Snake River alluvial aquifer at the airport were estimated to be 

about 26 to 66 feet per day. This indicates that the traveltime 

from the farthest upgradient well to the farthest downgradient 

well was approximately 53 to 138 days. This estimate only 

describes the movement of groundwater because some solutes 

may move at a rate much slower than groundwater flow 

through the aquifer. 

The quality of the water in the alluvial aquifer generally 

was considered good. The alluvial aquifer was a fresh, hard 

to very hard, calcium carbonate type water. No constituents 

were detected at concentrations exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Levels, and 

no anthropogenic compounds were detected at concentrations greater than laboratory reporting levels. The quality of 

groundwater in the alluvial aquifer generally was suitable 

for domestic and other uses; however, dissolved iron and 

manganese were detected at concentrations exceeding the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Maximum 

Contaminant Levels for drinking water in two monitoring 

wells. These secondary standards are esthetic guidelines only 

and are nonenforceable. Iron and manganese are likely both 

natural components of the geologic materials in the area and 

may have become mobilized in the aquifer due to reduction/

oxidation (redox) processes. Additionally, measurements of 

dissolved-oxygen concentrations and analyses of major ions 

and nutrients indicate reducing conditions exist at two of the 

seven wells sampled. Reducing conditions in an otherwise 

oxic aquifer system are indicative of an upgradient or in-situ 

source of organic carbon. The nature of the source of organic 

carbon at the airport could not be determined.

Measurements of dissolved-oxygen concentrations (0.1 

to 8.1 milligrams per liter) indicated some variability in the 

oxygen content of the aquifer. Five of the seven wells showed 

oxic conditions in the aquifer, whereas two wells had low 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen (less than 1 milligram per 

liter), indicating anoxic conditions. Nutrients were found in 

low concentrations in all samples collected. Nitrate plus nitrite 

was detected in samples from five of the seven monitored 

wells, whereas dissolved ammonia was detected only in the 

two wells where anoxic conditions were present in the aquifer. 

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations generally 

were low. Only samples from three wells had DOC concentrations that were not estimated; one concentration, an order of 

magnitude higher than other detected DOC concentrations, 

slightly exceeded the estimated range for natural groundwater.

Samples of dissolved gases were collected, and field 

analyses of ferrous iron, manganous manganese, hydrogen 

sulfide, and low-level dissolved oxygen were done to better 

understand the redox conditions of the alluvial aquifer. 

Dissolved gas analyses confirmed low concentrations of 

dissolved oxygen in samples from wells where reducing 

conditions exist and showed the presence of methane gas in 

samples from both wells. The redox processes occurring in the 

alluvial aquifer at these two wells were identified by using a 

model designed to use a multiple-lines-of-evidence approach 

to distinguish reduction processes. Results of analyses from 

May and June indicate iron reduction was the dominant redox 

process occurring in the aquifer. 
2 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

Generally, the results of samples collected to determine 

the presence of anthropogenic compounds showed these 

compounds were not present. No gasoline-range organics 

or glycols were detected at concentrations greater than the 

laboratory reporting levels used for this study. Small concentrations of diesel-range organics were detected in four samples 

during this study; all detected concentrations were reported as 

“estimated” and were less than the laboratory reporting level. 

Concentrations of diesel-range organics were less than the 

laboratory reporting level in all samples collected during the 

last sampling event, indicating that the diesel-range organics 

(if present, and not due to field or laboratory contamination) 

were not from a persistent source during this study. 

Samples of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were 

collected from all seven wells and an irrigation ditch that 

crosses the airport to assess the source of water to the aquifer. 

Analysis of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope data indicated 

the source of groundwater likely is meteoric, and water from 

all the sampled wells underwent similar recharge and evolution paths.

Introduction

The Snake River alluvial aquifer is located in the Snake 

River Valley in northwestern Wyoming, including Grand Teton 

National Park, in an area known as Jackson Hole. This alluvial 

aquifer is used for domestic, public supply, commercial, 

livestock, and irrigation purposes (Nolan and Miller, 1995). 

In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that 

98 percent of the water used for domestic and public supply 

in Teton County was groundwater (U.S. Geological Survey, 

2005). Water from this aquifer is used for both domestic and 

commercial purposes by the Jackson Hole Airport (JHA) and 

nearby residents. Airport activities and facilities have the 

potential to affect water quality in the aquifer. JHA is located 

in an area of high vulnerability to groundwater contamination due to a high water table, coarse soils, and high rates of 

hydraulic conductivity (Hamerlinck and Arneson, 1998). 

Of particular interest is whether deicing and anti-icing 

compounds used at the airport are being transported into the 

alluvial aquifer. Studies of water quality near other airports in 

the United States have found components of aircraft deicing/

anti-icing fluids (ADAFs) in airport snowbanks (Corsi and 

others, 2006a), surface-water runoff (Corsi and others, 2001), 

and shallow groundwater (Cancilla and others, 1998). Reduced 

dissolved-oxygen conditions were found to be associated with 

ADAF (Cancilla and others, 1998; Corsi and others, 2001; 

Corsi and others, 2006a, 2006b). These studies have found 

that glycols, the primary ingredient in ADAFs, have very 

high biochemical oxygen demand, creating the potential for 

oxygen depletion in receiving waters (Corsi and others, 2001). 

In addition to glycols, ADAFs contain various performanceenhancement additives, which also can be isolated in environmental waters. Although previous groundwater studies have 

been completed in Teton County, little groundwater flow and 

water-quality information is available in the vicinity of the 

airport. To address these concerns, the USGS, in cooperation 

with the Jackson Hole Airport Board and Teton Conservation 

District, conducted a study to characterize groundwater conditions at the airport. 

The objective of this study was to characterize the hydrogeology and groundwater quality of the Snake River aquifer in 

upgradient and downgradient parts of the aquifer underlying 

the airport and facilities. Groundwater levels (referred to as 

water levels in this report) were measured during each visit to 

the airport and continuously at several wells to determine the 

direction of groundwater flow, calculate hydraulic gradients, 

and estimate groundwater velocity at the airport. Water-quality 

samples were collected at airport wells at four different times 

to characterize groundwater quality. 

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to describe the hydrogeology and water quality within the alluvial aquifer underlying the JHA during September and October 2008 and 

March, May, and June 2009. These four time periods reflect 

different hydrogeologic conditions and different airport-use 

periods. Hydrogeologic characteristics including the direction of groundwater flow, hydraulic gradients, estimated flow 

rates of the alluvial aquifer, and water-quality conditions for 

major-ion chemistry, nutrients, trace elements, volatile organic 

compounds (VOCs), gasoline-range organics (GRO), dieselrange organics (DRO), and glycols upgradient and downgradient from airport activities and facilities are described. 

The implications of these results are described. Additionally, 

reduction and oxidation processes (redox) are characterized, 

and the source of water to the aquifer is evaluated by using 

stable-isotope data. 

Description of Study Area

The JHA is located in the southern part of Jackson Hole, 

a semiarid, high-altitude valley in northwestern Wyoming 

(fig. 1). Located approximately 8 miles (mi) north of the 

town of Jackson, JHA is the busiest commercial airport in 

Wyoming; 3,904 flights carried more than 600,000 passengers during 2008 (Michelle Buschow, Jackson Hole Airport, 

written commun., 2009). The airport is unique in that it is 

located within Grand Teton National Park, along the park’s 

southwestern boundary. The airport is at an altitude of about 

6,400 feet (ft) above the North American Vertical Datum of 

1988 (NAVD 88), covers an area of 533 acres, and has one 

runway and one taxiway (Jackson Hole Airport, 2009). 

The JHA is located east of the Snake River on relatively 

thick Snake River terrace deposits (Pierce and Good, 1992). 

These terrace deposits consist of Quaternary-age unconsolidated gravel, pediment, and fan deposits that are saturated and 

collectively constitute a relatively large water-table aquifer 
Figure 1. Location of Jackson Hole Airport in the Jackson Hole valley, Wyoming.

Jackson Hole Airport

110°45’ 110°30’

IDAHO

WYOMING

Base from U.S. Census Bureau, 2001

Lambert Conformal Conic projection

Standard parallels 43°N and 44°N 

Central meridian 110°30′W

North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Jackson

Moran

Moose

22

191

26

89

287

National

Elk

Refuge

National

Elk

Refuge

GRAND TETON

NATIONAL

PARK

Wilson

111°00’

43°45’

43°30’

Teton

Village

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

0 5 10 MILES

191

BRIDGER-TETON

NATIONAL

FOREST

Jackson Lake

Leigh Lake

Emma

Matilda

Lake

Jenny Lake

Phelps 

Lake Lower Slide 

Lake

JACKSON

HOLE

Gros

Ventre

River

Cache

Creek

Flat Creek

Mosquito

Creek

Creek

Fish

Moose

Creek

TARGHEE

NATIONAL

FOREST

287

Teton Creek

Creek

Spread

Creek

Ditch

River

Snake

Granite Creek

Rendezvous

Peak

10,927

T E

T O N

R A

N G E

GROS VENTRE RANGE

HOBACK RANGE

SNAKE RIVER RANGE

Aspens

EXPLANATION

Approximate boundary 

 of Jackson Hole 

 valley

WYOMING

Jackson 

Hole

Airport

Grand 

Teton

National 

Park

Yellowstone National Park

Washakie Range

ABSAROKA RANGEABSAROKA RANGE

Introduction 3
4 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

throughout the eastern part of Grand Teton National Park and 

the Jackson Hole area (Nolan and Miller, 1995; Nolan and 

others, 1998). The aquifer is informally named the “Jackson 

aquifer” (Nolan and Miller, 1995) and is referred to as the 

“Snake River alluvial aquifer” in this report. The thickness of 

the Snake River alluvial aquifer in the vicinity of the airport 

is estimated to be 200 to 250 ft (Nolan and others, 1998, 

their fig. 5) and is the primary water supply for JHA and 

area residents. 

The Snake River alluvial aquifer is unconfined, and depth 

to water ranged from less than 1 ft to 233.91 ft below land 

surface with a median depth to water of 10.78 ft below land 

surface (Nolan and Miller, 1995). Depth to water varies with 

topography and is shallowest near bodies of surface water. 

Groundwater in the Snake River alluvial aquifer generally 

follows the topography, moving from high areas toward the 

Snake River and southwest through the Snake River valley 

(Nolan and Miller, 1995). The direction of groundwater flow 

in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at the JHA is from the 

northeast to the southwest (Kumar and Associates, written 

commun., 1993; Nolan and Miller, 1995).

The study area is in the Middle Rockies ecoregion, which 

is a temperate, semiarid steppe regime (Chapman and others, 

2004). Climate conditions in the Jackson Hole area vary with 

changes in season and altitude. Mean monthly temperatures 

at the Moose, Wyo., climate station, located approximately 

4 mi north of JHA, ranged from 0.9 degree Fahrenheit (°F) in 

January to 80.6°F in July with an annual average of 36.9°F 

during the period 1958–2009 (Western Regional Climate 

Center, 2009). Mean monthly precipitation data, also collected 

at the Moose, Wyo., climate station ranged from 1.1 inches 

(in.) in July to 2.6 in. during January with an annual average of 

21.0 in. for the period 1958–2009 (Western Regional Climate 

Center, 2009). Much of the precipitation in the Jackson Hole 

area is snowfall. On average, snowfalls occur 10 months of 

the year with an average snowfall of 171.4 in. at Moose, Wyo. 

(Western Regional Climate Center, 2009). For the period 

September 2008 to August 2009, average air temperature was 

37.9°F and total precipitation was 25.7 in., which included a 

snowfall total of 180.5 in. 

Study Design

Existing production wells in the study area were inventoried to determine if any could be used for collection of 

hydrogeologic and water-quality data. Nine existing production wells were selected for water-level monitoring and two 

of these wells (Hangar 1 and Hangar 5) also were selected for 

water-quality sampling. Five additional monitoring wells were 

installed to help understand local hydrogeologic and waterquality characteristics (fig. 2). The hydrogeology of the Snake 

River alluvial aquifer underlying the Jackson Hole Airport was 

characterized from the collection of water levels from 14 wells 

by using discrete measurements and continuous recorders 

for a subset of wells from September 2008 to February 2010. 

The water quality of the Snake River alluvial aquifer was 

determined from water-quality samples collected at 7 of the 

14 wells (fig. 2, table 1). 

Four of the five monitoring wells installed were screened 

near the water table, and one well (JH–3D) was completed 

in the deeper part of the aquifer (table 1). These wells were 

installed along the direction of groundwater flow based on 

published potentiometric-surface contour maps (Kumar and 

Associates, written commun., 1993; Nolan and Miller, 1995). 

Well JH–1 was installed north and east of current (2010) 

airport operations (upgradient), just east of the Teton Interagency Helitack Crew operations center (fig. 2). Three wells 

(JH–2, JH–3, and JH–4) were installed along the south and 

west airport boundary to represent downgradient conditions 

of current and planned airport operations, and a deep well 

(JH–3D) was installed adjacent to well JH–3 along the south 

and west airport boundary (fig. 2). 

Groundwater samples were collected four times from 

each of seven wells with the exception of well JH–4 (fig. 2; 

table 1). During the March sampling there was not enough 

water in well JH–4 to collect a sample. Results described 

in this report are for data collected during sampling done 

between September 2008 and June 2009. In order to understand the general water quality of the aquifer, samples were 

analyzed for constituents that naturally occur in water, 

including major ions and trace elements. Samples also were 

analyzed for many compounds found in products that are 

used at the airport such as VOCs, GRO, and DRO (found 

in fuels) and glycols (the primary ingredient in deicer and 

anti-icer products). Because low dissolved-oxygen concentrations were measured at wells JH–3 and JH–3D during the 

first two sampling events, additional water-quality data were 

collected to better understand the redox processes occurring at 

these wells. 

Methods of Data Collection and 

Analysis

Methods used for collection and analysis of hydrogeologic and water-quality data are described in this section. 

Quality-assurance and quality-control data collected for the 

water-quality samples also are described in this section.

Well Construction and Ancillary Information

The wells installed for this study were drilled using a 

dual rotary rig during July and August of 2008. Water-table 

wells were constructed with 2-in.-diameter, flush-jointed 

polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casing and well screen. Well screens 

used to construct the wells were 15 or 20 ft long (table 1) 

and set at depths about 10 ft below and 5 ft above the watertable surface. This allowed the wells to “straddle” the water 
0 500 1,000 FEET

0 150 300 METERS

N

Irrigation ditch

East Airport Road

Spring Gulch Road

E. Trap Club Rd.

Ponderosa Dr.

Ponderosa Dr.

Spring Gulch Road

JH–4

JH–3

JH–1

JH–3D

Hangar 4

Airport entrance Hangar 2

Hangar 5

Auto garage

Control tower

Hangar 1

Hangar 3

SS fuel farm

JH–2

Hangar 4

Hangar 5

Septic tanks

Leach field

Septic tank

Leach field South hangar

Middle

hangar

North

hangar

Rental car buildings

Jackson Hole Aviation

rotate hangar

Hangar

Teton Interagency 

Helitack Crew 

operations center

Terminal

EXPLANATION

Well where groundwater level was measured

Well where groundwater level was measured and water-

 quality samples were collected—Name is identifier

Airport

parking

Fuel farm

Figure 2. Location of wells used in the study area for data collection, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming.

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 5
Table 1.

Well construction and related ancillary information for wells used for data collection at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; ft, feet; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; bls, below land surface; MP, measuring point; M, measured; S, Wyoming State Engineer’s Office well permit database; --, not able to measure or find listed; -XX, a negative MP indicates a measurement above land surface; TOPC, top of polyvinyl chloride casing; TOSC, top of steel casing; TOWC, top of well cap]

USGS 

site-identification 

number

Well 

identifier 

(fig. 2)

Latitude

(NAD 27)

Longitude 

(NAD 27)

 Latitude 

(NAD 83)

 Longitude 

(NAD 83)

Landsurface 

altitude

(ft above 

NAVD 88)

Well 

depth 

(ft bls) 

Well 

screen 

interval

(ft bls)

Source 

of well 

construction data 

Height of 

MP above 

land 

surface 

(ft)

Altitude 

of MP 

(ft above

NAVD 88)

Description 

of MP

Water quality and water levels

433615110440001 JH–1 43°36′14.80′′ 110°43′59.56′′ 43°36′14.55′′ 110°44′2.31′′ 6,422.46 60.36 30–50

M 0.55 6,421.91 TOPC

433551110443501 JH–2 43°35′50.94′′ 110°44′34.79′′ 43°35′50.69′′ 110°44′37.54′′ 6,406.59 59.45 30–55

M .32 6,406.27 TOPC

433603110443501 JH–3 43°36′03.17′′ 110°44′34.56′′ 43°36′2.92′′ 110°44′37.31′′ 6,412.22 60.23 40–60

M .28 6,411.94 TOPC

433603110443502 JH–3D 43°36′02.90′′ 110°44′34.7′′ 43°36′2.65′′ 110°44′37.45′′ 6,411.99 102.58 1--

M –1.97 6,413.96 TOSC

433613110443501 JH–4 43°36′12.73′′ 110°44′34.95′′ 43°36′12.48′′ 110°44′37.70′′ 6,418.06 58.87 40–55

M .32 6,417.74 TOPC

433607110440901 Hangar 1 43°36′06.65′′ 110°44′09.20′′ 43°36′6.40′′ 110°44′11.94′′ 6,418.51 65 43–65 S –1.24 6,419.75 TOWC

433556110441601 Hangar 5 43°35′56.19′′ 110°44′16.01′′ 43°35′55.94′′ 110°44′18.76′′ 6,409.86 92 43–92 S .25 6,409.61 TOSC

Water levels only

4336301104427 Control 

tower

43°36′29.7′′ 110°44′27.27′′ 43°36′29.45′′ 110°44′30.02′′ 6,427.55 100 53–100 S –1.07 6,428.62 TOWC

4336041104410 SS fuel farm 43°36′03.61′′ 110°44′10.06′′ 43°36′3.36′′ 110°44′12.81′′ 6,416.63 55.70 --

M .12 6,416.51 TOWC

4336061104405 Airport 

entrance

43°36′05.89′′ 110°44′05.19′′ 43°36′5.64′′ 110°44′7.94′′ 6,417.17 81 48–81 S –1.17 6,418.34 TOWC

4336051104412 Hangar 2 43°36′05.18′′ 110°44′11.76′′ 43°36′4.93′′ 110°44′14.51′′ 6,416.83 89 35–89 S –1.26 6,418.09 TOWC

4336021104412 Hangar 3 43°36′02.26′′ 110°44′11.75′′ 43°36′2.01′′ 110°44′14.50′′ 6,414.09 -- -- -- –1.02 6,415.11 TOWC

4335581104415 Auto garage 43°35′57.82′′ 110°44′14.68′′ 43°35′57.57′′ 110°44′17.43′′ 6,412.57 -- -- -- .26 6,412.31 TOSC

4335561104415 Hangar 4 43°35′56.69′′ 110°44′14.79′′ 43°35′56.44′′ 110°44′17.54′′ 6,411.26 -- -- -- .16 6,411.10 TOSC

1This well was drilled to 115 feet below land surface and cased down to 105 feet. Field measurements of well depth indicate the open borehole collapsed and partially filled the borehole.

