WSP06510

• File Number: 8220.133.E
• Description: Yampa Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 1/1/1973
• Title: Yampa Project - Environmental Analysis
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

C'.l
~
o::t'

TABLE OF CONTENTS

, ~

SECTION I
INTRODUCTION TO THE YAMPA PROJECT

YAMPA PROJECT HiSTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
YAMPA PROJECT PARTICIPANTS .......................
COLORADO-UTE ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. ..
PLATTE RIVER MUNICIPAL POWER ASSOCIATION, INC. . . . . . . . . .
SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND
POWER DISTRICT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PROJECT ORIENTATION ............................
PROJECT PARTICIPATION ..........................
INTERACTIONS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

~

~;

:;

PAGE

1-1
1-6
1-6
1-6
1-10

1-10
1-15
1-19
1-19

SECTION 2
EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

INTRODUCTION .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
CRAIG-HAYDEN AREA ............................. 2-1

GEOLOGY ................................... 2-1
MINERAL RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
SEISMICITY .................................. 2-5

SOILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
CLIMATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
WEATHER STATWN DATA ........................ 2-9
METEOROLOGICAL FIELD STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-16
WATER RESOURCES ............................. 2-18

ECOLOGY ................................... 2-21
TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY ......................... 2-21.
STUDY METHODS ......................... 2-23
BIG BOTTOM COTTONWOOD STAND AND BIG BOTTOM
SAGEBRUSH STAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " 2-23
UPLAND SAGEBRUSH STAND ..................... 2-31
WILLIAMS FORK MOUNTAINS SAGEBRUSH STAND . . . . . . . .. 2-32
AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-34
CHEMICAL ANALYSES ......................... 2-34
BIOLOGICAL ANALYSES ........................ 2-42
TOXICOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-44
RADIOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-47
THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT ........................ 2-50
HiSTORICAL BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-50
ARCHAEOLOGY .............................. 2-50
HISTORICAL PLACES AND NATURAL LANDMARKS .......... 2-52
DEMOGRAPHY ............................... 2-52
ECONOMIC BASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-54

iv