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<br />C::A?TER:: <br /> <br />ST~DY AREA DESCRIPTICN <br /> <br />LOCd,:cn <br /> <br />T~e stu:.1y jrea is comprised of 2.7 mi les cf the lake Fotk jf the <br />5~rn:~G~ anc J.33 mi les of ; ts :ributary, ~enson CrH'k, ccth :f which <br />arE' locate:.1 in the immeaiate vicinIty of Lake City, Colorado. The ~ake <br />Fork of t~e Gunnison has its neadwaters in tne San Juan Mountains of <br />Southwestern ColoradO. After its confluence with its main tributary, <br />Henson Creek near Lake City, it flows r1artherly for approximately 30 miles <br />to its confluence with the Gunnison River in Blue Mesa Reservoir. The <br />total drainage area for the Lake Fork of the Gunnison is over 350 square <br />miles; its average annual flow is approximately 235 cfs. <br />The study area is located immediately above, ~ithin and below the town of <br />Lake City, which is the capital seat of Hinsdale County. The estimated <br />population of Lake City is 500. Most of the drainage area <br />above the study reaches is ~itnin the Uncompahgre or Gunnison National <br />Forest and on land administered by the Bureau of land Management. Plate t <br />sncws the drainage basin and regional location of the study area. <br /> <br />Climate <br /> <br />The climate of the drainage area is infJu~nced predominately by the <br />h:gh elevation and rugged topography af the surrounding San Juan Mountains. <br />Thp c[jmat~ is typically alpine. characterized by cold winters with heavy <br />snowfdil d~d cool, sl",ort ;iJnmers. <br />The Tawn af Lake City has an annual average temperature of about 380, <br />with an a~erage January temperature of 18~ and an average July temperature <br />of 580. Average annual precipitation in lake City is 13.4IrlcJl€S. <br />Climatic conditions In the upper draInage basin will differ significantly <br />from that of Lake City because of differences in elevation and <br />tcpography. Average annual precioitatlon In the upper Lake Fork and <br />Henson Creek 8asins :s30.6inches,ofwhichaboutone-halffallsfrom <br />October through Apri:. The prevai j ing '~Ind I:; from t.he '~est, but a '.ide <br />range of sur' ace wind conditions exist as influenced by specific <br />topegrapnic features. The area E'xpe'"iences occilsienal surr.(l"ier t,'~l1der- <br />storms whIch are pr;marily ceca, iJe~ in ! ndl'lidual basins, <br /> <br />5 <br />