Continental Glacier meltwater contributions to late summer stream flow and water quality in the northern Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA

Abstract

The Wind River Range in Wyoming contains more than 60 glaciers that are part of the headwaters for the Wind-Missouri, Green-Colorado and Snake-Columbia River systems. Continental Glacier lies on the crest of the northern Wind River Range and covers approximately 2.5 km2 with meltwater flowing into West Torrey Creek and the Wind River. Discharge measurements of upper Continental Glacier meltwater were made in August 2012 and 2014. Water samples were collected in 2014 for the analysis of stable isotopes, field parameters and 23 trace elements. This study demonstrated that Continental Glacier meltwater accounted for a mean of 32.91 ± 8.4 % of Torrey Creek flow, and 4.11 ± 18.38 % of Wind River flow as measured above Red Creek for August 2012 and 2014. Scaling of these results to all perennial snow and ice in the upper Torrey Creek basin yielded an estimate of 82.70 % contribution to Torrey Creek flow, and 10.32 % of Wind River flow above Red Creek, during August. Glacier meltwater contributions versus snow melt to Torrey Creek based on δ18O ratios ranged from 81.05 to 82.70 % of flow, with a mean of 81.88 ± 1.17 % for August 2014. Continental Glacier meltwater accounted for 89.99 % of nitrate-nitrite and 34.83 % of total phosphorus loading to Torrey Creek in August 2014. The pH of the snow and glacier meltwater was less than 6.0, likely the result of nitrate-nitrite and other atmospheric deposition. Finally, analysis of trace elements showed distinct differences between water sources.