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<br />YAMPA/WHITE BASIN <br /> Sep - 08 <br /> <br />Basinwide Conditions Assessment <br /> The SWSI value for the month was +0.3 . Flow at <br />YAMPA-WHITE BASIN SWSI HISTORY <br />the gaging station Yampa River at Steamboat was 163 cfs, <br />4 <br />as compared to the long - term average of 149 cfs. <br /> August precipitation was slightly below average for <br />3 <br />the Yampa, White, and North Platte River basins. <br />2 <br />Precipitation fo r the month, as measured at the SNOTEL <br />DRY INDEX VALUE WET <br />sites operated by the NRCS, was reported at approximately <br />1 <br />92% of average for the Yampa/White River basins and 98% <br />of average for the North Platte River basin. Year - to - date <br />0 <br />precipitation remains above average, however , and is <br />reported at 103% of average for the combined Yampa, <br />-1 <br />White, and North Platte River basins. Warm weather <br />-2 <br />continued throughout August, with sporadic, isolated <br />afternoon thunderstorms throughout the area. Most <br />-3 <br />streamflows remained at average to slig htly above average <br />conditions for the month. <br />-4 <br />Jan-99 Jan-00 Jan-01 Jan-02 Jan-03 Jan-04 Jan-05 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 <br /> <br />MONTH / YEAR <br />Outlook <br /> Yamcolo Reservoir, Elkhead Reservoir, and Fish <br />Creek Reservoir were reported at approximately 62%, 91%, <br />YAMPA RIVER AT STEAMBOAT, FLOW BY WATER YEAR <br />and 93% of capacity, respectively, at the end of August. <br />Water stored in Fish Creek Reservoir i s used primarily for <br />700,000 <br />municipal purposes, Yamcolo Reservoir for irrigation <br />purposes, and Elkhead Reservoir for municipal, industrial, <br />600,000 <br />and recreation purposes, as well as fish recovery releases . <br />CUMULATIVE FLOW, Acre-feet <br /> 500,000 <br />Administrative/Management Concerns <br />400,000 <br />Calls were placed on the fo llowing streams, which <br />remained under administration at the end of the month: Bear <br />300,000 <br />River (June 6), Talamantes Creek (June 13), West Fish <br />Creek (June 20), and Little Bear Creek (July 7). Middle Hunt <br />200,000 <br />Creek and South Hunt Creek were released from call on <br />100,000 <br />Aug ust 7 and August 19, respectively. <br />The Colorado River District, on behalf of the Fish <br />0 <br />Recovery Program, requested that releases be made from <br />Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept <br />Elkhead Reservoir starting on August 22. Releases are <br />being made to augment flows and enhance habitat for the <br />WET (1984) DRY (1977) AVG 2008 <br />enda ngered fish species in the critical habitat reach of the <br />Yampa River (from Craig to the confluence with the Green <br />River at Echo Park). Target flows of 300 to 400 cfs at the <br />Maybell ga u ge were set through mid - September this year to <br />facilitate a special sma ll mouth bass research project being <br />conducted by Colorado State University on this stretch of the <br />river. It is anticipated that target flows will return to their <br />normal levels after completion of the study. District 44 water <br />commissioners are responsibl e for protecting the water <br />released from Elkhead Reservoir through the Yampa River <br />critical habitat reach. <br /> <br />Public Use Impacts <br /> Area reservoirs remain open for the season, with <br />good fishing reported <br /> <br />8 <br />