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cover frequently melts between snow events. <br /> Classification relationships <br /> MLRA 67B is in the Colorado Piedmont and Raton Sections of the Great Plains Province(USDA, 2006). The MLRA <br /> is further defined by LRUs A, B, and C. Features such as climate, geology, landforms, and key vegetation further <br /> refine these LRU concepts, and are described in other sections of the Ecological Site Description (ESD). <br /> NOTE:To date, these LRU's are DRAFT. <br /> LRU A is the northeast portion of MLRA 67B, to an extent of approximately 9.0 million acres. Most of the LRU is <br /> rangeland, and includes the Pawnee National Grassland, managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Dryland winter <br /> wheat/fallow rotations(that may include dryland corn, sunflowers, and/or sorghum)are grown in most counties. <br /> Irrigated cropland is utilized in the South Platte Valley. Small acreage and urban ownership are more concentrated <br /> on the Front Range. This LRU is found in portions of Adams,Arapahoe, Elbert, Kit Carson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, <br /> Washington, and Weld counties. Other counties include Boulder, Cheyenne, Denver, Jefferson, and Yuma.The soil <br /> moisture regime is Aridic Ustic. The mean annual air temperature(MAAT)is 500 F. <br /> LRU B is in the southeast portion of MLRA 67B (2.6 million acres)and include portions of Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, <br /> Kiowa, Las Animas, and Prowers counties. Most of the LRU remains agricultural. Most of LRU B is rangeland and <br /> includes the Comanche National Grassland. Dryland winter wheat/fallow rotations(that may include dryland corn, <br /> sunflowers, and/or sorghum)are grown. Irrigated cropland is used in the Arkansas Valley.The soil moisture regime <br /> is Aridic Ustic and the MAAT is 52°F. <br /> LRU C occurs in portions of Morgan and Weld counties (approximately 1.2 million acres). Most of LRU C is in <br /> rangeland. Dryland winter wheat/fallow rotations(that may include dryland corn, sunflowers, and/or sorghum)are <br /> grown. The soil moisture regime is Ustic Aridic and the MAAT is 48°F. <br /> REVISION NOTES: <br /> The Sandy Plains site was developed by an earlier version of the Sandy ESD (2004, re-named Sandy Plains in <br /> 2007).This earlier version of the Sandy ESD(2005)was based on input from NRCS (formerly Soil Conservation <br /> service)and historical information obtained from the Loamy Plains range site descriptions(1975, revised 1980). <br /> This ESD meets the Provisional requirements of the National Ecological Site Handbook(NESH). This ESD will <br /> continue refinement towards an Approved status according to the NESH. <br /> Ecological site concept <br /> The Sandy Plains ecological site is a mixed grass prairie site dominated by warm-season tallgrasses with an <br /> understory of warm-season shortgrass. Cool-season midgrasses are secondary.A variety of forbs and shrubs occur <br /> on the site.The site occurs in upland positions on plains. <br /> Associated sites <br /> R067BY015CO Deep Sand <br /> Deep Sand <br /> R067BY022CO Choppy Sands <br /> Choppy Sands <br /> R067BY031 CO Sandy Bottomland <br /> Sandy Bottomland <br /> R067BY056CO Sandstone Breaks <br /> Sandstone Breaks <br /> Similar sites <br /> R067BY022CO Choppy Sands <br /> The Choppy Sands site is associated with steeper slopes,and is more susceptible to blowouts. <br />