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<br />CHAPTER TWO
<br /> Table 2-4
<br /> IMPACT OF TRAVEL ON ESA COUNTIES, 1984
<br /> TOTAL TRAVEL TRAVEL SfA'm LOCAL
<br /> TRAVEL OBNBRATBD OBNBRATBD TAX TAX
<br /> EXPENDrnJIUlS PAYROLL BMPLOYMENI' RBCHlFI'S RBCHlFI'S
<br />CXlUNlY ($1,000) ($1,000) (JOBS) ($1,000)
<br />Gunnison 31,936 7,382 822 1040 460
<br />Hinsdale 6,721 1,498 188 238 141
<br />Montrose 15,628 3,493 430 557 200
<br />Saguache 3,181 684 84 104 25
<br />ESA TOTALS 57,466 13,057 1,524 1,939 826
<br />
<br />Source: Colorado Tourism Board, U.S. Travel Data Center, County Travel Economic Impact Model (CI'E.IM)
<br />
<br />CLIMATE
<br />
<br />The planning area is located in a high
<br />valley/mountainous, continental climate regime
<br />characterized hy dry air, sunny days, clear nights,
<br />variable precipitation, moderate evaporation, and
<br />large diurnal temperature changes. Tbe Elk and West
<br />Elk Mountains to the north, the Collegiate Peaks and
<br />Sawatch Range to the east, and the Cochetopa Hills,
<br />La Garita and San Juan Mountains to the south,
<br />surround the high and wide Gunnison River Valley.
<br />Extremely frigid conditions and blizzards can occur,
<br />but severe weather conditions such as tornadoes,
<br />floods, and damaging hail are very rare. The region's
<br />complex topography causes considerable variation in
<br />site-specific temperature, precipitation, and surface
<br />winds. Because of this diversity, prolonged onsite
<br />monitoring is necessary to specify local conditions.
<br />Monitored values for temperature, precipitation and
<br />frost-free periods are summarized in Appendix O.
<br />
<br />Temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit) vary mostly
<br />with elevation, and to a lesser extent local micro-
<br />climate. Summer temperatures usually range from
<br />lows in the 40's to highs in the 70's (mountains) and
<br />80's (valleys). In winter, cold air often sinks down
<br />from tbe mountains, filling the Gunnison River Valley,
<br />making it as cold as, or colder than, tbe mountains.
<br />Winter temperatures typically range between zero
<br />degrees and the 30's. Extreme temperatures have
<br />
<br />been as low as -60 degrees (Taylor Park in 1951) and
<br />as high as 98 degrees (Cimarron in 1961). At bigher
<br />elevations, freezing temperatures and snowfall are
<br />possible year around, with snow accumulation likely
<br />from Octoher to May.
<br />
<br />Annual precipitation is highly variable, due primarily
<br />to the orographic effect of the San Juan and La
<br />Garita Mountains. Within the resource area,
<br />precipitation varies from 10-12 inches along tbe
<br />Gunnison River to over 40 inches in the surrounding
<br />mountains. Except for areas with high snowpack,
<br />most precipitation comes from summer
<br />thunderstorms. Snowfall amounts vary from around
<br />50 inches at the lower elevations to over 220 inches at
<br />Crested Bulle; mountainous snow accumulation varies
<br />from 40 to 50 inches.
<br />
<br />Upper-level winds prevail from the southwest, but the
<br />diverse and rugged terrain of the surrounding
<br />mountains results in complex wind flows and surface
<br />winds. Synoptic, or pressure gradient winds, may be
<br />channeled or forced around bills, but without strong
<br />gradient flows, diurnal upslope or downslope winds
<br />predominate. Upslope winds usually occur on sunny
<br />mornings when the air at higher elevations beats
<br />rapidly and rises. Downslope winds occur when the
<br />air near the ground cools, becomes dense and sinks
<br />downward along drainages. Similar light diurnal
<br />winds will occur along the Gunnison River drainages.
<br />
<br />2-4
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