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the area include agriculture, tourism, and education (Western State College is located in Gunnison). A major ski area, Crested Butte, is 35 miles north of Gunnison. The airport at Gunnison services both cOl11l1ercial and private airplanes. In the next five years, energy development and mining are expected to increase drastically. Gunnison is an older city with a minimum of recent construction. Commercial development is concentrated along a single main street with residential areas spreading beyond. The flood plain of Tomichi Creek, considered in this study, is essentially fully developed at present. Therefore, increased encroachment is not anticipated in the future although the character of development may change with time. Future housing developments are expected in the Gunnison flood plain in the western section of the city limits. The climate of the study area includes low precipitation, low humidity, abundant sunshine, a wide daily temperature range, and generally low winds. The surrounding mountains act as a barrier preventing the northern cold air or eastern storms from penetrating the Upper Gunnison River Valley. Summers are cool in the study area with average highs of 80oF. Temperatures for the sUl11l1er nights usually drop below 50oF. Average low temperature for the winter is 70F. The altitude of the Gunnison River Basin above the study area is relatively high, ranging in elevation from approximately 7,600 feet at Tomichi Creek confluence with the Gunnison River to over 14,000 feet at the high peaks of the Continental Divide. The Gunnison River, formed by the confluence of the Taylor and East Rivers at Almont, has a well-developed stream pattern with in- flowing tributaries from different directions. Other tributaries contributing to the flooding problems in the study area include Ohio and Tomichi creeks. Vegetation varies considerably according to elevation in the basin. Vegetation below the 8,000 feet elevation consists of semi-arid growth such as Pinion pine, juniper, and sage with sparse grass ground cover. Increased precipitation supports dense pine and aspen forests above this elevation to timberline. Rock outcrops and tundra grasses predominate on the high mountain peaks where climatic conditions are too severe for forest growth. A number of irrigation ditches convey water across natural drainage boundaries into adjacent basins. The Larkspur Ditch conveys water from the headwaters of the Tomichi Creek in the Colorado River Basin across the continental divide at Marshall Pass and into the Poncha Creek Basin. 4