Laserfiche WebLink
<br />report (Elliott et al. 1984) did not address the potential effects of flow or sediment <br />reductions in the individual rivers. <br /> <br />Andrews (1986) reviewed the historical sediment load data in the Green and <br />Yampa rivers to determine the effects of Flaming Gorge Reservoir on the Green <br />River downstream of the Yampa River confluence. He noted that the reservoir did <br />not significantly affect the mean annual runoff but that the duration of large <br />discharges that transported most of the sediment had been severely curtailed. At <br />the Jensen and Green River, Utah gages the sediment load had decreased by 54% <br />and 48% respectively. Andrews stated that the channel morphology quasi- <br />equilibrium that was apparent prior to Flaming Gorge construction no longer <br />existed. He concluded that although a balance between the sediment supply and <br />sediment transport capacity had been attained in the reach from the mouth of the <br />Yampa River to the Duchesne River confluence, an adjustment of the channel <br />morphology downstream of the Jensen gage was incomplete in 1978. He <br />indicated that perhaps 30 years would be required to attain an expected value of <br />the channel width based on post-reservoir effective discharges. The channel <br />width was estimated to have decreased by 13% in his study reaches. <br /> <br />Andrews r analysis of the Jensen and Ouray gage sediment loads indicated <br />that an average of 2.4 million tons/yr have been deposited and he concluded that <br />substantial aggradation had occurred in this reach since the construction of <br />Flaming Gorge Dam. He surmised that the aggradation may be concentrated <br />within a short distance upstream of the Ouray gage. Based on recent channel <br />surveys; however, it appears that the Ouray Wildlife Refuge reach has been <br />subjected to some channel degradation related to changes in the width to depth <br />ratio (FLO 1986; FLO 1996). This was verified through review of 1963 aerial <br />photos. <br /> <br />34 <br />