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THE STREAMS AND THEIR VALLEYS The study area for this report comprises the flood plains along the Colorado River from near the Union Carbide Vanadium Plant to a point 1.6 miles upstream of the South Rifle Bridge, a distance of 3.9 miles; along the lower 2.8 miles of Rifle Creek; along the lower 0.6 mile of Government Creek; and along the lower 0.8 mile of Hubbard Gulch Creek. (See Plate 1.) Government and Hubbard Gulch Creeks are tributaries to Rifle Creek and Rifle Creek is tributary to the Colorado River. The Colorado River Basin above Rifle is bounded on the north by the, basins of the White and North Platte Rivers; on the east by the basins of the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers; and on the south by the Gunnison River Basin. Major tributaries to the upper Colorado River include the Roaring Fork, Eagle, Blue, and Frazer Rivers. Elevations In the basIn range from 5,300 feet at Rifle to more than 14,000 feet in the highest headwater areas. Rifle Creek Basin is bounded on the north by the White River Basin, on the west by the Parachute Creek Basin and on the east by the Elk Creek Basin. Elevations In the Rifle Creek Basin range between 5,300 feet at the Colorado River to 9,900 feet in the higher headwater areas. The Government Creek drainage is situated in the southwestern portion of the Rifle Creek Basin. Government Creek runs in a southerly direction to join Rifle Creek near the northeastern end of town. Eleva- tions in the Government Creek drainage range from 9,100 feet In the higher headwaters to 5,400 feet at Its mouth. The Hubbard Gulch Creek drainage is located at the southern end of the Rifle Creek BasIn. The creek flows in an southeasterly direction between Hubbard and Prefontaine Mesas and joins Rifle Creek in the north central section of town. Eleva- tions in the drainage range between 9,000 feet along the eastern face of the Book Cliffs to 5,350 feet at its mouth. Approximate drainage areas for the streams are shown in Table 1. 2 . I i