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Climate <br />The semiarid climate of the study area is characterized by low to moderate <br />precipitation, substantial evaporation, low humidity, moderate to intense winds, and a <br />large daily range in temperature. The average time between killing frosts is about 175 <br />days. The last killing frost generally occurs in mid April, and the first killing frost <br />occurs in mid - October. <br />The mean annual precipitation at La Junta airport is 11.3 inches. The airport is 3 <br />miles from the watershed. About 75 to 80 percent of the annual precipitation falls as <br />rain during the growing season. <br />Economic and Demographic Data <br />The economy of the watershed and surrounding area is heavily dependent on <br />agriculture. Family farms are the predominate type. Within the watershed boundaries <br />there are about 150 operating units averaging about 120 acres /unit. Cash crop <br />production and livestock operations are the major enterprises. Irrigation water is <br />supplied to the watershed by the Holbrook Canal to the Jackson, Reservoir, and <br />Lewis laterals. Reservoir storage in Lake Meredith, Holbrook Lake, and Dye <br />Reservoir, provide supplemental irrigation water. <br />The population of the watershed area consist of 83 percent white, 12 percent <br />Hispanic, and 5 percent other races. The median income of the Cheraw area was <br />$10,336 as compared to the state average of $14,821. Of the totals, 21 percent of <br />26 <br />