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:lii» :399 15:32 7198»6©525 USDA ~D4D P.>GE OZ <br />' '• • • <br />r~ i.., <br />USDA, Soil Conservation Service <br />Section II-E <br />`` - -.. <br />UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICI,ZTURE <br />SOIL CONSERPATION SERVICE <br />COLORADG FIELD OFFICE <br />Shaly Plains fi46 <br />ECO - SITE DESC&IPTION <br />liLRA 69A, 69B, 67 <br />August 1983 <br />A. PHYSIC.AI, CHARACTERISTICS <br />1. PhyaloRrephlc Features <br />This site varies from nearly level elopes to moderately steep sad <br />broken lends, slopes vary from 1-lSx, but vhare this site occurs <br />vith LSmeetnne eco-site these slopes will be in excess of 1S per- <br />cent. Elevations range from 3,400 to 6,206 feet (1036 to 1889 <br />meters). <br />2. Climatic Features <br />a. The climate is semi-arid with precipitation averaging lU to 13 <br />inches (25 to "s3 centimeters). Total yearly snowfall is ]2 to <br />44 inches (30 to 112 cer.timet_re). The average monthly <br />•, precipitation is as Eollova: <br />~~ ~ Jan Feb March April Hay June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dac <br />.3 .3 .7 1.2 1.8 1.3 1.9 1.7 .9 .7 ,5 .3 <br />b. The mean growing season averages appraximatelp t50 to 175 days <br />from April 23 to October 10, and, in average years, there is <br />sufficient moisture at the beginning of the growing season to <br />in±ciate grovth in such cool-season grasses as western <br />vheatgrass, lndian ricegrass and needieandthread. Their optimim <br />grouch is early April through .Iuly. The watts season grasses <br />have their optimun growing season through Juno and August, if <br />adequate moisture is available. Shrubby species start grovth <br />about Hay : to Hay 15. About 75 percent of the 11 inches (28 <br />cm) of annual precipitation falls in the forn of rein during the <br />tcoatfrae season. About 55 percent of the annual preeipitetlon <br />benefits cool-season plantc, 70 percent benefits warm aeacon. <br />plants sad the rest falls during she season of pleat dormancy. <br />There are 27 days per year [hat the precipitation equals or <br />exceeds .1 inchae (.04 cm), 6 days chat meets, equals or exceeds <br />.5 inches (.20 em), and 2 days that equal or exceed 1.0 inchae <br />(2.54 gym). <br />c. The average annual temperature is 53°F (12°C) vlth 71 days <br />nigher than 90°F (32°C) and li5 daps lower than 32°F (0°C). <br />l Temperatures fall belay the freezing nark much of the time in <br />'id._ Uecemher through February. Dates of the Laet killing frost nay <br />vary Erom April 24-30, and the first ki111nQ fraat from occot•ec <br />5 to October 15. <br /> <br />