Black

Watershed Hydrology

The Black Watershed (HUC 03030006) spans across portions of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota with a land area of approximately 6,007 square miles. The hydrology of the watershed is dominated by the Belle Fourche River, which flows into the Cheyenne River. The watershed receives an average annual precipitation of 16 inches, with a specific snowpack that contributes significantly to its surface water runoff. The watershed also has several reservoirs, including Keyhole Reservoir, which is the largest in the region. The reservoirs contain a variety of constituents, including sediment, nutrients, and organic matter. Interestingly, the Black Hills, which the watershed sits within, experience a unique microclimate, with higher precipitation levels and lower temperatures than surrounding areas. In recent years, the region has seen a trend of decreasing snowpack and earlier snowmelt due to rising temperatures, which may impact the watershed's hydrology and ecosystem.


Surface Flows

Black Watershed

Snowpack Depths

Black Watershed

Dams & Reservoirs

Black Watershed

Groundwater Levels

Black Watershed

Black Rivers

Rivers of the Watershed