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<br />the basin. This ~rea Is nearly flat and has an elevation of about <br />10,000feetm.s.l. It Is surroundedbymuntaln ranges varying In <br />elevation from 12,000 to 14,000 feet m.s.l. The Tarryall Mountains <br />form the northeast boundary of the South Park area. Elevations In <br />the plains region vary f~ approximately 7,000 feet m.s.l. along <br />the foothll Is to approximately J,920 feet m.S.I. at Sterling. Vega- <br />tat Ion In the basin varies considerably with topography. Forested <br />areas and grasslands are typical of the mountainouS region of the <br />basIn. In the plaIns regIon, the vegetation Is typified by 8grl- <br />cultural crops, grasslands, 8nd intermittent stands of timber espe- <br />cJally adjacent to streams. Climate In the basin Is semiarid vary- <br />lngwlththetopography.lngeneral,warmsurM1<lrsandmlldtocold <br />wlnte..sp..evail. Intensethunderstor1\'ls, sornetlmesofcloudburst <br />IntensIty, CBn occu.. during summer months. The following table <br />gives ClimatOlogIcal data for the South Platte River basin vicinity. <br /> <br />channel loc"tedwlthln a braid pattern having an approxlrJl4teover- <br />"II width of 2,000 feet. The valley of the South Platte River in <br />the STerling area 15 broad ,,"d shallow ranging from 8,500 to 17,000 <br />feet In width. It 15 flanked by roiling plains. Throughoutthe <br />study reach, the main channel width aver"ges 450 teet In wIdth. <br />The main channel depth "ve..ages 5.5 feet. The streambed has 11 <br />relatively uniform slope approxlmClting 7 teet per mile. <br /> <br />T"blel <br />SouthPlatteRlverBaslnVlclnltyCllmatOlogiclll Data-!./ <br /> <br />PllwnooCreekdri'llnsllni'lrellofabout70Jsquaremlles <br />upstreClm from Its confluence wIth the South Platte R1ver located <br />"bout 5 miles SQuthwest of Sterling. It h"s" well-defined channel <br />having a width of "bout 80 feet and a depth of about e teet upstream <br />from U.S. HIghway 6. It Is IIn alluvial stream flowing through a <br />broad, shallo'o/vdllayabout mllelnwldthnearltsconfluence <br />with the South Platte River. AlthoughPawn6'3Creek is 10catedllbout <br />5 miles southwest from Sterl lng, Pawnee Creek flOOd"aters can flow <br />In an easterly direction tow"rd SterlIng. <br /> <br /> Melin AnnUlll July Ma<!ln January Maan <br />LoCBtion Precipitation Temperature Temperature <br /> Cinches) (oF) (OF) <br />Estes Park 15.87 62.2 27.1 <br />ft. Collins 14.94 70.8 26.8 <br />Denver 15.51 73.0 29.4 <br />r., "brgan lJ.20 74.0 24.3 <br />Sterling 14.96 73.5 24.7 <br /> <br />Figures I through 5 show e~lstlng condITions along the <br />South Platte RIver and Pawnee Creek. These photographs wera taken <br />1n March 1978 by personnel of the Corps of Engineers. <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />This datl.l '01115 compiled from Nl.Itlonal WelltherServlcerecords <br />for 1941-1970. <br /> <br />OEVELOPMENT ON ]HE FLOOD PLAIN <br />Devalopment On the flood plllin In the study area Is prl- <br />rr.arllyassociatedwlththecltyofSterllng. Resldentilll, Indus- <br />trIal, and commercial development Is common along the left bank <br />flood plain of the South Platte River in the Sterling arell. This <br />type of development, unfortunately, appears to be Incre"Slng In <br />the ara". The rIght bank flood plain of the South Platte River Is <br />relatively uodavaloped except fora small portion In the I_dl"t", <br />vicinity of U.S. Highwdy 6. <br /> <br />The South Platta River In the Sterl1ng vicInity flows In <br />a genaral northellsterly dlrect1on. It has II relatlvel v wall ~def Ined <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />3 <br />