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• • EXHIBIT "K" GENERAL NATURE OF THE COUNTY in this section the physiography, relief, and drainage, climate, and farming and industry of Otero County are discussed. Physiography, Relief, and Drainage Otero County lies entirely within the physio- graphic province of the Great Plains. For the most part, the relief of the land area is gently undu- lating. The southern part of the county merges ir- regularly with a region of excessive relief com- prised of nearly level mesas and steeply sloping escarpments and canyon walls. The elevation ranges from about 3,966 feet in the northeast where the Arkansas River leaves the county to slightly more than 5,150 feet on a high mesa in the south-central part of the county. The total relief, therefore, is nearly 1,200 feet. Otero County is drained by the Arkansas River and its tributaries. The Arkansas River flows eastward along the north county line in northwestern Otero County and then across the middle of the north- ern quarter of the county. ajor tributaries of the Arkansas Raver in Otero my are the Apish apa River, Timpas Creek, Crooked Arroyo, Anderson Arroyo, and ling Arroyo. A]1 of these streams flow northward or northeastward and drain into the Arkansas River within the county. The southeastern part of the county is dra tined by the Purgatoire River and its tributaries, the largest of which is Smith Creek. The Purgat of re River enters [he Arkansas River east of this area in Bent County. A small area in the northeastern corner of Otero County is drained by Horse Creek and its tributaries Bed+e en Horse Creek and the Arkansas River, there is a small area with no well-defined stream pattern, and much of the surface drainage here is into small enclosed basins. The Arkansas, Apishapa, and Purgatoire Rivers leave a continuous flow of water, which generally is smallest during fall and winter. Timpas Creek, Crooked Arroyo, and Horse Creek are among those tributary streams that have a small, continuous flow originating from subsurface return of irrigation waters in their lower reaches. Most of the other tributary streams are intermittent. Few contain running water other. than during the summer months, when runoff from thunderstorms can fill their ch an ne] for a short period. Climate ~~ The semiarid climate of Otero County is typical of the high plains, modified by the effects of the mountains to the west. Meager and variable precip- itation from year to year, abundant sunshine, low humidity, wide temperature ranges, and considerable wind movement are characteristic. The weather of the area is influenced by air movement from four main sources. The most common source is dry and usually relatively warm air from the southwest. During winter, invasions of cold atr from the north bring occasional blizzards and sharp drops in temperature for periods extending .i to S days. Except for such cold spells, winter weather is generally open and relatively mild. After cross- ing The Rocky F1ou mains, Pacific maritime air from the west brings little moisture to the area. IL is frequently associated with storms to the north and with high winds late to winter and in spring. Air from the Gulf of Mexico in spring, summer, and fall brings warm temperatures and higher humidity. It is the principle source of moisture for the thunder- shower activity, which is responsible for precipt- tation during the growing season. "temperature and prec[pttation for Otero County are summarized in table 9. The probabilities of tlic last freezing temperature in spring and the firs[ in the fall are given in table 10. Prepared by J. W BERRY, climatologist for Colorado, National Weather Bureau Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. 77