WSP12632

• File Number: 8230.400.21.F.1
• Description: CO River Litigation - State-Division 4 Water Court Cases - Steamboat RICD - Yampa Management Plan
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/2004
• Author: City-Steamboat Sprin
• Title: Yampa Management Plan-Report - 2003 - RE-Steamboat RICD - Case Number 03-CW-86 - 01-01-04
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

II

Service Creek
Green Creek
Harrison Creek

Creeks flowing into the Yampa in the study area include:

Walton Creek
Burgess Creek (via Casey's Pond)
Fish Creek
Spring Creek
Butcherknife Creek
Soda Creek

Geomorphology
The Yampa River consists of both an active river channel and a surrounding floodplain, A natural erosion
and deposition cycle associated with flooding is important to the health of fisheries and riparian ecosystems,
including cottonwood regeneration, An examination of the floodplain and the location of cottonwoods within
the study area indicate that the river has been altered, and much of the original floodplain has been lost to
development.

The character ofthe river differs from upstream to downstream, Upper portions of the river are only slightly
entrenched, have an intact and largely undeveloped floodplain, and contain meander patterns commonly found
in a U-shaped glacial valley, These areas include point bars on the inside of the bends and deep pools along
the outside, providing high quality fish habitat. The lower portion of the river, beginning in about the center of
the study area, has a significantly different character. The channel in these areas is highly entrenched and less
sinuous, with slopes about four times greater than upstream areas, Reaches of the river further downstream
(below the Stockbridge) retum to a more natural state, with river morphology characteristics similar to both
the central and upstream portions of the study area,

A number of habitat improvements have been made to the river. Riparian enhancements and the addition of
in-channel rock structures and v-dams have improved both the recreational environment and aquatic habitat.

Water Flow
The hydrologic regime (timing and amounts offlow over the year) of many rivers in the west has been
modified, These changes are typically caused by damming and diversion projects. The Yampa River and
its major tributaries have relatively few dams and diversions from the headwaters to its confluence with the
Green River, Reservoirs upstream of Steamboat Springs along the Yampa River include Yamcolo Reservoir,
Stagecoach Reservoir and Lake Catamount, none of which are major storage facilities,

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Based on a review of historic flows ofthe Yampa River at the Steamboat Springs U,S, Geological Survey
(USGS) gauge station, the flow regime seen in the early 1900's appears to be relatively similar to those
seen in the present day. Therefore, many of the physical forces of the river that influence plant and animal
communities in the past continue today, Figure 2-4 compares recent versus historic hydro graphs, showing
that the flow regimes are very similar, During both periods, peak spring flows tended to range from 2000 to
3000 cfs,

Hydrograph for the Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, Colorado

13000

! 2500
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;; 2000
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~ 1500

:l 1000

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Figure 2A. Comparisons of hydro graphs for the Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for the period
between January 1911 through December of 1920 and January 1991 through December 2000.

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