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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ' <br />Soil Conservation Service, Colorado <br />~~ <br /> <br />~ . <br />Technical Guide RANGE SITE. NO. 289 ;'~ -.. . s. <br />Section II E Fie1d.:0.ffice <br />August 1975 <br />RANGE SITE OESCRIP710N "',, <br />.. for ', _ _ <br />CLAYEY FOOTHILLS ~ -. '. _ ' <br />.. ~ - . <br />:Land Resource Area:' Central Desertte Basins,.Mouncains,'.,~ _ . <br />' ~ and Plateaus (34) - . '= <br />' Colorado and Grcen Rivers 'Plateaus (35);;~. <br />• Southern Rocky Mountains (48) •- •- <br />A. 'PHYSICAL -t1iARACTEA 15TI CS :. ... <br />-'.1': Physiographic Features _ <br />- This site occupies gently sloping .to rolling benchlands';.footslopes,.~ <br />fans, valieys and broad ridges. It is comi+only'as9ociated 4iith.....•: <br />shale hills. Slopes are generally between 1 and .12:'and are nat. <br />significant to plant growth. Elevation is between..5500 and 7000 feet. <br />2.• Climatic Features - _ _ • <br />. .Average annual precipitation is 12 [0 16 inches;'-.except ,for. a''-few <br />small.ar.eas where•_:i.Cmay-reach iS~nches--Of'-this.;.95 to~40$ falls <br />as .snow and 40 to 4'S$-falls between Nay 1 and September.j0.• Summer <br />moisture is mostly from thundershowers in late July,'August and... <br />September..' A dry period from May to early Jul.y;(s typical, and_ June <br />is. normally .the driest month: 'Fide yearly and monthly deviations <br />".;are common. The most.actlve growth of maJor nati3e~planEs~usiielly . <br />• '~ starts in April. 1[•extends through most of June for some Pl"ants..:;°°,_ <br />• ~~ ,but ends in iate May for others. •Many plants can again take advant=- <br />. age of late Summer rains if in .good vigor.. - _ <br />•- ='~ Mean annual temperatures are 45° to 48° F, wlth.a frost-free. period <br />• of 90 to 140 days. Annual range ln.temperature- is from 90° to.-15° <br />or -20° F, 'although higher and lower extremes are sometimes. recorded. <br />The typical late spring and early summer dry spell puts warm-season <br />plants at .a distinct disadvantage canpared to plants that.can_start <br />- earlier on stored winter moisture and spring rains. Deep storage~:.~;.:. <br />-: of winter moisture allows sagebrush and small trees to complete'' <br />_ "strongly with shallower-rooted grasses during•[his dry pericdy espec- <br />. '' - tally if other factors encourage the spread of such.piants.~`,' ' <br />• ~. • <br /> <br />