Real-Time Turbidity Readings
The US Geological Survey and the Teton Conservation District operate turbidity sensors on Flat Creek to provide information about how much sediment is entering Flat Creek. Below you can find real-time turbidity data from two sites on Flat Creek in Jackson, Wyoming. Clicking on an image will link you to the USGS website where you can customize data parameters and download available stream data.
Turbidity is a proxy for measurements of the amount of sediment in a water body. Total suspended sediment (TSS), or the amount of sediment being carried through a water body, is often the parameter of interest because it provides information about how much sediment is entering a water source, and unnaturally high amounts of sediment can be harmful. However, turbidity (the amount of light that is able to pass through a water sample) is easier to measure than TSS and they are tightly correlated, so turbidity is sometimes measured instead.
TSS vs. Turbidity
This figure shows a strong linear relationship between TSS and turbidity measurements taken at three sites on Flat Creek in Jackson, Wyoming. Both measurements were taken at the same time and linear regression was used to determine if the data were paired.
North SIte
Site 13018250 is on Flat Creek at the North edge of Jackson, upstream of the Cache Creek inlet.
South Site
Site 13018350 is on Flat Creek south of town near High School Road. This site is downstream of the Cache Creek inlet. Turbidity is sometimes higher at the south edge of town, especially during storm events, because storm water runoff and snow melt from the Town of Jackson enter Flat Creek between the two sites.