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Fountain Creek has been channelized for approximately 7,000 feet. West of the main stem of the creek, the rough and broken mountain terrain vegetation ranges from mixed coniferous trees to hardy shrubs and typical mountain grasses. East of the main stem, the high plateau descends gradually to generally rolling land covered by grass with some shrubs and brushes. Both coniferous and deciduous trees grow along the creek banks. Monument Creek Tributary flows southerly into the upper reach of Monument Creek near the community of Palmer Lake. The terrain consists of transitional foothills with poorly drained soils, which are covered with vegetation ranging from mixed coniferous trees to scrub oaks and grasses. The floodplains are generally limited to narrow strips along each side of the low-water channel and lake. There is limited development, with most residential and commercial development located outside the limits of the floodplain (Reference 6). The Peterson Field Drainage is a left-bank tributary of Sand Creek, entering Sand Creek approximately 0.25 mile from its confluence with Fountain Creek. The upper one-third of the basin is characterized by shallow swales that convey overland flow across Peterson Airfield in Colorado Springs. Detention ponds under development within the airfield boundaries substantially limit peak flows from this area. The lower portions of the drainage are characterized by light industrial and residential development, with the channel being concrele-Iined from Monica Drive to the confluence with Sand Creek. Pine Creek, a narrow, deep stream, joins Monument Creek just north of Colorado Springs. The Pine Creek basin is 7 miles long and has a drainage area of approximately I 0 square miles. The upper reach of Pine Creek is an area of potential development. The lower reach borders the U.S. Air Force Academy. Heavy commercial development has taken place in the lower portions of the Pine Creek basin. The Rockrimmon Basin lies in northwestern Colorado Springs. The basin is oriented in a southeasterly direction to the outfall points along Monument Creek near the Woodman Road Interchange on Interstate Highway 25. The basin is drained by one major defined channel with many minor contributing branches and, except after a storm, all channels are dry. Lower portions of the drainageway flow are confined in a concrete channel. Ruxton Creek drains the eastern slope of Pikes Peak and has a drainage area of 17.6 square miles at its confluence with Fountain Creek in Manitou Springs. The drainage basin above Manitou Springs is characterized by sleep slopes and forests; within the city, it is characterized by a narrow valley and dense development in the floodplain areas. Sand Creek has three main tributaries: Center, East Fork Subtributary, and East Fork. East Fork Subtributary is tributary to East Fork Sand Creek, which has not been studied in detail above their confluence. These streams are typically shallow, wide, and sandy. Sand Creek is typical of many ephemeral streams in that the channel tends to meander over a period of years. Historical evidence of meandering is predominant in the lower reaches where there is relatively less topographic relief and the channel broadens into and becomes part of the floodplain. The drainage basin encompasses an area of approximately 53 square miies. Sand Creek runs through the county in two areas: south of Colorado Springs at the confluence with Fountain Creek and east of Colorado Springs. The latler area is one of growth as Colorado Springs develops eastward. 8