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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Precipitation averages about 8.3 inches per year. This precipitation occurs in the form of short duration, high intensity thunderstorms. Average monthly precipitation and temperatures are given in Figure 4. The growing season is approximately 149 days from April to October. Valley breezes provide spring and fall frost protection in the area. FLOODPLAIN The floodplain associated with the Colorado River is determined on the basis of the 100 year flood and the 500 year flood. The most recent report deal i ng with the floodplain in the Fruita area. was studied in 1976 by the Armv COrDS of Enoineers. The study. "Flood Hazard Information - Fruita. Colorado". pointed out four areas of concern in the Fruita area. They are: 1. Colorado River 2. Reed Wash 3. Bio Salt Wash 4. Little Salt Wash Flooding along the Colorado River is caused mainly by melting snows. Major f1 oodi ng in the Fruita area occurred in 1884, 1917, 1920, 1921, 1935, 1952, and 1957. Any flooding along the Colorado River would have a negligible effect on Fruita's present service area. Flooding in the other three areas is restricted to immediately adjacent over- bank areas except in lower areas along the north side of Interstate 70. Most flooding would be confined to agricultural land except for an area along the Little Salt Wash that crosses some residential sections in the northwest corner of Fruita. The elevation of the 100 year flood in that area is approxi- mately 4486 feet above sea level. Fruita currently has an ordinance allowing no building in the floodplain. The Fruita Board of Trustees and the Planning Commission has exoressed a desire to change these regulations to permit building in the floodplain provided standards are met. The 100 year floodplain in the Fruita area is shown in Figure 5. 1-2