PUB00067

• Year: 1993
• Title: Wetlands of Colorado
• Author: Kate Jones and Dr. David Cooper
• Description: Description and pictures of Colorado wetlands
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

RIPARIAN LANDS:
TIle Yampa RiLJer

From its headwaters
to its junction with
the Green River in
Dinosaur National
Monument, the
Yampa follows an
ancient pattern of
spring flood and late-
season low water.

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U'ke all of the state's river sys-
tems, the Yampa is driven by a
i~h'country reality: snowmelt.
Snow aecumulates in the I'ark Ran~e
and other hi~h mountains of north-
western Colorado from October to
April. Warming weather turns snow to
water, which soaks the soil, then fills
numberless streams and creeks.
These tributaries channel a hu~e vol-
ume of water downhill in a short
amount of time-gainin~ power (and
sediment) as they ~o.
What sets the Yampa apart from
its sister rivers is Ihat relatively few-
and fairly small-dams are found in
its watershed. The river still follows its
ancient pattern of sprin~ flooding and
late-season low water.

The interal'lion of the river and
the plants that grow alon~ it changes
as the Yampa drops from its headwa-
ters to its junction with Ihe Green
River. The river flows throu~h a con-
tinuum of ecosystems that range from
alpine tundra 10 the sagehrush lands of
Dinosaur National Monument. And
the lower down in the watershed the
ecosystem occurs, the ~reater the
river's power.
In higher-elevation areas (about
9,5110-11,000 feet), spruce forests line
narrow streambeds-and have a hig
impact on the stremll. Their shade
helps keep the water culd and rich in
oxygen, which is important for trout
and olher fish. The leaves shed by
trees and shrubs drop into the water-

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