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<br />level at the source to 5,740 feet near Morrison, Colorado, where the <br />stream leaves the mountains. The lower portion of the basin is <br />characterized by rolling hills. Stream slopes vary from 500 to 200 <br />feet per mile in the mountain reaches and average about 45 feet per <br />mile in the plains reach. <br /> <br />3. Economic development. --The upper portions of the mountain <br />region lie within the boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest. The <br />economic importance of the mountain region relates principa lly to <br />forest reserve, tourism, and the value of the mountain snowpack for <br />water supply. The highway systems through the mountains serve <br />trans mountain traffic and local communities. The principal commun- <br />ities in the mountain region are Morrison and Evergreen, Colorado. <br />In 1960, Morrison had a population of approximately 500. The <br />plains portion of the Bear Creek valley lies within the metropolitan <br />area of Denver, and extends about 11 miles from Morrison to the <br />South Platte River. In 1960, the population of the community- <br />development areas in the lower Bear Creek valley was approximately <br />27,500; the expected population level of these communities by the <br />year 2000 is 160,000. The population of the Denver standard <br />metropolitan statistical area (929,000 in 1960) is expected to exceed <br />3 million by the year 2000. Metropolitan Denver serves as the <br />commercial, financia I, manufacturing, professiona 1,. and cultural <br />hub of the Rocky Mountain West, and the marketing and distribution <br />center for this vast region of approximately 857,000 square miles. <br />The Bear Creek valley sector of the metropolitan area is presently <br />experiencing rapid growth in residential and commercial development <br />and public facilities. <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />, <br />~ <br /> <br />I.' <br /> <br />4. Existing improvements. --There are no existing Corps of <br />Engineers or other Federal flood control or water resources improve- <br />ments in the Bear Creek basin. The Corps of Engineers dam on <br />Cherry Creek and the Chatfield Dam under construction on the South <br />Platte River control approximately 70 percent of the drainage area <br />above the downstream limits of metropolitan Denver. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />'" <br /> <br />5. Floods and flood damages.--Since 1876,22 floods have <br />been recorded in the Bear Creek basin with the loss of 45 lives and <br />considerable property damage. The flood season extends from May <br /> <br />22 <br />