|
<br />0017G3
<br />
<br />CHAPTER 2
<br />
<br />AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
<br />
<br />Tnis chapter describes those physical, biological, social, and
<br />economic characteristics of the land, water, and air resources
<br />administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
<br />San Luis Resource Area (SLRA) of the Canon City District
<br />that affect, or are themselves affected by, the topics addressed
<br />within this plan. Much of the material in this chapter
<br />summarizes information developed in the SLRMP
<br />Management Situation Analysis (MSA) and the geographic
<br />information system (GIS). GIS is an automated mapping
<br />data base system. This information is availabje for viewing
<br />at the resource area office in Alamosa and the district office
<br />in Canon City. The Existing Situation Analysis, Resource
<br />Area ProfIle, and Resource Capability Levels in the MSA
<br />are more complete, detailed discussions of the environment
<br />in the SLRMP planning area.
<br />
<br />The purpose of this chapter is to serve as base line data
<br />for identifying and analyzing the impacts of the four
<br />alternatives in this plan. These impacts are described in
<br />chapter 4. The following material describes the 24 resources
<br />and resource uses within the SLRMP planning area.
<br />
<br />CLIMATE
<br />
<br />The San Luis Resource Area is located in a high valley /
<br />mountainous, continental climate regime characterized by
<br />dry air, sunny days, clear nights, precipitation extremes,
<br />moderate/high evaporation, and large daily temperature
<br />changes. The rugged San Juan Mountains to the west and
<br />the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east flank the high,
<br />wide, and flat San Luis Valley. Extremely frigid conditions
<br />and blizzards can occur, but severe weather conditions such
<br />as tornadoes, floods, and damaging hail are very rare.
<br />
<br />The complex topography of the region causes considerable
<br />variation in site-specific temperature, precipitation, and
<br />surface winds. Because of this diversity, prolonged onsite
<br />monitoring is necessary to specify local conditions. Table
<br />2-1 summarizes monitored values for temperature,
<br />precipitation, and frost-free periods. The following
<br />description represents a range of climatic conditions
<br />throughout the resource area.
<br />
<br />Table 2-1
<br />CLIMATIC DATA
<br />
<br />I
<br />
<br />Elevation
<br />
<br />Temperature (degrees F)
<br />
<br />Station
<br />
<br />(ft; Mean Extreme Mean Annual Mean Extreme Annual Monthly Monthly Mean
<br />Sea Level) Mhtimum Minimwo Mean Maximum Maximum Mean Maximum Minimum SnowfaU
<br />
<br />Precipitation (indtes)
<br />
<br />Frost-free Period
<br />
<br />Begin End
<br />Days Date Date
<br />
<br />AIamosa 7.536 -42 24 42 59 91 7,1 1.3 0,2 37
<br />Blanca 7,749 -38 25 43 60 97 7,8 1.6 0,2 23
<br />Center 7,683 -37 24 42 60 95 7.3 1.3 0,3 28
<br />DeINorte 7.884 -34 28 43 58 91 10,0 1.8 0,4 46
<br />Great Sand Dunes, N.M. 8,120 -25 29 44 58 91 10,6 2,2 0,3 37
<br />Hermit 9,001 -40 16 34 53 97 15,7 2,4 0,4 76
<br />Manassa 7.680 -34 23 42 60 94 7.5 1.5 0,2 18
<br />Monte Vista 7,667 -38 24 41 59 91 7,1 1.4 0,2 23
<br />Saguache 7.697 -24 27 43 60 93 8,8 1.7 0,2 30
<br />Wagon Wheel Gap 8,500 -40 16 36 55 96 tl.9 2.3 0,4 53
<br />Wolf Creek Pass 9,425 -40+ 25 38 51 88 40,8 4,9 1.1 363
<br />+ U.S. Department of Commerce (1982)
<br />* U.S. Department of Commerce (1986)
<br />Source: PEDCO Environmental, Inc. (1981)
<br />
<br />2-1
<br />
<br />98 6/01 9/07
<br />105 . 5127. 9/11.
<br />96 6/06 9/10
<br />114 6/01 9/23
<br />123 5/29 9/29
<br />11 6/27 7/08
<br />90 6/08 9/06
<br />72 6/12 8/23
<br />106 6/04 9/18
<br />8 6/29 7/07
<br />68 . 6/23. 8/30.
<br />
|