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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The service area boundaries are loosely defined by <br />Beaver Creek on the east, Oak Hill on the south, <br />Naturita Creek on the south and west, and San Miguel <br />River on the north and east. <br /> <br />Elevation. Elevations range from 7350 feet on the <br />southeast near Oak Hill to 6260 feet on the <br />northwest near Redvale. The area served is <br />determined in part by available water pressure and <br />in part by rural housing density. <br /> <br />Land Use. The rural area is characterized by small <br />farms and ranches. Cattle and pastures, hay fields, <br />and a few row crops are the predominate agriculture <br />land uses. <br /> <br />4. Climate. <br /> <br />Climate in the service area is characteristic of <br />semi-arid, high mountain regions. Days are <br />typically warm and nights cool during summer, and <br />winter temperatures are moderate to severe. Mean <br />annual temperature is 43.8 degrees F. at Norwood and <br />45.9 degrees F. at Redvale. Precipitation is low, <br />averaging 14.4 inches annually at Norwood and 13.2 <br />inches at Redvale, of which slightly more than half <br />falls during the growing season. Frost free periods <br />average 104 days at Norwood and 116 days at Redvale. <br />Since streamflows originate mostly from snowmelt off <br />the San Miguel Mountains, as much as 80% of annual <br />surface runoff occurs within a 2 or 3 month flood <br />season. If surface water is to be reliably used for <br />times other than snowmelt, storage is required. <br /> <br />5. Socio-Economic. <br /> <br />Like many western Colorado communities, Norwood's <br />economy was initially based upon agriculture (mostly <br />cattle industry), logging and mining. These <br />industries have declined in importance over the <br />years and recreation has become of greater <br />significance. Although located in a scenic area, <br />Norwood is relatively isolated from major population <br />centers with no convenient high speed access by <br />road, rail or air; these factors have reduced its <br />tourist potential. Many residents work at the <br />nearby Telluride Ski Resort (35 miles east), both in <br />service and construction industries. A modest <br />number of retirees have located in the area. <br /> <br />11-7 <br />