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City of Colorado Springs Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan joins Fountain Creek near 30th Street. The creek flows in a concrete-lined channel through residential areas, Cottonwood Creek, an east-bank tributary of Monument Creek, originates near the Black Forest north of Colorado Springs. It flows south-westwardly through northern Colorado Springs and passes under the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway as well as Interstate 25 where it joins Monument Creek. The stream along most of the course is deeply eroded into rock outcroppings and in the lower reach is lined with willows. Within Colorado Springs, Cottonwood Creek flows in a sand- bottom, riprap-sided channel. Douglas Creek (North and South) drains an area in and adjacent to northwestern Colo- rado Springs. The stream flows southeasterly for approximately 8 miles to join Monument Creek near the Templeton Gap Floodway out- let. Lower portions of Douglas Creeks north and south have been channelized into con- crete-lined drainage structures. Dry Creek, North Channel Dry Creek, North Fork Dry Creek, South Valley Dry Creek, and Big Valley, collectively drain into the Dry Creek Basin. The Dry Creek Basin is bounded on the west by the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, on the south and north by ridges, and on the east by Monument Creek. It slopes from the west to the east toward Monument Creek, rising from an elevation of 6,250 feet to an elevation of 9,250 feet. The western portion of the basin is heavily forested, moun- tainous terrain drained by three major tribu- taries of Dry Creek. These tributaries are steep, well-defined ravines which come to a confluence west ofthe Sisters of Mount Saint Francis Convent. The central portion of the basin is characterized by gently rolling wide valleys, separated by foothill ridges and me- sas. Through the central part of the basin Dry Creek is poorly defined and flows through broad, gently sloping meadows. The Eastern portion of the basin is fully developed and Dry Creek flows through eroded channels as well as greenbelt areas. Dry Creek has been chan- nelized from approximately 1,500 feet down- stream of Dairy Ranch Road to a point 500 feet upstream of Dancing Horse Road. For the most part, flow in Dry Creek and its tributar- ies is intermittent. Kettle Creek, a left-bank tributary to Monu- ment Creek, originates on the western slope ofthe Black Forest. A two mile segment of the lower reach is within U.S. Air Force Academy boundaries. The basin is subject to urban de- velopment. Typically, the creek cuts a narrow, deep canyon. Its drainage area encompasses approximately 17 square miles. Mesa Basin is located in western Colorado Springs. It is bounded on the north by the Garden of the Gods, on the west by Mesa Road, on the south by Uintah Street, and on the east by Monument Creek. The main channel in this basin drains the western portion of the basin. It flows south- easterly through the basin, passes under In- terstate 25 between Caramillo and Buena Venture Streets, and joins Monument Creek. Monument Creek originates northwest of Colorado Springs and travels 35.7 miles to join Fountain Creek in southwestern Colo- rado Springs. From its source, the perennial stream flows easterly for approximately 8 miles, descending from a 9,350 foot elevation through precipitous canyons and transitional foothills to emerge near Palmer Lake at the 7,100 foot elevation. The creek then turns south and parallels the mountains for the remaining distance to its confluence with Fountain Creek. Monument Creek is gener- ally entrenched, with an average slope of 30 feet per mile. It has been channelized between 3