Chapter 7
Summary and Conclusions
This thesis has examined the evidence for recharge to
the Paleozoic aquifer along the east flank of the Laramie
Range in Laramie County, Wyoming.
The amount of water entering outcrops of rocks which
comprise the Paleozoic aquifer was estimated by a water
budget analysis conducted on the North Fork of Horse Creek.
This study showed that no significant recharge to the
Paleozoic rocks occurred during the two years of record.
The results from this stream are considered representative
of other streams which flow across outcrops of Paleozoic
rocks in the area in a similar structural environment.
The geologic framework was examined in conjunction with
the shape of the potentiometric surface in order to learn if
recharge to the Paleozoic aquifer can circulate from the
recharge area to the basin interior. The recharge area,
from Horse Creek to the southern boarder of the study area
is hydrologically isolated from the rest of the aquifer by
an impermeable thrust zone. This thrust zone effectively
prohibits recharge from circulating into the basin interior.
The recharge area to the north of Horse Creek does not
appear to be separated from the rest of the aquifer.
Conceivably, recharge could circulate to the basin interior
under the influence of a east-southeast hydraulic gradient.
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