History & Current Issues of the Yampa River

By Natali Zollinger & Bruce Lavoie

The Yampa River was first explored by the Yampa Ute Indians several thousand years ago. They were nomadic, following several herds of mammoth and bison around the southwest while sheltering in caves and picking berries, seeds and nuts for protein. Their favorite plant for consumption was the root of the Yampa plant. It had several different purposes and uses. Its healing properties were to help detoxify the body and cleanse the organs. It works as a laxative as well as a diuretic. Scientists also figured out that it is high in carbohydrates and quickly converts food into energy. Additionally, it was used to waterproof a skin bag and to shine up arrowheads.

Long after the Yampa Utes, fur trappers and settlers found the use of the canyons’ vegetation and game perfect for survival. This high-desert region flourishes in the summer and stays somewhat warmer in the winter. In 1938, Dinosaur National Monument expanded to include the Yampa. In 1956 construction of the Echo Park Dam that would flood both the Yampa and Green River was dropped, but the construction of Flaming Gorge Dam continued. In result of the installation of Flaming Gorge Dam, the ecosystems of the Green and Yampa Rivers have been altered. Native fish, plants, and animals to the area have been affected and some placed on the endangered species list.

Map by Yampa River Awareness Project

 The Yampa River is the only remaining major tributary in the entire Colorado River System that retains a relatively natural hydrograph (high spring flows and low summer/winter flows). The Yampa River is depleted ever year for irrigation, electric power generation, reservoir evaporation, and municipal/industrial use. The major tributary of the Yampa River is the Little Snake River, which begins in Wyoming and contributes 70% of the Yampa’s sediment. The Little Snake River is extremely important for maintaining natural fish and spawning bars.  If it wasn’t for the Yampa, the effects of Flaming Gorge Dam would be magnified and extend further downstream than it does today, causing four endangered fish towards the verge of extinction.

Though the Yampa of today still retains these special attributes, this may not last. In December of 2006, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District proposed to build a $3-4 billion Yampa River Diversion Project. They saw the Yampa as a clean and reliable source for future water development in Colorado. This project would divert around 20% of the Yampa River, near Maybell, Colorado and deliver it via pumps, pipelines, canals and tunnels some 250 miles, up and under the Continental Divide to the growing Front Range cities of Colorado. This will cost tax payers $3-4 billion dollars and is set to start in as little as two years. There is no assurance that this plan will solve Colorado’s water problems, save east slope agriculture land or greatly increase US oil supplies.

The Yampa River Awareness Project, along with many other US citizens and Colorado residents, see this project resulting in very serious impacts to not only the Yampa River, but the entire Colorado River watershed. Shell Oil proposed and was subsequently denied the project that would divert the Yampa flows, pumping them into the White River drainage to be used to produce petroleum from oil shale. This was in effort to divert about 375 cubic feet per second, or approximately 8% of the spring and summer flows, to store in a 45,000 acre feet reservoir, in addition to building new coal fired power plants and a massive industrial complex. It is expected to take four gallons of water to produce one gallon of gasoline from oil shale; yet, there could potentially be more of these projects proposed in the future unless action is taken.

What can we do as recreational boaters?

• Spread the word verbally
• Write to our local politicians to balance the local ranching vote
• Collect flow data to see how it affects our river trips
• Research this topic to better understand how water levels impact your experience as a guest
• Send financial support to Yampa River Awareness Project, a group of Colorado Citizens and river outfitters that have come together to fight the proposed diversion

What will inevitably save the Yampa? The Colorado Water Conservation Board (who will ultimately decide the fate this treasured river) is in the midst of considering two things: water for human progress and preserving the natural environment for present and future generations. I would like to encourage you to visit http://cwcb.state.co.us/ to show your support today.

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Written by Natali Zollinger