Water Flow in the Shoshone River at Kane, Wyoming

Looking downstream from the Shoshone River at Kane, Wyoming, monitoring site east of Lovell, Wyoming, at the Hwy 37 bridge crossing. The Bighorn Mountains are in the background. April 2019.

NPS

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) operates one gaging station on the mainstem of Shoshone River near Lovell, Wyoming (USGS 6285100). Our Shoshone River monitoring site at Kane, Wyoming, is approximately 6.0 miles (9.6 km) east of this gage. The USGS also operates gages on the North Fork (North Fork Shoshone River at Wapiti, Wyoming; USGS 6279940) and South Fork (South Fork Shoshone River at Buffalo Bill Reservoir, Wyoming; USGS 06281000) of the Shoshone River.

The Shoshone River near Lovell, Wyoming, has a regulated hydrograph with operations of Buffalo Bill and Willwood dams, irrigation return flows, and several major tributaries contributing to flows near its confluence with the Bighorn River (PCFCD 2019). The upper reaches of the Shoshone River are regulated by operations of the Buffalo Bill Dam.

Despite its regulation, the hydrograph for the Shoshone River near Lovell, Wyoming, is generally highest in the spring with the months of April through June coinciding with the melt-off of snow at higher elevations within the watershed. Average annual peak flows between 1967 and 2018 were 4,937 cfs occurring on June 27 (day 178 of the year). Peak flows in 2019 (4,790 cfs) were near the long-term average at this location but occurred on June 19. Minimum annual daily flows over this same period of record averaged 233 cfs. The minimum recorded flow in 2019 was 305 cfs and it occurred on March 3.

The extended flow record available for this location supports evaluations of recent or decadal change. Flows in the 2010s (2010 through 2019 averaged) were like flows recorded in the 1930s, but on average considerably higher than those documented in the early 2000s (2000 through 2009). Although some flows within the most recent decade (2010 through 2019) were particularly low (2012 and 2013) and comparable to historical (i.e., 1988) levels. Calendar year 2017 average daily flows were the highest in the 90-year time series and corresponded to the second highest peak snow water equivalent (SWE) estimate that was recorded at the Blackwater SNOTEL station located in the upper North Fork Shoshone River watershed.

USGS Shoshone River at Lovell, Wyoming, Gage (USGS 06285100) Water Data

Long-term summary of average daily discharge (in cfs) at the Shoshone River near Lovell, Wyoming (USGS Gage 06285100). River flows are presented by day of year where day 1 is January 1st. The period of record summarized for this gage extends from 1967 to 2019. The black, dotted line shows average daily flows for the period of record. The gray, dashed lines are the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily flows.

NPS

Decadal summary of average daily discharge (in cfs) at the Shoshone River near Lovell, Wyoming (USGS 06285100). River flows are presented by day of year where day 1 is January 1st. The period of record summarized for this gage extends from 1967 to 2019. Mean daily discharge for each decade is shown where the decade is summarized by the starting year and includes the following nine years (e.g., 2000s = 2000 through 2009).

NPS

Reference

Powell-Clarks Fork Conservation District (PCFCD). 2019. WaterSMART cooperative watershed management program phase I grants. A collaborative effort among partners to address sediment contributions to the shoshone river. Powell-Clarks Fork Conservation District, Powell, Wyoming.