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Anderson Arroyo on the ~est side of La Junta runs parallel to King Arroyo on the cast side of the city. Like King Arroyo, Anderson Arroyo has bien shaped to some extent in the lower portion, but from the vicinity of 5th Street to the upstream end of the study area, it is largely in a natural state. From 2nd Street to the south end of the study area. the stream is bordered On the east by a relatively high bluff or hill. with only a fe~ locations ~here e flood plain exists. The west side is generally flat and low, providing a flood plain of several hundred feet. Anderson Arroyo watershed is about 15.5 miles long and 3.5 miles in width, with a drainage .area of about S4 square milos. Elevations in this watershed range from 4,150 feet mean sea level to 4,060 feet at the confluence of the arroyo with the Arkansas River. The arroyo has an average slope of 19.4 feet per mile. Cli~te in the Arkansas River subbasin above John Martin Reservoir 'taries from subhwnid in the high JIlOUntain the uneven distribution of precipitation. Variations occur from year to year as well as within any given year. The gre~test daily precipit~tion of 6.20 inches occurred on July 8, 1893. The principal source of precipitation is high in- tensity. short duration convective type thunderstorms occurring over limited areas. Recorded temperatures have varied from a low of -40 degrees Fahrenheit to a high of 114 degrees. The mean daily temperature is 52.5 degrees Fahrenheit. region to se~iarid in the lower plains. Precipitation averages from ten inches annually at the lower elevations to as much as 40 inches over limited areas on the orests of the mountain ranges. A large percentage of the annual pre- cipitation over the mountains falls in the form of sno~. The ac~ulation of winter sno~s is the basic source of water supply for downstream users, More than half of the annual precipitation over the plains occUrs during the irrigation season from April through August. The climate in the study ares of La Junta is seni. ..,rid. ^v"r"4~ <lnn,,~l prt'ciplt"tton h 12.31 lnch"s b"sc(l on 'I;! y,'nrM "r r..t'l>r<1 at R<,,:ky l'ord, ~"V"" mLlus ~,,,d "I' II", ~'atersbcd. r....riod" of dro,,~ht, ST" """.""n. ".~ .. rm,,,ll or Developments in the Flood Plains Develo~nts in the flood plains include resi- dential, commercial. and industrial. About two miles in the central part of tile southerly flood plain of the Ar- kansas River are occupied by the city of La Junta. North La Junta and La Junta Garden are fairly densely developed residential areas occupying approximately one mile of the north bank flood plain of the Ark~n$as River. Anderson and King Arroyos flo~ through areas of diversifi$d urban development at La Junta. Residential, commercial, and industrial structurc~, utilities, and trans- portation facilities have spread to the banks of the arroyos. !ho main business section of La Junta is in the flood plains of both Anderson and King ArrOYOS. The mainline of the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe (AT&SP) Railway Company and a brancn line from La Junta to Denver traverse the flood plains. There are numerous county roads, Colorado State aighway 109 and U.S. Bighway 50 and 350, ~hich also cross the flood plains. , ;