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Water Supply Reserve Account – Grant and Loan Program <br />Water Activity Summary Sheet <br /> <br /> <br />Applicant : <br />City of Steamboat Springs and Routt County <br />Water Activity Name: <br /> Common Data Repository and Water Resource Assessment for the Upper <br />Yampa River Basin <br />Water Activity Purpose : <br /> Nonstructural A ctivity <br />County: <br /> Routt <br />Drainage Basin: <br /> Yampa <br />Water Source: <br /> Upper Yampa River Basin <br />Amount Requested: <br /> $ 106,600 <br />Source of Funds: <br />Basin Account <br />Matching Funds: <br />Yes, 50% will be provided by the applicant s <br /> <br />Water Activity Sum mary : <br />The activity is the consolidation of the existing water quality data in the upper Yampa River Basin <br />from the headwaters of the Yampa and Elk Rivers to a point below the confluence with Elkhead <br />Creek in a web accessible format. An evaluation of that data into a published report on Basin water <br />quality will follow. With that information a plan for additional data needs and public outreach will <br />be completed. This activity is proposed to answer questions related to impacts from population <br />growth, variou s development activities and natural sources of water constituents on the quality of <br />water in the upper Yampa Basin. These questions have come from various governmental and citizen <br />groups including the Steamboat Springs City Council, City Water Commission , County <br />Commissioners and the County’s Livability group, among others. The participants expect to receive <br />a tool to help evaluate the existing water quality in the basin, identify areas and constituents of <br />concern and to access the need for additional da ta. <br />The need comes from the lack of a comprehensive report to answer questions regarding the <br />management of water resources from a quality perspective. Recognizing that water quantity needs <br />are tied to growth and that growth and development issues are tied to water quality the need exists for <br />this comprehensive assessment. <br />The water quality in the upper Yampa Basin is generally recognized as superior in quality; however, <br />the “ 208 report ” published in 2002 and monitoring by the State Department of health i dentified <br />several areas as needing more information and was placed on the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) <br />list. In low water years the Division of Wildlife has been forced to put restrictions on the River <br />through the City of Steamboat Springs due to tempe rature and subsequent dissolved oxygen <br />problems. This has led to other closures of recreational uses of the river. This proposal would begin <br />to pull together needed data for these and other water quality concerns. <br /> <br />Discussion : <br />The applicants did a good j ob providing a sound basis and need for the study. Currently, existing <br />water quality data pertaining to the Upper Yampa basin is held by separate public entities, private <br /> 1 <br />