Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1475-F Ground Water at Grant Village Site Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

As a part of the Department of the Interior's Mission 66 program for the improvement and development of the National Park System, the National Park Service plans to construct additional facilities for accommodation of the general public in the vicinity of West Thumb, Yellowstone National Park. The proposed new development, known as the Grant Village site, lies along the shore of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, 1 to 2 miles south of the present facilities at West Thumb.

On behalf of the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey during the summer of 1959 made a study of the ground-water conditions in the area bordering Yellowstone Lake at the Grant Village site. The general geographic features and the area covered by the investigation are shown on figure 28.

FIGURE 28.——Map of a part of Yellowstone National Park, Wyo., showing general features in the vicinity of the Grant village site and location of the report area. (click on image for an enlargement in a new window)

The water supply for the present development at West Thumb is obtained from Duck Lake, a small lake about half a mile northwest of the ranger station at West Thumb. The quantity of water available from this source, however, probably will be inadequate for the planned development at Grant Village.

This investigation was made to provide information regarding the occurrence, availability, and quality of ground water in the vicinity of the Grant Village site. The data obtained provide the basis for a decision regarding the relative feasibility of surface water and ground water as a source of supply for the proposed development at Grant Village.

Field investigations made during May through August 1959 included a brief reconnaissance of the geology of the area, boring of 11 test holes with a power auger, supervision of a test-drilling contract under which 6 test wells were drilled, and aquifer testing by pumping and bailing methods. The test wells were drilled by the percussion method under a National Park Service contract, and the test holes were bored with a power auger by the Geological Survey. The installation of temporary casing in five of the auger holes allowed their utilization as observation wells during the aquifer tests.

Many individuals assisted during the investigation: J. D. Love, geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, discussed the geology of the area with the senior author, loaned him a set of aerial photographs of the area, and examined drill cuttings from some test wells; Lloyd Hoener, park ranger at West Thumb, accompanied the authors on a reconnaissance of the area and was helpful in many other ways; Gary Rowe, park engineer, and Thomas Hyde, assistant park engineer, provided information regarding the area and arranged for construction of access roads to the drill sites; Theodore Wirth, project supervisor, and E. J. Axline, engineer, National Park Service, exercised general supervision for the National Park Service drilling contract and provided other technical assistance during the investigation.