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many days during the summers of 1976 and 1977. The Yampa River <br />• showed a minimum water flow of 55 CFS in water year 1974 and <br />22 CFS in water year 1977. <br />Water quality data from the USGS Yampa River near <br />Maybell is included for water years 1974 and 1977, water quality <br />data from the U.S.G.S. for the Yampa River below Craig, and the <br />Williams Fork River at Coal Mine Road is included for water year <br />1977 and November, 1970 to January, 1972. The Yampa River <br />usually has one period of peak runoff in late spring from snow <br />melt in the headwater areas. At this time, concentrations of <br />dissolved soilids are diminished, while at seasons of low flow, <br />the dissolved solids are more concentrated. The water of the <br />Yampa River is a bicarbonate-calcium type, but with a strong <br />!• influence of sulfate and magnesium. The percentages of these <br />\ ions, as well as the total ionic load, also change with the <br />rate of discharge. (see Figure 2-11 and tables 2-7 and 2-8). <br />The sediment load of the Yampa shows the influence of human activity. <br />In the spring, when snow is melting from plowed fields, slope <br />wash heavily charged with sediment is concentrated in ditches <br />and ultimately enters the river. The Yampa also receives substantial <br />amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen from cattle wintered along the <br />stream, and possibly from sewage treatment facilities at Steamboat <br />Springs, Hayden, and Craig. <br />The Williams Fork River also appears to be a bicarbonate- <br />calcium tyae of water, containing a greater concentration <br />r1 <br /> <br />