Pryor Mountains Groundwater Characterization

As part of the Montana Ground-Water Assessment Program, the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology mapped the water quality and physical properties of aquifers in Carbon and Stillwater counties in Montana. The purpose of the program is to characterize individual aquifers in the area. The springs in the Pryor Mountains, including Bighorn Canyon, were a special focus in this project. The Bureau inventoried many of the springs in order to characterize their origin and chemistry. The most important products were descriptions of water quality in each aquifer and maps showing the location, depth, and thickness of aquifers. Other maps showed ground-water flow directions and identified the principal recharge areas for aquifers. These products will be available on the Ground Water Information Center website in late 2008.