6 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 7

table, allowing for some seasonal changes in the water-table 

altitude and allowing for determination of the presence of 

possible groundwater contaminants, such as petroleum fuels 

that can float on or near the water-table surface. The deep 

well (JH–3D) installed adjacent to well JH–3 was drilled to 

115 ft of depth. This well was constructed with 105 ft of 6-in 

steel casing. The open borehole collapsed when the drill stem 

was removed and partially filled the lower end of the casing, 

leaving well JH–3D approximately 103 feet deep, which is 

about 43 ft deeper than well JH–3. Well JH–3D is not perforated or screened, is bottom fed, and acts as a piezometer. 

Prior to sampling, all five of the new monitoring wells were 

pumped or “developed” using methods described in Lapham 

and others (1995) to remove artifacts associated with drilling, 

such as drilling fluids, to provide water representative of the 

aquifer being sampled, and to improve movement of water to 

the well. 

Well locations and altitudes were determined during 

September and October 2008. Well locations were determined 

using a global positioning system (GPS) reporting latitude 

and longitude (table 1) using the North American Datum of 

1927 (NAD 27), with a horizontal accuracy of about ±16 ft 

(5 meters). All latitudes and longitudes were converted to the 

North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and are presented 

in table 1. Altitudes for three wells had been determined by 

a private surveying firm previously. Well altitudes for the 

remaining 11 wells were determined by a private surveying 

firm during October 2008 using the North American Vertical 

Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) and established airport benchmarks. Altitudes for all of the wells described above were 

determined using conventional surveying methods. 

Water Levels

Discrete water levels were measured during each visit to 

the airport (table 2), and hourly water levels were collected 

at selected wells during and after other field activities were 

completed. Discrete water levels were measured with a calibrated electric tape (e-tape) when the well casing was clear or 

with a calibrated steel tape when well pump and power cables 

were present. Multiple “replicate” measurements were made 

during each visit to ensure the water level measured was the 

correct water level. Water levels were measured to one onehundredth of a foot. The qualities of water-level measurements 

were not always excellent, even if multiple measurements 

were the same. If a water-level measurement was questionable due to measuring conditions (weather or suspected recent 

pumping), an “E” was included with the measurement to indicate it was an estimate. The quality of water-level measurements was a consideration during data analysis. 

During February 2009, continuous water-level recorders were installed in the five new monitoring wells. These 

self-contained pressure transducer/temperature/data logging 

units are vented, allowing for changes in barometric pressure, and are accurate to ±0.012 ft (In-Situ, Inc., 2007, p. 23). 

Discrete water-level measurements were collected each time 

data were downloaded (during each airport visit) (table 2) to 

verify proper reading of the instrument. When logged instrument readings did not match discrete water-level measurements, a datum correction was applied to the applicable period 

of record. 

Water-Table Contours, Hydraulic Gradient, and 

Groundwater Velocity

Water-table contours were constructed, and direction 

of groundwater flow and hydraulic gradient were calculated 

using methods described in Heath (1983, p. 11). Each set of 

calculations for direction of groundwater flow and hydraulic 

gradient required water-level data from three wells (“threepoint calculation,” [Heath, 1983, p. 11]) located in a triangular 

arrangement. Data necessary for these calculations included 

water-level altitude (table 2) and the linear distance between 

wells (approximated from topographic map). Data collected 

from wells JH–1, JH–2, and JH–4 during October 2008 are 

used herein as an example of how these hydrogeologic characteristics were determined. 

The first step was to identify the well with the intermediate water-level altitude (well JH–4). Once this well was 

identified, the point of contour or position between the well 

with the highest water-level altitude (JH–1) and the well with 

the lowest water-level altitude (JH–2) at which the water-level 

altitude was the same as in the intermediate well (JH–4) was 

determined using equation 1 (Heath, 1983, p. 11) and was 

solved using equations 2–3 for water-level data collected on 

October 15, 2008 (table 2).

A B

x

A C

D

( ) − = ( ) − (1)

where 

A is the highest water-level altitude,

B is the intermediate water-level altitude,

C is the lowest water-level altitude,

D is the distance between wells with the highest 

and lowest water-level altitudes, and

x is the point of contour.

6 380 92 6 364 41 6 380 92 6 358 81

3 542

, . , . , . , .

,

ft ft

x

ft ft

ft

( − ) = ( − ) (2)

x ft = 2 645, (3)

The point of contour is located x feet from the well with the 

highest water-level altitude. In this case, the point of contour 

was about 2,645 ft from well JH–1 along the path between 

wells JH–1 and JH–2 (fig. 3). Next, a straight line was drawn 

between well JH–4 and the point of contour (fig. 3). This 
Table 2. Water-level data and related ancillary information for measurements collected at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009.—Continued

[BMP, below measuring point; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; e-tape, calibrated electric tape; E, estimated value; --, not applicable]

Well identifier 

(fig. 2) Date Time(24 hour)

Water level 

(feet BMP)

Water-level 

method

Water-level 

altitude, 

feet above

NAVD 88)

JH–1 09/16/2008 1646 39.56 e-tape 6,382.35

10/15/2008 1435 40.99 e-tape 6,380.92

03/03/2009 1145 46.10 e-tape 6,375.81

05/05/2009 1520 43.97 e-tape 6,377.94

06/16/2009 1400 36.80 e-tape 6,385.11

JH–2 09/15/2008 1500 45.74 e-tape 6,360.53

10/15/2008 1005 47.46 e-tape 6,358.81

03/05/2009 0842 53.21 e-tape 6,353.06

05/07/2009 0856 49.88 e-tape 6,356.39

06/18/2009 825 40.28 e-tape 6,365.99

JH–3 09/16/2008 0745 48.62 e-tape 6,363.32

10/15/2008 0947 50.19 e-tape 6,361.75

03/04/2009 1020 55.45 e-tape 6,356.49

05/06/2009 1136 52.28 e-tape 6,359.66

06/17/2009 1102 44.09 e-tape 6,367.85

JH–3D 09/16/2008 0953 51.88 e-tape 6,362.08

10/15/2008 0949 52.37 e-tape 6,361.59

03/04/2009 1157 57.69 e-tape 6,356.27

05/06/2009 1406 54.53 e-tape 6,359.43

06/17/2009 1110 46.15 e-tape 6,367.81

JH–4 09/16/2008 1450 51.75 e-tape 6,365.99

10/15/2008 0937 53.33 e-tape 6,364.41

03/04/2009 0945 58.22 e-tape 6,359.52

05/06/2009 0920 55.09 e-tape 6,362.65

06/17/2009 0840 47.93 e-tape 6,369.81

Hangar 1 10/15/2008 1250 47.22 steel tape 6,372.53 E

03/03/2009 0930 49.10 steel tape 6,370.65

05/05/2009 0910 46.82 steel tape 6,372.93

06/16/2009 0836 39.57 steel tape 6,380.18

Hangar 5 10/15/2008 1135 38.78 e-tape 6,370.83

03/05/2009 1130 44.08 e-tape 6,365.53

05/05/2009 1210 41.53 e-tape 6,368.08

06/16/2009 1020 33.62 e-tape 6,375.99

8 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 2. Water-level data and related ancillary information for measurements collected at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009.—Continued

[BMP, below measuring point; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; e-tape, calibrated electric tape; E, estimated value; --, not applicable]

Well identifier 

(fig. 2) Date Time(24 hour)

Water level 

(feet BMP)

Water-level 

method

Water-level 

altitude, 

feet above

NAVD 88)

Control tower 10/15/2008 0920 58.17 steel tape 6,370.45 E

03/04/2009 1133 60.21 steel tape 6,368.41

05/05/2009 1310 57.29 steel tape 6,371.33

06/16/2009 0925 51.70 steel tape 6,376.92

SS fuel farm 10/15/2008 1030 41.55 steel tape 6,374.96 E

1

03/05/2009 -- -- -- --

05/05/2009 1350 40.24 e-tape 6,376.27

06/16/2009 1140 37.50 e-tape 6,379.01

Airport entrance 10/15/2008 1410 41.92 steel tape 6,376.42 E

03/03/2009 1025 46.60 steel tape 6,371.74

05/05/2009 0945 44.34 steel tape 6,374.00

06/16/2009 0915 36.78 steel tape 6,381.56

Hangar 2 10/15/2008 1225 44.75 steel tape 6,373.34 E

03/05/2009 1315 47.95 steel tape 6,370.14

05/05/2009 1310 45.59 steel tape 6,372.50

06/16/2009 1200 38.09 steel tape 6,380.00

Hangar 3 10/15/2008 1047 41.30 steel tape 6,373.81 E

03/05/2009 1300 46.45 steel tape 6,368.66

05/05/2009 1340 44.05 steel tape 6,371.06

06/16/2009 1105 36.49 steel tape 6,378.62

Auto garage 10/15/2008 1110 40.89 e-tape 6,371.42

03/05/2009 1154 46.08 e-tape 6,366.23

05/05/2009 1245 43.62 e-tape 6,368.69

06/16/2009 1040 35.81 e-tape 6,376.50

Hangar 4 10/15/2008 1128 38.50 e-tape 6,372.60 E

03/05/2009 1330 42.72 e-tape 6,368.38 E

05/05/2009 1500 41.23 e-tape 6,369.87 E

06/16/2009 1030 33.39 e-tape 6,377.71 E

1

Could not access well, under snow pile.

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 9
10 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

line is a segment of contour and represents the water-level 

altitude of the Jackson Hole alluvial aquifer. A line was then 

drawn perpendicular to the water-level contour and through 

well JH–1 (fig. 3). This line also could be drawn through well 

JH–2 and parallels the direction of groundwater flow. 

The hydraulic gradient is the change in hydraulic head 

(dh; change in water-level altitude) per unit distance (dl) in a 

given direction (Lohman and others, 1972):

Hydraulic gradient dh

dl = (4)

To aid in the construction of contours, hydraulic gradient was 

calculated as the difference between the water-level altitude 

of the well and the water-level altitude of the contour, divided 

by the distance between the well and the contour. Equations 5 

and 6 show the calculation of the hydraulic gradient using the 

water-level altitude of JH–1, the water-level altitude of the 

contour (same as well JH–4), and the linear distance between 

the well and contour:

Hydraulic gradient ft ft

ft

, . , .

, = 6 380 92 6 364 41 −2 477

(5)

Hydraulic gradient ft ft = 0 0067 / . (6)

Three-point calculations, such as those just described 

in the previous examples, were made for many different 

combinations of wells and were determined for each of five 

rounds of water-level measurements. Evaluation of water-level 

measurements identified irregularities with measurements 

from production wells. These production wells were regularly pumped, and it was difficult to determine if water-level 

measurements were affected by recent pumping. Consequently, only water levels measured in monitoring wells 

were used in three-point calculations. However, water levels 

measured in all wells were used to construct the water-table 

contour maps. Water-table contours were drawn (figs. 4A–D) 

using both discrete water-level measurements and contours 

determined using multiple three-point calculations to assist 

with “bending” of contours. A water-table contour map was 

constructed for four water-level measurement events: October 

2008, March 2009, May 2009, and June 2009 (figs. 4A–D). 

Contour construction was straightforward for all measurement events except May 2009, where it was recognized that 

one water-level measurement collected at the SS fuel farm 

well was anomalous compared to all the other groundwater 

levels. This was assumed to be a measurement error, was not 

considered, and the water-table contour map was constructed 

as shown in figure 4C.

An average groundwater velocity can be estimated if 

the horizontal hydraulic conductivity, effective porosity, 

and hydraulic gradient are known, with the assumption that 

groundwater flow is perpendicular to the water-table contours 

and the aquifer is homogeneous and isotropic. The groundwater velocity was estimated using the average hydraulic gradient 

calculated for each water-level measurement event (table 3) by 

using equation 7 (Heath, 1983, p. 25):

v

Kdh

ndl = (7)

where 

v is groundwater velocity, in feet per day;

K is horizontal hydraulic conductivity, in feet 

per day;

n is effective porosity, in percent, expressed as a 

decimal ratio; dh

dl is the hydraulic gradient, in foot per foot.

Hydraulic conductivity estimates for the Snake River 

alluvial aquifer at the airport were not available and were 

not determined during this study. To estimate groundwater 

velocities at the airport, hydraulic conductivity values from 

published aquifer tests of the Snake River alluvial aquifer at 

Teton Village and the Aspens in southern Jackson Hole were 

used (Nelson Engineering, 1992). The surficial geology of 

the area surrounding JHA is similar to the surficial geology 

at Teton Village and the Aspens (fig. 5), so it was assumed 

that the hydraulic conductivity at JHA would be similar to the 

hydraulic conductivities at Teton Village and the Aspens. The 

hydraulic conductivity of 22,000 gallons per day per square 

foot, or 2,900 feet per day (ft/d), for Teton Village is more than 

twice the hydraulic conductivity of 9,000 gallons per day per 

square foot, or 1,200 ft/d, for the Aspens (Nelson Engineering, 1992). Hydraulic conductivity estimates for Teton Village 

(2,900 ft/d) and the Aspens (1,200 ft/d) were high owing to 

the coarse-grained deposits of the system. Drillers’ logs for 

the airport monitoring wells installed for this study indicated 

that the aquifer is composed of a sand and gravel mixture. The 

porosity range for mixed sand and gravel is 20–35 percent 

(Fetter, 1988, table 4.2). An effective porosity of 30 percent 

(or 0.30) was used for all groundwater-velocity calculations 

(table 4).

Groundwater Sampling and Analysis

Groundwater samples were collected and processed in a 

mobile water-quality laboratory in accordance with standard 

USGS methods described in the USGS National Field Manual 

for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (U.S. Geological Survey, 1997–2010). Water was pumped from each well 

through a sampling manifold and a flow-through chamber in 

the mobile laboratory until at least three well-casing volumes 

had been removed and measurements of physical properties 

of dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, temperature, 

and turbidity stabilized. These physical properties (table 5) 

were measured in the field as part of sample collection using 
Figure 3. Example of a “three-point calculation” for determining direction of groundwater flow and hydraulic gradient, 

Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming.

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 150 300 METERS

N

Irrigation ditch

East Airport Road

Spring Gulch Road

E. Trap Club Rd.

Ponderosa Dr.

Ponderosa Dr.

Spring Gulch Road

JH–4

JH–1

Septic tanks

Leach field

Septic tank

Leach field South hangar

Middle

hangar

North

hangar

Rental car buildings

Jackson Hole Aviation

rotate hangar

Hangar

Teton Interagency 

Helitack Crew 

operations center

Terminal

EXPLANATION

Well where groundwater level was measured—Number is altitude 

 of water level, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of

 1988 (NAVD 88)

Airport

parking

JH–2

6,358.81

6,358.81

Direction of groundwater flow

2,612 ft

x = 2,645 ft

2,210 ft

90°

2,477 ft

Segment of contour

6,364.41 ft above NAVD 88

Point of contour

6,380.92

6,364.41

Fuel farm

3,542 ft

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 11
N

Irrigation ditch

East Airport Road

Spring Gulch Road

E. Trap Club Rd.

Ponderosa Dr.

Ponderosa Dr.

Spring Gulch Road

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 150 300 METERS

A

JH-4

JH-3

JH-1

JH-3D

Hangar 4

Hangar 2 Airport entrance

Hangar 5

Auto garage

Control tower

Hangar 1

Hangar 3

6,360

6,370.83

6,372.60

6,371.42

6,361.75

6,364.41

6,373.81

6,372.53

6,376.42

6,380.92

6,370.45

6,370.83

6,372.60

JH-2

6,358.81

6,373.34

SS fuel farm Septic tanks

Leach field

Septic 

tank

Leach field South hangar

Middle

hangar

North

hangar

Rental car buildings

Jackson Hole 

Aviation

rotate hangar

Hangar

Teton Interagency 

Helitack Crew 

operations center

Terminal

EXPLANATION

Well where groundwater level was measured—Number is 

 altitude of water level in feet above NAVD 88

Well where groundwater level was measured and water-

 quality samples were collected—Number is altitude of water 

 level in feet above NAVD 88 

Water-table contour—Shows altitude of water table in feet 

 above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). 

 Dashed where approximately located. Contour interval 5 feet

6,365

Airport

parking

6,380

6,375

6,370

6,365

Direction of groundwater flow

Fuel farm

Figure 4. Water-table contours and estimated direction 

of groundwater flow, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming. A, October 2008.

12 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Irrigation ditch

East Airport Road

Spring Gulch Road

E. Trap Club Rd.

Ponderosa Dr.

Ponderosa Dr.

