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<br />Basin Description
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<br />The Dr'l Creek Basin ~s long and narrow with its upper reaches in
<br />the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains and its lower reaches
<br />extending onto the agricultural plains immediately north of Fort
<br />Collins (Figure 1). The basin is in east central Larimer County
<br />with portions of the lower basin extending into Fort Collins.
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<br />Historically, tl1e Dry Creek Basin has been in agricultural land
<br />use. Over the past 30 years, the basin has been experienoing
<br />development in the lower reach below U. S. Highway 287. The
<br />develoOMent in SOMe cascs has Obliterated the historic Dry Creek
<br />channel, particularly in reaches near College Avenue. Co~~ercial
<br />and light industrial development is rapidl'l expanding in the basin
<br />reach near the confluence with the Cache la poudre River, in the
<br />area surrounding the Valley Airpark. The area immediately
<br />downstream of College Avenue is currcntl'l experiencing residential
<br />development, and resiJential development is also expected in areas
<br />immediately north of U. S. Highway 287, extending as far as six
<br />miles up the basin. Above this area, the basin should remain in
<br />agricultural use in the foreseeable future.
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<br />STUDY AREA
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<br />The basin encompasses a drainage area of a~proximately 65 square
<br />miles with basin elevations ranging from 7,000 feet MSL in the foot-
<br />hills to 4,900 feet MSL near Fort Collins. The average basin slope
<br />is approximately 2% in a southeasterly direction. Eleven major
<br />irrigation canills and 13 major, storage reservoirs are ra:::t of
<br />an I>xtensive in:i""tion neb.'ork within the basin (Figllre :n.
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<br />The Dry Creek stream channel is tributary to the Cache la poudre
<br />River i~~diately east of Fort Collins. The cha~nel gonerally hilS a
<br />well defined, Meandering low flow section, and a wide, gently sloped
<br />overbank area. In the reach belOW the Eaton Ditch, h0w~ver, the
<br />channel has been obliterated by development over mll"h of its len',jth.
<br />The Dry Creek channel has many tributaries along its length with the
<br />major ones, P,Il:k Creek and Spring Gulch, joining Dry creek in the
<br />upper third of the basin.
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<br />As the basin develops, increased local drainage will lead to
<br />larger and more frequent flows along the Dry Creek channel. This
<br />will cause flooding proble~s in areas where the old Dry Creek channel
<br />~o longer exists, and will lead to increased problems of channel
<br />maintenance.
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<br />Description of Study Reach
<br />The Dry Creek study reach i~ located in and near the northeast section
<br />of the City of Fort Collins. (Fiqure 2). ThE' study reach begins at
<br />the Dry Creek confluence with the Cache la poudre River and extends in
<br />a northwesterly direction to the western boundary of Section 26, T8~,
<br />R69W, immediately west of Terry Lake.
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<br />Th~ channel is int~rcepted at two locations Ly major on-stream
<br />reservoirs, Douglas Reservoir and Park Creek Reservoir (Fiqure 2).
<br />Park Creek Reservoir is a fairly new U.S.B.R. ~tora;e reservoir 10-
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<br />cated high in the upper basin on the Park Creek tributary tu Dry
<br />C~eek" The reservoir has a surface arca of approximately 190 acres,
<br />and a tribut.ary area of 3.8 SqUdre mil",,,. DQugl"" Reservoir i::: 10-
<br />,.,ilt8d On Cry Creek in Cl9proxir:tately the middle of the b;;l.sin. Thi.s
<br />reservoir has a surf<'lce area of about 640 acres and a tributary
<br />nrainilg... area of 44.0 square m~les.
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<br />The lower reach of Dry Creek passes through a largely developed
<br />eo~~~rciCll and light industrial area surrounding the Valley Airpark.
<br />In this reach, a well-defin"J. chann"l winds througr. the developed
<br />area with adequate capacity to convey minor local drainage. The
<br />overbank dreaS are extremely flat and wide.
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<br />From the Valley hirpark to College Avenue, the reach is largely
<br />undeveloped wit.h <:he "x,",,,ption of the Alta Vista. Communit,". Dry
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