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<br />clays referred to locally as "adobe" soils. The soils in large portions <br /> <br />of this area are shallow over the shale bedrock. Soils on the west <br /> <br />side of the valley are known locally as "mesa" soils and are generally <br /> <br />deeper and lighter in texture than the soils of the east side. The west <br /> <br />side soils are mostly of alluvial origin, although there are small areas <br /> <br />of shallow residual soils derived from sandstone. <br /> <br />Because of the semiarid climate of the area, the soils have been <br /> <br />formed under a sparse vegetative cover with only moderate to low organic <br /> <br />matter content. These soils have not been leached to any great depths <br /> <br />and, therefore, retain constituents of the parent material. They are <br /> <br />moderately calcareous and have slight to moderate soil profile development. <br /> <br />climate <br /> <br /> <br />Most of the Uncompahgre Valley is semiarid, but precipitation <br /> <br /> <br />and temperature vary widely with elevation. The prevailing wind is <br /> <br /> <br />from the west; but a wide range of surface wind conditions exists as <br /> <br />influenced by specific topographic features. Average annual precipitaion <br /> <br />ranges from 8 inches at Delta and 13 inches in the Ridgway area to as <br /> <br />much as 40 inches in mountainous areas outside the study area. The <br /> <br />frost-free period averages about 150 days annually. Temperatures <br /> <br />occasionally reach 100' F in summer and fall to below O' F in winter. <br /> <br />wildlife and Vegetation <br />wildlife habitat in the project area includes agricultural lands as <br />well as interspersed areas of native vegetation. Irrigation in the <br /> <br />valley has created many wetland areas and helps support pheasant, q'0fl16 80 <br /> <br />waterfowl, mule deer, and other species. The endangered bald eagle, <br /> <br />peregrine falcon, and the whooping crane have been observed in the valley <br /> <br />during migration or during the winter months. <br /> <br />9 <br />