Spring Gulch Road

JH–4

JH–3

JH–1

JH–3D

Hangar 4

Hangar 2 Airport entrance

Hangar 5

Auto garage

Control 

tower

Hangar 1

Hangar 3

6,365.53

6,368.38

6,366.23

6,356.49

6,359.52

6,368.66

6,370.65

6,371.74

6,375.81

6,368.41

JH–2

6,353.06

6,370.14

6,370

Direction of groundwater flow

6,360

6,355

6,365

SS fuel farm

Septic tanks

Leach field

Septic tank

Leach field South hangar

Middle hangar

North

hangar

Rental car buildings

Jackson Hole 

Aviation rotate 

hangar

Hangar

Terminal

Teton Interagency 

Helitack Crew 

operations center

Airport

parking

Fuel 

farm

6,375

N

B

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 150 300 METERS

6,365.53

6,368.38

EXPLANATION

Well where groundwater level was measured—Number is 

 altitude of water level in feet above NAVD 88

Well where groundwater level was measured and water-

 quality samples were collected—Number is altitude of water 

 level in feet above NAVD 88 

Water-table contour—Shows altitude of water table in feet 

 above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). 

 Dashed where approximately located. Contour interval 5 feet

6,360

Figure 4. Water-table contours and estimated direction 

of groundwater flow, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming.—Continued. B, March 2009.

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 13
SS fuel farm

6,376.27

Irrigation ditch

East Airport Road

Spring Gulch Road

E. Trap Club Rd.

Ponderosa Dr.

Ponderosa Dr.

Spring Gulch Road

JH–4

JH–3

JH–1

JH–3D

Hangar 4

Hangar 2

Hangar 5

Auto garage

Control tower

Hangar 1

Hangar 3

JH–2

6,360

6,368.08

6,369.87

6,368.69

6,359.66

6,362.65

6,371.06

6,372.93 6,374.00

Airport 

entrance

6,377.94

6,371.33

6,372.50

6,355

6,356.39

6,380

6,375

6,370

6,365

Direction of groundwater flow

Septic tanks

Leach field

Septic tank

Leach field South hangar

Middle

hangar

North

hangar

Rental car buildings

Jackson Hole Aviation

rotate hangar

Hangar

Terminal

Teton Interagency 

Helitack Crew 

operations center

Airport

parking

Fuel farm

N

C

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 150 300 METERS

6,368.08

6,369.87

EXPLANATION

Well where groundwater level was measured—Number is 

 altitude of water level in feet above NAVD 88

Well where groundwater level was measured and water-

 quality samples were collected—Number is altitude of water 

 level in feet above NAVD 88 

Water-table contour—Shows altitude of water table in feet 

 above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). 

 Dashed where approximately located. Contour interval 5 feet

6,355

Figure 4. Water-table contours and estimated direction 

of groundwater flow, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming.—Continued. C, May 2009.

14 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Irrigation Ditch

East Airport Road

Spring Gulch Road

E. Trap Club Rd.

Ponderosa Dr.

Ponderosa Dr.

Spring Gulch Road

JH–4

JH–3

JH–1

JH–3D

Hangar 4

Hangar 2 Airport entrance

Hangar 5

Auto garage

Control tower

Hangar 1

Hangar 3

6,365

6,375.99

6,377.71

6,376.50

6,367.85

6,369.81

6,378.62

6,380.18

6,381.56

6,385.11

6,376.92

JH–2

6,365.99

6,380.00

Direction of groundwater flow

Septic tanks

Leach field

Septic 

tank

Leach field South hangar

Middle hangar

North

hangar

Rental car buildings

Jackson Hole 

Aviation

rotate hangar

Hangar

Teton Interagency 

Helitack Crew 

operations center

Terminal

Airport

parking

6,360

6,385

6,380

6,375

6,370

SS fuel farm

6,379.01

Fuel farm

N

D

0 500 1,000 FEET

0 150 300 METERS

6,375.99

6,377.71

EXPLANATION

Well where groundwater level was measured—Number is 

 altitude of water level in feet above NAVD 88

Well where groundwater level was measured and water-

 quality samples were collected—Number is altitude of water 

 level in feet above NAVD 88 

Water-table contour—Shows altitude of water table in feet 

 above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). 

 Dashed where approximately located. Contour interval 5 feet

6,360

Figure 4. Water-table contours and estimated direction 

of groundwater flow, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming.—Continued. D, June 2009.

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 15
Table 3. Horizontal hydraulic gradients calculated for five water-level measurement events at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, September 2008–June 2009.

Wells used in threepoint calculation to 

determine hydraulic 

gradient

Horizontal hydraulic gradient (foot per foot)

September 2008 October 2008 March 2009 May 2009 June 2009 Average

JH–1, JH–2, JH–4 0.0066 0.0066 0.0068 0.0063 0.0066 0.0066

JH–1, JH–3, JH–4 .0067 .0067 .0069 .0064 .0061 .0066

JH–1, JH–2, JH–3 .0067 .0068 .0068 .0065 .0065 .0067

Average by month .0067 .0067 .0068 .0064 .0064 .0066

16 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

methods described in U.S. Geological Survey (1997–2010). 

Alkalinity was determined using incremental titration of 

a filtered water sample with sulfuric acid as described in 

U.S. Geological Survey (1997–2010). 

For samples collected for analyses of major ions, selected 

nutrients, selected trace elements, and dissolved organic 

carbon, filtration was performed by passing sample water 

through a pre-conditioned 0.45-micrometer, nominalpore-size, baked glass-fiber filter. In this report, constituents in 

filtered water samples are referred to as “dissolved.” Constituents in unfiltered water samples are referred to as “total.”

The USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) 

in Denver, Colo., analyzed groundwater samples for chemical 

oxygen demand (COD), major ions, nutrients, trace elements, 

and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Major ions and trace 

elements (table 5) were analyzed using ion-exchange chromatography or inductively coupled plasma-atomic-emission 

spectroscopy (Fishman and Friedman, 1989; Fishman, 1993). 

Nutrients and COD (table 5) were analyzed using colorimetry 

(Fishman, 1993). DOC (table 5) was analyzed using ultraviolet 

light-promoted persulfate oxidation and infrared spectrometry 

(Brenton and Arnett, 1993). 

TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc., was contracted to 

analyze water samples for VOCs, GRO, glycols, and DRO 

(table 6) using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(USEPA) methods. VOC samples were sent to TestAmerica in 

Savannah, Ga., and were analyzed using USEPA method 524.2 

(Munch, 1995). Analyses for GRO using USEPA SW846 

method 8021/8015B (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

1996a; 1996b) and DRO using USEPA SW846 method 8015B 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996a) in the C10–

C32 and C10–C36 carbon ranges (table 6) were performed 

by TestAmerica in Denver, Colo. Glycol samples were sent 

to TestAmerica in Austin, Tex., and analyzed using USEPA 

SW846 method 8015B (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 1996a). 

The USGS Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory (RSIL) in 

Reston, Va., analyzed seven groundwater samples and one 

surface-water sample for stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ2

H or 

deuterium (hydrogen-2)/protium (hydrogen-1) isotopic ratio) 

and oxygen (δ18O or oxygen-18/oxygen-16 isotopic ratio)

(table 5). The samples for determination of stable isotopes of 

hydrogen were analyzed using a gaseous hydrogen equilibrium procedure (Coplen and others, 1991), and the samples 

for determination of stable isotopes of oxygen were analyzed 

using the carbon dioxide-water equilibration technique of 

Epstein and Mayeda (1953). The USGS Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory in Reston, Va., analyzed groundwater 

samples for dissolved gases (argon, carbon dioxide, methane, 

nitrogen, and oxygen) (table 5) using gas chromatography 

(Busenberg and others, 2001). 

Low-range dissolved oxygen, sulfide, and ferrous iron 

analyses were performed in the field laboratory using a HACH 

DR 2000 spectrophotometer (HACH, 1996). Methods of 

analyses included HACH method 8316, the indigo carmine 

method using AccuVac ampoules for low-range dissolved 

oxygen; HACH method 8146, the 1,10-phenanthroline method 

using AccuVac ampoules for ferrous iron; and HACH method 

8131, a methylene blue method for sulfide (HACH, 1996).

Water-quality results collected during this study are 

presented in tables in the “Supplemental Information” section 

at the back of this report. Some water-quality results, especially those for organic compounds in this study, are reported 

as a less than (<) value or are qualified with an “E” meaning 

estimated. The < symbol indicates that the chemical was not 

detected. The value following the < symbol is the laboratory 

reporting level (LRL) or interim reporting level (IRL) associated with that analysis. The LRL can have various definitions, 
Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 17

depending on the laboratory, but for water-quality data 

reported by the NWQL, the LRL generally is equal to twice 

the yearly determined long-term method detection level (Childress and others, 1999). The IRL, such as for dissolved nitrite 

and bromide (table 5), is a temporary reporting level used for 

new or custom schedules when long-term method detection 

level data are unavailable and a laboratory reporting level 

has not yet been established (U.S. Geological Survey, 2004). 

Values commonly are estimated when the value is greater than 

the minimum reporting level (MRL), defined by the NWQL as 

the smallest measured concentration of a substance that can be 

measured reliably by using a given analytical method (Timme, 

1995), but less than the LRL. Generally, concentrations that 

are less than the LRL have more uncertainty in their quantification than concentrations larger than LRLs. 

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

In addition to collection of environmental groundwater samples, three quality-control samples were collected, 

including a field-equipment blank, a trip blank, and a replicate sample. Analyses of these sample data are necessary to 

determine the quality of field and laboratory procedures and 

results. Quality-control samples were collected, processed, and 

analyzed using the same methods as environmental samples, 

and the results were used in this study to estimate the bias 

and variability that may have resulted from sample collection, 

processing, and analysis. 

A field-equipment blank was collected between samples; 

that is, after the collection of an environmental sample and 

cleaning of the sampling equipment, and just before the collection of the next environmental sample. The field-equipment 

blank is a measure of sampling bias, providing data used 

to determine if cleaning procedures removed constituents 

from sampling equipment between sites and if sampling and 

laboratory methods were appropriate to prevent contamination of environmental samples (Mueller and others, 1997). 

Upon completion of cleaning, the field-equipment blank was 

collected by passing specially prepared blank water through all 

the sampling equipment. Inorganic-free and organic-free blank 

water was obtained from the NWQL and is certified to be free 

of inorganic and organic constituents, respectively. Trip blanks 

for this study were VOC vials of organic-free blank water 

filled and sealed by TestAmerica Laboratories. These trip 

blanks accompanied environmental sample vials to verify that 

VOC contamination did not occur during storage, sampling, 

or shipment to or from TestAmerica. A replicate sample was 

collected immediately after the primary environmental sample 

and was analyzed for the same constituents as the primary 

sample, to provide a measure of variability due to the effects 

of field and laboratory procedures.

The field equipment blank was analyzed for COD, major 

ions, trace elements, nutrients, DOC (table 11), VOCs, GRO 

(table 12), glycols and DRO (table 13). Tables 11, 12, 13, and 

14 are located in the “Supplemental Information” section at 

the back of the report. All of the major ions except calcium 

and bromide were detected in the field blank; concentrations 

of detected major ions were very low and much smaller than 

concentrations measured in the environmental samples. None 

of the nutrients, trace elements, VOCs, GRO, glycols, or 

DRO was detected in the field equipment blank. Field equipment blank results indicate decontamination procedures were 

adequate and field and laboratory contamination of the environmental samples was minimal. 

One trip blank was collected during the study for analysis 

of VOCs. Methylene chloride was detected at a small and estimated concentration of 0.61 microgram per liter (μg/L) in the 

trip blank (table 12). Because methylene chloride is a common 

solvent used by laboratories (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2009a) and was the only VOC detected in the trip 

blank, this sample may have been contaminated at the laboratory. However, it also is possible that contamination could 

have occurred during transport of the trip blank. Therefore, 

the detection of methylene chloride found in an environmental 

sample at similar small, estimated concentration was considered to be due to sample contamination and not as a detection 

for this study. 

One replicate sample was collected during this study. The 

relative percent difference (RPD) was calculated by comparing constituent concentrations measured in both the primary 

environmental sample and the replicate sample. The RPD was 

calculated using equation 8. 

RPD absolutevalue

concentration conce environmental sample = − ntration

concentration

replicate sample

 environmental sample +



































×

concentrationreplicate sample

2

100 (8)
?

?

?

?

?

?

?

A A′

Qa

Qa Qt

Qa

Qg

Qa

Qa

Qg

Qa

Qt

Qa

Qg

Qg

Qg

Qg

QTc

QTc

Qg

Qg

Kb

Qls QTc

Qg

Tii

QTc

QTc

Qa

QTc

Qa

Qls

Kb

Ka

Tii

Qa Qt

Qa

Qa

Qg

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qls Qg

QTc

Tte

Qls

Qls

Qg

Qa

Qg

QTc

Qa

Qg

Qa

Qg

Qa

Qg

Qg

QTc

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qt

Qg

Qls

Qg

Qa

Jst

Tte

Tte

Qg

Qg

Qg

Qg

Tte

Qt

Qg

Qg

Qa

Qa

Jst

pC

pC

pC

pC

pC

pC

pC

cd

cd

PMP

PMP

PMP

PMP

PMP

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

PMP

PMP PMP

CM

PMP

CM CM

CM

PMP

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

CM

PMP

PMP

PMP

PMP

0 2 4 MILES

0 2 4 KILOMETERS

Base from Wyoming Gap Analysis digital data, 1996,

1:100,000

Albers Equal-area Conic projection 

Standard parallels 41°N and 45°N, 

central meridian 110°30′W

Geology modified from Case and others, 1998; 

Love and Christiansen, 1985; Love and others, 

1992; and Love and others, 2003 

110°50′ 110°45′

43°40′

43°35′

43°30′

Jackson

Moose

Wilson

Snake

River

River

Snake

West 

Gros Ventre 

Butte East 

Gros Ventre 

Butte

Fish

Teton Village

Creek

Gros Ventre

River

Creek

Lake

Phelps Lake

Granite

Creek

Creek

Spring

Creek

Flat

Creek

Cache

Teton Fault

191

26

89

22

Moose–Wilson Road

191

26

89

Jackson

Hole

Airport

Aspens

Figure 5. Generalized geology and geologic section in the vicinity of the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming.

18 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
A A′ Fish Creek Snake River Gros Ventre River

Qls

pC

Qa, Qt, and Qg

CM

Tte

cd

pC

Teton fault zone branch (?)

10,000

FEET

5,000

NGVD 29

–5,000

CM

VERTICAL EXAGGERATION APPROXIMATELY X2

?

Teton fault

Details of fault and buried strata are approximate and largely diagrammatic. For simplicity, Quaternary deposits are not distinguished in the geologic section. 

Schematic based on a nearby cross section in Love and others, 2003.

PMP

0 2 4 KILOMETERS

0 2 4 MILES

EXPLANATION

Tertiary sedimentary and igneous rocks

Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks

Teewinot Formation

Bacon Ridge Sandstone

Chugwater and Dinwoody Formations

Alluvium and colluvium

Gravel, pediment, and alluvial fan deposits

Conglomerate

 Jackson Hole (Pleistocene or Pliocene)

Landslide deposits

Gravel, pediment, talus, and alluvial fan deposits—May 

 include some glacial deposits (fill and outwash) and 

 Tertiary gravels

Quaternary unconsolidated deposits

Kb

Jst Stump Formation

Bacon Ridge Sandstone

Ka Aspen Shale

Tte

Qa

Qt

Qtc

Qls

Qg

Tii Intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks

cd

Precambrian rocks

Phosphoria Formation, Wells Formation, Tensleep

 Sandstone, and Amsden Formation

Flathead Sandstone, Gros Ventre Formation, Gallatin 

 Limestone, Bighorn Dolomite, Darby Formation, and 

 Madison Limestone

Granitic and basaltic rocks, granite gneiss, metasedimentary 

 and metavolcanic rocks, metasedimentary and 

 metamorphosed mafic and ultramafic rocks 

Fault—Dashed where concealed and(or) approximately located. 

 Bar and ball on downthrown side

Thrust fault (concealed)—Saw teeth on upper plate

Relative fault movement

pC

PMP

CM

Figure 5. Generalized geology and geologic section in the vicinity of the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming.—Continued

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 19
Table 4. Results of groundwater-velocity calculations using hydraulic conductivity values of the Snake River 

alluvial aquifer at Teton Village and the Aspens.

[K, horizontal hydraulic conductivity; ft/d, feet per day; dh, change in hydraulic head; dl, change in linear distance; ft/ft, foot per foot; n, 

porosity; ft/d, feet per day]

Date

Horizontal hydraulic 

conductivity (K) 

(ft/d)

Average hydraulic 

gradient 

(dh/dl) (ft/ft)

Porosity from Heath, 

1983

(n) (percent)

Velocity estimate 

(ft/d)

Hydraulic conductivity at Teton Village (Nelson Engineering, 1992)

September 2008 2,900 0.0067 0.3 65

October 2008 2,900 .0067 .3 65

March 2009 2,900 .0068 .3 66

May 2009 2,900 .0064 .3 62

June 2009 2,900 .0064 .3 62

Average 2,900 .0066 .3 64

Hydraulic conductivity at the Aspens (Nelson Engineering, 1992)

September 2008 1,200 0.0067 0.3 27

October 2008 1,200 .0067 .3 27

March 2009 1,200 .0068 .3 27

May 2009 1,200 .0064 .3 26

June 2009 1,200 .0064 .3 26

Average 1,200 .0066 .3 26

20 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

The replicate sample was analyzed for COD, major 

ions, trace elements, nutrients, DOC (table 11), VOCs, GRO 

(table 12), glycols, and DRO (table 13). RPDs were calculated 

only for constituents with detections, which for this replicate 

sample included only inorganic constituents. RPDs were not 

calculated for inorganic sample pairs where one value was 

reported as less than the MRL or LRL and the other value 

was reported as greater than the MRL or LRL or was estimated. RPDs for most constituents were less than or equal 

to 10 percent (table 14, in back of report), indicating results 

were reproducible for most inorganic constituents. Five of 

the constituents had RPDs greater than 10 percent (bromide, 

ammonia, phosphorus, total nitrogen and iron; table 14); 

however, both the environmental and replicate sample concentrations were very small, causing small concentration differences to result in relatively large RPDs. 

