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<br />corrected regression analysis). Whereas Elliott et al. (1984) and Andrews (1978) <br />did not apply a bias correction factor, O'Brien (1987) and Koch and Smillie (1986) <br />did apply the bias correction factor to the Lily Gage data base and computed <br />comparable sediment loads. <br /> <br />Based on the sediment rating curve derived for Mathers Hole, O'Brien <br />(1987) showed that the sediment moving through Yampa Canyon was <br />approximately equal to the upstream supply. This was confirmed by applying the <br />sediment rating curves for the Lily and Maybell gages to the daily discharge for the <br />period from 1921 to 1984 to compute an annual sediment load and then <br />comparing it to the Mathers Hole predicted sediment load. The difference in <br />average annual upstream sediment supply and the sediment load predicted by the <br />Mathers Hole regressed rated curve was only 5%. The sediment load in Yampa <br />Canyon is therefore supply limited and depends on the sediment transport capacity <br />of the Deerlodge Park reach. <br /> <br />O'Brien (1987) attempted to determine the effects of water depletions from <br />the Yampa and Little Snake rivers by reducing the annual hydrographs in each <br />river and computing a sediment budget based on the mean daily sediment loads <br />calculated with the sediment rating curves. The drawback of this analysis is that <br />the Mathers Hole sediment rating curve data is limited to two years of data and <br />the rating curve data at the gages may have been shifting over the period of <br />record. O'Brien (1987) concluded that some sediment storage should be expected <br />if the Yampa River was depleted by 100,000 af per year or more while Little <br />Snake River flows were undiminished. <br /> <br />Two reports were prepared by Butler (1988a and 1988b) which address the <br />Little Snake River flows and effects of reduced stream flows. The first report <br />addressed the potential impacts of the proposed Sandstone Reservoir on the <br /> <br />36 <br />