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. . . 002302 C;:' '\P!ER I GEnERA:. DISCUSSIOES drainage to empty a weat volume of thick muddy water into the main stream so that the river seldom runs clear for lon~ periods of tin~ in its lower course. Clinate Laroely because of the wide ranJe in elevation, the climatic condi- tions vary :;reatly in different part5 of t:le Yampa-I-lhite project area. The range of clilnate includes alpine on the Hhite River Plateau and se:tl- desert at the lower elevations. The average frost-free period for aGri- cultural lands in the project area ranges from 59 days for the easter~ost part of the area to 123 days near the mouth of White River. The project area is somewhat exposed to winds from the northwest, west, and sOlcthwest. The usual stonn courses, hmrever, are fairly well to the north of the region in winter and weather changes are seldom sudden or severe. There is much clear, open weather with comparatively unifortl temperature conditions from day to day. The temperature is moder- ately hi::;h in sUllllIler and pleasant in daytime in winter. Radiation condi- tions are good and niGht temPeratures are moderately low, especially in winter W!len snow covers the area and when cold waves move in fi'0lll the north or northwest. The maximum recorded temperature in the area is 1060 F. while the minimum recorded temperature is -540 F. Mean maximum summer temperatures for the area range from 800 to 90. F. while mean minimum winter temperatures r<lIlge between 0 and 10. F. The average annual precipitation over the area varies from about 30 inches at the higher elevations to about 8 inches at the lower elevations. The amounts are fairly uniform from month to month, there being no periods of conspicuously heavier or lighter precipitation. In the areas contain- in~ the project lands about 30 percent of the aJlllUal precipitation occurs as rain durins the irri3ation season. At the higher elevations, however, more than 60 percent usually falls in the form of snow. Data on climatic conditions for each unit of the project are included in the individual unit discussions in Chapter III. Present Development Population and communi ties The Yarnpa-White project area had a 1950 population of approximately 20,000. About one-fourth of the people reside on farms while the rest live in towns and villages. The larGest community in the area is CraiG, Colo., W11ich had a 1950 population of 3,030. The next largest co=unities are Steamboat Sprin(Ss, Neeker, and Oak Creek, Colo., with 1950 populatio:!s of 1,913, 1,65G, and 1,488, respectively. The project area has approxi- mately 13 other communities, all ,nth populations of less than 1,000, that have some importance as local tradinG centers. 5