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OC2191 - 6 - Land Use.- The acreage and percentage distribution of land use is shown in the following table: Land Use ~ Per Cent Wooded Grassland 760 52 Grassland 410 28 Urban 300 20 Total 1,470 100 Climate.- The climate of the area is semiarid. Rainfall is greatest during the summer months and is characterized by torrential thunderstorms or cloud-bursts, which usually fall on small areas and last only a few minutes. Because vegetation is sparse and gradients are steep, flash floods frequently result from these summer rains. The amount of snowfall varies considerably fram year to year. Several feet of snow may cover most of the area during some winters, but may be absent except at high altitudes during others. Two weather stations, reporting to the United States Weather Bureau, are located in the Trinidad area. One of these is in the City and is operated by the City of Trinidad. The other is located at the Trinidad airport, about 15 miles northeast of Trinidad, and is operated by the Federal Aviation Agency. Climatological data fram the weather station in the City of Trinidad are most nearly representative of climatic conditions in the watershed. The average annual precipitation at the Trinidad station is 16.75 inches. Snowfall averages about 60 inches annually. The mean daily temperature is 51.7 degrees. The average length of the growing season is 156 days, beginning May 7 and ending October 10. Water Uses and Sources.- Water for livestock use is obtained from shallow wells. Springs are few and most of them go dry late in the summer. Surface water can be utilized for livestock use by storage in small ponds. Economic Data Trinidad is one of the oldest towns in Colorado. It was originally an important trading post on the old Santa Fe Trail and gateway to the toll road built south of town over Raton Pass on the Colorado-New Mexico border. The first house on the present site of Trinidad was erected in 1860. By 1861 a small community had become established and farming had begun in the valley of the Purgatoire River. In 1866 Las Animas County was formed fram part of Huerfano County with Trinidad as county seat. The City, with a population of 12,204 (1950 census), is the major trade center for Las Animas County. It was incorporated in 1879.