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The Yampa River is about two weeks ahead of historical summer low-flow time, but officials say the fish population is not being stressed too bad by the early conditions.

Experts have said that the snow melt started early, which caused peak river flows to be about two weeks early.

Now, data show the Yampa River's low flow has arrived about two weeks early, too.

The river appeared to reach its lowest flow July 9, dropping down to a water flow reading through Steamboat Springs of 115 cubic feet per second, according to the U.S Geological Survey.

Midsummer trough usually happens on July 30, averaging 117 CFS, according to 91 years of historical USGS data of the Yampa River through Steamboat.

The river is back on the rise, however, running around 170 CFS on Saturday. The 91-year mean for that date is 255 CFS.

Colorado Division of Wildlife biologist Kevin Rogers said the danger of low water is that it affects fish habitat.

"The water can warm up faster," he said.

Native trout to the Yampa River are considered cold-water fish, thriving in water that is between 50 and 60 degrees. When the river flow goes down, water can rise above 70 degrees, which puts stress on the fish, Rogers said.

Rogers measured the temperature of the river at 61 degrees on Friday.

"So we are still in pretty good shape," he said.

Angler Jeff Ruff, from the Steamboat Fishing Co., said the biggest evidence of the river getting warmer is in the fish's eating habits. They only feed during cool periods of the day, usually in the morning and the evening which he has been seeing in July on the Yampa River.

"It's like if someone offered you a

hamburger while you were standing in 150 degree heat. You wouldn't want it," Ruff said.

Pike, which aren't native to the Yampa River and have been identified by DOW biologist as a cause of decreased numbers of native fish, are considered cool-water fish. They can survive in warmer temperatures, Rogers said.

"They also are tolerant to low oxygen levels," he said.

Low water also can decrease the amount of oxygen in the water, he said.

A combination between warm water and low oxygen can ultimately mean trout will begin dying in the river.

"We haven't had any reports on fish kills (on the Yampa). We seem to be alright, so far," Rogers said.

However, fish kills due to low water did occur on the Williams Fork River earlier in the summer, he said.

The Williams Fork is heavily regulated, with more people claiming water on it than the Yampa River.

Since the early summer was dry, water right holders pulled more water out of the river, dropping its flow down to 15 CFS.

"That comparable to the Yampa going down to 30 CFS," Rogers said.

Though he didn't see the fish, some reports indicated between 12 and 24 fish were killed because of incident. Then a water rights holder down stream made his claim, and the river's flow went up to 200 CFS, solving the problem, Rogers said.

To reach Doug Crowl call 871-4206 or e-mail dcrowl@steamboatpilot.com.