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~.:; . USDA, Soil Conservation Service Section II-E UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE j2..~.a.a~ COLORADO FIELD OFFICE Loamy Plains 0l6 ECO - Site Description MLRA 69A 6 69B June 1983 A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 1. Physiographic Features This site is on le~rel to gently rolling uplands with an occasional slope up to i0%. Elevacic-ts range from 3,350 to 6,500 feet (1,020 to 1,980 met=_rs). T_h's site occurs on all exposures. 2. Climatic Features i i i a. The climate is semi-arid with precipitation averaging 10 to 13 inches (25 to 33 centimeters). Total yearly snowfall is 12 to 44 inches (30 to 112 centimeters). The average monthly precipitation is as follows: San Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec .3 .3 .6 1 .2 1 .6 1 .3 1 .9 1 .6 .8 .7 .5 :3 b. The mean growing.season averages approximately 150 to 175 days from April 25 to October 10, and, in average years, there is sufficient moisture at the beginning of the growing season to initiate growth in such cool-season grasses as western wheatgrass and needleandthread. Their optimum growth is early April through July. The warm season grasses have their optimum growing season through June and August, if adequate moisture is available. About 75 percent of the 11 inches (28 cm) of annual precipitation falls in the form of rain during the frost-free season. About 55 percent of the annual precipitation benefits cool-seasc- plants, 70 ;percent benefits warm season plants and the rest falls during the season of plant dormancy. There are 27 days per year that the precipitation equals or exceeds .1 inches (.04 cm), 6 days that meets, equals or exceeds .5 inches (.20 cm), and 2 days that eoual or exceed 1.0 inches (2.54 cm). c. The average annual temperature is 53° F (12° C) with 71 days higher than 90° F (32° C) and 155 days lower [han 32° F (0° C). Winter low temperatures fall below the freezing mark much of the time in December through February. Dates of the last killing frost may vary from April 24-30, and the first killing frost from October 5 to October 17.