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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />The climate in the region is semi -arid, characterized by low precipitation, large daily temperature <br />fluctuations, low humidity, and abundant sunshine. Precipitation averages about 18 inches per year, with <br />most precipitation falling in the form of snow generally between the months of October and April. <br />Surface flows in the general area are dominated by runoff events resulting from either snowmelt or <br />rainfall. <br />Surface water resources in the general area include the drainages of Good Spring Creek and Wilson <br />Creek, perennial streams; Taylor Creek and Streeter Gulch, intermittent and ephemeral streams, <br />respectively; and Jubb Creek, Collum and Morgan Gulches, minor ephemeral drainages. These <br />drainages are illustrated on Map 10. Good Spring Creek and Wilson Creek are tributaries to Milk Creek, <br />which has its confluence with the Yampa River about 13 miles southwest of Craig, Colorado. <br />Stream flows vary widely within the Lower Yampa River basin, primarily due to differing climatic, <br />physiographic, and geomorphic conditions. Stream flow in the montane areas is generally a result of <br />snowmelt in the spring/early summer months, and in response to summer thunderstorms. The streams are <br />usually intermittent; since there is a lack of significant spring/seep discharge and a lack of storage in the <br />alluvial deposits. This type of stream regime is typical of the principal drainages in the area including <br />Good Spring, Taylor, and Wilson creeks and their tributaries (CDM, 1985b). <br />Surface Water Quantity — Surface water monitoring in the general area and the permit and permit <br />revision areas has been conducted since 1975. The U.S. Geological Survey has monitored hydrologic <br />conditions in the Lower Yampa River basin at several gaging stations since as early as 1950. The data <br />collected at the gaging stations in the general area are summarized in Table 2.04.7-32. Flows measured in <br />Good Spring, Taylor, Wilson, and Jubb Creeks near Axial, Colorado, for the period of record ranged from <br />minimal/no flow, to a peak flow of 82 cubic feet per second (cfs), measured in Wilson Creek. The USGS <br />has discontinued monitoring at most of these stations. <br />Engineering Science measured parameters in area streams and springs from 1978 through 1982 (ES, <br />1982), and the USGS measured stream parameters from 1974 until 1981 in the same streams. These data <br />are summarized in Table 2.04.7-32. The report concluded that Taylor, Good Spring, and Wilson creeks <br />all have low baseflows, with mean flow of 1.0 cfs or less in all three drainages. It also concluded that <br />there were no conflicts between the ES data and USGS data. <br />CDM investigated streamflow conditions of the streams in the general area covering a 12 -month span <br />from August 1984 through July 1985. Surface water monitoring locations were established in Good <br />Spring Creek, Wilson Creek, and Taylor Creek as part of these studies. A summary of the current and <br />former surface water monitoring locations is presented in Table 2.04.7-33. Monitoring locations are <br />shown on Map 10. <br />CDM measured flows at two locations in Good Spring Creek that ranged from 0.77 cfs to 75.95 cfs <br />(CDM, 1985b). Base flows typically occurred during the winter months, and ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 cfs. <br />Peak flows generally were measured during April and May, corresponding to snowmelt, spring runoff and <br />precipitation events. Flow measurements at two locations on Wilson Creek ranged from 0.19 cfs to 90.7 <br />cfs (CDM, 1985b). Base flows of 0.4 to 0.7 cfs were observed in the winter months, and peak flows also <br />occurred in the spring. Flows measured in Taylor Creek were typical of an intermittent stream. Base <br />flows occurring during August through September ranged from 0.01 to 0.02 cfs, whereas high flows in <br />May measured 1.87 cfs (CDM, 1985b). The drainage was dry during November. The flow data compiled <br />by CDM for Good Spring Creek, Wilson Creek, and Taylor Creek correlates with the data compiled by <br />the USGS and Brant Dennis. <br />South Taylor/Lower Wilson — Rule 2, Page 24 Revision Date: 11/18/16 <br />Revision No.: MR -163 <br />