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EXHIBIT "K" GEl.E R4L t:ATURE Or' Til~ G7U;1T1' 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 3,965 fee[ in the northeast where the Arkansas River leaves the county to slightly more than 5,]50 feet on a high mesa in the south-central part of the county. The total relief, therefore, is nearly ],200 feet. Otero County is drained by the Ark. ansas Fiver 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- zastern quarter of the county. Major tributaries of the Arkansas River in Otero .n ty are the Apish apa River, Timpas Creek, Crooked Arroyo, Anderson Arroyo, and King Arroyo. A]1 of these streams flow northward or northeastward and drain into the ArY.an5a5 River within [he county. The southeastern part of the county is drained by the Pur gatoi re River and its tributaries, the largest of =hich is Smith Creek. The Purgatoi re River enters [hc Arkansas Rtver east of [his area in Bent County. A small area in the northeastern corner of Otero County is drained by Horse Creek and its tributaries Bc [~:cen lio rse Creek and the Arkansas River, there is a small area with no well-defined stream pattern, and much of the surface drainage Ice re is into small enclosed basins. Thc Arkansas, Apishapa, and Purg at of re Rivers I~avG a continuous flow of water, which generally is smallc st during fall and winter. Timpas Creek, Crooked Arroyo, and Horse Creek are among those tributary streams that have a small, continuous Elow originating from subsurface return of irrigation waters in their ]ot+er reaches. Flost of the other tributary streams are intermittent. Few contain running water ocher than during the sunmer mon tits, when runoff from thunderstorms can fill [heir channel 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, ]ow 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 sou[hwzs[. During winter, invasions of cold air fron the north bring occasional blizzards and sharp drops in temperature for periods extending 3 to 5 days. Except for such cold spills, winter weather is generally open and relatively mild. After cross- ing the Roc4;y Mountains, Pacific maritime air from the west rings little moisture co the area. ]t is frequently associated wi ch storms to the north and with high winds late in winter and in spring. Air from the Gulf of Ffexico in spring, summer, and fall brings warm temperatures and higher humidity. I[ is the principle Sou rte of moisture for the thunder- shower acti vit}•, wht clt is responsible for precipi- ta a on during the growing season. 'f cape ra[m~e and prcctpi[aL On for Otero County arc su nma rued in table 9. Thc probabilities of the last freezing to mpc raturc in spring and the first in [he fall are given iit cable 10. Prepared by J. w. 6CRRY„ climatologist for Colorado, tlational k'ea titer Bureau Service, U.S. Department of Commerce 77