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The principal water use in the basin is irrigation. The average total irrigated acreage in <br />the basin, according to the State's geographic information system (GIS) data, is 82,700 <br />acres for the period 1986 through 1990. In addition to the direct ditch diversions, there <br />are nine major reservoirs. <br />Other water uses in the Yampa River basin include diversions for geothermal electric <br />power generation at the Hayden Station and Craig Station plants and diversions for <br />municipal use in Steamboat Springs, Craig, and a number of smaller towns. Two modeled <br />transbasin diversions, the Sarvis Ditch and Stillwater Ditch export water from the Yampa <br />River basin to the Colorado River drainage. <br />White River Basin <br />The White River is tributary to the Green River. The drainage area of approximately <br />2,600 square miles in Colorado, includes portions of Garfield, Moffat, and Rio Blanco <br />Counties. Major tributaries to the White River include the North and South Fork of the <br />White River and Piceance Creek. Average annual streamflow in the White River at the <br />USGS gage below Meeker is approximately 486,000 acre-feet (1962-1998). <br />The principal water use in the White River basin is irrigation. The average total irrigated <br />acreage in the basin, according to the State's current GIS data, is 25,200 acres for the <br />period 1986 through 1990. Two reservoirs in the basin, Taylor Draw Reservoir and Big <br />Beaver Creek Reservoir, are used primarily for recreation. <br />Non-agricultural diversions include the towns of Rangely and Meeker, and the California <br />Company water plant. There are no exports out of the White River basin. <br />San Juan/Dolores Combined River Basins <br />The San Juan River basin lies in the southwest corner of Colorado to the south of the San <br />Juan Mountains and flows into the Colorado main stem in Utah. The drainage area of <br />approximately 7,200 square miles in Colorado, includes portions of Archuleta, Hinsdale, <br />La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, and San Juan Counties. Major tributaries in Colorado that <br />flow into to the San Juan River outside the state include the Piedra River, Los Pinos <br />River, Animas River, La Plata River, Mancos River, and McElmo Creek. <br />Average flow of the San Juan River is 465,000 acre-feet (1961-1998) at the USGS gage <br />near Carracas. Average annual streamflow of the Piedra River is approximately 220,000 <br />(1939-1973) acre-feet at the USGS gage near Piedra. Average annual streamflow of the <br />Los Pinos River is approximately 177,000 acre-feet (1951-1998) at the USGS gage at La <br />Boca. Average annual streamflow of the Animas River is 596,000 acre-feet (1987-1998) <br />at the USGS gage at Durango. Average annual flow of the La Plata River is 26,000 <br />(1920-1998) at the USGS gage at the Colorado-New Mexico State Line. Average flow of <br />the Mancos River is 38,000 (1921-1998) at the USGS gage near Towaoc. Average flow <br />of McElmo Creek is 37,500 acre-feet (1951-1998) at the USGS gages near the Colorado- <br />Utah State Line. <br />culossapp Page 5 of 24 09/30/1999 <br />