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w o l-" CO Grand Junction is a regional trade and service center for the considerable agricultural and mining interests in western /Colorado, northwestern New Mexico, northeast Arizona, and eastern Utah because of its access to major highways, rail and airline systems. During the 1950's the area became and still is the center of the uranium exploration boom and several uranium development projects sponsored by the government. Recent pro- gram expansions related to energy have caused an economic upswing for the area. At the present time, the Grand Valley is a focal supply point for the budding oil shale and sodium bicarbonate (Nahcolite) industries which lie to the north and west. The area is also a supply and service center for a con- siderable oil and natural gas drilling and exploration industry. CLIMATE The Grand Valley area enjoys a moderate year-around climate which is influenced more by the mountain ranges in the Upper Colorado River Basin than by the latitude. The movement of air masses are affected by the mountain ranges so that the high elevations are relatively wet and cool, whereas the low plateaus and valleys are much drier and subject to wide temperature ranges. The characteristic climate in the lower altitudes is hot and dry summers and cool winters. The Grand Valley has a climatecommon to all of the semi- arid Colorado River Basin. Most of the precipitation to the Valley is provided from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, whose respective shores are 1,200 and 1,800 kilometers (750 and l,100 miles) away. During the period from October to April, Pacific moisture is predominant, but the late spring and summer months receive moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The advancing air masses are forced to high altitudes and 10se much of their moisture either before entering the area (Gulf of Mexico fronts) or after leaving the area (pacific fronts). The Grand Valley receives an average annual precipitation of only 211 mm (8.29 inches) and practically all irrigation and potable water supplies come from the nearby high mountain snow- packs. The monthly distribution of precipitation and tempera- ture for Grand Junction is shown in Figure 6. The climate is marked by a wide seasonal range, but sudden or severe weather changes are infrequent due primarily to the high mountains around the Valley. The usual occurrence of precipitation in the winter is snow and during the growing season is in the form of light showers from thunderstorms. Severe cloudbursts occur infrequently during the late summer months and hail storms are rare. Although temperatures have ranged to as high as 40.6 degrees C (105 degrees F), the usual summer temperatures range to the middle and low 30's degrees C (90's degrees F) in the 20