Although important in the quality-assurance/qualitycontrol process, the collection and analysis of blanks and 

replicates were not the only methods used to assess the 

quality of the dataset. The accuracy of major-ion analyses was 

checked by calculating a cation-anion balance. The sum of 

concentrations of dissolved cations in milliequivalents per liter 

should equal the sum of concentrations of dissolved anions in 

milliequivalents per liter (Hem, 1985). The percent difference 

between the sum of concentrations of cations and anions in 

milliequivalents per liter was calculated using equation 9.

Percent difference sum of dissolved cations sum of disso = − lved anions

sum of dissolved cations sum of dissolved an + ions











 ×100 (9)

The calculated cation-anion balances for all groundwater 

samples were less than 5 percent and were considered to be of 

good quality.
Table 5. Physical properties, inorganic constituents, and other constituents analyzed in groundwater samples in the field or at 

the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory. Samples collected at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.

[--, not applicable; MRL, minimum reporting level; LRL, laboratory reporting level; IRL, interim reporting level]

Physical property or inorganic 

constituent Unit of measure Reporting level(unit of measure)

Reporting 

level type

Physical properties (field analyses)

Dissolved oxygen milligrams per liter -- --

pH standard units -- --

Specific conductance microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius -- --

Water temperature degrees Celsius -- --

Turbidity nephelometric tubidity ratio units -- --

Major ions and related water-quality characteristics

Dissolved solids, residue on evaporation at 180 degrees Celsiusmilligrams per liter 10 MRL

Calcium, dissolved milligrams per liter .044 LRL

Magnesium, dissolved milligrams per liter .016 LRL

Potassium, dissolved milligrams per liter .064 LRL

Sodium, dissolved milligrams per liter .1 LRL

Alkalinity, dissolved milligrams per liter, as calcium carbonate -- --

Bicarbonate, dissolved milligrams per liter -- --

Hardness, total milligrams per liter, as calcium carbonate -- --

Bromide, dissolved milligrams per liter .02 IRL

Chloride, dissolved milligrams per liter .12 LRL

Fluoride, dissolved milligrams per liter .08 LRL

Silica, dissolved milligrams per liter .058 LRL

Sulfate, dissolved milligrams per liter .18 LRL

Nutrients

Ammonia, dissolved milligrams per liter as nitrogen .02 LRL

Nitrate plus nitrite, dissolved milligrams per liter as nitrogen .04 LRL

Nitrite, dissolved milligrams per liter as nitrogen .002 IRL

Orthophosphate, dissolved milligrams per liter as phosphorus .008 LRL

Phosphorus, total milligrams per liter .008 LRL

Nitrogen, total milligrams per liter .1 LRL

Trace elements

Iron, dissolved micrograms per liter 6 LRL

Manganese, dissolved micrograms per liter .2 LRL

Other analyses

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) milligrams per liter 10 MRL

Organic carbon, dissolved (DOC) milligrams per liter .66 LRL

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 21
Table 6. Volatile organic compounds, gasoline-range organics, glycols, and diesel-range organics analyzed in groundwater samples 

at TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc., laboratory reporting levels, and related U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water 

standards.—Continued

[Compounds detected during study are shown in bold type. All units in micrograms per liter (μg/L) unless otherwise noted. USEPA, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency; mg/L, milligrams per liter; --, not applicable; DRO, diesel-range organics; C10–C32 and C10–C36, ranges of carbon compounds included 

in the analysis]

Compound Common name/synonym

Chemical Abstract 

Service (CAS) 

registry number1

Laboratory 

reporting level

USEPA standard or 

health advisory

Volatile organic compounds

1,1-Dichloroethane Ethylidene dichloride 75-34-3 0.50 --

1,1-Dichloroethene Vinylidene chloride 75-35-4 .50 2

7

1,1-Dichloropropene -- 563-58-6 .50 --

1,1,1-Trichloroethane Methylchloroform 71-55-6 .50 2

200

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane -- 630-20-6 .50 3

100

1,1,2-Trichloroethane Vinyl trichloride 79-00-5 .50 2

5

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane -- 79-34-5 .50 3

20

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane DBCP, Nemagon 96-12-8 .50 2

.2

1,2-Dibromoethane Ethylene dibromide (EDB) 106-93-4 .50 2

.05

1,2-Dichlorobenzene o-Dichlorobenzene 95-50-1 .50 2

600

1,2-Dichloroethane Ethylene dichloride 106-06-2 .50 2

5

1,2-Dichloropropane Propylene dichloride 78-87-5 .50 2

5

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene -- 87-61-6 .50 --

1,2,3-Trichloropropane Allyl trichloride 96-18-4 .50 4

4

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene -- 120-82-1 .50 2

70

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Pseudocumene 95-63-6 .50 --

1,3-Dichlorobenzene m-Dichlorobenzene 541-73-1 .50 4

600

1,3-Dichloropropane Trimethylene dichloride 142-28-9 .50 --

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene Mesitylene 108-67-8 .50 --

1,4-Dichlorobenzene p-Dichlorobenzene 106-46-7 .50 2

75

2-Chlorotoluene 1-chloro-2-methylbenzene 95-49-8 .50 4

100

2,2-Dichloropropane -- 594-20-7 .50 --

4-Chlorotoluene 1-chloro-4-methylbenzene 106-43-4 .50 4

100

4-Isopropyltoluene 4-Cymene 99-87-6 .50 --

Benzene Pyobenzol 75-43-2 .50 2

5

Bromobenzene Phenyl bromide 108-86-1 .50 4

70

Bromochloromethane Methylene chlorobromide 74-97-5 .50 4

90

Bromodichloromethane Dichlorobromomethane 75-27-4 .50 2,580

Bromoform Tribromomethane 75-25-2 .50 2,580

Bromomethane Methyl bromide 74-83-9 1.0 4

10

Carbon tetrachloride Tetrachloromethane 56-23-5 .50 2

5

Chlorobenzene Monochlorobenzene 108-90-7 .50 2

100

Chloroethane Ethyl chloride 75-00-3 1.0 --

Chloroform Carbon trichloride 67-66-3 .50 2,580

Chloromethane Methyl chloride 74-87-3 .50 4

30

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene (Z)-1,2-Dichloroethene 156-59-2 .50 2

70

cis-1,3-Dichloropropene (Z)-cis-1,3-Dichloropropene 542-75-6 .50 3

40

Dibromochloromethane Chlorodibromomethane 124-48-1 .50 2,580

Dibromomethane Methylene dibromide 74-95-3 .50 --

22 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 6. Volatile organic compounds, gasoline-range organics, glycols, and diesel-range organics analyzed in groundwater samples 

at TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc., laboratory reporting levels, and related U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water 

standards.—Continued

[Compounds detected during study are shown in bold type. All units in micrograms per liter (μg/L) unless otherwise noted. USEPA, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency; mg/L, milligrams per liter; --, not applicable; DRO, diesel-range organics; C10–C32 and C10–C36, ranges of carbon compounds included 

in the analysis]

Compound Common name/synonym

Chemical Abstract 

Service (CAS) 

registry number1

Laboratory 

reporting level

USEPA standard or 

health advisory

Volatile organic compounds—Continued

Dichlorodifluoromethane CFC-12, Freon 12 75-71-8 0.50 4

1,000

Ethylbenzene Phenylethane 100-41-4 .50 2

700

Hexachlorobutadiene Perchlorobutadiene 87-68-3 .50 4

90

Isopropylbenzene (1-methylethyl)benzene 98-82-8 .50 --

Methylene chloride Dichloromethane 75-09-2 .50 2

5

Methyl tert-butyl ether MTBE 1634-04-4 .50 6

20–40

Naphthalene Naphthene 91-20-3 1.0 4

100

n-Butylbenzene 1-Phenylbutane 104-51-8 .50 --

n-Propylbenzene Isocumene 103-65-1 .50 --

o-Xylene 1,2-Dimethylbenzene 95-47-6 .50 2,710,000

sec-Butylbenzene (1-Methylpropyl)benzene 135-98-8 .50 --

Styrene Ethenylbenzene 100-42-5 .50 2

100

tert-Butylbenzene (1,1-Dimethylethyl)benzene 98-06-6 .50 --

tert-Butyl ethyl ether Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) 637-92-3 .50 --

Tetrachloroethene Perchloroethene (PCE), 

tetrachloroehtylene

127-18-4 .50 2

5

Toluene Methylbenzene 108-88-3 .50 2

1,000

trans-1,2-Dichloroethene (E)-1,2-Dichloroethene 156-60-5 .50 2

100

trans-1,3-Dichloropropene (E)-1,3-Dichloropropene 10061-02-6 .50 3

40

Trichloroethene TCE, trichloroethylene 79-01-6 .50 25

Trichlorofluoromethane CFC-11, Freon 11 75-69-4 .50 4

2,000

Vinyl chloride Choroethene 75-01-4 .50 2

2

Xylene, total Dimethylbenzene 1330-20-7 .50 2,710,000

Gasoline-range organics GRO -- 10 --

Glycols and diesel-range organics

Diethylene glycol Ethanol, 2,2’-oxybis- 111-46-6 25 mg/L --

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether Ethanol, 2-butoxy- 111-76-2 10 mg/L --

Ethylene glycol 1,2-Ethanediol 107-21-1 25 mg/L --

Propylene glycol 1,2-Propanediol 57-55-6 25 mg/L --

Triethylene glycol Triglycol 112-27-6 25 mg/L --

DRO, C10–C32 -- -- 25 mg/L --

DRO, C10–C36 -- -- 25 mg/L --

1

This report contains CAS Registry Numbers®, which is a Registered Trademark of the American Chemical Society. The CAS recommends the verification of 

the CAS Registry Numbers through CAS Client ServicesSM.

2

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

3

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Risk-Specific Dose at 10-4 Cancer Risk (RSD4) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b, 2010).

4

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Health Advisory Level (HAL) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

5

Total for all trihalomethanes cannot exceed 80 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

6

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Drinking-Water Advisory ranges from 20 to 40 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

7

The total for all xylenes combined cannot exceed 10,000 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis 23
24 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

Hydrogeology 

The study area lies within Jackson Hole, a geological 

depression, or “structural basin,” formed by a large block of 

the Earth’s crust that dropped down along a fault at the base 

of the Teton Range with its hinge point in the highlands to the 

east (Love and Reed, 1971). Jackson Hole is bounded on the 

west by the Teton Range, to the south by the Snake River and 

Hoback Ranges, to the east by the Gros Ventre Range, and 

to the north-northeast by the Washakie and Absaroka Ranges 

which extend north along the eastern boundary of both Grand 

Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. The geology around 

the study area is complex with strata ranging from Precambrian basement rocks to Quaternary unconsolidated surficial 

deposits (fig. 5). 

Surficial deposits in the vicinity of the JHA consist of 

unconsolidated Quaternary gravel, pediment, and fan deposits, whereas surficial deposits at the airport are predominantly 

terrace gravels underlain by siltstone deposits of the Chugwater and Dinwoody Formations (fig. 5) (Love and others, 

2003). Lithologic logs of wells installed for this study indicate 

the Quaternary deposits range in size from sand to cobble 

with most deposits primarily consisting of coarse gravel (Jack 

Weber, Weber Well Drilling, written commun., 2009). 

Water levels in unconfined aquifers like the Snake River 

alluvial aquifer commonly vary seasonally. Graphical representations of water levels (hydrographs) measured during 

the study are presented in figure 6 for each of the new monitoring wells, except well JH–3D for which the transducer 

did not operate properly and only discrete water levels are 

presented. These hydrographs indicate that the water levels in 

the Snake River alluvial aquifer vary seasonally, reflecting a 

pattern influenced by precipitation driven recharge (primarily 

snowmelt) during April–June and irrigation-induced recharge 

during June–October and minimal aquifer recharge during 

November–March. The water table was at its lowest level in 

mid-April 2009, at the beginning of spring, and at its highest 

level in mid-July 2009 at the end of the peak of snowmelt. The 

water level increased about 12 to 14 ft between April and July 

2009 (fig. 6). Well JH–1 consistently had the highest waterlevel altitudes (table 2, fig. 6) ranging from a low, discrete 

measurement of 6,375.81 ft above NAVD 88 in March to a 

high, discrete measurement of 6,385.11 ft above NAVD 88 in 

June. Well JH–2 had the lowest water-level altitudes (table 2, 

fig. 6), with discrete measurements ranging from 6,353.06 ft 

above NAVD 88 to 6,365.99 ft above NAVD 88. On average, 

the water-table altitude between wells JH–1 and JH–2 (a 

distance of about 3,542 ft) dropped a little more than 22 feet.

The direction of groundwater movement and the hydraulic gradient were determined using techniques described 

in the “Methods of Data Collection and Analysis” section 

of this report. The direction of groundwater flow is generally to the west-southwest, assuming groundwater flow is 

perpendicular to water-table contours (figs. 4A–D). Seasonal 

variations in the direction of groundwater flow appear to be 

minimal. Horizontal hydraulic gradients were calculated for 

several combinations of monitoring wells and ranged from 

0.0061 foot per foot (ft/ft) to 0.0069 ft/ft, with an average 

of 0.0066 ft/ft (table 3). The relative spatial uniformity of 

calculated hydraulic gradients across the airport indicates that 

the hydraulic gradient of the aquifer at the airport is relatively 

uniform, in spite of regular pumping of production wells in the 

study area.

Monitoring wells JH–3 and JH–3D (well cluster 3) 

were located adjacent to each other and completed at different depths to evaluate the hydraulic potential (differences in 

hydraulic head or groundwater level) for vertical groundwater flow at the location. There was a relatively small vertical 

gradient in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at well cluster 3. 

Calculations of the vertical hydraulic gradient at well cluster 

3 indicated this gradient varied throughout the year, ranging 

from a high of 0.005 ft/ft in March and May to a low of 

0.0009 ft/ft in June, with an average of 0.0037 ft/ft. The 

decreasing water-level altitude with depth (table 2) indicates 

a hydraulic potential for downward groundwater flow in the 

Snake River alluvial aquifer at this location. The ratio of the 

average horizontal hydraulic gradient to the average vertical 

hydraulic gradient is 1.78. This means that for every 1.78 ft 

water moves horizontally, water is also likely to move 1 ft 

vertically (downward), assuming horizontal and vertical 

conductivities of aquifer materials are the same. 

Horizontal groundwater velocities were calculated for 

each airport visit using hydraulic conductivity values from 

both Teton Village and the Aspens (table 4) and an estimated 

porosity as described previously in the “Methods of Data 

Collection and Analysis” section. The groundwater velocity 

was estimated as high as 66 ft/d using average hydraulic gradients calculated for March 2009 and the hydraulic conductivity 

for Teton Village; the groundwater velocity was estimated 

to be as low as 26 ft/d using the average hydraulic gradient 

calculated for May and June 2009 and the hydraulic conductivity for the Aspens (table 4). Using an estimated linear 

distance of 3,540 feet from well JH–1 to well JH–2, it would 

take approximately 53 to 138 days for water in the aquifer to 

travel from well JH–1 (upgradient from airport operations) to 

the southwest boundary of the airport. 

The calculated rates of horizontal groundwater velocity 

(table 4) are estimates and could vary at different locations at 

the JHA. Horizontal hydraulic conductivity differs from point 

to point and along a flow path because lithology is typically 

heterogeneous and anisotropic. The actual groundwater velocity may be different between two points depending on the 

heterogeneity of the aquifer. The direction of flow also might 

not be perpendicular to water-table contours as shown in 

figures 4 A–D (due to anisotropy) and likely is not in a straight 

line. These factors, and the estimated porosity value chosen, 

could substantially affect the groundwater velocity estimates.

Groundwater velocity estimates (table 4) only describe 

movement of groundwater in the Snake River alluvial aquifer 

and are not applicable to soluble contaminant movement. 

Solute movement through saturated media, such as an aquifer, 
SEPT OCT NOV DEC

2009

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN

ALTITUDE OF WATER LEVEL, IN FEET ABOVE NORTH AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM OF 1988

6,350

6,360

6,370

6,380

6,390

2008 2010

EXPLANATION

Well

JH-1—transducer data, unit values

JH-1—discrete water-level measurement

JH-2—transducer data, unit values

JH-2—discrete water-level measurement

JH-3—transducer data, unit values

JH-3—discrete water-level measurement

JH-3D—discrete water-level measurement

JH-4—transducer data, unit values

JH-4—discrete water-level measurement

Figure 6. Water levels for selected wells sampled at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, September 2008–February 2010.

Hydrogeology 25

is influenced by advection as well as other physical processes 

such as diffusion and dispersion and chemical processes such 

as sorption, precipitation, oxidation and reduction, and biodegradation (Fetter, 1993). Consequently, some solutes may 

move at a rate much slower than groundwater flow through 

the aquifer. 
26 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

Water Quality

The groundwater in the study area was generally of 

good quality. No constituents were detected at concentrations exceeding the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Levels 

(MCLs). However, reduction/oxidation (redox) measurements 

indicate oxygen-poor conditions in two wells (JH–3 and 

JH–3D). Many anthropogenic constituents were included in 

sample analyses and only DRO compounds were detected (in 

qualified concentrations).

Chemical Composition

Natural waters, such as groundwater, contain a wide 

variety of dissolved substances. These dissolved substances 

are derived from many sources, a few of which include atmospheric gases, weathering and erosion of rocks and soils the 

water has contacted, solution and precipitation of minerals, 

and biochemical processes (Hem, 1985). Many common physical and chemical properties were measured during this study. 

These properties are summarized in table 7 with all physical 

property data presented in table 11 and table 8, included in the 

“Supplemental Information” section at the back of this report. 

The properties that best describe the groundwater composition 

in the Snake River alluvial aquifer are described further in this 

section of the report.

