Spring Inventory at Bighorn Canyon

The Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network together with Montana State University has conducted a spring inventory at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area to characterize the resource and identify management needs. The inventory includes a site description, baseline water quality data, water age estimation, and recharge area identification. The site descriptions focus on the physical setting and habitat structure. Observed impacts were also noted. Water quality data includes major cation and anion concentrations as well as discharge. Water age and recharge were assessed with naturally occurring isotopes. Data were pooled based on geology, potential and observed impacts, water chemistry, and water age to characterize springs throughout the park.