9604

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9604
• Author: Montgomery Watson.
• Title: Yampa River Basin Small Reservoir Study - Final.
• USFW Year: 2000.
• USFW - Doc Type: Steamboat Springs, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

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February 2000 CR WCD * y ~ Rirer Basin Small ResetWi:r Study * Pag? ~ 5

2.0 WATER RESOURCES AND HYDROLOGY

The Yampa River is central to the economy of the basin, providing most of the available water supply
in the region (BBC, 1998). Yampa River basin political leaders and water users are concerned that the
Recovery Program could inhibit existing and future water uses in the basin. Local political leaders
want to assure that the Recovery Program does not inhibit future water development and,
consequently, limit economic growth (T. Wright Dickinson, personal communication, 1999). The
dominant economic water uses in the basin are for irrigated agriculture, industry (primarily
thermoelectric power generation), municipalities, and recreation.

The headwaters of the Yampa River originate on the eastern edge of the White River Plateau in north
central Colorado. The river is fed by munerous tributaries that drain the north slope of the plateau
and the western slope of the Sierra Madre, Park and Gore Ranges. The hydrology of the Yampa
River basin is typical of cold, snow-zone regions. Spring snowmelt nmoff generates most of the flow
in basin streams. As such, the basin nmoff hydrograph is highly seasonal, typically reaching a peak in
late spring. Base flow levels are typical by mid- to late-summer. Swnmer precipitation can be
important locally in small streams, especially in the western portions of the basin.

For this evaluation, the Yampa River basin was subdivided into seven major drainages. These
divisions were based on watershed boundaries and are intended to facilitate discussion of potential
storage opponunities on a geographic, rather than a political, basis. Table 1, Y t1J11{Ja Ri'U!r Basin
Drainag!s and Sigrzificant StrF!ams, lists the seven major drainages and the principal streams within each
drainage. Major drainages are shown in Figure 2, Y t1J11{Ja Rim- Basin Dra~.

2.1 WATER RESOURCES

Most of the water development in the Yampa River basin is for irrigated agriculture. There are
hundreds of irrigation ditches throughout the basin that divert Yampa River and tributary stream
flows. Most of the irrigation ditches were developed by individuals or private ditch companies.

Five water conservancy districts have been formed in the basin to promote the development of water
resources. The conservancy districts are the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, the Great
Northern Water Conservancy Distri<:;t, Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District, Juniper Water
Conservancy District and Pot Hook Water Conservancy District. The Upper Yampa Water
Conservancy District covers most of Routt County and has been the most active in the basin. The
Great Northern Water Conservancy District includes Elkhead and Fortification Creeks in Moffat
County and has just recently been reconstituted (T. Wright Dickinson, personal communication,
1999). The Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District includes the Morapos Creek and Milk Creek
drainages in southern Moffat County. This conservancy district has been diligent in maintaining its
conditional water rights and is very interested in assisting with the development of storage facilities
within its boundaries (Frank Cooley, personal communication, 1999). The Juniper Water
Conservancy District is located in Moffat County and covers the mainstem Yampa River downstream
of Craig to approximately Deerlodge Park. The Pot Hook Water Conservancy District is also located
in Moffat County and covers the lower portion of the Little Snake River drainage.

The Yampa River basin is considered undeveloped in terms of potential water use. River District
studies indicate that water use in the basin is only approximately 13 percent of basin yield (Ray
Tenney, personal communication, 1999). Most larger storage facilities are in the upper basin,
upstream of Steamboat Springs. Major basin impoundments include Steamboat Lake and Stagecoach,
Elkhead and Yamcolo Reservoirs.

Mon1f?neYY Watson Mining Group -- p.a Box 774018 -- StR4n1I:x1at Springs, CoIoradD 80477 -- [phone]

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