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Climate <br />• <br />range in temperatures encountered in the average day. Such stress can cause serious declines in growth rates <br />of non-adapted species. <br />SITE MOD/FICATIONS: The quarry site itself is about 1000 feet higher than the weather service <br />station and therefore the actual temperatures would average about 2 to 5 degrees less. Yt:t, the pattern of <br />vaziation throughout the year and the average daily range of temperatures is probably similar. !n winter, the <br />daily range may be somewhat less because of cold air drainage into the lower elevations of the city and <br />somewhat higher night temperatures at the quarry. Shallow temperature inversions that are a~mmon in winter <br />usually cause this pattern. During the growing season the quarry would be expected to be cooler but would <br />exhibit essentially the same pattern of variation on a monthly and daily basis. <br />PRECIPITATION: Figure 2 shows the annual variation in mean precipitation for Colorado Springs on a <br />monthly basis. This bar graph shows the rather even distribution of precipitation over the growing season. <br />The July/August increase over June reflects the usually reliable arrival of monsoonal moisture from the Gulf <br />of California. Further north in Denver, precipitation decreases in those months. This is a reflection of the <br />effectiveness of the Pikes Peak and Palmer Divide bamers in creating a mild rain s:iadow effect in <br />northeastern Colorado during the monsoon. <br />FIGURE 2: PrecipNation (monthly) <br />Cdoretlo springs. Cdorado <br />ss <br /> <br />s <br /> <br />rs <br /> <br />t <br /> <br />as <br /> <br />0 <br /> Jen Fla Mu Mr AYY Jvr JJY pup ~P Oct Nor 0.c <br />Anywhere else along the Front Range Corridor this Colorado Springs pattern is very unusual. The <br />pattern is a major factor in the usually successful revegetation programs conducted in the (:olorado Springs <br />area. However, this pattern of increased precipitation in July and August is primarily attributable to the heavy <br />and often severe thunderstorms that Colorado Springs is noted for. Thus, although precipitation levels appear <br />excellent during this time, much of that precipitation is not very effective moisture. That is, much of it runs <br />off before it can soak into the ground. But, this pronounced moisture peak during a time when most other <br />areas are "crying for rain" enhances the revegetation potentials in the Colorado Springs azea. <br />Menzer Quarry Amendment Exhibit K Page 3 <br />