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Draw, and flows into the White River approximately 15 miles north of the lease area. Interrtiittent Ryan Gulch drains the southeast corner of the lease, and its flow enters Piceance Creek. Stream gradients for the ephemeral drainages are typically 2 to 3 percent south of the lease area, but gradually lessen to 1.5 to 2 percent closer to their confluence with Yellow Creek. The headwater areas for the onsite drainages are generally just off the project area to the south in Sections 34, 35, and 36 (T15, R98W). Each drainage is incised and Bullied in selected reaches. G.2.2.3 Regional Use and Flow of Surface Waters Most of the surface waters of the area are used for irrigating hay meadows in the valleys both upstream and downstream from the proposed project. Numerous gaging stations are maintained by the USGS along Piceance and Yellow Creeks, as well as their tributaries. Streamflow at Piceance Creek below Ryan Gulch averages nearly 14,000 acre/feet per year, while Yellow Creek near the White River flows an average of 1,130 acre/feet per year (BLM 1983). G.2.2.4 Surface Water Quality The surface water quality of Yellow Creek can be classified as a mixed bicarbonate type in 'the upper reaches, and a sodium bicarbonate in the lower reaches. The concentration of dissolved solids, fluoride and sodium increase in the downstream direction. Increases in the water quality constitutents for Yellow Creek are attributed primarily to groundwater inflows (BLM 1983). Total dissolved solid (TDS) concentrations for Yellow Creeks varies with stream discharge. When streamflows are high, (snowmelt periods) TDS concentrations are the lowest. The increases in TDS during low flow conditions is an indication of the possible discharge of groundwater to the streamflows of Yello~a Creek. The TDS concentrations of the White River are much lower than the water it receives from Yellow Creek, due to a dilution • effect caused by better quality upstream water on the mainstem (BLM 1983). G-23