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Ice formation in Winter 1 was minimal and temporary, except for the lower 20 miles (RM <br />270-250) of the study area, where surface ice persisted for about 3 weeks, from mid to late January, <br />1987. This surface ice thickened to 3 to 5 cm, and was broken and transported downstream by large <br />mainstem fluctuations. Otherwise, surface ice persisted on backwaters and along some shorelines <br />from mid-January through February, 1987. These thin ice layers extended from shorelines and <br />backwaters in the morning, and usually melted as the main channel warmed during the day. Jam ice <br />was observed on the Green River for only a short period in Winter 1, between mid-January and mid- <br />February. Frazil ice was also rare in Winter 1, forming at night during low temperatures, and melting <br />from daytime solar radiation. Although the Green River did not freeze above Jensen during Winter <br />1, the Yampa River was frozen much of the winter. Breakup of the Yampa River contributed to <br />heavy ice tlows in the Green River on March 9-10, 1987. <br />Winter 2 (1987-88)..Lower air temperatures and releases from Flaming Gorge Dam in Winter <br />2 produced lower water temperatures and more extensive ice formation than in Winter 1. Monthly <br />maximum air temperatures for January and February were 4.2 to 2.1°C below normal, while minimum <br />temperatures were 3.9 to 2.0°C below normal. Water temperatures averaged 0.0 to 1.7°C from <br />December through February (Figure 7), which caused supercooling of the river to -1.5°C. <br />River ice formation was extensive in Winter 2. An aerial raptor survey in late January by <br />UDWR (personal communication with Miles Moretti, UDWR, April 20, 1988} revealed that the <br />Green River and Colorado River were ice covered to Lake Powell, except for ice-free areas in large <br />rapids in Desolation and Cataract canyons. <br />Diverse ice conditions and formations in the study area appeared to affect local river hydrolo- <br />gry by blocking or diverting normal tlow patterns. These ice conditions were formed by relatively <br />warm dam releases, distance downstream from the dam, and channel gradient. A longitudinal view <br />of the Green River represents gradient and observed ice formation in January and February, 1988 <br />(Figure 8). The river lrom Flaming Gorge Dam to the Ouray Bridge is about 162 miles (260 km) <br />long, with an elevational change of 905 feet (5,605 to 4,700 feet). In Winter 2, water from Flaming <br />Gorge Dam first became supercooled in Lodore Canyon, about 50 miles (80 km) below the dam. <br />Short sections o1' solid surface ice were present for brief periods at Echo, Island, and Rainbow parks. <br />Surface ice in these areas was frequently broken, dislodged and transported downstream by tluctuating <br />dam releases, leaving ice only along shorelines. The central third of the channel was often frec- <br />ilowing and tilled with Frazil ice during cold periods, and with large masses of jam ice during large <br />llow fluctuations. Frazil ice development was extensive and, at times, tilled the channel and appeared <br />li <br />