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The areas studied by detailed methods were selected with priority given to all known flood hazard areas and areas of projected develop- ment or proposed construction through May 1991. 2.2 Community Description El Paso County is located in central Colorado. The northern county boundary is approximately 40 miles south of Denver, Colorado. The southern boundary is 20 miles north of Pueblo, Colorado. A portion of Pike National Forest is in western El Paso County. The county has an approximate land area of 2,100 square miles. El Paso County is bordered by the counties of Douglas, Elbert, Lincoln, Pueblo, Fremont, and Teller. The 1980 population was 309,424 for the cour.ty and 215,150 in Colo- rado Springs (Reference 1). The largest concentration of people other than Colorado Springs is the FountainAiidefieldjSecurity area. The economy of the county is primarily based on tourism, skiing, light industry, commerce, farming, and ranching. Also, the economy benefits from the Fort Carson Military Reservation, Peterson Field Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the NORAD instal- lation. Major tourist attractions of the area include the Garden of the Gods, Pike Nationa~ Forest, Manitou Springs, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Broadmoor Hotel. Interstate Highway 25, U.S. Highway 85-87, State Highways 24, 115, 94, 83, and County Road 38 are located in the flood plains of the county. Rail lines serving the county are the Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&Rm,) Railroad CompanY1 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (CRI&P) Railroad CompanY1 and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (AT&SF) Railway Co~pany. The growt~ rate of Colorado Springs has been among the highest in the nation since 1970. Development is continuing at a relatively h~gh rate. Most of the residential development is along the north- eastern and eas~ern corporate limits. Major housing developments a~e planne3 for t~e Pine Creek, Kettle Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Jimmy Camp Creek, and Sane Creek basins. Fountain Creek originates approxi~ately 5 miles northwest of Green Mountain Falls in Teller County. From its headwaters, Fountain Creek flows southeasterly for approximately 18 miles, often exceed- ing a gradient 0: 150 feet per ~ile, to join ~onument Creek. The headwaters are fed fro~ glacial snow packs anc springs of the alpine canyons of Pi~es Peak. Glacial deposits remain in ~any of the valleys above ~he 9,50C-foot elevation. The aspen-, spr~ce-, and 4