2006-09-11_REVISION - M1984043 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR (112) OPERATION CONVERSION APPLICATION JESSE LEE PIT CHAFFEE COUNTY, COLORADO RECEIVED APPLICANT: PELINO, INC. AUG ~ 9 ~O~6 EXHIBIT K Division of Reclamation, CLIMATE Mining and Safety Page 1 of 1 The year-round climate in the Chaffee-Lake survey azea is considered to be normal for the mountainous part of Colorado. Farming is limited by a deficiency of water and a relatively short frost-free season. There aze three official weather reporting stations in the survey azea. These stations are at Salida and Buena Vista in Chaffee County and at Leadville in Lake County. The climatic features at Salida are generally representative for the southern part of the survey area and, to a limited extent, for the northern part of the azea. The records from the Salida station (elevation 7,060 feet) show that the average annual precipitation is 10.87 inches. The average frost-free season is 107 days, and the average summer temperature is 62.6°. The average annual temperature is 46.5°. The months of highest rainfall aze July and August, and the months of lowest precipitation are December and January. The Buena Vista station (elevation 7,954 feet) reports an average summer temperature of 58°. The average annual temperature is 44°. The average frost-free season at Buena Vista is 95 days. The precipitation pattern is similar to that of the Salida azea. Average annual precipitation is 9.28 inches. The Leadville station in Lake County (elevation 10,177 feet) records an average annual temperature of 36.2°. The kinds of crops that can be raised aze limited because the average minimum temperature through the summer is only 35.7°. The average frost-free season is 79 days. Average annual precipitation is 18.48 inches. Snowfall in the mountainous part of the survey azea varies considerably from year to yeaz, but it ranges in depth from 8 to 15 feet. Snowfall furnishes the water for irrigation in the azea. Because of climatic conditions, a large part of the survey area considered to be irrigated land is the meadows, and some is in small grains, native hay, and alfalfa. The azea is considered better adapted to livestock production than to farming. There is no dryland farming within the survey area. * Reprinted from Soil Survey of Chaffee-Lake Area, Colorado prepazed by United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service issued October 1975.