Glacier Meltwater Impacts to Late Summer Flow and Geochemistry of Tributaries in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA

Abstract

Reductions in winter snowpack over the last few decades have affected water resource availability in the western United States. In regions where glaciers exist, local communities have an advantage over nonglaciated regions as water continues to flow once the snowpack has melted. Despite this advantage, relatively little is understood about the contributions of glacial meltwater quantity and quality to streamflow. Torrey Creek watershed in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, contains several glaciers that provide meltwater to supplement late summer streamflow to the Wind River. Despite its importance as a contributor to water resources in the region, Torrey Creek discharge is not regularly monitored. Field research conducted in August 2019 for this study, along with previous field work completed in August 2012 and 2014, provides some understanding of late summer meltwater quantity and quality within the Torrey Creek watershed. Measured Torrey Creek discharge during mid-August 2019 averaged 3.80 m³ s⁻¹ with 37 percent of the discharge attributed to glacial ice melt from stable isotope analysis. Nutrient loading to Torrey Creek from glacial meltwater was dominated by NO₂–NO₃ at 179.99 kg per month followed by 21.86 kg of total P for August 2019.

Key Words:

• discharge monitoring
• glacial watersheds
• Wind River Range

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Blutcher Creek Outfitters for their assistance in the field, and the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests, particularly Karri Cary, for their collaboration, which helped to achieve the objectives of this research. Finally, we thank Yanan (Nancy) Li, Xiaoyu (Larry) Lu, Nana Owusu-Amponsah, Anai Caparo Bellido, and Lance DiAngelis for their assistance in the field.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee and the Shoshone National Forest (Agreement No. 17-CS-11021400-011) for the primary funding of this research. Additionally, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Dakota contributed technical, logistical, and financial support.

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey A. VanLooy

JEFFREY A. VANLOOY is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth System Science and Policy at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202. E-mail: [email protected]. His research interests include analysis of changing snow and ice conditions in mountainous environments and the resulting impacts on rivers and streams.

Gregory S. Vandeberg

GREGORY S. VANDEBERG is the Gransberg Family Endowed Chair and Professor in the Department of Geography & GIScience at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202. E-mail: [email protected]. His research includes the study of alpine glacier fluvial systems, nutrient systems in the vicinity of confined animal feeding operations and forested watersheds, and the distribution of heavy metals in mining-impacted streams.