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<br />000657
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<br />Cross Mountain Wilderness Study Area
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<br />Acreage Studied by BLlf.: 14,081
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<br />Acreage Rec~nded by BL1f: 14,081
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<br />StrelUllS and Water Bodies Within WSA Boundaries
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<br />Yampa River -- WSA is located midstream.
<br />Unnamed Tributaries to Yampa River -- WSA is located in headwaters.
<br />Horse Gulch and Unnamed Tributaries to Little Snake River -- WSA is located in
<br />headwaters.
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<br />SU1IIlJ/&ry of Water-Dependent Wilderness Values
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<br />. Boxelder-barren riparian communities.
<br />. Wildlife watering and habitat for elk, deer, coyote, mountain lion, fox and
<br />black bear, rodents, amphibians, and insects.
<br />. Habitat for peregrine falcon, bald eagles, and other raptors.
<br />. Habitat for Colorado squawfish, boneytail chub, humpback chub, and razorback
<br />sucker.
<br />. Hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding
<br />opportunities.
<br />. Whitewater floatboating opportunities.
<br />. Scenic values provided Yampa River through Cross Canyon.
<br />. Channel maintenance for canyon system.
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<br />SU1IIIIUJry of Ifajor Water Uses
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<br />. 80,000 acre feet is consumed annually for the irrigation of approximately
<br />75,000 acre of crops, hay land, and pastures upstream of the WSA.
<br />. 30,000 acre feet is consumed annually for municipal, industrial, domestic, and
<br />other uses upstream of the WSA. Most of this usage is for cooling facilities at
<br />two thermal-electric plants. The figure incorporates municipal and domestic
<br />water supplies for the entire Yampa River Valley, including the communities of
<br />Craig, Hayden, Milner, Steamboat springs, Routt, Oak Creek, Phippsburg, and
<br />Yampa.
<br />. Livestock watering upstream, downstream, and within the WSA.
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<br />. Yampa River
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<br />Hydrologic Characteristics
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<br />The Yampa River watershed upstream from the WSA is comprised of approximately
<br />7600 square miles. Most of the river's flows are produced from high-elevation
<br />snowmelt, which peaks during May and June. Approximately 64' of the 1.1 million
<br />acre-feet of annual stream discharge of the Yampa River (near Maybell) occurs
<br />during the months of May and June. Streamflows in late fall and winter are often
<br />less than 300 cfs.
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<br />In the entire Yampa River basin, consumptive use of water is approximately 8
<br />percent of total flow during normal precipitation years, and 12 to 18 percent
<br />during dry years. (Shen, et al, 1985) The hydrograph which is attached to this
<br />report depicts streamflows which incorporate this consumptive use. The
<br />measurement point is approximately 28 miles upstream from the WSA boundary.
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<br />Collectively, the reservoirs in this watershed have a storage capacity of
<br />approximately 11' of the watershed's annual average runoff. Therefore, operation
<br />of these reservoirs does not dramatically alter streamflow patterns through Cross
<br />Canyon. Two major reservoirs are located along the main stem of the Yampa
<br />River: stagecoach Reservoir (33,000 acre feet) and Catamount Reservoir (7,800
<br />acre feet.) Other major reservoirs in the watershed include Steamboat Lake on
<br />willow Creek (26,000 acre feet), Elkhead Reservoir on Elkhead Creek (13,700 acre
<br />feet) and Yamcolo Reservoir on the Bear River (9,100 acre feet).
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