Future Project and Reference Sites
The Status and Future of Fountain Creek
Methodology
We studied a section of Fountain Creek from Fountain to northern Pueblo, and used aerial imagery to evaluate channel migration and channel widening from 2018 to 2024. Several of the sites with the most concern and closest to infrastructure were already project sites. The three sites we chose were a combination of the highest risk and proximity to infrastructure.
Our proposed restoration sites on Fountain Creek.
1: Fountain Creek near Old Pueblo Road
Our first proposed restoration site.
The first study site identified is Fountain Creek near Old Pueblo Road, downstream of Fountain. These images are 2022 and 2023. Widening floodplains, increased erosion and high sediment production threatens private property, including barns, farmland and stables. It also threatens Old Pueblo Road, a larger public road near the area.
This site migrated 58.5 meters between 2023 and 2024, after a major flooding event in 2018-2019.
This site also experienced extensive channel widening between 2018 and 2024, reaching between 250 and 400 meters between 2019 and 2024.
2: Fountain Creek at County Line Road
Our second proposed restoration site.
Our second proposed restoration site is Fountain Creek at County Line Road.
Our main concerns with this site were threats to private property and farmland. In the future, significantly increased erosion and sediment production could threaten this infrastructure. This image shows the creek in 2015 and 2017. Additionally, this site cuts into higher elevation terraces, bringing in a comparatively high flux of sediment.
This site experienced extensive channel migration, migrating 500 meters between 2023 and 2024 during a significant flooding event.
3: Fountain Creek at North Pueblo
Our third proposed restoration site.
Our third study site is Fountain Creek at North Pueblo.
This area is near a railroad, private property, and public roads. We are worried about increased sediment production and widening floodplains threatening this area. These pictures are from 2021 and 2023.
This area migrated 136 meters from 2023 to 2024.
This site has also widened approximately 50 meters in the past year.
Moving forward...
We see these sites as being high-priority future projects for Fountain Creek based on proximity to infrastructure and risk of increased erosion.
