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... 1. <br />r '"~ '-~ <br />~J UNITED STATES DEPAR'iMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />Soil Conservation Service, Colorado <br />Technical Guide RANGE SITE N0. 63 <br />Section II E Field Office <br />December 1975 <br />RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION <br />" for <br />s GRAVEL BREAKS <br />~., Land Resource Area: Central HTgh Plains (67) <br />A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. Physlographlc Features <br />Elevation ranges from 4000 to 6000 feet. Topography is gravelly <br />hills, slopes, ridges with slopes ranging from gentle to 20~ or <br />greater. <br />-, 2. Climatic Features <br />~`~i Average annual precipitation is 13 to 17 inches, of which 60 to <br />80$ falls during the growing season. <br />Optimum growing season for native plants is spring and summer, <br />average of I80 days. Frost free period is 150 days. Effectiveness <br />of snow varies from slight to fairly good, depending upon exposure <br />to wind. <br />The hot dry winds of June and July have a severe drying effect <br />of this site and reduces the forage production when they are <br />severe: <br />3. Native (potE:htial) Vegetation <br />This site f<rvors side-oats grama and little bluestem, due to high <br />lime content: of soil and water relations. Yucca, sandsage, buck- <br />wheat, blue and hairy grama are secondary plants.. <br />There are only traces of trees and shrubs on this site. Rocky <br />Mountain Juniper, mountain mahogany, four-winged saltbush, may be <br />found but only in' small amounts. <br />Approximate ground cover is 30~• <br />1~,y,% ~ . <br />~' } ~ <br />~> ~~ <br />