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0 Dinosaur National Monument has an interest in maintaining the fundamental geologic, hydrologic and ecologic qualities of the Yampa and Green Rivers within its boundaries. Though both of these INTRODUCTION rivers have been changed from their historical and natural conditions; much of their physical character has been retained. Proposed Yampa River Development plans have suggested potential changes on the Yampa River that could threaten the values held by the Park Service for the use of that river within the boundaries of the Monument. Though the Yampa River has had some small irrigation developments in the form of diversions, no storage or large scale diversion or power generation facilities have been constructed. Flow of the river has been affected, but on a minimal basis and not substantially altering the physical and hydrologic charcater of the river. The Green River, on the other hand, has been altered significantly. The construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam and its subsequent utilization for power generation has altered the flow regimen, the temperature, the chemistry and the biology of the system.,Since it is a stream of the same tributary order as the Yampa, the opportunity . for comparing the essentially unaltered Yampa with the altered Green exists. The Park Service will find that the ability to predict possible consequences of changes as a result of the proposed developments to an advantage in terms of protecting the Monument's values and/or for the purpose of planning. This study was designed to 1) gain an historical perspective of the character of the ecosystems as they existed in both the Yampa and Green Rivers within the boundaries of Dinosaur National Monument; 2) describe the existing Yampa and Green River ecosystems within the Monument's boundaries; and 3) provide a 'basis for predicting and/or anticipating the type or types of ecosystems which may result from water development projects. 1b