Laserfiche WebLink
<br />The study area was divided into sub-basins composed of the flood <br />plains along Big Sandy Creek and the Limon Watershed tributaries <br />to Big Sandy Creek because of significant differences in flood <br />plain topography, hydraulic characteristics, and magnitude of <br />discharges. <br /> <br />Big Sandy Creek is a major tributary to the Arkansas River. It <br />has its headwaters in the eastern fringe of the Black Forest area, <br />approximately 25 miles northeast of Colorado Springs, Colorado. <br />From this area, Big Sandy Creek flows northeasterly to River Bend, <br />Colorado, where it turns abruptly and flows southeasterly to Limon. <br />From Limon, the Big Sandy Creek flows southeasterly and then souther- <br />ly approximately 127 miles to its confluence with the Arkansas <br />River east of Lamar, Colorado. <br /> <br />Land use in the drainage areas of Big Sandy Creek and the Limon <br />tributaries is predominately rangeland interspersed with cropland. <br />Cropland makes up approximately 21 percent of the total area. <br /> <br />While open space is not at a premium in the vicinity of Limon <br />and the land use is urban, the areas along the stream channels <br />have been left as open space and do provide relatively undeveloped <br />areas and vistas within the town. They provide habitat diversity <br />and, because of this, serve to attract birds and other wildlife <br />that would otherwise not be present (Reference 2). <br /> <br />Big Sandy Creek is a large, ephemeral stream consisting of a sand- <br />gravel bottom. There is no aquatic habitat. The dominant vegetation <br />consists of cottonwoods in an uneven age stand, with understory <br />shrubs of willow and tamarisk. The understory contains various <br />forbs, grasses, sedges, and rushes that are quite lush in some <br />areas. <br /> <br />The flood plain of Big Sandy Creek is aesthetically pleasing and <br />provides an oasis-like contrast to the surrounding rangeland and <br />dry cropland. Both the channel and the flood plain provide diversity <br />of habitat for var~ous wildlife forms, with Big Sandy Creek flood <br />plain serving as travel lanes for deer and other wildlife. <br /> <br />The areas along the tributary channels are generally vegetated <br />with a variety of forbs, grasses, sedges, and rushes in the bottom <br />and bordered by cottonwood, willow, and Siberian elm trees. <br />Small areas of cattails and rushes are scattered along the channels <br />and are concentrated at the lower end. Waterflows are ephemeral, <br />and minor temporary ponds are formed. <br /> <br />2.3 Principal Flood Problems <br /> <br />Flooding on streams in eastern Colorado is common during the period <br />of May through September. <br /> <br />Flooding in the tributary portion of the study area is caused <br />by high-intensity summer rainstorms. <br /> <br />4 <br />