WSP11818

• File Number: 8220.131.I
• Description: Yellow Jacket Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 8/4/1971
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Draft Environmental Review of the Yellow Jacket Project Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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The North Fork, the largest' tribut3ry of the \olhit" Rive;:. r1.;'2;

in the wooded Flattops Hountains of the Vlhite River Plate,~u ,md nO',

westerly for approximately 32 miles before it joins the SOllth Fork tG

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-Hoem the \'hite River. Other tributaries to the North Fork i.r,clu"c

Ripple, Snell, Harvine, and FaloTtl Creeks. The \oIhite River continues' '1

a general westerly direction to and beyond th" Heekcr ,-,ref;, Pri"-C,ip

tributaries entering the \.Jhite River above Meeker are Bi.g })('~:tver, Noc..h

Elk, Niller; Little Beaver, 'Coal, Flag) and Curtis Creeks.

Nilk C:reek and the South Fork of IHll iams Fork head on the

north slopes of the Flattop Mountains and flow in a northerly direct ..)n
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to the Yampa River. \oIilson and Good Springs Creeks are major tribut~ries of

Hilk Creek.

Cl irnate I)':",

The cl imate surroundi.ng the Meeker area is semiarid., A"nual

precipitati.on for the period of study amounts to about 17 inches annu~lly,

of which nearly 6 inches falls during the growing season. Neilr Neeke't" the

annual frost-free period averages about, 102 days Io.h He in the Axiai Basin

of the project area the frost-free period is about 94 days. Temper~tures

at Meeker range from a high of near 950 F. to a low exceedin8 -300 F.

81imatic conditions at the higher potential reservoirs depict colder

temperatures and greater precipitation amounts. Host of.the ;>recipiL1tion

at the highe~ humid elevations is in the form of snow.

Topography

The Yellow Jacket Project is located in three' geologicol provi'kccS:

northeast portion of the Colorado Plateau, w'estern edge of the

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