DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GXORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 329 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OP THE UNITED STATES 1912 PART IX. COLORADO RIVER BASIN BY ROBERT FOLLANSBEE, E. A. PORTER AND H. D. PADGETT WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1914 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR WATER. SUPPLY PAPER 329 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES 1912 PART IX. COLORADO RIVER BASIN BY ROBERT FOLLANSBEE, E. A. PORTER AND EL D. PADGETT WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1914 CONTENTS. Page. Authorization and scope of work........................................... 7 Publications.............................................................. 8 Definition of terms......................................................... 11 Convenient equivalents.................................................... 12 Explanation of data........................................................ 13 Accuracy and reliability of field data and comparative results................. 15 Cooperation and assistance.................................................. 16 Division of work.......................................................... 16 Station records............................................................ 17 Green River and the main Colorado..................................... 17 Green River near Kendall, Wyo..................................... 17 Green River near Bridgeport, Utah................................. 18 Green River at Little Valley, near Green River, Utah................ 20 Colorado River at Yuma, Ariz...................................... 21 New Fork River basin................................................. 24 Pine Creek near Pinedale, Wyo.................................... 24 Big Sandy Creek basin................................................. 25 Big Sandy Creek near Eden, Wyo. .............................*.... 25 Dutch Joe Creek near Big Sandy, Wyo............................. 26 Squaw Creek near Big Sandy, Wyo................................. 27 Little Sandy Creek near Eden, Wyo................................. 28 Yampa River basin................................................... 29 Yampa River at Yampa, Colo....................................... 29 Yampa River at Steamboat Springs, Colo........................... 30 Yampa River at Craig, Colo........................................ 32 Yampa River near Maybell, Colo. ................................... 34 Elk River at Hinman Park, Colo................................... 36 Elk River near Clark, Colo......................................... 38 Elk River near Trull, Colo......................................... 39 Willow Creek at Ryan's ranch, near Baggs, Wyo.................... 41 Mad Creek near Steamboat Springs, Colo............................. 43 Elk Head Creek near Craig, Colo.................................... 44 Fortification Creek at Craig, Colo.................................... 46 Williams River at Hamilton, Colo................................... 47 Middle Fork of Little Snake River near Battle Creek, Colo............ 49 South Fork of Little Snake River near Battle Creek, Colo............. 50 Little Snake River near Dixon, Wyo................................ 51 Slater Creek at Baxter's ranch, near Slater, Colo.................... 53 Slater Creek near Slater, Colo....................................... 54 Fourmile Creek at Ryan's ranch, near Baggs, Wyo.................... 55 Ashley Creek basin..................................................... 56 Ashley Creek near Vernal, Utah..................................... 56 3 4 CONTENTS. Station records Continued. Page. Duchesne River basin................................................. 58 Duchesne River at Myton, Utah................................... 58 Lake Fork near Myton, Utah....................................... 60 White River basin.................................................... 62 North Fork of White River near Buford, Colo........................ 62 White River at Meeker, Colo....................................... 64 South Fork of White River near Buford, Colo........................ 66 Price River basin..................................................... 68 Price River near Helper, Utah...................... ^.............. 68 San Rafael River basin................................................ 70 San Rafael River near Green River, Utah.......................... 70 Cotton wood Creek near Orangeville, Utah.......................... 73 Ferron Creek near Ferron, Utah..................................... 74 Ferron Creek near Castledale, Utah................................ 76 Huntington Creek near Huntington, Utah........................... 78 Huntington Creek near Castledale, Utah............................ 81 Grand River basin..................................................... 82 North Fork of Grand River near Grand Lake, Colo................... 82 Grand River at Sulphur Springs, Colo............................... 84 Grand River near Kremmling, Colo................................. 86 Grand River at Glenwood Springs, Colo............................ 88 Grand River near Palisades, Colo.................................... 90 Grand River near Fruita, Colo...................................... 92 North inlet to Grand Lake at Grand Lake, Colo..................... 93 Grand Lake outlet at Grand Lake, Colo.............................. 95 Fraser River near Arrow, Colo...................................... 97 Williams Fork near Scholl, Colo..................................... 99 Williams Fork near Sulphur Springs, Colo........................... 100 Blue River at Dillon, Colo........................................... 102 Tenmile Creek at Dillon, Colo...................................... 104 Snake River at Dillon, Cdo......................................... 106 Eagle River at Red Cliff, Colo....................................... 108 Eagle River at Eagle, Colo......................................... 110 Homestake Creek at Red Cliff, Colo................................. 112 Gore Creek near Minturn, Colo..................................... 114 Beaver Creek at Avon, Colo......................................... 116 Brush Creek at Eagle, Colo........................................ 117 No Name Creek near Glenwood Springs, Colo....................... 118 Glenwood Light & Water Co.'s flume near Glenwood Springs, Colo.... 120 Roaring Fork at Aspen, Colo....................................... 121 Roaring Fork at Glenwood Springs, Colo............................ 122 Hunter Creek at Aspen, Colo........................................ 124 Castle Creek near Aspen, Colo....................................... 126 Maroon Creek near Aspen, Colo.................................... 128 Snow Mass Creek at Snow Mass, Colo............................... 129 Frying Pan Creek at Nome, Colo.................................... 131 Frying Pan Creek at Thomasville, Colo.............................. 133 North Fork of Frying Pan Creek near Nome, Colo.................... 135 Crystal River at Marble, Colo...................................... 137 Middle Elk Creek near New Castle, Colo............................. 140 East Elk Creek near New Castle, Colo............................... 141 Taylor River at Almont, Colo....................................... 143 Gunnison River near Gunnison, Colo............................... 144 CONTENTS. 5 Station records Continued. Grand River basin Continued. Page. East River at Almont, Colo......................................... 146 Cement Creek near Crested Butte, Colo............................. 148 Quartz Creek near Pitkin, Colo...................................... 150 Sapinero Creek at Sapinero, Colo................................... 152 Uncompahgre River at Ouray, Colo................................. 154 Uncompahgre River at Montrose, Colo.............................. 156 Uncompahgre River near Delta, Colo............................... 158 Canyon Creek at Ouray, Colo...................................... 159 Dolores River basin................................................... 162 Dolores River at Dolores, Colo,.................................... 162 San Miguel River at Placerville, Colo................................ 163 Fremont River basin................................................... 165 Fremont River near Thurber, Utah.................................. 165 Muddy Creek near Emery, Utah..................................... 167 Muddy Creek at county bridge near Emery, Utah................... 169 Escalante River basin.................................................. 171 Escalante Creek near Escalante, Utah............................... 171 San Juan River basin.................................................. 173 San Juan River at Pagosa Springs, Colo.............................. 173 San Juan River at Arboles, Colo..................................... 175 San Juan River at Farmington, N. Mex............................. 177 Navajo River at Chromo, Colo...................................... 178 Navajo River at Edith, Colo....................................... 180 Piedra River at Piedra, Colo....................................... 182 Piedra River at Arboles, Colo....................................... 183 Los Pinoe River near Ignacio, Colo.................................. 185 Animas River at Durango, Colo..................................... 186 Animas River at Aztec, N. Mex..................................... 188 Animas River at Farmington, N. Mex..............................