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Gradient averages 8.7 ft/mi (1.64 m/km) from the dam to Red Creek, and <br />8.8 ft/mi (1.6 m/km) from Red Creek to Swallow Canyon. Gradient declines <br />to 4.8 ft/mi in Swallow Canyon and 1.6 ft/mi in the lower portion of <br />Browns Park. Increasing sediment load from tributaries, combined with <br />declining gradient, cause the river channel to become shallow and braided <br />downstream of the Utah-Colorado state line. Summer water temperatures <br />and habitat conditions in Colorado are marginal for trout. <br />Maximization of revenue from hydroelectric power generation is a <br />major criterion for operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. Consequently, <br />discharges from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to the tailwater follow a pattern <br />that parallels electric demand, with peak, flows usually occurring in <br />winter (Appendix Figure Cl). Daily releases also tend to follow <br />electrical demand, varying from 800 cfs to 4,200 cfs, with peak <br />discharges often occurring in morning and evening. <br />The Flaming Gorge tailwater of the Green River offers a combination <br />of scenery, history, and public ownership that have enhanced its <br />recreational appeal. Originally navigated and mapped by Major John <br />Wesley Powell in 1869 and 1872, many canyons and landmarks bear names <br />ascribed by the two Powell expeditions. Superimposed on the eastern end <br />of the Uinta Range, Red Canyon's walls rise more than 1,000 feet above <br />the river's bed, where they meet the timbered flanks of the mountains. <br />The study reach is almost entirely in public ownership. From Flaming <br />Gorge Dam to near Red Creek Rapids, the tailwater is encompassed by the <br />Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, administered by the U.S. Forest <br />Service. The remainder of the tailwater passes through U.S. Bureau of <br />Land Management and DWR Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area holdings. <br />A small number of private tracts are located near the river east of <br />Indian Crossing. <br />-14-