WSP00625

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: UCRBRIP Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/12/1995
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: 1994 Annual Reports Package Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM
FY-94 ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT

RECOVERY PROGRAM
PROJECT # -11--

1. Project Title: Channel Monitoring

II.

Principal Investigator: George
80225. EMail: [e-mail].
4224.

Smith, PO Box 25486, Denver, CO,
Phone: [phone], Fax: 303-236-

III. Project Summary: The channel monitoring program selects and gathers
detailed data on one or two biologically important sites each year.
Harding Hole on the Yampa River and Three Fords West on the Green
River initially were selected for FY 94. However, Harding Hole was
monitored in FY 93 with funds provided to study the effects of the
high 1993 spring flows, so the Jensen spawning bar on the Green River
was resurveyed in spring 1994 to ascertain if conditions there had
improved since late summer 1993. Eight cross-sections were measured
at Three Fords West, and six were remeasured at Jensen. Data were
reduced and two reports produced and submitted to the Recovery
Program technical library.

IV. Study Schedule: Initial Year - 1990, Final Year - 1999

V, Relationship to RIPRAP: Colorado and Green River Action Plan I.B.1.
Identify year-round flow needs for recovery,

VI. Accomplishment of FY-94 Tasks: Eight cross-sections were measured
and described at Three Fords West during October 1993. A Total
Station (automated Laser surveying platform) was used to gather
topographic data and maps describing the topography and bar
morphology were developed. The HEC-2 model was set up and calibrated
to describe the hydrology of the bar complex, The purpose of the
monitoring effort was to determine if the bar-forming and maintenance
processes identified in the Yampa River also operate at Three Fords
West, Results of the work are documented in a report prepared by
Resources Consultants and Engineers for the Colorado River Water
Conservation District in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife
Service.

Six cross-sections were remeasured at the Jensen spawning bar in the
spring 1994 pre-runoff, The purpose of this effort was to determine
if the 2-3 feet of sand that covered the cobbles in the right channel
during the recession of the hydrograph in 1993 had been moved out by
winter flows. The monitoring revealed that the winter flows did
remove the sand from the right channel and the cobbles were clean and
ready for spring spawning. The question remains whether this would
have occurred under normal conditions of steady winter flow or if it
was assisted by the peaking tests conducted during the winter of
93-94. The results of this work are documented in a report prepared
by Flo Engineering which conducted the work with the assistance of
the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service.

VII, Recommendations: The use of a small channel monitoring program
focused on specific issues appears to be able to generate large
coordinated studies which add to the knowledge of the resource and
should be continued in FY 96. Work planned for FY 96 includes