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<br />I) r,,' Ii <br />'" ..'.... -' <br /> <br />General Description <br /> <br />Climatic data at selected stations within the unit area are summarized <br />in table 3. <br /> <br />Table 3.--C1imatic data <br /> <br />(1931-1960) <br /> <br />Station <br /> <br />Annual <br />Preci.pi tation <br />(inches) <br /> <br />Temperature <br /> <br />(degrees F.) <br />Average Average <br />July January <br /> <br />Average <br />annual <br />frost-free <br />period <br />( days) <br /> <br />Max. Min. <br /> <br />Ft. Morgan <br />Sterling <br />Julesburg <br /> <br />12.86 <br />14.10 <br />16.32 <br /> <br />109 <br />106 <br />109 <br /> <br />-41 <br />-33 <br />-38 <br /> <br />73.9 <br />73.9 <br />76.4 <br /> <br />24.3 <br />24.8 <br />27.7 <br /> <br />148 <br />140 <br />145 <br /> <br />HISTORY <br /> <br />The unit area was part of the larger area ceded to the United <br />States as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. SUbsequently, the South <br />Platte area became a part of the Kansas-Nebraska Territory and later <br />was included as a part of the Colorado Territory established by <br />Congress in 1861. The Colorado Territory was admitted to the Union <br />on August 1, 1876 as the 38th State. <br /> <br />During the decade 1880-1889, homesteaders began assuming control <br />over land" in the South Platte River valley and surrounding range <br />lands which formerly had been held by cattle barons. Thus began the <br />cash grain and livestock economy in the upland" and the irrigation <br />farming in the valleys, now prevalent in the area. Large irrigation <br />areas along the lower part of the valley were not developed to any <br />great extent, however, until about the turn of the century, when <br />increased water supplies, consi."ting of return flow" from upstream <br />irrigation, became available and legislation wail passed which authorized <br />the formation of irrigation districts. This legislation provided the <br />means for farmers to cooperate in financing and constructing extensive <br />and complex irrigation facilities. By 1910, several irrigation dis- <br />tricts had constructed work" to irrigate dry lands, but most of the <br />districts constructed reservoir" to store water for irrigated lands <br />which were inadequately supplied by direct-flow rights. This period <br />of expansion continued until the beginning of World War I. Since <br />then, activities have been generally limited to maintenance and <br />improvement of exi"ting works. <br /> <br />6 <br />