Laserfiche WebLink
<br />,. <br /> <br />. USDA, Soil Conservation Service <br />Section II-E <br />f~ <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE <br />COLORADO FIELD OFFICE <br />A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. Physiographic Features <br />Sandstone Breaks ~I53 <br />ECO - Site Description <br />MLRA 69A, 69B <br />April 19E3 <br />This site is located on very steep breaks, escarpments, or canyon <br />sides and on gently sloping areas above sandstone soils. Elevations <br />range from 3,500 to 6,000 feet (1,067 to 1,828 meters). <br />2. Climatic Features <br />a. The climate is semi-arid with precipitation averaging 10 to 13 <br />inches (25 to 33 centimeters). Total yearly snowfall is 12 to <br />44 inches (30 to 112 centimeters). The average monthly <br />precipitation is as follows: <br />Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec <br />' .4 .4 .7 1.2 1.8 1.4 2.0 1.7 1.9 .8 .5 .4 <br />b. The mean growing season averages approximately 150 to 170 days <br />from April 25 to October 10, and, in average years, there is <br />sufficient moisture at the beginning of the growing season to <br />initiate growth in such cool-season grasses as needleandthread <br />and western wheatgrass. Their optimum growth is early May <br />through June. The warm season grasses have their optimum <br />growing season through June and July, if adequate moisture is <br />available. About 75 percent of the 11 inches (28 cm) of annual <br />precipitation falls in the form of rain during the Eros[free <br />season. Shrubby species start to grow about May 5 through May <br />15. About 55 percent of the annual precipitation benefits <br />cool-season plants, 70 percent benefits warm season plants and <br />the rest falls during the season of plant dormancy. There are <br />29 days per year that the precipitation equals or exceeds .1 <br />inches (.04 cm), 6 days that meet, equals or exceeds .5 inches <br />(.20 cm), and 2 days that equal or exceed 1.0 inches (2.54 cm). <br />c. The average annual temperature is 52° <br />higher than 90° F (32° C) and 150 days <br />Winter low temperatures fall below the <br />time in November through March. Dates <br />may vary from April 24 through May 10, <br />frost from October 5 to October 15. <br />F (11° C) with 71 days <br />lower than 32° F (0° C). <br />freezing mark much of the <br />of the last killing frost <br />and the first killing <br /> <br />