7886

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7886
• Author: Hydrosphere Resource Consultants.
• Title: Yampa River Basin Recommended Alternative, Detailed Feasibility Study
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: Final Report.
• Copyright Material: NO

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Introduction
CURRENT BASIN STUDY
The objectives of the current Phase II Study are to carry out the recommendations of the
Phase I Study in evaluating to a greater level of detail the enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir
and the provision of instream flows for the endangered fishes. The study was divided into the
eleven major tasks outlined below.
1) Project Management and Administration
2) Negotiation Support
3) Data Acquisition and Review
4) Dam and Reservoir Investigations
5) Dam and Reservoir Engineering
6) Reservoir Operations Studies
7) Preliminary Environmental Assessment
8) Preliminary Biological Assessment
9) Development Plan
10) Report Preparation
11) Diversion Structure Evaluation
The work under these tasks commenced in May of 1993 and was largely complete,
except for Tasks 10 and 11, by October of 1994. Task 8 resulted in a separate report to be
reviewed by the Service and is only referenced herein. Task 11 was envisioned from the outset
of the study to be a separate effort to be documented in a separate report and so is not further
discussed herein.
EXISTING ELKHEAD RESERVOIR
Elkhead Dam and Reservoir is located approximately 10 miles northeast of the City of
Craig, Colorado, and straddles the Moffat/Routt County Line as shown on the basin map in
Figure 1-1. The dam is located in Section 16, Township 7 North, Range 89 West of the 6th
Principal Meridian on Elkhead Creek, a tributary of the Yampa River.
Originally Elkhead Dam and Reservoir were conceived around 1970 as the primary
features of a recreation and wildlife area and the project was scheduled for construction in
1972. At about the same time the Craig generating station was in the development stage and
the need for a backup water supply had been identified. On the basis of these common
interests, the originally proposed 5,000 acre-foot reservoir was enlarged to 13,700 acre-feet.
The dam and reservoir were subsequently designed and constructed to this larger size in 1974.
Funds for development of the project came from the State, other public sources, and the
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