7239

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7239
• Author: Smith, G. R. and R. G. Green.
• Title: Flaming Gorge Consolidated Hydrology Report -Draft.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

Mitten Park was selected because the Service was concerned about razorback
sucker habitat in Echo Park to Rainbow Park reach of the Green River in
Dinosaur National Monument. The second site was established at the Ouray
Refuge because of the presence of Colorado Squawfish in the area, and the
third site at Tia Juana bottom was selected because of the presence of
Colorado Squawfish and to help define the extent of attenuation of Flaming
Gorge releases.

5.3 Methodology

Stage recorders were installed at the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, in
Mitten Park in Dinosaur National Monument and a third recorder was installed
at Tia Juana Bottom below the confluence of the White and the Duchesne
Rivers. Flow measurements were taken at each of the recorder locations to
establish rating tables for each recorder.

During 1987 and 1988 the following flows were measured:

Flow in CFS

Mitten Park 1,424
Ouray Refuge 2,039
Tia Juana Bottom 2,160

2,416
4,398
7,673

1,639
6,442
12,621

10,787

Based upon these measurements, rating tables were developed for
the three recorder locations using standard USGS methods. [4].

In 1978, Reclamation installed recording stream gages at Little Hole, Browns
Park, and at the Gates of Lodore, a distance of 46 miles below Flaming Gorge
dam. An examination of the hydrographs indicated very little attenuation in
the reach from the dam to Browns Park, a distance of 29 miles. Much of this
reach is canyon terrain and the calibrated model for this reach only shifted
the flows released from the dam in time. The Browns Park area, however, has a
gentle gradient, and a wider channel cross section with a greater degree of
meandering. Significant peak flow attenuation occurred in this 17 mile reach
of the river due to the storage and release of water from meanders and
backwaters.

In 1985, endangered species and recreational concerns prompted the extension
of the model calibration down to the USGS gage at Jensen, Utah, with
intermediate calibration checks at Hell's Half Mile, Jones Hole, and Rainbow
Park. Figure 5-2 is a graphic illustration of how release from Flaming Gorge
Dam are attenuated by the time they reach Jensen. This figure is based upon
Reclamation's calibration at Jensen, Utah and is not based upon the example
calibration data presented in tables 5-1 and 5-2.

5-2