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II I I II I III II IIII III • ~_z~ ~ q g • <br />S/1/: EXHIBIT K <br />CLIMATE INFORMATION <br />The climate of the Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project area is classified as semi-arid <br />continental with a growing season of approximately 100 days (BLM 1982). Low relative <br />humidity, sunny days and clear nights, low precipitation with high evaporation, and <br />large diurnal temperature changes characterize this type of climate. <br />The project area receives an average of 12 to 14 inches of precipitation a year, with total <br />precipitation ranging from as much as 20.37 inches (1986) to as little as 8.53 inches <br />(1966). Spring and late summer are the wettest periods of the year. August is the <br />wettest month with an average of 1.56 inches, while January is the driest month with an <br />average of only 0.74 inches. On average, there are 51 days a year with measurable (>_ 0.1 <br />inches) precipitation. In the past, the number of days with measurable precipitation has <br />varied from as many as 84 days to as few as 30 days. The maximum daily precipitation <br />was 2.3 inches, which occurred on August 6, 1986. Snowfall has been measured in all <br />months except July and August. An average of 73 inches of snow falls each year. <br />Historically, snowfall has ranged from as much as 124 inches (1979) to as little as 38 <br />inches (1982). <br />Table K-1 illustrates some of the climatic conditions in the vicinity of the project. The <br />temperature differences are largely due to the location of the meteorological stations <br />(valley vs. plateau) as well as their elevations. <br />Table K-1 Project Area Climatic Conditions <br />Location Elevation Minimum Normal Growing Precipitation <br /> (feet above Maximum Temperature Season (inches) <br /> MSL) Temperature (°F) (days) <br /> (°F) <br />Grand 4,855 -8 52.7 204 8.41 <br />Junction 102 <br />Rangely 5,216 -16 43.8 77 8.24 <br /> 98 <br />Rifle 5,400 -27 47.8 129 11.24 <br /> 92 <br />Glenwood 5,823 -14 48.1 75 18.03 <br />S rin s 97 <br />Little Hills 6,140 -30 43.5 68 10.62 <br /> 92 <br />Meeker 6,347 -25 42.6 60 11.09 <br /> 108 <br />Source: U.S. Department of Commerce 1968, cited in USGS 1981 <br />K-1 <br />