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Mean monthly discharges for October, 1986 through March, 1987 were higher than historic <br />means (1917-1988), while mean monthly discharges for October, 1987 through March, 1988 were <br />lower than historic means (Figure 11). <br />Wick and Hawkins (1989) used regression analysis to determine the relationship between river <br />stage and discharge at RM 81.1 of the Yampa River. Two data sets were compared; one from the <br />coldest portion of the winter--mid-December to mid-February--and the second from the warmer, high- <br />discharge period of early March. Both data sets showed a stage change of about 0.2 feet (6 cm) for <br />every 20 cfs (0.6 cros} reduction in discharge. This relationship predicted that discharge reduced from <br />lowest measured flow of 142 cfs to 75 cfs (4.0 ems to 2.1 cros) would result in a stage reduction of <br />about 0.7 feet (21.3 cm). <br />During Winter 2, Wick and Hawkins (1989) further investigated the relationship between <br />stage and discharge by comparing water surface elevation change to changes in discharge in the main <br />channel and in an embayment, with and without ice cover. The lowest main channel discharge <br />measured was 142 cfs (4.0 ems) on December 15, 1987, and the highest was 340 cfs (9.6 cros) on <br />March 3, 1988. <br />Similar comparisons were made for an embayment, where ice thickness increased from 0.85 <br />feet (25.9 cm) on December 15 to 2.12 feet (64.6 cm) on March 15. Water surface elevations <br />increased throughout winter, compensating for a corresponding increase in ice thickness, and resulting <br />in relatively stable effective depth. Effective depth varied only 0.1 feet (3.0 cm) between December <br />15 and February 17. In early March, effective depth increased 0.3 feet (9.1 cm) in response to a <br />discharge of 340 cfs, then decreased dramatically by March 15, just prior to ice-out. This decrease <br />in effective depth was caused by a drop in stage and bed changes resulting from increased water <br />velocities along shorelines. <br />These stage-discharge relationships demonstrate effects of different ice conditions on flow and <br />river stage.- As surface ice began to form, shoreline ice formed along the edge of the river, effectively <br />reducing discharge while increasing water surface elevation (cross sectional area was reduced by ic;e <br />mass controls). For example, relative stage height under ice-free conditions at a main channel cross <br />section was 90.61 feet at a discharge of 236 cfs (6.7 cros). Relative stage height under ice on <br />February 7, 1988 was 91.77 feet at 229 cis (6.5 cros)--a change oC 1.16 feet for only a 7 cfs change <br />in discharge. Another set of measurements showing ice cCl'ect was a comparison o£ identical stage <br />height at two drastically different discharges. Maximum relative stage height under ice was 92.14 feet <br />18 <br />