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<br />Authority for funding flood plain management studies is provided by <br />Section 6 of Public Law 83-566, which authorizes the U.S. Department of <br />Agriculture to cooperate with other federal, state and local agencies to <br />make investigations and surveys of the watersheds and rivers and other <br />waterways as a basis for the development of coordinated programs. In <br />carrying out flood plain management studies, the Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service is being responsive to Executive Order 11988, <br />entitled "Flood Plain Management", and Executive Order 11990, entitled <br />"Protection of Wetlands" (both effective May 24, 1977). <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA <br /> <br />A. Basin Characteristics <br />The watersheds that produce runoff to Four-Mile Creek in Canon City are <br />large in size (total area: 434 sq. miles). They are mostly woodland and <br />some rangeland in fair to poor condition, with exception of the area near <br />the Four-Mile Creek and Arkansas River confluence, where land are mainly <br />cultivated agricultural land. The Mud Gulch's watersheds are much <br />smaller (total area: 3.61 sq, miles). They are mostly agricultural land <br />and range land in fair to poor condition. <br /> <br />The Four-Mile Creek flows southerly out of the pike National Forest; <br />whereas, the Mud Gulch flows southerly out of a small local drainage, <br />They both join the Arkansas River at Canon City. The Mud Gulch watershed <br />includ~s a RC&D dam which was built for flood control. <br /> <br />The soils in the 4-Mile Creek and Mud Gulch basins can be described in <br />two categories: <br />(1) "Soils on the Plains" makes up 11 percent of Fremont County. They <br />are level and steep, Elevation is 5,000 to 6,000 feet - where average <br />annual precipitation is l2 inches. These soils are mostly of hydrologic <br />soil complex group D, with some Band C. They are shallow to deep and <br />are well drained. They formed in alluvium derived mainly from shale, <br />limestone, and eolian sands and silt and in residuum derived dominantly <br />from shale and limestone. The soils are used mainly for irrigated crops, <br />hay and pasture, or orchards. They are also used as rangeland. <br />(2) "Soils and Rock Outcrop on Mountains" - this group makes up about <br />46 percent of the county area. The soils are gently sloping to extremely <br />steep. Elevation is 6,800 to 1l,600 feet, The average annual <br />precipitation is 16 to 18 inches. These soils are of hydrologic soil <br />complex group D. These soils are shallow to deep and are well drained. <br />They formed in residuum, colluvium, glacial outwash, till, and alluvium <br />derived dominantly from igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The <br />soils are used mainly for woodland, wildlife habitat, livestock grazing, <br />recreation, or rangeland. <br /> <br />The vegetation in the upper watersheds of 4-Mile Creek and Mud Gulch are <br />predominantly range land with some woodland and many outcrop areas. The <br />lower quarter section of the basins is occupied by residential and some <br />commercial properties. <br /> <br />The flood plains, within the study limits, generally contain typical <br />residential and commercial property improvements such as buildings, <br />yards, fences, streets, vehicles, etc. Vegetation such as orchards, <br /> <br />2 <br />