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STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION C,!mmun'itv Description La Plata e ounty is located in the southwest corner of lYe State of Colorado. It is bordered by San Jm,n County to the north, Hinsdale and Archuleta Counties to the east, Montezuma County to the west and the state of New Mexico to the south. The county boundaries encompass an area of l,666 square miles and total population as of 1999 was approximately 42,]]2 with 23,624 of those people living in unincorporated areas. Agriculture and the lumber industry have played an important role in the economy of La Plata County since its initial settlement. In recent years, tourism, the recreation industry and mountain home:;ites have begun playing an increasingly important role in the economic base. Incorporated cities and towns within the county consist of Durango (the county seat), Bayfield and Ignacio. The 1995 revised FlS for unincorporated La Plata County, excludes these communities in addition to the Ute Indian Reservation. WJltershed DescriQtiions La Plata County is located on the western slope of the Continental Divide in the Colorado River bm,in. Th~ major stream system in La Plata County is the Animas River which flows from north to :;outh through the central portion of the county. The Animas River originates in the San Juan Mountaim; north of 'the county, and flows south through steep, nmTOW canyons to reach the nearly I-nile wide Animas Valley in the vicinity of the City of Durango. Elevations in the Animas River drainage basin vary from over 14,000 feet along the western slope of the San Juan Mountaim; to approximately 6,500 feet at Durango. The drainage area of the Animas River at the nOlthern corporate limit of Durango is approximately 649 sq mi. From Durango, the Animas continues south through the Southern Ute Indian RI~servaf:ion a.nd on into New Mexico where it confluences with the San Juan River near Farmington, Other major stream systems located within the county incJud(, the Los Pinos River, the Florida River and the La Plata River. The Los Pinos, or Pine River as it is often referred to, is the major drainage course in the eastern portion of the county and :is also a tributary to the San Juan River. The Los Pinos River originates in the San Juan Mountains north and east of the county, and generally flows southwest into Vallecito Reservoir. VaJ.Jecito Reservoir has a total storage capacity of 129,700 ac-ft but is a water supply facility with no dedicated flood storage capacity. From Vallecito Reservoir, the Los Pinos flows south to the Town of Bayfield, across the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and ultimately into the San Juan River in New Mexico. At Bayfield the tributary area to the Pine River is approximately 349 sq mi. The Florida River also originates in the San Juan Mountains north of La Plata County and generally :ioIlows a south-westerly flow path through the county between the Pine and Animas Rivers. Northeast of Durango, the Florida enters Lemon Reservoir which has total available storage capacity of 40,146 ac-ft. Similar to Vallecito Reservoir though, Lemon Reservoir is primarily. water supply facility and has no dedicated flood storage capacity. Downstream of Lemon Reservoir, the Florida continues along a soulh"w(,s':erly flow path ultimately confluencing with the Animas River near Bondad several miles north of the New Mexico state line. The :2