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CHAPTERTHREE Affected Environment 3.3 SURFACE WATER AND SURFACE WATER DRAINAGES The entire Project Area is located within the Colorado River drainage basin. The upper two- thirds of the Project Area is located within the Piceance Creek watershed, which dischazges into the White River. The lower one-third is contained within the Pazachute Creek watershed. The drainage divide is south of the boundary between Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, along the Roan Plateau. Piceance and Parachute Creeks are the only two perennial streams in the Project Area. The climate in the Project Area is semi-arid, with an average annual precipitatio~i of 12 to 14 inches. Evapotranspiration is less than or equal to the annual precipitation. Surface water originates primarily as spring (April through June) snowmelt runoff. Peak flooding events are caused by snowmelt and extreme summer (primarily August) thunderstorms. Groundwater is reported to contribute 80 percent of the total flow to Parachute and Piceance Creeks (BLM 1986a). 3.3.1 Piceance Creek Watershed The Piceance Creek watershed covers approximately 652 square miles and is part of the White River watershed. The drainage area ranges in elevation from 9,770 feet on the Grand Hogback to 5,705 feet at the confluence of Piceance Creek with the White River. The creek i3ows in a west- northwesterly direction from its headwaters near the town of Rio Blanco to its confluence with the White River approximately 17 miles west of Meeker. The White River is trit~utary to the Green River, which is tributary to the Colorado River. The drainage area is char<<cterized by steep-sided, rugged terrain with intersecting gulches incised into plateau areas. Streamflow data have been recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at three gaging stations along the creek since 1964. The average recorded streaznflow are presented in the following table (USGS 1997). '::'U$GSGa 'u .S.fatioii;;':?:.: ;'::;D,+sc.. : ?~:cts::::'1`:>;:.:::'Pciripd:,ol':$eeora:.:'::: Below Rio Blanco 19.9 1974-1997 09306007 Near Ryan Gulch 30.8 1965-1447 09306200 Confluence at White River 38.0 1964-1997 09306222 The gaging station below Rio Blanco is located just upstream from Stewart Gulch neaz the southern proposed pipeline crossing of Piceance Creek. The station below Ryan Gulch is located just upstream of the southern boundary of the Piceance Site. Piceance Creek intersects only minor portions of the Piceance Site's eastern boun~fary. The proposed pipeline would cross the creek in two locations. There are several miles of intermittent channels tributary to Piceance Creek that flow across the Piceance Site. These chaumels 3-12 Surface Water and Surface Water Drainages f ~~ 1 i i L~ i I t__l CJ