alyweber
Yampa River Steamboat Springs, CO
This photo was taken in January of 2017 when I was home in Colorado for winter break. The photo shows the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat Springs Colorado. The photo was taken from the bridge near the Steamboat spring the town was named for as well as the Black Sulphur Spring. This section of the Yampa River is unique because of the large amount of snow it receives in the winter as well as the hot springs that surround it and flow into it. The Yams river like many other mountainous rivers is largely influenced by the snow melt. The amount t of snow melt greatly influences the water level which in turn influences the speed at which the river flows. The snow melt also influences the temperature of the water. The greater the amount of snow melt the colder the water often is. The inflow of the hot springs also influences the water. Walking through steamboat springs one can't help but smell the scent of rotten eggs. This smell is due to the significant levels of Sulphur found in the hot springs that the town is famous for. The Steamboat spring flows right into the Yampa river at the location where this photo was taken. The Steamboat spring was once a geyser, that would sometimes reach a height of 15 feet. The geyser was formed because of the amount of pressure from the water underground. Right next to the Steamboat Spring is the Black Sulphur Spring known for its murky black water. The black Sulphur Spring also flows into the Yampa. The black murky water color is due to the conversion of hydrogen sulfide into sulfur. The influx of snow melt and chemicals such as sulfur into the Yampa from surrounding areas cause the environment of the Yampa to be slightly different from other mountains rivers. However, the Yampa is one of the most "intact" rivers in the western United states. It supports four federally listed fish species the Colorado pike minnow (Ptychocheilus Lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), bonytail chub (Gila elegans) and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus). Greater Sandhill cranes (Grus Canadensis) use the banks of the Yampa to raise their young until they are ready to fly, and Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias), and Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as well as other species of birds live and nest near each other on the Yampa. The Yampa also helps support some of the big game species in the Rocky Mountains such as many species of elk and deer. Many species of mature Cottonwood trees also line the banks of the river providing a base for other riparian plants to grow. Overall the Yampa's unique ecology allows it to support much diversity in the mountains of Colorado.
Sources:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/YampaRiver/Pages/Nature....
hotspringsguide.net/steamboat-springs-hot-springs-maps-in...
Yampa River Steamboat Springs, CO
This photo was taken in January of 2017 when I was home in Colorado for winter break. The photo shows the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat Springs Colorado. The photo was taken from the bridge near the Steamboat spring the town was named for as well as the Black Sulphur Spring. This section of the Yampa River is unique because of the large amount of snow it receives in the winter as well as the hot springs that surround it and flow into it. The Yams river like many other mountainous rivers is largely influenced by the snow melt. The amount t of snow melt greatly influences the water level which in turn influences the speed at which the river flows. The snow melt also influences the temperature of the water. The greater the amount of snow melt the colder the water often is. The inflow of the hot springs also influences the water. Walking through steamboat springs one can't help but smell the scent of rotten eggs. This smell is due to the significant levels of Sulphur found in the hot springs that the town is famous for. The Steamboat spring flows right into the Yampa river at the location where this photo was taken. The Steamboat spring was once a geyser, that would sometimes reach a height of 15 feet. The geyser was formed because of the amount of pressure from the water underground. Right next to the Steamboat Spring is the Black Sulphur Spring known for its murky black water. The black Sulphur Spring also flows into the Yampa. The black murky water color is due to the conversion of hydrogen sulfide into sulfur. The influx of snow melt and chemicals such as sulfur into the Yampa from surrounding areas cause the environment of the Yampa to be slightly different from other mountains rivers. However, the Yampa is one of the most "intact" rivers in the western United states. It supports four federally listed fish species the Colorado pike minnow (Ptychocheilus Lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha), bonytail chub (Gila elegans) and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus). Greater Sandhill cranes (Grus Canadensis) use the banks of the Yampa to raise their young until they are ready to fly, and Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias), and Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as well as other species of birds live and nest near each other on the Yampa. The Yampa also helps support some of the big game species in the Rocky Mountains such as many species of elk and deer. Many species of mature Cottonwood trees also line the banks of the river providing a base for other riparian plants to grow. Overall the Yampa's unique ecology allows it to support much diversity in the mountains of Colorado.
Sources:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/YampaRiver/Pages/Nature....
hotspringsguide.net/steamboat-springs-hot-springs-maps-in...