8065

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8065
• Author: Vaill, J. E.
• Title: Computation of Selected Hydraulic Variables for the Lower Yampa River in Northwestern Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

COLORADO

Location Map

41011090 _ _ _ _ _ ~O~ 1080
COLORADO - - - - - - ~'l;'
~,
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I

40030'

I
Cross Mountain
Canyon

Base from U,S, Geological Survey
1 :500,000 State base map, 1969

o
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o

10 20

Figure 1. Location of the study area and study reaches.

program (Shearman, 1990). Output options of the
program were used to generate depths and velocities
for 20 separate stream tubes within each critical cross
section for a range of streamflows from 50 to 400 ft3/s.
This report summarizes the hydraulic variables from
the WSPRO computation output for cross sections in
three reaches (Patrick Sweeney and Maybell Canal
diversion structures and Cross Mountain Canyon) of
the lower Yampa River.
The author extends his appreciation to
Jeff B. Foster and Ken J. Leib, V.S. Geological
Survey, Grand Junction, Colo., and David S. Mueller,
V.S. Geological Survey, Louisville, Ky., for their
technical knowledge and assistance in the difficult
data-collection efforts within Cross Mountain Canyon.
Ray Tenney, Colorado River Water Conservation
District, Glenwood Springs, Colo., is gratefully

---------------

... v,s, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
STREAM-GAGING STATION
II STUDY REACH
... DIRECTION OF FLOW

Juniper Hot Gove!'"ment
SPrings/ Bndge

/
Maybell Canal
Diversion Structure

10

20 30 MILES
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30 KILOMETERS

acknowledged for his technical assistance and efforts
in selecting the cross-section locations and for
providing topographic data essential to the project.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY REACHES

The three reaches selected for study are
located on the lower segment of the Yampa River in
northwestern Colorado (fig. 1). The Patrick Sweeney
diversion structure is located about 8 mi upstream
from the Maybell Canal diversion structure and about
28 mi upstream from Cr~ss Mountain Canyon. The
diversion structure is located in a broad valley, and the
channel slope through this reach is less than 4.0 ft/mi.
The vegetation consists of sparse grasses, sagebrush,
and scattered willows.

2 Computation of Selected Hydraulic Variables for the Lower Vampa River In Northwestern Colorado