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EXHIBIT "K" GEI;=RA! NATURE 0-r Til_- COU:rtl' In this section. the physiography, relief, and Crooked Arroyo, and horse Creek are among those drainage, climate, and farming and industry of Otero tributary streams that have a small, continuous flow County are discussed. originating from subsurface return of irrigation waters in their lower reaches. Most of the other tributary streams are intermittent. Few contain Physiography, Relief, and Drainage running water other than during the summer months, when runoff from thunderstorms can fill their Otero County lies entirely within the physio- channel for a short period. graphic province of the Great Plains. For the most part, the relief of the land area is gently undu- Climate — lating. T'he southern part of the county merges ir- The semiarid climate of Otero County is typical regularly with a region of excessive relief com- of the high plains, modified by the effects of the prised of nearly level mesas and steeply sloping mountains to the west. Meager and variable precip- escarpments and canyon walls. The elevation ranges itation from year to year, abundant sunshine, low from about 3,965 feet in the northeast where the humidity, wide temperature ranges, and considerable Arkansas River leaves the county to slightly more wind movement are characteristic. than 5,IS0 feet on a high mesa in the south-central the weather of the area is influenced by air part of the county. the total relief, therefore, is movement from four main sources. The most common nearly 1,?00 feet. source is dry and usually relatively warm air from Otero County is drained by the Arkansas River and the southwest. During winter, invasions of cold air its tributaries. The Arkansas River flows eastward from the north bring occasional blizzards and sharp along the north county line in northwestern Otero drops in temperature for periods extending 3 to S County and then across the middle of the north- days. Except for such cold spells, winter weather eastern quarter of the county, is generally open and relatively mild. After cross- "lajor tributaries of the Arkansas River in Otero ing the Rocky Mountains, Pacific maritime air from .nty are the Apishapa River, Timpas Creek, Crooked the west brings little moisture to the area. It is Arroyo, Anderson Arroyo, and King Arroyo. All of frequently associated with storms to the north and these streams flow northward or northeastward and with high winds late in winter and in spring. Air drain into the Arkansas River within the county. The from the Gulf of Mexico in spring, summer, and fall southeastern part of the county is drained by the brings warm temperatures and higher humidity. It is Purgatoire River and its tributaries, the largest of the principle source of moisture for the thunder- ,hich is Smith Creek. The Purgatoire River enters shower activity, which is responsible for precipi- the Arkansas River east of this area in Bent County. tation during the growing season. A small area in the northeastern corner of Otero 'fa-.1,xrature and prcc:pitat:on for Otero County County is drained by Horse Creek and its tributaries. Between Horse Creek and the Arkansas River, there is are summarized in table 9. The probabilities of the a small area with no well-defined stream pattern, last freezing temperature in spring and the first in and much of the surface drainage here is into small the fall are given in table 10. enclosed basins. 7T_ T'ne Arkansas, Apishapa, and Purgatoire Rivers Prepared by J. H. BCRRY„climatologist for have. a continuous flow of water, which generally fs Colorado, National Weather Bureau Service, U.S. smallest during fall and winter. Timpas Creek, Department of Commerce 77