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<br /> <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE _ _ <br />Soil Conservation Service, Colorado ~~~~ <br />~._. <br />Technical Guide <br />Section II E <br />RANGE SITE N0. 63 <br />Field Office <br />December 1975 <br />RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION <br />for <br />GRAVEL BREAKS <br />Land Resource Area: Central High Plains (67) <br />~1 <br />A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. Physiographic Features <br /> <br />Elevation ranges from 4000 to 6000 feet. Topography is gravelly <br />hills, slopes, ridges with slopes ranging from gentle to 20$ or <br />greater. <br />2. Climatic Features <br />Average annual precipitation is 13 to 17 inches, of which 60 to <br />80$ falls during the growing season. <br />Optimum growing season for native plants is spring and summer, <br />average of 180 days. Frost free period is 150 days. Effectiveness <br />of snow varies from slight to fairly good, depending upon exposure <br />to wind. <br />The hot dry winds of June and July have a severe drying effect <br />of this site and reduces the forage production when they are <br />severe. <br />3• Native (potential) Vegetation <br />This site favors side-oats grama and little bluestem, due to high <br />lime content of soil and water relations. Yucca, sandsage, buck- <br />wheat, blue and hairy grama are secondary plants. <br />There are only traces of trees and shrubs on this site. Rocky <br />Mountain juniper, mountain mahogany, four-winged saltbush, may be <br />found but only in small amounts. <br />Approximate ground cover is 30~. <br />