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According to the Division 6 Engineer and Water Commissioner, the reservoir is normally <br />operated to keep it full. Historically there has been a practice to lower the reservoir by <br />releasing about 2,000 acre feet in October to provide a measure of protection against the <br />formation of frazil ice near the reservoir inlet during the winter months. It is our <br />understanding that this practice is being discontinued. <br />2.13. Fish Creek Reservoir <br />The existing Fish Creek Reservoir (WDID 583508) is owned by the city of Steamboat <br />Springs and used as reserve raw water storage for the city and for the Mt. Werner Water <br />& Sanitation District. The present capacity, all of which is active, is approximately 4,042 <br />acre-feet. Elevation-area-capacity data was obtained from the dam design drawings and <br />verified with the division engineer and city personnel. The division engineer also <br />provided a regression equation relating the reservoir water surface area to the storage <br />capacity: <br />Surface Area = 2.41*(Capacity)^0.49 <br />The reservoir was enlarged in 1995 and 1996, increasing total storage from its former <br />capacity of 1,842 acre-feet. It is our understanding that the enlargement is intended to <br />provide additional raw water storage for both the city and the Mt. Werner Water & <br />Sanitation District. <br />Fish Creek Reservoir has the following storage water rights: <br />Appropriation Administration Amount (acre- <br />WDID Adjudication Date Date No. feet) <br />583509 09-14-1946 02-15-1942 33782.33648 1,175.43 <br />03-30-1964 08-17-1960 40406.00000 666.63 <br />Steamboat Springs has also obtained conditional water storage rights in the amount of <br />2,200 acre-feet, to be implemented when the enlargement is complete. <br />According to city personnel, the reservoir is typically filled during the months of April <br />and May. Yield studies performed by the city indicated the reservoir can fill in nearly <br />every year, including dry runoff years. Releases from the reservoir are typically made <br />beginning in early August when the natural streamflow in Fish Creek begin to decrease <br />and are inadequate for the municipal demands. The reservoir water is then used to <br />supplement the direct flow diversions during the remainder of the late summer, fall and <br />winter months. Because the reservoir is currently inaccessible during the winter months, <br />the reservoir outlet valve is set at apre-determined flow rate to provide for the ensuing <br />winter demands. This release may be slightly greater than the actual demand. <br />Historically, the annual reservoir release has averaged approximately 1,000 acre-feet. <br />Yampa River Basin Information 2-17 <br />