WSP06283

• File Number: 7630.150
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Dinosaur National Monument
• Date: 8/1/1979
• Author: DinosaurNatMonument
• Title: Dinosaur National Monument Wilderness-Proposed River Management Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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parameters affecting the river experience. Research studies and
public workshops have been conducted to obtain much-needed data
and ideas. These efforts have clarified the nature and complexity
of the issues involved and have demonstrated the urgency of revising
the present river management system. The proposed river management
plan attempts to provide a comprehensive system which will equitably
distribute river use within ecological and sociological constraints,
and in accordance with the legislative purpose and management objective
of Dinosaur National Monument.

THE RESOURCE AND ITS USE

The Green River enters Dinosaur National Monument at its northern
boundary in Browns Park and flows southward through the Canyon of
Lodore. The Yampa River enters the eastern portion of the monument
at Deerlodge Park and flows through deeply entrenched meanders until
it joins the Green River at Echo Park in the center of the monument.
The augmented flow of the Green then enters Whirlooo1 Canvon, meanders
through the open country of Island Park, and moves swiftly through
Split Mountain Gorge, leaving the monument at its southwestern
boundary.

The Green River has been regulated since November 1962 by Flaming
Gorge Dam, forty-seven miles upstream from the monument boundary.
Impoundment has severely altered the natural regime of the river
below the dam. Regulated releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir have
reduced the magnitude of high water peaks, increased early spring and
late summer flows, and created erratic diurnal fluctuations. In
addition to modifying the flow of the river, impoundment has lowered
water temperatures, changed the natural ion balance, decreased turbi-
dity, altered natural deposition and scouring processes, and modified
riparian communities.

The Yampa River is the only remaining free-flowing tributary in the
Colorado River system, although dams have been proposed at several
locations upstream from the monument. The Yampa is the major
drainage of northwestern Colorado. High flow, resulting from spring
run-off, generally lasts only a few weeks in late May and June.
During the remainder of the year, the 46-mile segment from Deerlodge
to Echo Park is essentially unnavigable.

The two rivers, with different use seasons and road access locations,
afford a variety of trips in the monument. Trip distance may vary
from nine to seventy-two river miles, and trip duration from several
hours to a week. Most river trips in the monument take place on the
45-mile stretch of the Green River between Lodore and Split Mountain
Campground. These trips average 3 to 4 days in duration. During
May and June, however, use is predominantly on the Yampa River.
Yampa trips launch at Deerlodge Park and generally float the 72 miles
to Split Mountain in 3 to 5 days. A relatively small number of trips

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