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Note:The climate described here is based on historic climate station data in the past 30 to 50 years, and is
<br /> averaged to provide an overview of annual precipitation, temperatures, and growing season. Future climate is
<br /> beyond the scope of this document. However, research to determine the effects of elevated CO2 and/or heating on
<br /> mixed-grass prairie ecosystems, and how it may relate to future plant communities (i.e. potential shifts in dominant
<br /> and sub-dominant groups, changes in growing season length, responses of cool-season and warm-season
<br /> grasses, etc.)is on-going.
<br /> Table 3.Representative climatic features
<br /> Frost-free period(average) 129 days
<br /> Freeze-free period(average) 150 days
<br /> Precipitation total(average) 16 in
<br /> Climate stations used
<br /> • (1)BRIGHTON 3 SE [USC00050950], Brighton, CO
<br /> • (2)BYERS 5 ENE [USC00051179], Byers, CO
<br /> a (3)CHEYENNE WELLS [USC00051564], Cheyenne Wells, CO
<br /> ■ (4) BRIGGSDALE [USC00050945], Briggsdale, CO
<br /> a (5)GREELEY UNC [USC00053553], Greeley, CO
<br /> • (6)NUNN [USC00056023], Nunn, CO
<br /> • (7)SPRINGFIELD 7 WSW[USC00057866], Springfield, CO
<br /> • (8)LIMON WSMO [USW00093010], Limon, CO
<br /> m (9)FLAGLER 1S[USC00052932], Flagler, CO
<br /> • (10) FT MORGAN [USC00053038], Fort Morgan, CO
<br /> ■ (11)KIT CARSON [USC00054603], Kit Carson, CO
<br /> Influencing water features
<br /> There are no water features of the ecological site or adjacent wetland/riparian regimes that influence the vegetation
<br /> and/or management of the site that make it distinctive from other ecological sites. Many of the map units in this
<br /> ESD have a 1%to 3% hydric component for swales, drainageways, or playas.
<br /> Soil features
<br /> The soils on this site are very deep, well to somewhat excessively drained soils that formed from eolian sand or
<br /> alluvium.They typically have a moderately rapid to moderately slow permeability class, but range to slow in some
<br /> soils.The available water capacity is typically low. Available water is the portion of water in a soil that can be readily
<br /> absorbed by plant roots. This is the amount of water released between the field capacity and the permanent wilting
<br /> point. As fineness of texture increases,there is a general increase in available moisture storage from sands to
<br /> loams and silt loams. The soil moisture regime is typically aridic ustic. The soil temperature regime is mesic.
<br /> The surface layer of the soils in this site are typically sandy loam or fine sandy loam, but may include loamy sand.
<br /> The surface layer ranges from a depth of 4 to 9 inches thick.The subsoil is typically sandy loam,fine sandy loam,
<br /> or sandy clay loam, but may include loamy sand. Soils in this site can have free carbonates below 6 inches. These
<br /> soils are susceptible to erosion by wind. The potential for wind erosion accelerates with a decrease in vegetative
<br /> cover, clay percentage, and/or particle size.
<br /> Surface soil structure is granular to subangular blocky, and structure below the surface is prismatic or subangular
<br /> blocky. Soil structure describes the manner in which soil particles are aggregated and defines the nature of the
<br /> system of pores and channels in a soil.Together, soil texture and structure help determine the ability of the soil to
<br /> hold and conduct the water and air necessary for sustaining life.
<br /> Major soil series correlated to this ecological site include:Ascalon (loamy sand or sandy loam), Bijou, Blakeland,
<br /> Bresser, Gilcrest, Haxtun, Julesburg, Manter, Olnest, Otero, Paoli,Truckton, and Vona.
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