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. . . l' fl'--.; v. ..&.. General Description Climatic data at selected stations within the unit area are summarized in table 3. Table 3.--Climatic data (193l-1960) Average Temperature (degrees F.) annual Annual Average Average frost - free Station Precipitation Max. Min. July January period (inches) (days) Ft. Morgan 12.86 l09 -4l 73.9 24.3 l48 Sterling 14.10 106 -33 73.9 24.8 l40 Julesburg 16.32 l09 -38 76.4 27.7 l45 HISTORY The unit area was part of the larger area ceded to the United States as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. SubseQuently, the South . Platte area became a part of the Kansas-Nebraska Territory and later was included as a part of the Colorado Territory established by Congress in 1861. The Colorado Territory was admitted to the Union on August l, 1876 as the 38th State. During the decade 1880-1889, homesteaders began assuming control over lands in the South Platte River valley and surrounding range lands which formerly had been held by cattle barons. Thus began the cash grain and livestock economy in the uplands and the irrigation farming in the valleys, now prevalent in the area. Large irrigation areas along the lower part of the valley were not developed to any great extent, however, until about the turn of the century, when increased water supplies, consisting of return flows from upstream irrigation, became available and legislation was passed which authorized the formation of irrigation districts. This legislation provided the means for farmers to cooperate in financing and constructing extensive and complex irrigation facilities. By 19l0, several irrigation dis- tricts had constructed works to irrigate dry lands, but most of the districts constructed reservoirs to store water for irrigated lands which were inadequately supplied by direct-flow rights. This period of expansion continued until the beginning of World War I. Since then, activities have been generally limited to maintenance and improvement of existing works. 6