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<br />USDA, Soil Conservation Service <br />Section II-E <br />1 <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE <br />~~i,.J. u q o , COLORADO FIELD OFFICE <br />Shallow Foothill 8204 <br />Eco Site Description <br />MLRA 49A and 49B <br />July 1984 <br />A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. Physiographic Features <br />Topography is ridges, hog-backs, mesas, and steep slopes. Slope is <br />often east facing but can be in any direction. Slope varies from <br />nearly level to 45 percent. Elevation ranges from 5,200 to 7,000 <br />feet (1,585 to 2,134 meters). <br />2. Climatic Features <br />a. Precipitation averages 13 to 17 inches (35-43 cm) annually with <br />fluctuations from year to year. From 65 to 70 percent of the <br />precipitation is received between May and October. <br />A typical average precipitation pattern follows: <br />Jan Feb March April May June July Avg Sept Oct Nov Dec <br />.42 .58 .92 1.64 2.14 I.82 2.92 2.16 1.96 .99 .64 .48 <br />b. Average annual temperature is approximately 49° F (9.4° c). <br />Length of the frost free period averages I20 to 150 days and <br />occurs from the middle of May till the end of September. High <br />intensity summer storms followed by hot dry periods are common. <br />3. Native (Climax Potential) Vegetation <br />a. The potential plant community is about 70 to 80 percent grasses, <br />10 to 20 percent forbs, and 15 to 30 percent shrubs and trees. <br />This site gives a browse type vegetation appearance. True <br />Mountain mahogany, big bluestem, little bluestem, sideoats <br />grama, yellow Indiangrass, and Griffith wheatgrass are the <br />dominant plants in the potential plant community. <br />Needleandthread, mountain muhly, Sandberg bluegrass, blue grama, <br />Junegrass, and Indian ricegrass are also present. Numerous <br />forbs and other shrubs are present in small amounts. Pinyon <br />pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, and ponderosa pine are also found <br />on this site in small amounts. <br />