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<br />Climate <br /> <br />Average annual precipitation varies from more than 40 inches (102 <br />em) at the higher elevations to less than 10 inches (25 em) in the <br />lower valleys. Annual precipitation at Montrose and Gunnison <br />averages about 9.5 and 11.2 inches (24.2 and 28.5 em), <br />respectively. <br /> <br />-. <br /> <br />Temperatures also vary considerably. The record official low <br />temperature in Colorado occurred within the region on February 1, <br />1951, at Taylor Park Dam north of Gunnison when it dropped to <br />-60oF (-51 OC). Summer temperatures in the lower basin <br />occasionally exceed 1000F (380C), Average annual temperatures at <br />Montrose and Gunnison are 49.10F and 37.70F (9.50C and 3.20C), <br />respectively, <br /> <br />- I <br /> <br />Soils <br /> <br />Fifteen general soil map units occur in the region (see table 2-1). <br />These units represent areas containing more than one kind of soil <br />which are closely associated and characteristically found together <br />within a particular type of landscape setting. Soil map units <br />having good potential for such uses as camping, picnicking, hi king, <br />and development of recreation facilities include two types--the <br />Ustollic Haplargid unit, which is noted for the scenery associated <br />with it; and the Aridic Argiboroll-Aridic Haploboroll unit, which has <br />wildlife development potential, particularly for deer and grouse. <br />These units, as well as the Lithic Ustic Torriorthent unit, are <br />found in the study corridor. <br /> <br />Sediment yield, the mass of sediment transported per unit area per <br />unit time, is very minor in the higher zones where most of the <br />runoff is snowmelt and vegetative cover conditions are generally <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />22 <br />