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,OOHi53 precipitation increases with altitude and with distance from the ri~er valley to the outer rin of the basin. Most of the precipitation in the mountains comes in low intensity storms. Mountain temperatures decrease with altitude. Frost-free periods range from 83 to 105 days. At high elevations, freezing temperatures may be expected every night. The average annual temperature at Leadville l.a but 35.6 degrees Fahren- heit, with a maximum of 860F., and a minum of -290F. The lowest minimum temperature in the mountain area is recorded for Westcliffe, -540F., and the maximum, at Buena Vista, 1050F. The plains region eastward from Pueblo is arid, with the warmest In.I3Il.D average temperatures in the State, ranging from 500 to 540F. Rain- fall is deficient for optimum crop production, even though most of the annual precipitation occurs during the growing season April through October. Many of the storms are of high intsnsity. The average annual precipitation at Lamar on the eastern plains is 16.05 inches, and at Pueblo, 11.67 inches. At Canon City, above Pup-blo, the average is 12.98 inches. The plains area has a long growing season, and the fro..t-fres period rengeB from 173 days a.t Pueblo, to Ibl daYB at LaB Animas and 168 daYB at Lamar, the general average for ths plainB region being about 165 daye. Minimum temperaturee on the plains are around _30oF., and the ma.xilllUllls are in the neighborhood of 980F. at Colorado Springe to 1140F. at Las AnimaB. The climB te, except for the scanty precipitation, ie excellent for agriculture. Historv and settlement Development and settlement of the entire project area has closely paralleled that of the State of Colorado, which. was organized as: a 12