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Williston and Powder River Basins aquifer systems

Completed
By Water Resources Mission Area March 7, 2021

The Williston and Powder River Basins study combines the lithostratigraphic units of the glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems in the United States and Canada into 7 regional hydrogeologic units-glacial deposits, 4 bedrock aquifers, and 2 bedrock confining units-using general hydraulic properties.

WAUSP williston and powder river basins photo 10
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
WAUSP williston and powder river basins photo 10.

The glacial deposits are composed of till and glacial outwash sands and gravels with areas of cobbles and boulders. The four bedrock aquifers are the upper Fort Union, lower Fort Union, lower Hell Creek, and Fox Hills aquifers and are contained primarily in sandstone layers. The two confining units are the middle Fort Union hydrogeologic unit (shale) and upper Hell Creek hydrogeologic unit (contains less sandstone than the underlying lower Hell Creek aquifer). Water from hydrogeologic units in these three aquifer systems is relatively fresh and potable, whereas withdrawals seldom occur from units below the basal confining unit because of great depths (greater than 800 feet) and poor water quality.

The data files listed below are supplemental to Hydrogeologic Framework of the Uppermost Principal Aquifer Systems in the Williston and Powder River Structural Basins, United States and Canada (USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5047). The report includes a description of methods used to derive the data.

 

Click on the links below to download files for this aquifer. For information about the available file types, see Aquifer data: Explanation of spatial data formats.

Borehole Data:    Metadata (22KB XML)    Shapefile (93KB ZIP)    Text File (42KB ZIP)

Hydrogeologic Unit Extents:

Hydrogeologic Unit Surfaces:
Powder River Basin

Williston River Basin

Hydrogeologic Unit Thicknesses:
Powder River Basin

Williston River Basin

Below are other webpages associated with this aquifer.

link
Aquifers: Map of the Principal Aquifers of the United States

Principal Aquifers of the United States

This website compiles USGS resources and data related to principal aquifers including Aquifer Basics, principal aquifers maps and GIS data, and the National Aquifer Code Reference List.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Principal Aquifers of the United States

This website compiles USGS resources and data related to principal aquifers including Aquifer Basics, principal aquifers maps and GIS data, and the National Aquifer Code Reference List.
Learn More
link
National Water Census: Regional Groundwater Availability Studies map

Regional Groundwater Availability Studies

Regional groundwater availability studies enable information about groundwater to be integrated and consistent, so that this resource can be analyzed and understood on an aquifer–wide scale. These studies provide decision–makers with a better understanding of the status and trends in the Nation's groundwater availability.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Regional Groundwater Availability Studies

Regional groundwater availability studies enable information about groundwater to be integrated and consistent, so that this resource can be analyzed and understood on an aquifer–wide scale. These studies provide decision–makers with a better understanding of the status and trends in the Nation's groundwater availability.
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this aquifer.

Hydrogeologic framework of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada

The glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins within the United States and Canada are the uppermost principal aquifer systems and most accessible sources of groundwater for these energy-producing basins. The glacial aquifer system covers the northeastern part of the Williston structural basin. The lower Tertiary and Upper Cret
Authors
Joanna N. Thamke, Gary D. LeCain, Derek W. Ryter, Roy Sando, Andrew J. Long
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Ground Water Atlas of the United States

PrefaceThe Ground Water Atlas of the United States presents a comprehensive summary of the Nation's ground-water resources and is a basic reference for the location, geography, geology, and hydrologic characteristics of the major aquifers in the Nation. The information was collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies during the course of many years of study. Results of the Regional A
Authors
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Principal aquifers [of the United States]

No abstract available.
Authors
James A. Miller

The Williston and Powder River Basins study combines the lithostratigraphic units of the glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems in the United States and Canada into 7 regional hydrogeologic units-glacial deposits, 4 bedrock aquifers, and 2 bedrock confining units-using general hydraulic properties.

WAUSP williston and powder river basins photo 10
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
WAUSP williston and powder river basins photo 10.

The glacial deposits are composed of till and glacial outwash sands and gravels with areas of cobbles and boulders. The four bedrock aquifers are the upper Fort Union, lower Fort Union, lower Hell Creek, and Fox Hills aquifers and are contained primarily in sandstone layers. The two confining units are the middle Fort Union hydrogeologic unit (shale) and upper Hell Creek hydrogeologic unit (contains less sandstone than the underlying lower Hell Creek aquifer). Water from hydrogeologic units in these three aquifer systems is relatively fresh and potable, whereas withdrawals seldom occur from units below the basal confining unit because of great depths (greater than 800 feet) and poor water quality.

The data files listed below are supplemental to Hydrogeologic Framework of the Uppermost Principal Aquifer Systems in the Williston and Powder River Structural Basins, United States and Canada (USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5047). The report includes a description of methods used to derive the data.

 

Click on the links below to download files for this aquifer. For information about the available file types, see Aquifer data: Explanation of spatial data formats.

Borehole Data:    Metadata (22KB XML)    Shapefile (93KB ZIP)    Text File (42KB ZIP)

Hydrogeologic Unit Extents:

Hydrogeologic Unit Surfaces:
Powder River Basin

Williston River Basin

Hydrogeologic Unit Thicknesses:
Powder River Basin

Williston River Basin

Below are other webpages associated with this aquifer.

link
Aquifers: Map of the Principal Aquifers of the United States

Principal Aquifers of the United States

This website compiles USGS resources and data related to principal aquifers including Aquifer Basics, principal aquifers maps and GIS data, and the National Aquifer Code Reference List.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Principal Aquifers of the United States

This website compiles USGS resources and data related to principal aquifers including Aquifer Basics, principal aquifers maps and GIS data, and the National Aquifer Code Reference List.
Learn More
link
National Water Census: Regional Groundwater Availability Studies map

Regional Groundwater Availability Studies

Regional groundwater availability studies enable information about groundwater to be integrated and consistent, so that this resource can be analyzed and understood on an aquifer–wide scale. These studies provide decision–makers with a better understanding of the status and trends in the Nation's groundwater availability.
By
Water Resources Mission Area
link

Regional Groundwater Availability Studies

Regional groundwater availability studies enable information about groundwater to be integrated and consistent, so that this resource can be analyzed and understood on an aquifer–wide scale. These studies provide decision–makers with a better understanding of the status and trends in the Nation's groundwater availability.
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this aquifer.

Hydrogeologic framework of the uppermost principal aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins, United States and Canada

The glacial, lower Tertiary, and Upper Cretaceous aquifer systems in the Williston and Powder River structural basins within the United States and Canada are the uppermost principal aquifer systems and most accessible sources of groundwater for these energy-producing basins. The glacial aquifer system covers the northeastern part of the Williston structural basin. The lower Tertiary and Upper Cret
Authors
Joanna N. Thamke, Gary D. LeCain, Derek W. Ryter, Roy Sando, Andrew J. Long
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Ground Water Atlas of the United States

PrefaceThe Ground Water Atlas of the United States presents a comprehensive summary of the Nation's ground-water resources and is a basic reference for the location, geography, geology, and hydrologic characteristics of the major aquifers in the Nation. The information was collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies during the course of many years of study. Results of the Regional A
Authors
By
Water Resources Mission Area

Principal aquifers [of the United States]

No abstract available.
Authors
James A. Miller