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Fork, the main stem drains about 4,255 square miles. From its source it flows southwesterly through narrow valleys, westerly through Blue Mesa and Morrow Point Reservoirs, thence northwesterly through Crystal Reservoir, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison l;ational Honument, and an open canyon until it reaches the mouth of the North Fork. Below the North Fork, the Gunnison River flows through an open canyon, through Delta Valley, which is about 12 miles long, and thence through canyons bordered by low ridges and D~sas to its mouth at Grand Junction. The North Fork Gunnison River drains about 986 square miles of mostly mountainous terrain. It is for~d by the confluence of Anthracite and Muddy Creeks, about S miles above the town of Somerset, and flows south- westerly through a narrow valley to its confluence with the main stem at Lazear. The Uncompahgre River, which rises on the north slope of the San Juan Mountains, drains about 1,129 square miles. It joins the Gunnison River at Delta. The upper drainage area is characterized by high mountains, steep-walled canyons, and narrow valleys, while broad expanses of low hills and mesas are characteristic of the lower portion. 4. Climate. The climate of the Gunnison-Uncompahgre River region is arid to semiarid. Temperature extremes range from winter lows of -60or to sum- mer highs of 110oF. In mountain and valley areas, respectively, mean teill- perature ranges from -80r to 2bor in January, the coldest month, and from Sbor to 780}' in July, the hottest month. Yearly precipitation averages about 8 inches at Grand Junction, about 20 inches at Ouray, Taylor Park, and Somerset, and over 40 inches in the headwater regions. Most of the annual precipitation in the higher eleva- tions occurs as snow and a deep snowpack accumulates. Table 1 is a list of precipitation stations in the basin; station locations are shown on Chart 2, "Normal Annual Precipitation Hap." 2