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<br />Major Issues
<br />
<br />Some of the overarching cames, processes, and effects related to the
<br />issues of flooding, erosion and sedimentation, addressed in the Corps
<br />Study are:
<br />Population growth has lead to changes in land use which has
<br />caused an increase in impervious surface area and water use.
<br />Changes in land use have caused an increase in the quantity of
<br />water, ooth peak flow and flow volume, in the stream system
<br />through increased flooding and incrcased basdlow.
<br />111e stream system is forced to adjust through rhe processes of
<br />erosion and sedimentation.
<br />Flooding, erosion and sedimentation contribute to property and
<br />infrastructure damage, public health and safety, welfare issues
<br />and impacts to environmental resources and water quality.
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<br />Product Summary
<br />
<br />'111e following documents have been produced and are available to
<br />the general public from this study:
<br />Environmental Baseline Reports - Water Quality, Soils,
<br />'lhreatened and Endangered Species, Fish, Wetlands, Wildlife,
<br />Migratory Corridors, Hazardous Materials and Planned Projects
<br />Inventory.
<br />Hydrology, Hydraulics and GeomorphoIogy Reports.
<br />GIS database of electronic data sets.
<br />Project specific and general recommendations.
<br />
<br />Results Summary
<br />
<br />Environmental Baseline Reports
<br />
<br />111t: environmentaI reports were completed to document the
<br />characteristics, general conditions and current overall health of the
<br />Fountain Crcek Watcrshed and presented in individual reportS. A
<br />brief summary of each report is provided below:
<br />
<br />Soils - Soils can be divided into thrce regions: mountains and
<br />foothills; plains; and terraccs and floodplains. There were ovcr
<br />200 soil mapping units identified by the Natural Resource
<br />Conservation Service (NRCS). Out of thc 200 soils found, only
<br />2 were identified as potential restoration soils based on soil char-
<br />acteristics that were examined such as location, runoff, drainage
<br />and erosion potential.
<br />
<br />Water Quality - Data collected by the United States Geological
<br />Survey (USGS) shows physical, chemical and biological constit-
<br />uents are improving over time. Fountain Creek and tributaries
<br />are meeting most of the state in-stream water quality standards
<br />except for twO primary constituents of concern (selenium and E.
<br />coli) which are listed as a water quality impairment for scveral
<br />stream segments.
<br />
<br />Wetlands - Both current and historic wetlands were identi-
<br />fied and categorized based on the four sub watersheds within
<br />the Fountain Crcek Watershed. About 9,336 acres of wetlands
<br />were identified. Also identified through data analysis, literature
<br />review and field visits were potential wet/and preservation arcas
<br />and protected wetland areas.
<br />
<br />Hazardous Materials - Hazardous matetials were evaluated by
<br />reviewing a database report that provides I ists of Underground
<br />Storage Tanks (USTs), landfills, hazardous waste generation or
<br />treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Out of the thousands
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<br />6 HUII/taill CreeJ.~ Ir,'fer.,hed NfII'.r/efter l'eIJl7w()' 2008
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<br />of sites that were listed, 71 sites based on professional opinion
<br />were determined to have the most negative environmental
<br />impact.
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<br />Threatened and Endangered Species (T&E Species) - T&E
<br />Species were described by habitat associations and their occur-
<br />rence in the watershed. Within the watershed there were 2 fish,
<br />5 birds, 3 mammals and 2 plants identified as T & E species
<br />and several that werc also listed as a candidate for federal listing.
<br />Information on the biology, distribution and the living history
<br />of the species was provided.
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<br />Wildlife - 111is report describes wildlife habitats, species and
<br />viewing areas. Habitat was broken down into: Agriculture;
<br />Grassland; Riparian Woodland; Pinyon-juniper woodland;
<br />Montane shrubland; Montane forest; and Urban area. Species
<br />were described according to big game, small or medium sized
<br />carnivores, small mammals and birds. Viewing areas were iden-
<br />tified based on species.
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<br />Migratory Corridors - "Ihis report describes the migratory cor-
<br />ridors for fish. reptiles, amphibians and some other mammals.
<br />Amphibians and mammals known to migrate in the watershed
<br />are Tiger salamander, Woodhouses' toad, Western chorus frog,
<br />Plains leopard frog, Northern leopard frog, Snapping turtle and
<br />Painted turtlc.
<br />
<br />Fish Report - This report prcsents the current and historic
<br />distribution of native and non-native spccies. fountain Creek
<br />had 22 sampling sites with 21 species and 1 hybrid present,
<br />Monument Creek had 13 sites with 13 spccies present, and
<br />tributaries had 65 sites with 22 species present. Among the T&E
<br />species present were the Arkansas Darter, and Greenback cut-
<br />throat trout.
<br />
<br />Information from these reports was used to develop project specific
<br />location recommendations and general recommendations.
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<br />Fountain Creek cut bank near Overton Road. Upstream view of large
<br />active/;' eroding left bank. Photo COllrtes)' of URS Corpomtion.
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