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<br />Monarch Pass is directly west of Sal ida. The Oenver and Rio Grande <br />Western Railroad main line passes through the city on its route along <br />the Arkansas River. Traffic on this line is limited to freight, and <br />stops are not normally made at Salida. <br /> <br />Sal ida is an older city with a minimum of recent construction. <br />COlTI11ercial development is concentrated along a single main street <br />with residential areas spreading beyond. The fiood plains of all the <br />flood sources considered in this study are essentially fully devel- <br />oped at present with si ngl e famil y housi ng the predomi nant type. <br />Therefore, increased encroachment is not anticipated in the future <br />although the character of development may change with time. <br /> <br />The climate of the study area includes low precipitation, low <br />humidi ty, abundant sunshi ne, a wide daily temperature range, and <br />generally low wi nds. The surroundi ng mounta i ns act as a barri er <br />preventing the northern cold air or eastern storms from penetrating <br />the Upper Arkansas River Valley. <br /> <br />The records at the Salida Weather Station, elevation 7,060 feet, show <br />an average annual precipitation of 10.87 inches. The highest <br />recorded annual precipitation was 17.92 inches in 1961. This was <br />followed by the lowest annual precipitation on record, 4.91 inches in <br />1962. <br /> <br />Summers are cool in the study area with temperatures reaching into <br />the 90's a few times each summer. Temperatures for the summer nights <br />usually drop below 50oF. Winter temperatures, particularly in the <br />daytime, are usually warmer than those found at similar or lower <br />elevations. periods of extreme cold temperatures are of short dura- <br />tion. <br /> <br />The elevation of the South Arkansas River confluence with the <br />Arkansas River is 6,985 feet. The headwaters of the river originate <br />at the Continental ~ivide among mountain peaks ranging in elevation <br />from 12,000 to 14,000 feet. The South Arkansas River main stem flows <br />eastward from the Monarch Pass area to Poncha Springs where it meets <br />Poncha Creek. Poncha Creek drains the southeastern portion of the <br />basin from the Marshall Pass and Poncha Pass areas. <br /> <br />The South Arkansas River Basin and Poncha Creek Basin comprise the <br />southern portion of the Upper Arkansas River Valley in Chaffee and <br />Lake Counties. The valley occupies a narrow and long trough that was <br />formed mai nl y by faulti ng. The mai n topographi c features of thi s <br />valley are the two great parallel north-south mountain ranges that <br />border the vall ey, the Sawatch Range in the west and the Mosqui to <br />Range on the east. The Mosquito Range merges with a low range of <br />hi 11 s along the southern porti on of the vall ey. The 1 arger tribu- <br />taries of the Arkansas River, including the South Arkansas <br />River, originate in the Sawatch Range. <br /> <br />Vegetation varies considerably according to elevation in the basin. <br />Vegetation below the 8,000 feet elevation consists of semi-arid <br />growth such as pi ni on pi ne, j uni per, and sage wi th sparse grass <br /> <br />4 <br />