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<br />Principal range sites in the lo,rer portion of the watershed
<br />(foothills zone) are Foothill Grassland, Rocky Foothill, and Sandy
<br />Plains, Approximately 15 per cent of the area is in good condition,
<br />65 per cent in fair condition, and 20 per cent in poor condition,
<br />Sandy land grasses including bluest ems, sandreed grass, and needlegrasses
<br />are most common in the Rocky Foothill and Sandy Plains sites, Western
<br />wheatgrass, needlegrass, and blue grama are the principal species on the
<br />Foothill Grassland site, Oakbrush and scattered ponderosa pine may
<br />occur on the Rocky Foothill site.
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<br />A floodplain site occurs along streams 'mere overflow is frequent,
<br />The more favorable moisture conditions, characteristic of the site,
<br />affects the composition and substantially increases the volume of
<br />vegetative grocrrh. However, because of concentrated use and the
<br />deposition of sediment and weed seeds from flooding,most of this site
<br />rates only poor to fair, The grasses present include blue grama and
<br />galleta, Less desirable plants comprise about 85 per cent of the
<br />vegetation. These include kochia, cactus, sunflower, and false
<br />buffalo grass.
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<br />Land Use.- At the present time about 12,4 per cent of the watershed
<br />is in cultivation, The main crops grown are small grain, alfalfa,
<br />meadow hay, tame pasture grasses, and corn silage, The use of land is
<br />estimated as follows:
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<br />Land Use Acres Per Cent
<br />Range, Pasture, and Hay 134,459 76,1
<br />Cropland
<br />Dryland 18,800 10,7
<br />Irrigated 3,000 1.7
<br />Subtotal 21,800 12.4
<br />Forest and Brush 18,732 10.6
<br />Miscellaneous* 1,649 ~
<br />Total 176,640 100,0
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<br />* Includes area in roads, stream channels, schools, farmsteads,
<br />and the towns of Franktown and Parker,
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<br />Climate.- The climate is semi-arid, Precipitation averages
<br />17,97 inches annually with about 75 per cent occurring from April
<br />through September. Flood-producing storms occur mainly during the
<br />months of May, June, July, and August and are of the thunderstorm
<br />type. The average annual temperature is 46,6 degrees, The average
<br />length of the growing season is 121 days, beginning May 24 and ending
<br />September 22, The above data were extracted ,from records of the
<br />nearest U, S, Weather Bureau Station, which is located in the City of
<br />Denver, Colorado.
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