The groundwater was near neutral to alkaline (pH values 

ranged from 7.4 to 8.1) with concentrations of alkalinity as 

calcium carbonate (CaCO3

) ranging from 109 to 210 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Groundwater at the airport was 

freshwater, having dissolved-solids concentrations (ranging 

from 140 to 255 mg/L) less than 1,000 mg/L (Heath, 1983, 

p. 65, table 2). Specific-conductance values were relatively 

low, ranging from 234 to 420 microsiemens per centimeter 

at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm). These values were similar 

to the range of values for dissolved solids (91 to 538 mg/L) 

and specific conductance (112 to 863 μS/cm) reported by 

Nolan and Miller (1995) for water from wells producing from 

Quaternary alluvium, colluvium, and gravel, pediment, fan, 

and glacial deposits in Teton County, Wyoming. Dissolvedsolids concentrations and specific-conductance values in 

samples from wells at JHA were highest along the southwest 

boundary of the airport (wells JH–2, JH–3, and JH–3D) and 

generally followed a seasonal pattern, with concentrations and 

values increasing with recharge during March–June and then 

decreasing with reduced recharge during the rest of the year 

(tables 11 and 8). Calculated hardness concentrations ranged 

from 110 to 200 mg/L (as CaCO3

), making water at the airport 

moderately hard (61 to 120 mg/L as CaCO3

) to very hard (121 

to 180 mg/L as CaCO3

) (Hem, 1985, p. 159). 

The major ion composition of groundwater in the study 

area largely resulted from chemical reactions between water 

and sediments in the soil and aquifer and, to a lesser extent, 

from ions in precipitation. The relative proportions of the 

major cations (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium) 

and the major anions (bicarbonate, carbonate [based on alkalinity], chloride, fluoride, and sulfate) were used to describe 

the water type at each well. The average ion composition for 

samples from each well was plotted on a trilinear diagram 

(fig. 7). The triangles on the bottom left and right show the 

relative percentages of cations and anions, whereas the quadrangle in the center is a combination of all the ion data (Piper, 

1944). Calcium was the dominant cation, and bicarbonate 

was the dominant anion; thus, the water type for all the wells 

sampled at the airport was calcium bicarbonate (fig. 7).

Redox Conditions

The chemical quality of groundwater commonly is 

affected by redox processes (Chapelle and others, 2009). 

Although most groundwater at the JHA was oxic (oxygenated), two wells (JH–3 and JH–3D) were found to have reducing (oxygen-poor) conditions. Reduction reactions generally 

are sequential and occur in a specific order as long as reactants are available. The sequence starts with the reduction of 

oxygen and progresses through nitrate reduction, reduction of 

manganese oxides, reduction of iron oxides, sulfate reduction, and finally methanogenesis (Appelo and Postma, 2005; 

U.S. Geological Survey, 2009). Each of these reactions either 

causes the disappearance of a reactant or the appearance of 

a reaction product, changing the groundwater composition. 

This section presents results for dissolved oxygen, nutrients, 

trace elements, dissolved gases, DOC, and COD in an effort 

to highlight the effect reducing conditions have had on the 

groundwater composition at wells JH–3 and JH–3D. 

The dissolved-oxygen concentration was measured 

each time a well was sampled and was the first indication 

of the redox condition of water in each well. Dissolvedoxygen concentrations measured using a field meter ranged 

from 0.13 mg/L to 8.1 mg/L (table 7, table 8), with a median 

concentration of 6.8 mg/L. Although the water sampled in 

most of the wells was oxic, dissolved-oxygen concentrations indicative of reducing (anoxic or anaerobic) conditions 

(a dissolved-oxygen concentration of less than 1 mg/L was 

considered indicative of reducing conditions for this study) 

were measured in water from wells JH–3 and JH–3D (fig. 8). 

Dissolved-oxygen concentrations in oxic water from the other 

wells generally averaged greater than 7.0 mg/L in all the wells 

except JH–2, which had concentrations ranging from 6.0 to 

6.7 mg/L. In addition to field measurements, dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations also were measured in water from wells JH–3 

and JH–3D using spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. 

These methods consistently reported slightly lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen than the field meter (table 8).

Nutrients were detected at low concentrations in all 

27 samples, with all concentrations less than applicable 

USEPA standards (table 11; table 7). Dissolved nitrite as nitrogen (nitrite) was not detected in any samples, whereas total 

nitrogen was detected in all of the samples except those from 

well JH–3D. Dissolved nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen (referred 
Table 7. Summary of physical properties and inorganic constituent data for groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole 

Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.

[USEPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; °C, degrees Celsius; 

--, not applicable; SMCL, Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level; NTRU, nephelometric turbidity ratio units; DWA, Drinking Water Advisory; CaCO3, 

calcium carbonate; HCO3, bicarbonate; MCL, Maximum Contaminant Level; E, estimated concentration; <, less than; HAL, Health Advisory Level]

Physical property or constituent

Number of 

detections/

number of 

samples

Minimum 

value or 

concentration

Median 

value or 

concentration1

Maximum 

value or 

concentration

USEPA drinking-water 

standards1,2 or 

health advisories3,4

Physical properties

Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) 27/27 0.13 6.8 8.1 --

pH, unfiltered, field (standard units) 27/27 7.4 7.9 8.1 2

6.5–8.5 (SMCL)

Specific conductance, field (μS/cm) 27/27 234 295 420 --

Water temperature, field (°C) 27/27 7.3 8.8 11.6 --

Turbidity (NTRU) 27/27 .2 .7 4.6 2

5.0 (SMCL)

Major ions and related water-quality characteristics, in milligrams per liter, dissolved unless otherwise noted

Dissolved solids 27/27 140 174 255 2

500 (SMCL)

Calcium 27/27 32.5 40.4 62.8 --

Magnesium 27/27 6.63 8.13 11.8 --

Potassium 27/27 1.77 1.97 2.29 --

Sodium 27/27 5.86 7.28 8.73 4

30–60 (DWA)

Alkalinity, field, as CaCO3 27/27 109 123 210 --

Bicarbonate 27/27 133 150 256 --

Hardness, total, as CaCO3 27/27 110 130 200 --

Bromide 25/27 E.01 .02 .03 --

Chloride 27/27 3.06 4.00 11.20 2

250 (SMCL)

Fluoride 27/27 .33 .41 .48 3

4 (MCL), 22 (SMCL)

Silica 27/27 17.5 18.8 21.9

Sulfate 27/27 1.65 10.7 13 2

250 (SMCL), 4500 (DWA)

Nutrients, in milligrams per liter, dissolved unless otherwise noted

Ammonia, as nitrogen 4/27 E0.012 0.02 0.388 5

30 (HAL)

Nitrate plus nitrite, as nitrogen 19/27 E.04 .22 1.27 3

10 (MCL)

Nitrite, as nitrogen 0/27 <.002 <.002 <.002 3

1 (MCL)

Orthophosphate, as phosphorus 27/27 .011 .019 .067 --

Phosphorus, total, as phosphorus 26/27 .010 .015 .076 --

Total nitrogen (nitrate + nitrite + 

ammonia + organic-nitrogen), 

unfiltered

21/27 E.08 0.22 1.32 --

Trace elements, in micrograms per liter 

Iron 17/27 E2 E3 563 2

300 (SMCL)

Manganese 22/27 <.2 .4 1,740 2

50 (SMCL)

Other analyses

Chemical oxygen demand, unfiltered 0/27 <10 <10 <10 --

Dissolved organic carbon 27/27 E.3 E.3 3.1 --

1

Median values were determined using detections and non-detections.

2

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

3

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

4

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Drinking-Water Advisory (DWA) ranges from 20 to 40 μg/L (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

5

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Health Advisory Level (HAL) (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b).

Water Quality 27
Table 8. Physical properties measured in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; °C, degrees Celsius; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius; NTRU, nephelometric turbidity ratio units; --, no data collected]

USGS site-identification number Well identifier Date Sample time (24 hour) Air temperature (°C) Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) pH, field (standard units) Specific conductance, field (μS/cm) Water temperature (°C) Turbidity (NTRU)

433615110440001 JH–1 10/15/2008 1630 10.0 7.8 8.0 248 7.3 0.3

03/03/2009 1345 10.0 8.1 8.0 244 9.2 4.6

05/05/2009 1700 10.0 7.9 8.0 247 8.2 1.0

06/16/2009 1530 19.0 8.1 8.0 270 9.9 .7

433551110443501 JH–2 10/17/2008 1100 8.5 6.0 7.7 318 10.0 3.0

03/05/2009 1020 –1.0 6.7 7.8 295 7.5 1.0

05/07/2009 1030 8.0 6.7 7.6 341 9.6 1.0

06/18/2009 0940 11.0 6.4 7.5 420 9.2 .7

433603110443501 JH–3 10/16/2008 1330 11.0 .4 7.4 394 9.5 1.4

03/05/2009 1200 8.0 .3 7.4 336 8.2 2.0

03/05/2009 1230 8.0 1.2 7.4 353 8.8 .5

03/05/2009 1630 16.0 11.1 7.4 410 11.6 .6

433603110443502 JH–3D 10/16/2008 1630 11.5 .7 7.5 340 8.5 1.0

03/05/2009 1500 7.5 .2 7.7 296 7.6 4.0

03/05/2009 1600 11.0 2.1 7.6 301 8.1 .7

03/05/2009 1345 19.0 3.5 7.6 344 9.5 .7

433613110443501 JH–4 10/16/2008 1000 7.5 7.2 8.0 237 9.0 1.0

03/05/2009 0950 -- -- -- -- -- --

03/05/2009 1030 10.5 7.1 8.0 234 9.7 2.3

03/05/2009 0945 17.0 8.0 8.0 264 10.1 .3

433607110440901 Hangar 1 10/17/2008 1630 11.0 7.8 8.1 248 8.4 .3

03/05/2009 1030 9.0 6.9 8.1 248 7.6 .2

03/05/2009 1030 5.0 7.1 8.1 247 7.7 .6

03/05/2009 1010 13.5 7.5 8.1 264 8.7 .2

433556110441601 Hangar 5 10/17/2008 1400 10.5 7.0 7.9 273 10.3 .3

03/05/2009 1300 –0.5 7.2 8.0 266 8.0 .2

03/05/2009 1345 9.5 6.8 7.9 295 8.8 2.2

03/05/2009 1250 17.5 6.8 7.9 314 9.6 .2

433553110443601 Irrigation ditch 06/18/2009 1050 12.0 9.3 8.5 259 10.4 --

1Dissolved-oxygen concentration measured by spectrophotometer was 0.17 mg/L.2Dissolved-oxygen concentration measured by spectrophotometer was 0.11 mg/L.3Dissolved-oxygen concentration measured by spectrophotometer was 0.19 mg/L.

28 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Figure 7. Trilinear diagram showing proportional mean major-ion composition for groundwater samples collected 

from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Magnesium (Mg)

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Sodium (Na) + potassium (K)

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

Bicarbonate (HCO3

) + carbonate (CO3

)

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

Sulfate (SO4

)

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Chloride (Cl) + fluoride (F) + sulfate (SO4

) + nitrite+nitrate (NO4

+NO3

)

 0 

 20 

 40 

 60 

 80 

 100 

Calcium (Ca) + magnesium (Mg)

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

 100 

 80 

 60 

 40 

 20 

 0 

Percent

Percent

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MILLIEQUIVALENTS PER LITER

Calcium (Ca) 

CATIONS

Chloride (Cl), fluoride (F), and nitrite+nitrate (NO2+NO3)

ANIONS

EXPLANATION

JH–1

Well

JH–2

JH–3

JH–3D

JH–4

Hangar 1

Hangar 5

Water Quality 29
Figure 8. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations for groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

OCTOBER MARCH

2008 2009

MAY JUNE

DISSOLVED-OXYGEN CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

EXPLANATION

JH–1

Well

JH–2

JH–3

JH–3D

JH–4 (not sampled during March 

 due to insufficient water)

Hangar 1

Hangar 5 No data

30 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Non-detect

OCTOBER MARCH MAY JUNE

EXPLANATION

No data

JH–1

Well

JH–2

JH–3

JH–3D

JH–4 (not sampled during March 

 due to insufficient water)

Hangar 1

Hangar 5

Estimated value

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL)

 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b)

2008 2009

SMCL

SMCL

1

10

100

1,000

IRON CONCENTRATION, DISSOLVED, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Non-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detect

Figure 9. Dissolved iron concentrations for groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.

Water Quality 31
Figure 10. Dissolved manganese concentrations for groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009. MANGANESE CONCENTRATION, DISSOLVED, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

OCTOBER MARCH MAY JUNE

EXPLANATION

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

No data

JH–1

Well

JH–2

JH–3

JH–3D

JH–4 (not sampled during March 

 due to insufficient water)

Hangar 1

Hangar 5

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL)

 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b)

2008 2009

SMCL

SMCL

Non-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detectNon-detect

32 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Water Quality 33

to as nitrate in this report) was detected in samples from all 

wells except JH–3 and JH–3D, indicating nitrate was the 

primary nitrogen species in the alluvial aquifer. Ammonia as 

nitrogen was detected in samples from wells JH–3 and JH–3D. 

Nitrate can be reduced by bacteria to nitrous oxide, ammonia, 

and nitrogen gas (Hem, 1985) when exposed to anaerobic 

conditions; therefore, the occurrence of ammonia instead of 

nitrate is another indicator of reducing conditions at wells 

JH–3 and JH–3D. Two samples collected during June 2009 

had higher concentrations of nitrate (1.27 mg/L at well JH–2 

and 0.97 mg/L at well Hangar 5) and total nitrogen (1.32 mg/L 

at well JH–2 and 0.98 mg/L at well Hangar 5) than were 

detected in samples from other airport wells. These elevated 

concentrations could be a result from these wells being 

directly downgradient from the septic leach field at the airport 

(fig. 4). The elevated nitrate concentrations are not alarming as they are slightly greater than the median concentration 

(0.69 mg/L as nitrogen) reported for nitrite plus nitrate in 

groundwater samples from Quaternary deposits within Teton 

County, Wyoming (Nolan and Miller, 1995), and fall within 

the range of concentrations (0 to 2 mg/L) that can be expected 

in the absence of human influence (Mueller and Helsel, 1996). 

Total phosphorus and dissolved orthophosphate (as phosphorus) were detected in water from all seven wells (table 11; 

table 7). The median value for total phosphorus (0.015 mg/L) 

was slightly greater than the median value (0.010 mg/L) 

reported for total phosphorus in groundwater samples from 

Quaternary deposits within Teton County, Wyoming (Nolan 

and Miller, 1995) and was within the range (0 to 0.1 mg/L 

total phosphorus) of concentrations that Mueller and Helsel 

(1996) reported as could be expected in groundwater in the 

absence of human influence.

The dissolved trace elements iron and manganese were 

detected in samples from all seven wells and in 23 of the 

27 samples collected. Concentrations of dissolved iron and 

manganese were low and near LRLs in samples collected 

from all wells except JH–3 and JH–3D. High concentrations 

of dissolved iron (196–563 μg/L) and manganese (947–

1,740 μg/L) (table 11) are additional indicators of reducing 

conditions (McMahon and Chapelle, 2008). Dissolved-iron 

concentrations exceeded the USEPA Secondary Maximum 

Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 300 μg/L (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2009b) in three out of four samples from 

well JH–3 and one out of four samples from well JH–3D 

(fig. 9; table 11; table 7). Dissolved-manganese concentrations in samples from wells JH–3 and JH–3D exceeded the 

SMCL in all samples collected during the four sampling 

events (fig. 10; table 11; table 7). The SMCLs are nonenforceable standards for constituents that may cause cosmetic effects 

(discoloration of teeth or skin) or esthetic effects (undesirable 

taste, odor, or color) in drinking water (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2009b). Neither well JH–3 nor JH–3D is 

used to supply drinking water.

Several additional analyses were performed during 

May and June to better define the water-quality conditions at 

wells JH–3 and JH–3D. During June, samples for analyses of 

dissolved gases (argon, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen, 

and oxygen) were collected from wells JH–3 and JH–3D and, 

as a point of comparison, well JH–2, to assist in sourcing the 

water from the Snake River alluvial aquifer and better understand ongoing chemical and biological processes occurring 

at well cluster 3. During May and June, samples for analyses 

of ferrous iron (Fe2+), hydrogen sulfide (H2

S) measured as 

sulfide (S2–), and a more accurate quantification of low-level 

dissolved oxygen were collected to identify the types of redox 

processes occurring in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at and 

upgradient from well cluster 3 using a framework designed by 

McMahon and Chapelle (2008) and modified by Chapelle and 

others (2009).

The dissolved gas data provided an additional confirmation of reducing conditions at wells JH–3 and JH3–D. The 

concentrations of dissolved oxygen detected in the dissolved 

gas samples were even lower (0.2 mg/L in water from both 

wells JH–3 and JH–3D) (table 9) than those measured using 

the field meter (table 8). Additionally, methane gas (CH4) was 

detected in samples from wells JH–3 (3.9 mg/L) and JH–3D 

(2.7 mg/L) and not in the sample from well JH–2 (table 9). 

Methane gas is produced by methanogenic microorganisms 

under anaerobic conditions (U.S. Geological Survey, 2009). 

These methanogenic conditions generally occur after all the 

other possible “reduction reactants” have been used up and 

indicate extremely reducing conditions.

Concentrations of the redox-sensitive species of ferrous 

iron (Fe2+), sulfide (sum of H2S, HS–, and S2–), and dissolved 

oxygen, along with nitrate (NO3

–

), manganous manganese 

(Mn2+), sulfate (SO4

2–), and methane (CH4

) were used to assess 

redox processes using the classification scheme of McMahon 

and Chapelle (2008). Because redox processes in groundwater 

tend to segregate into zones dominated by a single electronaccepting process, the redox framework uses the concentrations of the redox-sensitive species to assign the predominant 

redox process to groundwater samples. An automated spreadsheet program was used to assign the redox classification 

to each sample (table 10) (Jurgens and others, 2009). The 

October 2008 and March 2009 samples for wells JH–3 and 

JH–3D indicated either sulfate or iron reduction were the 

dominant processes occurring (table 10). The samples from 

both wells in May and June had iron-to-sulfide ratios greater 

than 10, indicating that iron reduction was the dominant redox 

process occurring at that time (Chapelle and others, 2009). 

