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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION Location The study area is located in the vicinity of the City of Gunnison, west of the Continental Divide in Colorado. The Gunnison River Basin is bordered on the north by Grand Mesa and the West Elk Mountains group, on the east by the Sawatch Range, on the south by the Cochetopa Hills and the San Juan Mountain group, and on the west by the Upcompahgre Plateau. The Gunnison River represents the principal tribu- tary of the upper Colorado River and drains areas embracing some of the most rugged country in the entire Colorado River Basin. Drainage Basin Characteristics The average altitude of the Gunnison River Basin above the study area is relatively high, ranging in elevation from approximately 7,600 feet above mean sea level 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 inflowing tributaries from different directions. The larger of these tributaries contributing to the flooding problems in the study area include Ohio and Tomichi Creeks. The drainage basin characteristics are described in terms of smaller sub-basins comprising the total drainage basin influencing the study reach. The basin above the study area is divided into Gunnison River proper designated "G" and Tomichi Creek proper designated "T". Each of these two major basins, forming a portion of the total Gunnison River basin, was divided into smaller sub-basins. .<here applicable, these sub-basins were selected to have their outlet points coincide with the location of streamflow gaging stations located in the Gunnison River 8