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, ' l_1 1 1 1 1 ' 1 , , 1 1 ' 1 ' t � 1 �'� IV - WATER Irrigation 6�later P,equirements The first diversions of natural streamflow from the streams of the area were made in 1883. Since that time, several reservoirs varyina in capacity from a few acre- feet to about 5,000 acre-feet have been developed in the area to augment the irrigation water supply. The Stillwater Reservoir on the Yampa River has a capacity of about 5,000 acre-feet but the dam forming the reservoir leaks so badly that only about 50 percent of this capacity is useable. The cor.ibined capacity of other numerous reservoirs serving the lands, most of which are located on tributaries of Egeria Creek, do not exceed 2,000 acre-feet. The need for water storage in the project area has been recognized for many years. Surveys of possible reser- voir sites along the Upper Yamoa River were made in 1934 and 1536 by the U. S. Geologicai Survey. In 1935 the Yampa River Irrigation District emoloyed an engineer to investiyate storage possibilities on the Yampa River to supplement the water supply for irrigated lands in the Upper Yampa valley. This investigation led to the iilinq of water rights for four reservoirs on the Yampa River. One of these was for the Stillwater Reservoir, which o�as constructed in 1939 and 1940 by the Bear River Reservoir Company using funds made available under a P.iro'.A. loan. A second site originally designated Stillwater No. 3 was transferred to the Colorado Game, Fish ar.d Parks Department and a 620 acre-foot capacity reservoir was constructed by them in 1966 for fish propagation and recreational purposes. A third site was the Yamcolo Reservoir. In 1936 the Bureau of Reclamation initiated a detailed study of the Yampa Project. This investigation included tonograohic mappiny o£ the Yamcolo site. A reoort on this project was issued in 1937. In 1951 IV - 1