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<br />o <br />N <br />c.J <br />,. w::.. <br /> <br />CHAPTER II <br /> <br />LOCATION AND SETTING <br /> <br />Meeker Dome encompasses an area about 2 square miles, with a maxi- <br />mum elevation of 6,680 feet. The top of the dome is about 350 feet <br />above the White River which flows along the dome's southern edge. Por- <br />tions of the south face are characterized by steep cliffs which have <br />been eroded by the river, while the eastern, northern, and western faces <br />are more gently sloping. Most of the dome is privately owned with the <br />primary land uses being cultivated agrieulture, livestoe\<. grazing, and <br />wildlife habitat. Colorado Highway 132 runs along the southern flank of <br />the dome, while Highway 13 extends in a northerly direetion along the <br />west side. <br /> <br />Climate <br /> <br />The climate of the Meeker Dome area is semiarid with warm summers <br />and cold winters. Average annual precipitation at Meeker is about 17.5 <br />inches, and the average snowfall is about 85 inches annually. The aver- <br />age annual temperature is about 44.50 F and ranges from a minimum of <br />7.40 F in January to a maximum of 86.30 F in July. The frost-free <br />period is about 94 days. <br /> <br />Vegetation <br /> <br />About 50 pereent of the Meeker Dome area is cultivated for winter <br />wheat. The lowlands adjacent to the dome on the east and south sides <br />are irrigated farmlands and used primarily for grass crops and livestock <br />pasture. The unfarmed areas are dominated by two native vegetation <br />types--pinyon-juniper woodlands and sagebrush shrublands. <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife <br /> <br />The Meeker Dome area is well populated with mule deer and serves as <br />critical winter range. Animals common to the area include bobcat, coy- <br />ote, marmot, badger, jackrabbit, cottontail, chipmunk, and ground squir- <br />rels. Mountain lion and blaek bear infrequently pass through the area. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Upland game birds include sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, mourn- <br />ing doves, and blue grouse. The bottomlands of the White River and its <br />tributaries--Coal Creek and Curtis Creek--provide habitat for beaver, <br />muskrat, and waterfowl. The bald eagle, an endangered species, uses the <br />White River Valley as a wintering area, while golden eagles inhabit the <br />entire area. Historically, the endangered black-footed ferret occurred <br />in northwestern Colorado. Three probable sitings occurred in Rio Blaneo <br />County in 1977, one 15 miles north of Meeker. <br /> <br />3 <br />