FLOOD03694

• County: El Paso
• Community: El Paso County
• Stream Name: Fountain Creek
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Hydrology Addendum to FIS El Paso County and Incorporated Areas
• Date: 8/23/1999
• Prepared For: El Paso County
• Prepared By: Montgomery Watson
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION

Community Descriotion
EI Paso County is located in the central portion of the State of Colorado. It is bordered by Elbert
and Douglas Counties to the north, Elbert and Lincoln Counties to the east, Teller and Freemont
Counties to the west and Pueblo County to the south. The County boundaries encompass an area
of 2,158 square miles and the total population as of 1998 was approximately 492,000 with
347,000 of those people living within the City of Colorado Springs. The economy of the County
is based on a wide range of industries including tourism, skiing, light industrial, commerce,
farming and ranching.

Incorporated cities and towns within El Paso County that are included in the 1999 revised PIS
consist of Colorado Springs, Calhan, Fountain, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs,
Monument, Palmer Lake and Ramah.

Watershed Descriotions
EI Paso County is located on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide within the South Platte
and Arkansas River basins. The major stream system in El Paso County is Fountain Creek which
flows from north to south through the central portion of the county. Fountain Creek is a tributary
to the Arkansas River with which it confluences at Pueblo, Colorado. Fountain Creek originates
approximately 5 miles northwest of Green Mountain Falls in eastern Teller County. The total
drainage area of Fountain Creek at the El Paso-Pueblo County line is 772 sq mi.

The most significant tributary to Fountain Creek within El Paso County is Monument Creek.
Monument Creek originates in northwestern EI Paso County, west of Palmer Lake and flows
approximately 36 miles to join Fountain Creek within the City of Colorado Springs. Monument
Creek has a total drainage area of 238 sq mi at the confluence point with Fountain Creek.

Other major tributaries to Fountain Creek within EI Paso County include Ruxton Creek (17.6 sq
mi drainage area), Cheyenne Creek (22,8 sq mi drainage area), Sand Creek (53 sq mi drainage
area) and Jimmy Camp Creek (66.4 sq mi drainage area).

Floodin!! Problems and Floodin!! Historv
Most of the flood producing storms in the study area occur from May through August. The most
severe storms occur in the late spring or early fall when polar air intrusions are more intense.
Isolated summer thunderstorms are frequently severe, but limited in areal extent. Available
records do not indicate that snowmelt has contributed significantly to flooding in the area.

The largest flood event on Fountain Creek above the confluence with Jimmy Camp Creek
occurred in May 1935. A peak flow of 50,000 cfs was recorded on Monument Creek above the
Fountain Creek confluence. This flow exceeded the estimated SOO-year peak flow. A peak flow
of 55,000 cfs was recorded on Fountain Creek below the confluence.

Below the confluence with Jimmy Camp Creek, the largest known flood event occurred in June
of 1965. The flood was caused primarily by Jimmy Camp Creek where, at a point 4.5 miles

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