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There were no specific data or administrative policy procedures developed for the YRBAS that could <br />be directly ported to the Yampa Model, given the different objectives and focus of the two efforts. <br />However, the YRBAS documentation and discussion were found to be very helpful in developing an <br />understanding of many of the existing water rights operations and administrative practices. The <br />documentation was also helpful in enhancing the understanding of some of the policy decision that <br />are facing the Yampa River basin in the near future. <br />A detailed discussion of prior modeling efforts can be found in Appendix C, Section 6. <br />3.2 Modeling Approach <br />The Yampa Model was developed using StateMod, the State of Colorado's Stream Simulation <br />Model. The key components of the model include: <br />• Simulates tributaries and mainstem river systems through the use of a tree- structured network <br />design <br />Simulates direct flow, instream flow, storage, and operational rights under the Prior <br />Appropriation System as a function of water availability, priority, decreed amount, demand, <br />structure capacity, and location <br />Model Development 3 -1 <br />3.0 MODEL DEVELOPMENT <br />The Yampa River Water Resources Planning Model (Yampa Model) was developed jointly by two <br />agencies, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the Division of Water Resources <br />(DWR), as part of the Colorado River Decision Support System (CRDSS). The objective of the <br />' <br />model was to develop a monthly water allocation and accounting model which would be capable of <br />making comparative analyses for the assessment of historical and future water management policies. <br />Typical comparative analyses for which the model is well suited include: <br />• Impact of potential future reservoir operations on existing water users <br />• Impact of potential future compact river calls on existing water users <br />• Impact of potential future instream flow requirements on existing water users <br />• Safe yield of a potential future reservoir or diversion <br />For a complete description of the types of comparative analyses for which the model was developed, <br />see the Colorado River Decision Support System Feasibility Study, 1993. <br />3.1 Prior Yampa River Basin Modeling <br />t <br />The only recent water resources modeling effort for the Yampa River basin consists of a study <br />conducted by Hydrosphere Resource Consultants for the Colorado River Water Conservation District <br />and the CWCB entitled "Yampa River Basin - Alternatives Feasibility Study" ( YRBAS). <br />The objective of the.YRBAS operation model was essentially to develop a tool to evaluate reservoir <br />storage options on the Yampa River without causing injury to existing and projected future uses. The <br />y <br />assumption and data requirements for this objective are somewhat more generalized than the <br />assumptions required for development of the Yampa Model. <br />There were no specific data or administrative policy procedures developed for the YRBAS that could <br />be directly ported to the Yampa Model, given the different objectives and focus of the two efforts. <br />However, the YRBAS documentation and discussion were found to be very helpful in developing an <br />understanding of many of the existing water rights operations and administrative practices. The <br />documentation was also helpful in enhancing the understanding of some of the policy decision that <br />are facing the Yampa River basin in the near future. <br />A detailed discussion of prior modeling efforts can be found in Appendix C, Section 6. <br />3.2 Modeling Approach <br />The Yampa Model was developed using StateMod, the State of Colorado's Stream Simulation <br />Model. The key components of the model include: <br />• Simulates tributaries and mainstem river systems through the use of a tree- structured network <br />design <br />Simulates direct flow, instream flow, storage, and operational rights under the Prior <br />Appropriation System as a function of water availability, priority, decreed amount, demand, <br />structure capacity, and location <br />Model Development 3 -1 <br />