Concentrations of DOC, which commonly is considered a food source for reducing bacteria, generally were low 

in samples from all seven wells, ranging from an estimated 

0.3 to 3.1 mg/L, with a median value of estimated 0.3 mg/L 

(table 11; table 7). Only samples from wells JH–2, JH–3, and 

JH–3D had DOC concentrations that were not estimated, and 

the DOC concentration of 3.1 mg/L in the March 2009 sample 

from well JH–3 was an order of magnitude higher than other 

detected DOC concentrations. As previously mentioned, 

various water-quality constituents indicate reducing conditions at wells JH–3 and JH–3D so higher DOC concentrations at these wells than at others is not surprising. The DOC 
Table 9. Analyses for dissolved gases in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, June 2009.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

USGS 

site-identification 

number

Well 

identifier

Sample 

date

Sample 

time

(24 hour)

Water 

temperature, field

(degrees 

Celsius)

Dissolved-gas concentration, in milligrams per liter 

Methane (CH4

) Carbon dioxide (CO2

) Nitrogen (N2

) Oxygen (O2

) Argon (Ar)

Vial 1 Vial 2 Vial 1 Vial 2 Vial 1 Vial 2 Vial 1 Vial 2 Vial 1 Vial 2

433551110443501 JH–2 06/18/2009 0940 9.22 0 0 17.6 17.4 20.2 20.2 4.9 4.6 0.72 0.72

433603110443501 JH–3 06/17/2009 1630 11.60 3.88 3.96 17.4 17.1 18.3 18.5 .23 .19 .66 .66

433603110443502 JH–3D 06/17/2009 1345 9.50 2.67 2.68 9.3 9.3 17.4 17.3 .23 .20 .62 .62

34 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 10. Assignment of redox categories and processes for groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, 

Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.

[mg/L, milligrams per liter; NO3

–

, nitrate; Mn2+, manganous manganese; μg/L, micrograms per liter; Fe2+, ferrous iron; SO4

2–, sulfate; --, not applicable; Redox 

process: O2, oxygen reduction; Fe(III), iron reduction; SO4, sulfate reduction]

Sample

date

Sample

time 

(24 hour)

Dissolved

 oxygen

(mg/L)

NO3

–

(as nitrogen)

(mg/L)

Mn2+

(μg/L)

Fe2+

(μg/L)

SO4

2–

(mg/L) 

Sulfide

(sum of H2

S, 

HS–

, and S2–)

(mg/L)

General 

redox 

category

Redox 

process

Fe2+/ 

sulfide

ratio

Well JH–1

10/15/2008 1630 7.8 0.18 0.5 4 10.7 -- oxic O2 --

03/03/2009 1345 8.1 .24 .5 3 11.4 -- oxic O2 --

05/05/2009 1700 7.9 .22 .3 4 10.7 -- oxic O2 --

06/16/2009 1530 8.1 .23 .2 4 9.87 -- oxic O2 --

Well JH–2

10/17/2008 1100 6.0 0.26 0.9 3 12.4 -- oxic O2 --

03/05/2009 1020 6.7 .22 .9 4 11.7 -- oxic O2 --

05/07/2009 1030 6.7 .4 .4 4 11.0 -- oxic O2 --

06/18/2009 940 6.4 1.27 .4 2 11.9 -- oxic O2 --

Well JH–3

10/15/2008 1330 0.4 0.04 1,740 563 4.27 -- anoxic Fe(III)/SO4 --

03/04/2009 1200 .3 .04 1,500 373 8.45 -- anoxic Fe(III)/SO4 --

05/06/2009 1230 .2 .04 1,460 196 7.38 0.001 anoxic Fe(III) 196

06/17/2009 1630 .2 .04 1,590 428 1.65 .034 anoxic Fe(III) 12.6

Well JH–3D

10/15/2008 1630 0.3 0.04 1,210 346 6.58 -- anoxic Fe(III)/SO4 --

03/04/2009 1500 .2 .04 994 236 9.51 -- anoxic Fe(III)/SO4 --

05/06/2009 1600 .1 .04 947 196 7.88 0.005 anoxic Fe(III) 39.2

06/17/2009 1345 .2 .04 964 257 3.78 .007 anoxic Fe(III) 36.7

Well JH–4

10/16/2008 1000 7.2 0.39 0.3 3 8.03 -- oxic O2 --

05/06/2009 1030 7.1 .59 .3 3 8.16 -- oxic O2 --

06/17/2009 945 8.0 .38 .3 8 7.75 -- oxic O2 --

Well Hangar 1

10/17/2008 1630 7.8 0.16 0.2 4 11.5 -- oxic O2 --

03/03/2009 1030 6.9 .22 .4 27 11.9 -- oxic O2 --

05/05/2009 1030 7.1 .22 .3 4 11.5 -- oxic O2 --

06/16/2009 1010 7.5 .21 .2 4 11.3 -- oxic O2 --

Well Hangar 5

10/17/2008 1400 7.0 0.25 0.2 4 12.7 -- oxic O2 --

03/05/2009 1300 7.2 .25 .2 4 13 -- oxic O2 --

05/05/2009 1345 6.8 .52 .2 4 12.4 -- oxic O2 --

06/16/2009 1250 6.8 .97 .2 2 12.6 -- oxic O2 --

Water Quality 35
36 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

concentrations in samples from all seven wells were within 

the estimated range of 0 to about 3 mg/L considered natural in 

groundwater (Drever, 1997, fig. 6–1, p. 108), with the exception of the maximum concentration of 3.1 mg/L at JH–3, 

which was only slightly greater. Chemical oxygen demand 

was not detected in samples at concentrations greater than the 

MRL of 10 mg/L. 

Anthropogenic Compounds

Samples from each of the seven wells were analyzed 

for many anthropogenic compounds found in products used 

at JHA. VOCs, GRO, and DRO are all chemical compounds 

found in fuel and cleaning products, and the glycols are used 

in deicing and anti-icing products. Concentrations of GRO 

and glycols in all samples were less than the LRLs used for 

this study. One VOC of the 63 included in the VOC analysis, 

methylene chloride (also known as dichloromethane), was 

detected at small (estimated) concentrations in one environmental sample from well JH–3 during May 2009. The qualitycontrol trip blank analysis indicated that the detection in the 

environmental samples was likely due to laboratory contamination as described previously in the “Quality Assurance/

Quality Control” section.

A small concentration of DRO in the C10–C36 range 

was detected in one sample collected during March 2009 from 

well Hangar 1 (table 13). Small concentrations of DRO in the 

C10–C36 and C10–C32 ranges were detected in three samples 

collected during May 2009 from wells JH–1, JH–2, and JH–4. 

Snowmelt runoff was recharging the aquifer during this period 

(fig. 6), which may have flushed some surface contaminants to 

the groundwater. All detected concentrations were reported as 

“estimated” as they were less than the LRL. The source of the 

low-level DRO concentrations in samples from the four wells, 

including well JH–1, which is upgradient from all airport operations, is not known. The sampled wells are relatively close to 

public roads, and diesel-run vehicles are operated on airport 

roads. Concentrations of DRO in the C10–C36 and C10–C32 

ranges in all seven samples collected during the last sampling 

event in June 2009 were less than the LRL (0.25 mg/L). This 

indicates that during this study the DRO contamination (if 

present, and not due to field or laboratory contamination) was 

not from a persistent source. 

Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes

To better understand the source of water in the alluvial 

aquifer, additional water samples were collected from all 

seven wells and the irrigation ditch flowing across the southern 

end of the airport. Samples were analyzed for stable isotopes 

of hydrogen and oxygen (table 11). Figure 11 shows paired 

δ2H and δ18O values in water samples collected during June 

2009. Two lines are plotted on this graph: the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL), which represents the approximate 

global isotope compositions of precipitation (rain and snow) 

(Craig, 1961), and the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL), 

which represents the approximate isotope compositions of 

precipitation for southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and 

south-central Montana (Benjamin and others, 2004). The 

δ18O and δ2H values for the sample collected from the irrigation ditch plotted on the GMWL and above the LMWL. The 

δ18O and δ2H values for groundwater samples grouped closely 

together and plotted below both the LMWL and the GMWL, 

indicating the source of water to the aquifer likely is meteoric 

but has undergone some fractionation, possibly due to evaporation or chemical exchange with the aquifer matrix (Drever, 

1997). The differences in the δ2H and δ18O values among the 

samples from wells were minimal, indicating the sampled 

waters were likely subject to similar recharge and(or) evolution paths. However, the δ2

H and δ18O values for samples from 

wells JH–2 and JH–3D plotted slightly away from the other 

groundwater samples, indicating small differences in recharge 

and(or) evolution paths for these waters.

Implications of Study Findings and 

Further Study Needs

The Jackson Hole Airport (JHA) is a critical transportation hub for visitors to Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National 

Park. Airport usage numbers indicate that continued operation and growth of the airport are likely. Similar to other 

airports, JHA uses many chemicals to accomplish day-to-day 

operations. Fuels, degreasers, cleaners, and aircraft deicing 

and anti-icing fluids (ADAFs) are stored, transported, and 

used regularly. Use of these chemicals is of concern to JHA 

operators, the National Park Service, and local residents. 

ADAFs are somewhat unique in that they are applied in the 

open airport environment and typically necessitate subsequent 

containment to avoid their further migration to other mediums 

such as surface water or groundwater. Although airport staff 

have recently begun efforts to contain ADAF waste products 

by using a suction truck, a dedicated ADAF application and 

recovery area has not yet been constructed (Raymond C. 

Bishop, Jackson Hole Airport, oral commun., 2010). Although 

this report provides an improved understanding of the groundwater flow direction and velocity and geochemical processes 

occurring at the airport, this section of the report describes 

implications of study findings that bear further scrutiny and 

needs for further study. 

At the airport, groundwater flows horizontally westsouthwest at an estimated rate of 26 to 66 ft/d, with a downward vertical gradient equal to about one-half of the gradient 

measured for horizontal flow. The estimated rate of horizontal 

flow was calculated using published values, and the vertical 

gradient data are based on data from one pair of wells (JH–3 

and JH–3D). Understanding the movement of water in the 

aquifer is critical when evaluating the movement of soluble 

contaminants, which typically move at much slower rates 

than the rate of groundwater flowing through the aquifer. This 
DEUTERIUM/PROTIUM RATIO, PER MIL

OXYGEN-18/OXYGEN-16 RATIO, PER MIL

–18.5 - –18.3 –18.1 –17.9 –17.7 –17.5 –17.3 –17.1 –16.9 –16.7 –16.5

JH–2

JH–3D

Hangar 5

Irrigation ditch

Global meteoric water line

δ2

H=8 δ18O+10 (Craig, 1961)

Hangar 1

JH–3

JH–4

Local meteoric water line

δ2

H=7.95 δ18O+10

(Benjamin and others, 2004) 

–138

–137

–136

–135

–134

–133

–132

–131

–130

–129

–128

Figure 11. Relation between oxygen-18/oxygen-16 isotopic ratio and deuterium/protium ratio for groundwater samples from wells at 

the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, June 2009.

Implications of Study Findings and Further Study Needs 37

slower movement is due to the many physical, chemical, and 

biological processes by which solutes are affected as they 

move through the aquifer. Additional research could be done 

to better characterize local flow rates in the Snake River alluvial aquifer in the JHA study area. Aquifer tests using wells at 

JHA to determine hydraulic conductivity of aquifer materials 

in the study area would provide airport managers with more 

accurate contaminant transport information that would be 

valuable in the event of a contaminant spill. The addition of 

another well pair would provide additional information about 

the movement and quality of groundwater in the study area.

The water quality in the Snake River alluvial aquifer 

at the airport generally is high quality and considered to be 

generally suitable for domestic and other uses without treatment when compared to USEPA water-quality standards 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009). However, 

water-quality results for samples from wells JH–3 and JH–3D 

commonly were very different from samples from other wells 

at the airport. Dissolved-solids concentrations were slightly 

higher in samples from wells JH–3 and JH–3D than in samples 

from other airport wells. The highest DOC concentration 

was in a sample from well JH–3. Concentrations of dissolved 

oxygen and other dissolved gases indicated that reducing 

conditions exist in the groundwater in this part of the aquifer 

near wells JH–3 and JH–3D. Some natural constituents can be 

mobilized from aquifer materials under reducing conditions. 

Dissolved iron and manganese concentrations in samples from 

wells JH–3 and JH–3D exceeded USEPA SMCLs and were 

substantially higher than iron and manganese concentrations 

in samples from other airport wells. Ammonia, a byproduct of 

nitrate reduction, was the dominant form of dissolved nitrogen 

in samples from wells JH–3 and JH–3D, whereas nitrate was 

the dominant form of dissolved nitrogen in samples from all 

the other airport wells.

Reducing conditions in an otherwise oxic aquifer system 

are indicative of an upgradient or in-situ source of organic 

carbon or oxidizable minerals (Appelo and Postma, 2005; 

Drever, 1997; Hem, 1985). The nature of the source of organic 

carbon and the source of the reducing conditions at wells JH–3 

and JH–3D could not be determined. The breakdown of 
38 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

organic contaminants, which can act as a nutrient source 

for aquifer bacteria, is one process that can cause reducing 

conditions in the aquifer. It is important to note that reducing 

conditions can be the result of natural processes in local zones 

of aquifers; however, samples of natural background conditions for those wells prior to development of JHA were not 

available. Therefore, it is assumed that the background water 

quality of the aquifer is represented by the other airport wells. 

It is feasible that the deicer-derived glycols could have 

produced the reducing conditions observed at wells JH–3 and 

JH–3D; however, glycols exceeding LRLs were not detected 

in any of the samples from airport wells. The absence of 

glycols in the groundwater at the airport may be because of 

one or a combination of the following: (1) glycols break down 

rapidly in water and soil (Klecka and others, 1993), (2) glycol 

concentrations in water downgradient from the airport may be 

diluted, (3) analytical methods used had relatively high LRLs, 

and (4) glycols are not present in the aquifer. 

Additional water-quality research may help to determine the extent and cause of the reducing conditions in the 

aquifer beneath JHA. To determine the extent of the reduced 

zone of groundwater, additional wells upgradient from and 

lateral to well cluster 3 would be needed. The reduced zone 

of groundwater did not laterally extend out to wells JH–2 

and JH–4 during the study; therefore, the lateral extent exists 

between well cluster 3 and these wells. Additional samples for 

major ions and trace elements would help to characterize the 

variability of water-quality conditions of the aquifer, including potential for a natural localized, reducing groundwater 

zone. Additional water-quality sampling in the reduced zone 

of groundwater could be used to target some of the ADAF 

additives that might be more persistent in groundwater than 

glycols, which may help determine if deicers in groundwater 

are causing the reducing conditions.

Summary

Groundwater-level measurements and groundwaterquality samples were collected from wells completed in the 

Snake River alluvial aquifer at the Jackson Hole Airport in 

northwestern Wyoming during September 2008–June 2009 

to characterize the hydrogeology and groundwater quality 

upgradient and downgradient from airport operations. The 

U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Jackson Hole 

Airport Board and Teton Conservation District, characterized 

groundwater conditions with groundwater-level measurements from 14 wells and groundwater-quality analyses from a 

subset of 7 of these wells. Data, including groundwater levels, 

field measurements, major ions, nutrients, volatile organic 

compounds, gasoline-range organics (GRO), glycols, dieselrange organics (DRO), dissolved gases, stable isotopes of 

hydrogen and oxygen, and a few miscellaneous field and laboratory analytical results are presented and summarized in this 

report. The direction of groundwater flow, hydraulic gradients, 

and estimated groundwater velocity rates of the Snake River 

alluvial aquifer underlying the study area also are presented, 

and the reduction/oxidation (redox) condition is characterized 

for selected well locations.

Water levels collected throughout the study indicate the 

water table was lowest in the early spring and reached its peak 

in July, with an increase of 12 to 14 feet between April and 

July of 2009. Water-table contour maps show that the water 

table was highest in the northeast part of the airport and lowest 

in the southwest, indicating that the direction of groundwater 

flow generally was to the west-southwest. The water table 

dropped about 22 feet across the airport (between wells JH–1 

and JH–2) with an average hydraulic gradient of 0.0066 foot/

foot. Water levels in wells JH–3 and JH–3D indicate a small 

downward vertical-flow gradient at well cluster 3. Lithologic 

data for monitoring wells JH–1 through JH–4, coupled with 

a fairly narrow range of hydraulic gradients for these wells, 

indicate the Snake River alluvial aquifer at the airport is 

relatively homogeneous. Using hydraulic conductivity estimates calculated for two locations in southern Jackson Hole, 

horizontal groundwater velocity in the alluvial aquifer was 

estimated to be 26 to 66 feet per day. Using an estimated linear 

distance of 3,540 feet from well JH–1 to well JH–2, it would 

take approximately 53 to 138 days for water in the aquifer to 

travel from well JH–1 (upgradient from airport operations) 

to the southwest boundary of the airport. This estimate of 

groundwater velocity only describes the movement of water 

through the aquifer because some solutes may move at a much 

slower rate.

Generally, water in the Snake River alluvial aquifer was 

found to be of good quality. No constituents were detected 

at concentrations exceeding U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (USEPA) Maximum Contaminant Levels, and no 

anthropogenic compounds were detected at concentrations 

greater than laboratory reporting levels. Although the quality 

of groundwater in the shallow aquifer generally was suitable 

for domestic and other uses without treatment, two inorganic 

constituents (dissolved iron and dissolved manganese) were 

detected in concentrations exceeding USEPA Secondary 

Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) in some samples. 

It is important to note that these SMCLs are nonenforceable 

standards for constituents that may cause cosmetic effects 

(discoloration of teeth or skin) or esthetic effects (undesirable 

taste, odor, or color) in drinking water. 

