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CHAPTER IV DESCRIPTION OF AREA Milk Creek rises in the Danforth Hills and flows northerly across the east end of Axial Basin. It empties into the river about 6 miles below the mouth of the Williams Fork. (BR 1957) . The Little Snake River begins in the Sierra Madre Mountains and the mountains of southern Wyoming. It flows generally southwest to join the Yampa River in Lily Park between Cross Mountain and Bear Canyon. The Little Snake River drainage is not included in the UCRS area. White River The White River has its principal headwaters in the Flattop Moun- tains of the White River Plateau which are located between the Yampa and Colorado Rivers some distance west of the Continental Divide. The river flows generally westward to its confluence with the Green River at Ouray, Utah. Through its upper course the river is a clear mountain stream, flowing through broad canyons and narrow valleys. About 10 miles above the town of Meeker, the valley widens to as much as 8 miles across. About 2 miles west of Meeker, the river passes through the Grand Hogback in a short, rather open canyon, below which the valley again broadens into Powell Park and Josephine Basin. Below Powell Park the river flows in a moderately open valley to Raven Park, another broad valley, in which the town of Rangely is situated. After leaving Raven Park, the river passes through a stretch of barren, desolate land for about 55 miles and empties into the Green River about 35 miles west of the Colorado-Utah State line. . North Fork, South Fork, Big Beaver, and Miller Creeks are major tributaries of the White River in the mountainous region above Meeker. The headwaters area of the North Fork appears in the photo on the follow- ing page. North Fork tributaries include Lost, Marvine, and Fawn Creeks. Near Meeker the only perennial stream is Coal Creek which enters White River from the Danforth Hills to the north just after receiving the flow of Little Beaver Creek. Waters of this stream, however, are usually all used for irrigation before they reach the river. Flag Creek entering from the south usually dries up or its waters are diverted for irrigation before they reach the river. Below Meeker the northern drainage is composed mainly of badlands which are drained by numerous wet weather washes of various sizes. From the south the extensive drainage basins of Piceance, Yellow, Douglas, and Evacuation Creeks and other smaller streams from the Roan Plateau bring alkaline waters into the White River. During the spring and summer the brief and violent storms that are characteristic of this region cause the lower tributary drainages to empty thick muddy water into the main stream so that the river seldom runs clear for long periods of time in its lower course. (BR 1957) . 27