WSP00416

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: UCRBRIP Annual Report
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/22/1997
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: 1997 Annual Reports Package Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM
FY-97 ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT

PROJECT # HI RC

I. Project Title: General Hydrology Support

II. Principal Investigator:

George Smith
P.O. Box 25486, Denver, Colorado 80225-0486
E-mail: george [e-mail]
Phone: [phone], Ext. 235
Fax: [phone]

III. Project Summary:

The Service's Division of Water Resources provides basic hydrology information to
program researchers and undertakes tasks to support the Recovery Implementation
Program, including: 1) collecting temperature data at important habitats and assembling
a database for use by Program researchers; 2) contracting for channel monitoring and
flow-related studies; 3) providing technical hydrOlogy support for a wide range of
Recovery Implementation Program activities on a year-to-year basis; 4) providing support
to other agencies in issues relating to flow quantification, hydrology data, and report
review; and 5) providing support to the Flaming Gorge and Aspinall Biological Opinion
Work Groups.

IV. Study Schedule: Initial Year - 1990, Final Year - Ongoing.

V. Relationship to RIPRAP: Colorado and Green River Action Plans I.
Provide and protect instream flows.

VI. Accomplishments:

A. Temperature Data Collection

Temperature data collection during FY-97 was complicated by equipment
factors. During 1997, one thermograph was lost when the cable jammed and
the entire thermograph and case were unrecoverable. We do expect to be able
to recover the unit next spring when conditions are favorable to wade the river.
The thermograph was located on the Yampa River near Echo Park. We also
have been unable to recover the thermograph located in Mitten Park, which is
still trapped under a large sandbar. We were able, hoever, to estimate the lost
temperature data by developing a relationship with other thermographs in the
area. During 1996 and 1997 we began testing a new type of thermograph,
which is less expensive and easier to deploy and download data. The units
have proven to be inexpensive, reliable, and accurate, and we plan to phase out
our Ryan thermographs and go completely to the onset optic stowaway units.
Eight offset units were provided to the Larval Fish Lab to support work the lab
is doing on the San Rafael and lower Green Rivers.

The temperature database program was updated and can be easily accessed;
it also produces output in several graphic formats. A database of temperature
data is assembled each year for each thermograph maintained by the Division
of Water Resources. The temperature data collection and database will be
graphically represented and placed on the Service's Region 6 Home Page for
access by researchers. This information is compiled into a report and
distributed in hard copy and on diskette at the annual research meeting.