7738 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7738
• Author: Ruppert, J. B., R. T. Muth and T. P. Nesler
• Title: Predation on Fish Larvae by Adult Red Shiner, Yampa and Green Rivers, Colorado
• USFW Year: 1993
• USFW - Doc Type: The Southwestern Naturalist
• Copyright Material: NO

Executive Summary
this dam raise and associated work was estimated to be in the range of $6 - $10 million. The
maximum reasonable dam size on the Williams Fork River near Hamilton is 70,000 of and the
preliminary estimate of the total project cost of this dam and reservoir was approximately $30 -
$45 million. The Elk Creek and East Fork sites were estimated to have development costs of
$50 - $75 million and $35 - $55 million respectively.
Recommendations
The evaluation of water supply development alternatives included analysis of existing
and of future basin water demands, model predictions of the ability of various development
alternatives to meet demands, environmental impacts or benefits resulting from project
implementation and estimated project costs. Three recommendations were made as a result of
this evaluation.
The first recommendation, and perhaps the most important with regard to near-term
water supply and recreational needs, was to develop the enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir
utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir water right. The second recommendation called for
the development of a decree for the potential future enlargement of Stagecoach Reservoir to
52,000 of utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir decree. Results of this study suggest that
the Elkhead and Stagecoach enlargement projects together would provide the ability to reliably
serve all existing and projected future water demands in the Yampa Basin with the least
adverse environmental impact and project cost of the development alternatives examined.
Finally, a recommendation was made to move ahead with an overall project development
plan which would accomplish the first two recommendations, above, and provide conversion of
the available portion of the Juniper Reservoir water right to instream flow use.
RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE
General Description
The recommended near-term project alternative was to develop the enlargement of
Elkhead Reservoir utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir water right. As a result of
further study and analyses, an enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir to 46,500 of was identified as
the maximum practical size given limitations on topography and natural hydrology. Further
optimizing of the reservoir enlargement size will be considered as a part of a future Detailed
Feasibility Study.
Under the long-term demand scenario (year 2040) the recommended alternative calls for
the development of a decree for the potential future enlargement of Stagecoach Reservoir to
52,000 of utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir decree. Results of the Study suggested
that 52,000 of is the maximum practical size for an enlargement given physical constraints at
the Stagecoach site.
Facilities
The recommended plan calls for the enlargement of the existing Eikhead Dam/Reservoir.
The crest of the enlarged Elkhead Dam would be raised 45 feet above the top of the existing
dam to elevation 6,420. This produces a maximum reservoir pool elevation of 6,406 feet and a
storage volume of 46,500 af. A raise to this elevation provides engineering advantages in
terms of spillway construction by permitting the emergency spillway to be cut through a saddle
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