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2.2 Community Description The City of Golden is located in northern Jefferson County, in central Colorado, approximately 8 miles west of Denver and 18 miles south of Boulder. The city lies at the base of the Front Range foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Golden encompasses an area of 7.1 square miles and has an estimated population of 14,088 (Reference 2). The population has grown by 43.5 percent over the 1970 U.S. Census figure of 9,S17 (Reference 3). The stream network in Golden is composed of Clear Creek, which flows from west to east, and its tributaries. Tucker Gulch is a left-bank tributary, providing drainage for areas north of Clear Creek. Kenneys Run and Lena Gulch are right-bank tributaries, providing drainage for areas south of Clear Creek. The confluences of Tucker Gulch and Kenneys Run with Clear Creek occur within the City of Golden. The confluence of Lena Gulch with Clear Creek occurs downstream of the city. Clear Creek has its source in the Rocky Mountains at the Continental Divide. After flowing easterly through the mountains, Clear Creek enters the high plains at Golden and flows northeasterly to Commerce City, where it joins the South Platte River. The 400-square-mile drainage area of Clear Creek above Golden is characterized by steep slopes, rugged terrain, and forests. Within Golden, the Clear Creek flood plain contains heavily developed areas as well as parks and campgrounds. Tucker Gulch begins in the foothills northwest of Golden and winds its way through Golden Gate Canyon before flowing into Clear Creek in Golden. Tucker Gulch drains an area of 11.22 square miles above Clear Creek. Cressmans Gulch is a left-bank tributary to Tucker Gulch whose 1.4B-square-mile drainage area covers the foothills and valley area west of North Table Mountain. The drainage areas in the upper portions of these stream basins have steep slopes and cover complexes that vary from forested areas to rangeland with rock outcroppings. West Fork Kenneys Run and its tributaries drain a 3.43-square- mile basin that starts on the eastern face of Lookout Mountain and extends across the plains southwest of Golden. East Fork Kenneys Run drains a 1.7S-square-mile basin that starts on the western face of South Table Mountain and extends across the plains southeast of Golden. The upper portions of both these basins have steep slopes and rugged terrain. The plains portion of the West Fork Kenneys Run basin is primarily hilly rangeland, with heavy urban development beginning north of 24th Street. The plains portion of the East Fork Kenneys Run basin has the same hilly topography as the West Fork Kenneys Run basin; but, overall, it has been more heavily developed. The forks join at 20th Street to form Kenneys Run, which flows northeasterly through a buried 4