Field measurements of pH were near neutral to alkaline 

with a median value of 7.9, and specific-conductance measurements ranged from 234 to 420 microsiemens per centimeter 

at 25 degrees Celsius. Dissolved solids and major-ion data 

indicated the groundwater sampled at the airport is considered 

hard to very hard, fresh, calcium bicarbonate water. Measurements of dissolved-oxygen concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 

8.1 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and indicated some variability 

in the oxygen content of the aquifer. Although oxic aquifer 

conditions were indicated for five of the wells, dissolvedoxygen concentrations indicated reducing conditions at the 

two wells at cluster 3, JH–3 and JH–3D. 
Acknowledgments 39

 Nutrients were detected at low concentrations in all 

samples collected. Dissolved nitrate plus nitrite was detected 

in samples from wells JH–1, JH–2, JH–4, Hangar 1, and 

Hangar 5, indicating nitrate is the primary dissolved-nitrogen 

species in the aquifer. Nitrate plus nitrite was not detected in 

samples from wells JH–3 or JH–3D; however, ammonia was 

detected in samples from these wells. The absence of nitrate 

plus nitrite in samples from wells JH–3 and JH–3D was not 

unexpected because nitrate and nitrite commonly are reduced 

by bacteria when exposed to anaerobic conditions such as 

those at these wells. Dissolved organic carbon was detected 

in all of the wells at concentrations within the estimated range 

for natural groundwater (0 to 3 milligrams per liter) except 

one sample, which was slightly greater than the estimated 

range and had a concentration a magnitude higher than other 

detected dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Chemical 

oxygen demand exceeding the laboratory reporting level was 

not detected in any samples.

Dissolved iron concentrations in many of the samples 

from wells JH–3 and JH–3D exceeded the SMCL of 

300 micrograms per liter, whereas dissolved manganese 

concentrations exceeded the SMCL of 50 micrograms per 

liter in all of the samples collected from both wells. Iron and 

manganese likely are both natural components of the geologic 

materials in the area that became dissolved in the aquifer due 

to redox processes. Both of these constituents, when found in 

drinking water, can cause cosmetic or esthetic effects, potentially requiring treatment. Neither well JH–3 nor JH–3D is 

used for drinking water. 

Dissolved gas samples were collected and field analyses were performed for ferrous iron, manganous manganese, 

hydrogen sulfide, and low-level dissolved oxygen to better 

understand the redox conditions of the alluvial aquifer. These 

additional analyses confirmed that samples from wells JH–3 

and JH–3D had low concentrations of dissolved oxygen and 

showed the presence of low concentrations of methane gas 

in samples from both wells. The redox processes occurring 

in the Snake River alluvial aquifer at wells JH–3 and JH–3D 

were identified using a spreadsheet model designed to use a 

multiple line of evidence approach to distinguish the source 

of reduction. Results from May and June, which include a full 

set of data, indicate that iron reduction is the dominant process 

occurring in the aquifer at these wells. 

Each well was sampled for many anthropogenic 

compounds including volatile organic compounds, GRO, 

glycols, and DRO, which are used at the Jackson Hole 

Airport. Methylene chloride, a volatile organic compound, 

was detected at an estimated concentration in a groundwater 

sample from well JH–3 but was attributed to sample contamination because an estimated concentration of methylene 

chloride was measured in a trip blank. No gasoline-range 

organics or glycols were detected at concentrations greater 

than laboratory reporting levels used for this study. A small 

concentration of DRO, in the C10–C36 range, was detected 

in one sample collected from Hangar 1, and small concentrations of DRO in the C10–C32 and DRO C10–C36 ranges were 

detected in three samples collected from wells JH–1, JH–2, 

and JH–4; all detected concentrations of DRO were reported 

as “estimated” and were less than the laboratory reporting 

level. Concentrations of DRO in all samples collected from 

all seven wells during the last sampling event were less than 

the laboratory reporting level (0.25 mg/L), which indicates 

that the DRO contamination (if present, and not due to field 

or laboratory contamination) was not from a persistent source 

during this study.

Samples of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were 

collected to assess the source of water to the aquifer. Samples 

were collected from all seven wells and an irrigation ditch 

that crosses the southern edge of the airport. Analysis of δ2

H 

and δ18O stable isotope data indicate the source of water to the 

aquifer likely is meteoric and that sampled water is subject to 

similar recharge and evolution paths. 

In general, the low dissolved-oxygen concentrations and 

iron reduction occurring at wells JH–3 and JH–3D are not 

uncommon in groundwater. However, the dissolved-oxygen 

concentrations in water from the other five wells sampled at 

the Jackson Hole Airport were 6 mg/L or higher, indicating the 

Snake River alluvial aquifer is naturally oxic in the vicinity 

of the airport. It is possible there is a natural cause for higher 

rates of reduction upgradient from well cluster 3; however, 

lithologic logs and hydraulic gradient data indicate the Snake 

River alluvial aquifer is relatively homogeneous, making a 

natural cause less likely. Reducing conditions in an otherwise 

oxic aquifer system are indicative of an upgradient or in-situ 

source of organic carbon. The nature of the source of organic 

carbon at the airport was not determined.

Acknowledgments

 The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance 

of Dan Leemon, Teton Conservation District, and the 

maintenance staff at Jackson Hole Airport. Steve Corsi, 

U.S. Geological Survey, is thanked for technical assistance, 

and Suzanne Roberts, U.S. Geological Survey, is thanked for 

assisting with the preparation of the illustrations and layout 

of the report. Bryant Jurgens, Don Hansen, and Janet Carter, 

U.S. Geological Survey, and Susan O’Ney, National Park 

Service, are acknowledged for their technical reviews of report 

drafts. Mary Kidd, U.S. Geological Survey, is thanked for her 

editorial review of this report.
40 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

References Cited 

Appelo, C.A.J., and Postma, Dieke, 2005, Geochemistry, 

groundwater and pollution (2d ed.): Leiden, The Netherlands, A.A. Balkema Publishers, 649 p.

Benjamin, Lyn, Knobel, L.L., Hall, L.F., Cecil, L.D., and 

Green, J.R., 2004, Development of a local meteoric water 

line for southeastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southcentral Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004–5126, 17 p.

Brenton, R.W., and Arnett, T.L., 1993, Methods of analysis by 

the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—Determination of dissolved organic carbon by UVpromoted persulfate oxidation and infrared spectrometry: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92–480, 12 p.

Busenberg, Eurybiades, Plummer, L.N., and Bartholomay, 

R.C., 2001, Estimated age and source of the young fraction of groundwater at the Idaho National Engineering 

and Environmental Laboratory: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2001–4265 

(DOE/ID–22177), 144 p.

Cancilla, D.A., Martinez, Jennifer, and Van Aggelen, G.C., 

1998, Detection of aircraft deicing/antiicing fluid additives 

in a perched water monitoring well at an international airport: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 32, no. 23, 

p. 3834–3835.

Case, J.C., Arneson, C.S., and Hallberg, L.L., 1998, Preliminary 1:500,000-scale digital surficial geology map of Wyoming: Wyoming State Geological Survey Digital Product 

HDSM 98–1.

Chapelle, F.H., Bradley, P.M., Thomas, M.A., and McMahon, 

P.B., 2009, Distinguishing iron-reducing from sulfatereducing conditions: Ground Water, v. 47, no. 2, p. 300–305.

Chapman, S.S., Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., Despain, D.G., 

ZumBerge, J.R., and Conrad, M., 2004, Ecoregions of 

Wyoming (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary 

tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological 

Survey, scale 1:1,4000,000, http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/

ecoregions/wy_eco.htm.

Childress, C.J.O., Foreman, W.T, Connor, B.F., and Maloney, T.J., 1999, New reporting procedures based on longterm method detection levels and some considerations for 

interpretations of water-quality data provided by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 99–193, 19 p.

Coplen, T.B., Wildman, J.D., and Chen, Julie, 1991, Improvements in the gaseous hydrogen-water equilibration technique for hydrogen isotope ratio analysis: Analytical 

Chemistry, v. 63, p. 910–912.

Corsi, S.R., Hall, D.W., and Geis, S.W., 2001, Aircraft and 

runway deicers at General Mitchell International Airport, 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, 2. Toxicity of aircraft and 

runway deicers: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 

v. 20, no. 7, p. 1483–1490.

Corsi, S.R., Geis, S.W., Loyo-Rosales, J.E., Rice, C.P., 

Sheesley, R.J., Failey, G.G., and Cancilla, D.A., 2006a, 

Characterization of aircraft deicer and anti-icer components 

and toxicity in airport snowbanks and snowmelt runoff: 

Environmental Science and Technology, v. 40, no. 10, 

p. 3195–3202.

Corsi, S.R., Geis, S.W., Loyo-Rosales, J.E., Rice, C.P., 2006b, 

Aquatic toxicity of nine aircraft deicer and anti-icer formulations and relative toxicity of additive package ingredients 

alkylphenol ethoxylates and 4,5-methyl-1H-benzotriazoles: 

Environmental Science and Technology, v. 40, no. 23, 

p. 7409–7415.

Craig, Harmon, 1961, Isotopic variations in meteoric waters: 

Science, v. 133, p. 1702–1703.

Drever, J.I., 1997, The geochemistry of natural waters—

Surface and groundwater environments (3d ed.): Upper 

Saddle River, N.J., Prentice-Hall, 437 p.

Eddy-Miller, C.A., Wheeler, J.D., and Essaid, H.I., 2009, 

Characterization of interactions between surface water and 

near-stream groundwater along Fish Creek, Teton County, 

Wyoming, by using heat as a tracer: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5160, 53 p.

Epstein, Samuel, and Mayeda, T.K., 1953, Variation of O-18 

content of water from natural sources: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 4, p. 213–224.

Fetter, C.W., 1988, Applied hydrogeology (2d ed.): Columbus, 

Ohio, Merrill Publishing Company, 592 p.

Fetter, C.W., 1993, Contaminant hydrogeology: New York, 

New York, Macmillan Publishing Company, 458 p.

Fishman, M.J., ed., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—

Determination of inorganic and organic constituents in 

water and fluvial sediments: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 93–125, 217 p.

Fishman, M.J., and Friedman, L.C., 1989, Methods for 

determination of inorganic substances in water and fluvial 

sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 5, chap. A1, 545 p.

HACH, 1996, DR/2000 Spectrophotometer Procedures 

Manual, 1996 (ed. 11), accessed October 14, 2009, at http://

www.hach.com/fmmimghach?/CODE%3A4487900OZ176%7C1. 
References Cited 41

Hamerlinck, J.D., and Arneson, C.S., 1998, Assessing ground 

water vulnerability to pesticides, in Hamerlinck, J.D., and 

Arneson, C.S., eds., Wyoming ground water vulnerability 

assessment handbook, v. 2: Laramie, Wyoming, University 

of Wyoming, Spatial Data and Visualization Center publication SDVC 98–01–2.

Heath, R.C., 1983, Basic ground-water hydrology: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2220, 81 p.

Hem, J.D., 1985, Study and interpretation of chemical characteristics of natural water (3d ed.): U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 2254, 263 p.

In-Situ, Incorporated, 2007, Level Troll® operators manual, 

p. 75, accessed February 26, 2010, at http://www.in-situ.

com/force_download.php?file=351.

Jackson Hole Airport, 2009, Airport history, accessed October 7, 2009, at http://www.jacksonholeairport.com/admin_

history.htm.

Jurgens, B.C., McMahon, P.B., Chapelle, F.H., and Eberts, 

S.M., 2009, An Excel® workbook for identifying redox processes in ground water: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 2009–1004, 8 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.

gov/of/2009/1004/.)

Klecka, G.M., Carpenter, C.L., and Landenberger, B.D., 1993, 

Biodegradation of aircraft deicing fluids in soil at low temperatures: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 25, 

no. 3, p. 280–295. 

Lapham, W.W., Wilde, F.D., and Koterba, M.T., 1995, 

Ground-water data collection protocols and procedures for 

the National Water-Quality Assessment Program—Selection, installation, and documentation of wells and collection of related data: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 95–398, 69 p.

Lohman, S.W., and others, 1972, Definitions of selected 

ground-water terms—Revisions and conceptual refinements: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1988, 

21 p.

Love, J.D., and Reed, J.C., Jr., 1971, Creation of the Teton 

landscape, the geologic story of Grand Teton National Park: 

Moose, Wyo., Grand Teton Natural History Association, 

120 p., accessed December 10, 2009, at http://www.nps.gov/

history/history/online_books/grte/grte_geology/contents.

htm.

Love, J.D., and Christiansen, A.C., 1985, Geologic map of 

Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Map, scale 

1:500,000, 3 sheets.

Love, J.D., Reed, J.C., Jr., and Christiansen, A.C., 1992, 

Geologic map of Grand Teton National Park: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-2031, 

scale 1:62,500.

Love, J.D., Reed, J.C., JR., and Pierce, K.L., 2003, A geological chronicle of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range: Moose, 

Wyo., Grand Teton Natural History Association, in cooperation with the U.S. National Park Service, 132 p.

McMahon, P.B., and Chapelle, F.H., 2008, Redox processes 

and water quality of selected principal aquifer systems: 

Ground Water, v. 46, no. 2, p. 259–271.

Mueller, D.K., and Helsel, D.R., 1996, Nutrients in the 

nation’s waters—Too much of a good thing?: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1136, 24 p.

Mueller, D.K., Martin, J.D., and Lopes, T.J., 1997, Qualitycontrol design for surface-water sampling in the National 

Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97–223, 17 p.

Munch, J.W., 1995, Measurement of purgeable organic compounds in water by capillary column gas chromatography/

mass spectrometry, EPA Method 524.2 (Revision 4.1): U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 48 p.

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

61 p.

Nolan, B.T., Campbell, D.L., and Senterfit, R.M., 1998, Depth 

of the base of the Jackson aquifer, based on geophysical exploration, southern Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA: 

Hydrogeology Journal, v. 6, p. 374–382.

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.

Pierce, K.L., and Good, J.D., 1992, Field guide to the Quaternary geology of Jackson Hole, Wyoming: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 92–504, 49 p.

Piper, A.M., 1944, A graphic procedure in the geochemical 

interpretation of water analyses: American Geophysical 

Union Transactions, v. 25, p. 914–923.

Timme, P.J., 1995, National Water Quality Laboratory 1995 

Services Catalog: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 95–352, 52 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996a, Test methods 

for evaluating solid waste, physical/chemical methods, 

SW-846, 3d ed., update IV; Method 8015B Nonhalogenated 

organics using GC/FID, Rev. 2: Washington D.C., U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, [variously paged].
42 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996b, Test methods 

for evaluating solid waste, physical/chemical methods, 

SW-846, 3rd ed., update IV; Method 8021B Aromatic and 

halogenated volatiles by gas chromatography using photoionization and/or electrolytic conductivity detectors, Rev. 2: 

Washington D.C., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

[variously paged].

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009a, Technology 

transfer network; air toxics web site, accessed November 2, 

2009, at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/methylen.html.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009b, 2009 Edition 

of the drinking water standards and health advisories: Washington D.C., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office 

of Water, EPA 822–R–09–11, October 2009, 12 p., accessed 

July 1, 2010, at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/

drinking/dwstandards.pdf.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010, Integrated Risk 

Information System (IRIS) database: Washington D.C., U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and 

Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, accessed July 1, 2010, at http://www.epa.gov/iris/.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1997-2010, National field manual for 

the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, 

chaps. A1–A9, available at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/

twri9A.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2004, Codes used in water-quality 

processing system (Appendix A of 4 appendixes), table 17: 

U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information 

System, accessed June 2, 2010, at http://nwis.usgs.gov/

nwisdocs4_3/qw/QW-AppxA.pdf.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Estimated use of water in the 

United States county-level data for 2005, accessed November 18, 2009, at http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/data/2005/

index.html.

U.S. Geological Survey, accessed December 9, 2009, online at 

http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/methanogenesis.html.

