Computation of selected hydraulic variables for the lower Yampa River in northwestern Colorado

Computation of selected hydraulic variables was done for three reaches on the lower Yampa River that were identified as having natural or manmadebarriers that might impede the migration of endangered Colorado squawfish. The three reaches included the Patrick Sweeney and the MaybellCanal diversion structures and Cross Mountain Canyon. Minimum stream depths and maximum stream velocities for a range of streamflows werecomputed using the Water-Surface PROfile computation program for cross sections in each of the three reaches. Cross-section information used asinput to the computation program was determined from field surveys or from existing detailed topographic information. Output options in theprogram were used to generate tables of hydraulic variables for streamflows ranging from 50 to 400 cubic feet per second, including minimum depths and maximum velocities for 20 stream tubes in each of the cross sections selected for study.