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A The elevation of the irrigable lands lay in a range of 5,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. The length of the growing season ranges accordingly from about 4 months at 5,000 feet to only 2 months or less at 6,500 to 8,000 feet. In the western portion the Yampa and White River basins there is little agriculture, but in the eastern portion of the basin there is additional rainfall, and some cereal grains are produced up to altitudes of about 7,500 feet. 2.2.3 Uinta Basin in Utah The Uinta Basin geology includes all the lands extending east from the Wasatch Mountains to the White River Plateau and bordered on the north by the Uinta mountains, Yampa Plateau, and Danforth Hills and on the south by the summit of the Roan or Book Plateaus. This 8,000 square mile area is principally drained by the Duchesne River and Ashley Creek. The general altitude of the basin floor is 5,000 to 6,000 feet. The interior of the basin is comparatively shallow and is traversed longitudinally by the Duchesne River. The Green River flows southward across the basin and has cut a wide and meandering course across the valley floor. Irrigation is necessary to produce successful crops in the basin. In a few places there is sufficient rainfall for the production of small grains, but in these places the growing season is short, and attempts at dry land farming have met with only moderate success. The average growing season ranges from 122 days at Vernal to about 104 days at Duchesne. The principal crops are alfalfa and cereal grains. 2.2.4 lower Green River Basin The lower Green Ri er Basin is located in central and southeastern Utah. The basin is lower tha the adjacent lands and is somewhat warmer, especially in summer. The growi g season averages from 115 days near Price and Castle Dale to 150 days along he Green River. Precipitation is low in much of the area and the production of crops is not possible without irrigation. Precipitation is greatest in th mountainous areas because of increased altitude; the lowlands are hot nd dry. The crops raised in the lower Green River Basin are principally alfal a, wheat, oats, and corn. 2.3 Climate The general climate of the basin is best described as arid to semiarid. The maximum amount of precipitation occurs in the winter and spring. The precipitation increases rapidly with altitude. As a whole, the region is somewhat isolated and sheltered from average storm tracks and whose subdivisions have similar climatic characteristics. Most of the area is comparatively free from sudden meteorological changes due to storm movement, though owing to the general high altitude temperature changes are large, the frost-free season is short, and much of the annual precipitation is in the form of snow [2]. 2-2