Western Regional Climate Center, 2009, COOP data/record 

of climatological observations, U.S., data for station 

no. 486428, Moose, Wyo., accessed October 22, 2009, at 

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wy6428.
Supplemental Information
Table 11. Analytical results for chemical oxygen demand, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and stable isotopes in groundwater samples from 

wells at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mg/L, milligrams per liter; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; <, less than symbol indicates the chemical was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the 

laboratory reporting level; --, not analyzed; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; E, estimated concentration; μg/L, micrograms per liter; Bold value indicates constituent exceeded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standard]

USGS 

site-identification 

number

 Well 

identifier Date Time

Chemical oxygen 

demand, high 

level, total

(mg/L)

Dissolved 

solids 

(mg/L)

Calcium, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Magnesium, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Potassium, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Sodium, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Alkalinity, field, 

dissolved, 

as CaCO3

(mg/L)

Bicarbonate, 

field, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Environmental samples

433615110440001 JH–1 10/15/2008 1630 <10 149 34.3 7.21 2.02 7.27 113 138

03/03/2009 1345 <10 151 33.4 7.36 2.00 7.89 109 133

05/05/2009 1700 <10 154 34.6 7.21 1.96 7.42 113 137

06/16/2009 1530 <10 167 34.8 7.28 1.97 7.05 120 146

433551110443501 JH–2 10/17/2008 1100 <10 182 48.8 8.81 2.07 7.08 150 183

03/05/2009 1020 <10 174 42.5 8.09 1.94 7.71 136 166

05/07/2009 1030 <10 202 52.5 10.0 2.13 7.96 168 205

06/18/2009 0940 <10 254 62.4 11.8 2.2 7.17 200 244

433603110443501 JH–3 10/16/2008 1330 <10 242 62.5 11.2 1.96 7.43 200 244

03/04/2009 1200 <10 214 46.9 8.82 1.89 7.28 160 194

05/06/2009 1230 <10 215 54.5 9.31 1.81 7.11 176 214

06/17/2009 1630 <10 255 62.8 11.4 2.07 7.67 210 256

433603110443502 JH–3D 10/16/2008 1630 <10 196 51.7 9.66 1.96 7.36 169 207

03/04/2009 1500 <10 188 40.4 8.16 1.85 7.12 141 172

05/06/2009 1600 <10 187 45.3 8.28 1.77 6.81 147 180

06/17/2009 1345 <10 208 50.0 9.09 1.93 7.18 169 206

433613110443501 JH–4 10/16/2008 1000 <10 142 34.7 6.75 1.88 6.14 110 134

03/04/2009 0950 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

05/06/2009 1030 <10 153 34.4 6.63 1.79 5.88 110 134

06/17/2009 0945 <10 153 35.7 6.99 1.83 5.86 117 143

433607110440901 Hangar 1 10/17/2008 1630 <10 140 33.8 7.28 2.07 7.31 113 138

03/03/2009 1030 <10 155 32.5 7.32 1.96 7.42 110 134

05/05/2009 1030 <10 155 34.3 7.24 1.99 7.21 110 134

06/16/2009 1010 <10 161 33.2 7.34 2.01 7.03 113 138

433556110441601 Hangar 5 10/17/2008 1400 <10 151 37.9 8.13 2.27 8.00 123 150

03/05/2009 1300 <10 159 33.9 7.97 2.22 7.87 123 150

05/05/2009 1345 <10 177 41.0 8.61 2.22 7.74 122 148

06/16/2009 1250 <10 189 40.9 8.68 2.29 8.73 131 160

433553110443601 Irrigation ditch 06/18/2009 1050 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Quality-control samples

433551110443501 1JH–2 10/17/2008 0930 <10 10 0.02 0.01 0.06 0.12 -- --

433603110443501 2JH–3 05/06/2009 1235 <10 232 57.3 9.53 1.87 7.13 176 214

44 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 11. Analytical results for chemical oxygen demand, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and stable isotopes in groundwater samples from 

wells at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; <, less than symbol indicates the chemical was not detected and the value following the less 

than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; --, not analyzed; E, estimated concentration; Bold value indicates constituent exceeded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standard]

Well identifier Date

Hardness, 

total, 

as CaCO3

Bromide, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Chloride, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Fluoride, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Silica, 

dissolved as 

SiO2

(mg/L)

Sulfate, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Ammonia, 

dissolved, as N 

(mg/L)

Nitrate plus 

nitrite, 

dissolved, as N 

(mg/L)

Nitrite, 

dissolved, as N 

(mg/L)

Orthophosphate, 

dissolved, as P 

(mg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 120 E0.01 3.78 0.43 18.4 10.7 <0.02 0.18 <0.002 0.019

03/03/2009 110 E.01 3.90 .45 18.7 11.4 <.02 .24 <.002 .01905/05/2009 120 .02 3.91 .42 19.1 10.7 <.02 .22 <.002 .021

06/16/2009 120 <.02 3.54 .44 18.5 9.87 <.02 .23 <.002 .02

JH–2 10/17/2008 160 E.01 4.03 .41 17.5 12.4 <.02 .26 <.002 .018

03/05/2009 140 E.01 3.80 .48 18.2 11.7 <.02 .22 <.002 .01905/07/2009 170 E.01 3.84 .39 19.1 11.0 <.02 .40 <.002 .021

06/18/2009 200 E.02 4.61 .35 18.2 11.9 <.02 1.27 <.002 .017

JH–3 10/16/2008 200 .02 5.93 .33 21.9 4.27 <.02 <.04 <.002 .014

03/04/2009 150 .02 4.04 .40 21.6 8.45 .388 <.04 <.002 .067

05/06/2009 170 .03 4.31 .35 21.8 7.38 .044 <.04 <.002 .013

06/17/2009 200 .02 5.31 .41 21.2 1.65 E.012 <.04 <.002 .011

JH–3D 10/16/2008 170 E.02 4.73 .35 21.0 6.58 <.02 <.04 <.002 .016

03/04/2009 130 <.02 3.91 .41 20.5 9.51 .012 <.04 <.002 .014

05/06/2009 150 E.01 4.24 .37 20.8 7.88 <.02 <.04 <.002 .012

06/17/2009 160 E.02 4.77 .39 20.2 3.78 <.02 <.04 <.002 .012

JH–4 10/16/2008 110 E.01 3.06 .36 18.0 8.03 <.02 .39 <.002 .017

03/04/2009 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

05/06/2009 110 E.02 3.77 .33 18.3 8.16 <.02 .59 <.002 .019

06/17/2009 120 E.01 3.40 .34 18.3 7.75 <.02 .38 <.002 .018

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 110 E.01 3.63 .42 18.6 11.5 <.02 .16 <.002 .02

03/03/2009 110 E.01 3.80 .45 18.0 11.9 <.02 .22 <.002 .0205/05/2009 120 E.02 4.16 .42 19.5 11.5 <.02 .22 <.002 .0206/16/2009 110 E.01 4.00 .45 18.7 11.3 <.02 .21 <.002 .02

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 130 E.02 3.86 .44 18.7 12.7 <.02 .25 <.002 .037

03/05/2009 120 E.01 4.07 .45 18.8 13.0 <.02 .25 <.002 .033

05/05/2009 140 E.02 11.20 .42 19.8 12.4 <.02 .52 <.002 .03206/16/2009 140 .02 8.37 .42 18.9 12.6 <.02 .97 <.002 .034

Irrigation ditch 06/18/2009 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Quality-control samples

1JH–2 10/17/2008 -- <0.02 0.12 0.08 0.02 0.18 <0.02 <0.04 <0.002 <0.0082JH–3 05/06/2009 180 E.01 4.37 .36 21.41 7.35 .037 E.02 <.002 .014

Supplemental Information45
Table 11. Analytical results for chemical oxygen demand, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and stable isotopes in groundwater samples from 

wells at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mg/L, milligrams per liter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; <, less than symbol indicates the chemical was not detected and the value following the less 

than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; --, not analyzed; E, estimated concentration; Bold value indicates constituent exceeded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standard]

Well identifier Date

Phosphorus, 

total, as P 

(mg/L)

Total nitrogen (nitrate 

+ nitrite + ammonia + 

organic-N), unfiltered 

(mg/L)

Iron, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Manganese, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

Organic 

carbon, 

dissolved 

(mg/L)

δ2H 

(per mil)

δ16O 

(per mil)

Sulfide (sum of 

H S, HS 2

–, and S2–), 

total, field 

(mg/L)

Ferrous iron, 

total, field, 

(mg/L)

Dissolved oxygen, 

low level, 

dissolved, field 

(μg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 0.014 0.18 4 0.5 E0.3 -- -- -- -- --

03/03/2009 .015 .25 E3 .5 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

05/05/2009 .015 .19 <4 .3 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

06/16/2009 .015 .25 <4 <.2 E.3 –133 –17.42 -- -- --

JH–2 10/17/2008 .014 .26 E3 .9 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

03/05/2009 .014 .21 <4 .9 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

05/07/2009 .014 .42 <4 .4 .4 -- -- -- -- --

06/18/2009 .015 1.32 E2 .4 .6 –132 –17.38 -- -- --

JH–3 10/16/2008 .013 <.1 563 1,740 .6 -- -- -- -- --

03/04/2009 .076 .59 373 1,500 3.1 -- -- -- -- --05/06/2009 .017 E.08 196 1,460 .5 -- -- 0.001 0.22 167

06/17/2009 .016 <.1 428 1,590 1 –133 –17.45 .034 .04 173

JH–3D 10/16/2008 E.011 <.1 346 1,210 .5 -- -- -- -- --

03/04/2009 .010 <.1 236 994 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

05/06/2009 .011 <.1 196 947 E.3 -- -- .005 .20 120

06/17/2009 .011 <.1 257 964 .4 –134 –17.49 .007 .27 192

JH–4 10/16/2008 .013 .39 E3 .3 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

03/04/2009 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

05/06/2009 .016 .59 E3 .3 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

06/17/2009 .014 .38 8 .3 E.3 –133 –17.42 -- -- --

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 .014 .17 <4 .2 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

03/03/2009 .014 .23 27 .4 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

05/05/2009 .015 .22 <4 .3 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

06/16/2009 .016 .22 <4 <.2 E.3 –133 –17.48 -- -- --

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 .033 .22 <4 <.2 E.4 -- -- -- -- --

03/05/2009 .030 .26 <4 <.2 E.4 -- -- -- -- --05/05/2009 .029 .51 <4 .2 E.3 -- -- -- -- --

06/16/2009 .030 .98 E2 <.2 E.4 –133 –17.5 -- -- --

Irrigation ditch 06/18/2009 -- -- -- -- -- –135 –18.11 -- -- --

Quality-control samples

1JH–2 10/17/2008 <0.012 <0.1 <4 <0.2 <0.4 -- -- -- -- --2JH–3 05/06/2009 .014 .12 218 1,454 .5 -- -- -- -- --

1Field blank.2Replicate sample.

46 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.[All samples for analysis of volatile organic compounds were unfiltered. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than symbol indicates compound was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration. Bold value indicates that compound was detected, but was attributed to sample contamination]

USGS 

site-identification

number

 Well 

identifier Date Time (24 hour) 1,1-Dichloro- ethane (μg/L) 1,1-Dichloro- ethene (μg/L) 1,1-Dichloro- propene (μg/L) 1,1,1-Trichloro- ethane (μg/L) 1,1,1,2-Tetra- chloroethane (μg/L) 1,1,2-Trichloro- ethane (μg/L) 1,1,2,2-Tetra- chloro-ethane (μg/L) 1,2-Dibromo-3- chloropropane (μg/L)

Environmental samples

433615110440001 JH–1 10/15/2008 1630 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

03/03/2009 1345 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 1700 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 1530 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433551110443501 JH–2 10/17/2008 1100 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 1020 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/07/2009 1030 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 0940 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433603110443501 JH–3 10/16/2008 1330 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 1200 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 1230 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 1630 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433603110443502 JH–3D 10/16/2008 1630 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 1500 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 1600 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 1345 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433613110443501 JH–4 10/16/2008 1000 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 1030 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 0945 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433607110440901 Hangar 1 10/17/2008 1630 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/03/2009 1030 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 1235 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 1010 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433556110441601 Hangar 5 10/17/2008 1400 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 1300 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 1345 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 1250 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Quality-control samples

433551110443501 JH–2 110/17/2008 0930 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

205/07/2009 1032 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

433603110443501 JH–3 305/06/2009 1235 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Supplemental Information47
Table 12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[All samples for analysis of volatile organic compounds were unfiltered. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than symbol indicates compound was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration. Bold value indicates that compound was detected, but was attributed to sample contamination]

 Well 

identifier Date

1,2-Dibromoethane

(μg/L)

1,2-Dichlorobenzene

(μg/L)

1,2-Dichloroethane

(μg/L)

1,2-Dichloropropane

(μg/L)

1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene

(μg/L)

1,2,3-Trichloro

propane

(μg/L)

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

(mg/L)

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene

(μg/L)

1,3-Dichlorobenzene

(μg/L)

1,3-Dichloropropane

(μg/L)

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene

(μg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–2 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.5005/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.5006/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3D 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.5005/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.5006/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–4 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Quality-control samples

JH–2 110/17/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

205/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3 305/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

48 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[All samples for analysis of volatile organic compounds were unfiltered. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than symbol indicates compound was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration. Bold value indicates that compound was detected, but was attributed to sample contamination]

Well 

identifier Date

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

(μg/L)

2-Chlorotoluene

(μg/L)

2,2-Dichloropropane

(μg/L)

4-Chlorotoluene

(μg/L)

4-Isopropyltoluene

(μg/L)

Benzene

(μg/L)

Bromobenzene

(μg/L)

Bromochloromethane

(μg/L)

Bromodichloromethane

(μg/L)

Bromoform

(μg/L)

Bromomethane

(μg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <1.0

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

JH–2 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

JH–3 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

JH–3D 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

JH–4 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

Quality-control samples

JH–2 110/17/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <1.0

205/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

JH–3 305/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0

Supplemental Information49
Table 12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[All samples for analysis of volatile organic compounds were unfiltered. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than symbol indicates compound was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration. Bold value indicates that compound was detected, but was attributed to sample contamination]

 Well 

identifier Date

Carbon 

tetrachloride

(μg/L)

Chlorobenzene

(μg/L)

Chloroethane

(μg/L)

Chloro

form

(μg/L)

Chloromethane

(μg/L)

cis-1,2-

Dichloroethene

(μg/L)

cis-1,3-

Dichloropropene

(μg/L)

Dibromochloromethane

(μg/L)

Dibromomethane

(μg/L)

Dichlorodifluoromethane

(μg/L)

Ethylbenzene

(μg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <1.0 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–2 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3D 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–4 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Quality-control samples

JH–2 110/17/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <1.0 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

205/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3 305/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

50 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[All samples for analysis of volatile organic compounds were unfiltered. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than symbol indicates compound was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration. Bold value indicates that compound was detected, but was attributed to sample contamination]

Well 

identifier Date

Hexachlorobutadiene

(μg/L)

Isopropylbenzene

(μg/L)

Methylene 

chloride

(μg/L)

Methyl tertbutyl ether

(μg/L)

m-Xylene and 

p-xylene

(μg/L)

Naphthalene

(μg/L)

n-Butylbenzene

(μg/L)

n-Propylbenzene

(μg/L)

o-Xylene

(μg/L)

sec-Butylbenzene

(μg/L)

Styrene

(μg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <1.0 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–2 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 E.31 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3D 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–4 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Quality-control samples

JH–2 110/17/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <1.0 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50

205/07/2009 <.50 <.50 E.61 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

JH–3 305/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <1.0 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50

Supplemental Information51
Table 12. Analytical results for volatile organic compounds and gasoline-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at the Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, 

October 2008–June 2009.—Continued[All samples for analysis of volatile organic compounds were unfiltered. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than symbol indicates compound was not detected and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration. Bold value indicates that compound was detected, but was attributed to sample contamination]

Well 

identifier Date

tert-Butylbenzene

(μg/L)

tert-Butyl 

ethyl ether

(μg/L)

Tetrachloroethene

(μg/L)

Toluene

(μg/L)

trans-1,2-

Dichloroethene

(μg/L)

trans-1,3-

Dichloropropene

(μg/L)

Trichloroethene

(μg/L)

Trichlorofluoromethane

(μg/L)

Vinyl 

chloride

(μg/L)

Xylene, 

total

(μg/L)

Gasoline-range 

organics 

(μg/L)

Environmental samples

JH–1 10/15/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <10

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

JH–2 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

JH–3 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

JH–3D 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

03/04/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

JH–4 10/16/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

Hangar 1 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

03/03/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

Hangar 5 10/17/2008 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

03/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

05/05/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

06/17/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

Quality-control samples

JH–2 110/17/2008 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <0.50 <10

205/07/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 --

JH–3 305/06/2009 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <.50 <10

1Field blank.2Trip blank.3Replicate sample.

52 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Table 13. Analytical results for glycols and diesel-range organics in groundwater samples from wells at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, October 2008–June 2009.

[Detections are in bold type and underlined. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mg/L, milligrams per liter; DRO, diesel-range organics; C10–C32 and C10–C36, ranges of carbon compounds included in the analysis; <, less than symbol indicates chemical was not detected, and the value following the less than symbol is the laboratory reporting level; E, estimated concentration]

USGS 

site-identification 

number

Well 

identifier Date Time (24 hour) Diethylene glycol (mg/L) Diethylene glycol, monobutyl ether (mg/L) Ethylene glycol (mg/L) Propylene glycol (mg/L) Triethylene glycol (mg/L) DRO C10–C32 (mg/L) DRO C10–C36 (mg/L)

Environmental samples

433615110440001 JH–1 10/15/2008 1630 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <0.25 <0.25

03/03/2009 1345 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

05/05/2009 1700 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 E.033 E.035

06/16/2009 1530 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433551110443501 JH–2 10/17/2008 1100 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

03/05/2009 1020 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

05/07/2009 1030 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 E.083 E.10

06/18/2009 0940 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433603110443501 JH–3 10/16/2008 1330 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

03/04/2009 1200 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

05/06/2009 1230 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

06/17/2009 1630 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433603110443502 JH–3D 10/16/2008 1630 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

03/05/2009 1500 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

05/06/2009 1600 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

06/17/2009 1345 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433613110443501 JH–4 10/16/2008 1000 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

05/06/2009 1030 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 E.099 E.12

06/17/2009 0945 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433607110440901 Hangar 1 10/17/2008 1630 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

03/03/2009 1030 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 E.034

05/05/2009 1030 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

06/18/2009 1050 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433556110441601 Hangar 5 10/17/2008 1400 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

03/05/2009 1300 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

05/05/2009 1345 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

06/16/2009 1010 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

Quality-control samples

433551110443501 JH–2 110/17/2008 0930 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

433603110443501 JH–3 205/06/2009 1235 <25 <10 <25 <25 <25 <.25 <.25

1Field blank.2Replicate.

Supplemental Information53
Table 14. Replicate data for major ions, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and trace elements in the groundwater 

sample from well JH–3, Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming, May 2009.

Physical property or constituent Environmental 

sample

Replicate 

sample

Calculated relative 

percent difference

Major ions and related characteristics, in milligrams per liter

Total dissolved solids 215 232 7.61

Calcium 54.5 57.3 5.01

Magnesium 9.31 9.53 2.34

Potassium 1.81 1.87 3.26

Sodium 7.11 7.13 .28

Hardness, total, as CaCO3 170 180 5.71

Bromide .03 .01 100

Chloride 4.31 4.37 1.38

Fluoride .35 .36 2.82

Silica 21.8 21.41 1.81

Sulfate 7.38 7.35 .41

Nutrients and dissolved organic carbon, in milligrams per liter

Ammonia, as nitrogen 0.044 0.037 17.28

Orthophosphate, as phosphorus .013 .014 7.41

Phosphorus, total, as phosphorus .017 .014 19.35

Total nitrogen 

(nitrate + nitrite + ammonia + organic-nitrogen), 

unfiltered

.08 .12 40.00

Dissolved organic carbon .5 .5 .00

Trace elements, in micrograms per liter

Iron 196 218 10.63

Manganese 1,460 1,454 .41

54 Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming

Publishing support provided by:

Denver Publishing Service Center

For more information concerning this publication, contact:

Director, Wyoming Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

2617 East Lincolnway, Suite B

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001

(307) 778-2931

Or visit the Wyoming Water Science Center Web site at:

http://wy.water.usgs.gov/

Wright—Hydrogeology and Water Quality in the Snake River Alluvial Aquifer at Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming—Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5172

Printed on recycled paper