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. . . OO~3J1 CHAPTER I GENERAL DISCUSSIONS Between the mouths of the Hilliams Fork and the Little Snake Rivers, Milk Creek is the only Yampa River tributary of ilIIportance. This stream rises in the Danforth Hille and flowe northerly acrose the east end of Axial Basin. The Little Snake River rises in the Habns Peak region, just north of the headwaters of the Elk River. Its drainage basin covers about 3,700 square miles, nearly half of the Yampa River Basin. The stream flows northwestward for about 20 miles, turns westward, and roughly follows the Colorado-Wyoming line, crossing the line several times in the next 45 miles. The river finally swings to the southwest and continues to its junction with the Yampa at Lily Park, a distance of about 50 miles. In its upper course, the Little Snake River is joined by a number of small perennial tributaries. In its lower 50 to 60 miles, however, all the tributary drainage channels are dry except during wet weather, and much of the flow of the river itself is lost in the sandy stretches of the streambed. White River The White River has its principal headwaters in the wooded Flattop Mountains of the White River Plateau which is 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. In its upper course the White River is normally a clear mountain stream, but from Meeker, Colo., on the water rapidly becomes turbid. The area arou:1d Meeker contains the largest expanse of irrigable bottom and terrace lands along the river and is the main settlement center of that region, Not far west of Meeker, the river passes through the Grand Hogback in a short, rather open canyon, &'ld 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, Colo., 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 line. The North and South Forks and Marvine Creek are najor tributaries of the White River above Meeker, Near Meeker the only perennial stream is Coal Creek which 'enters White River from the north. Waters of this stream, however, are usually all used for irrigation before they reach the river. Curtis and Sulphur Creeks also enter from the north, b~~ their channels are usually dry. Flag- Creek entering from the south usu,ally dries up or its waters are diverted tor 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 vario,us sizes. From the south the extensive drainage basins of Piceance and Yellow Creeks and other smaller streams from the Roan Plateau bring alkaline waters into the ,lliite River. During the spring and summer the brief and violent storms that are characteristic of this region cause all of the lower tributary 4