Laserfiche WebLink
<br />important gages in the Green River system have not been analyzed for trends in <br />the relationship between sediment load and discharge. <br /> <br />Butler (1988b) used existing data of USGS, Elliott et al. (1984), and 0' Brien <br />(1984) from Deerlodge Park and Mathers Hole to prepare a sediment budget to <br />predict flow hydrographs for sediment transport equilibrium conditions in this <br />reach of the Yampa River. This effort was an extension of the work performed by <br />USGS (1984) and used the total sediment load to evaluate potential impacts of <br />reduced streamflows. He assumed that the difference between predicted daily <br />sediment loads at Deerlodge Park and Mathers Hole represented a surplus or <br />deficit in this reach. The sediment budget program applied a synthesized record <br />derived from the Maybell and Lily gages daily discharges for the period from 1941 <br />to 1986. A Yampa River water project flow depletion analysis was developed for <br />the Nature Conservancy by Wheeler (1987). Butler applied this analysis as a <br />possible worst case scenario for Yampa River flow depletions. <br /> <br />Butler (1988b) used the results of this study to indicate that if the timing or <br />magnitude of the peak flows at Deerlodge Park are significantly altered then the <br />sediment distribution in the system would be effected. He showed that regulating <br />flows of the Yampa River upstream of the Little Snake River without diminishing <br />the Little Snake River sediment load would cause aggradation in the Deerlodge <br />Park reach. He also used the analysis to demonstrate that a sediment transport <br />balance can be achieved at various combinations of annual water yield and <br />sediment load, but qualified his conclusion stating that the new sediment balance <br />would be accompanied by channel adjustments. <br /> <br />There are several important aspects of Butler's study that should be <br />highlighted. First, he established a basis for identifying low, average and high flow <br />years. These flow delineations were computed using a log-Pearson Type III <br /> <br />39 <br />