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the growing season as a result of the quantity and distribution of precipitation. Periods of peak <br />precipitation occur in the spring and early summer months. <br />Mean annual air temperature is about 46 to 48 degrees F. The average frost -free period is about <br />130 days. Additional climatological data is contained in Section 2.04.8 of this permit application. <br />5. Geology <br />A detailed discussion of the New Horizon geology is presented in Section 2.04.6 of this application. <br />Appropriate sections are summarized in the following text. The Nucla Syncline (San Migel <br />Syncline) is a northwest trending geologic structure which contains the coal reserves of the <br />study area. This shallow, broad syncline is a simple fold with gently dipping flanks. <br />The Cretaceous -age Dakota Sandstone is the youngest formation found in the study area, with the <br />exception of Quaternary deposits. The overlying upper Cretaceous Mancos shale (a soft, <br />homogeneous, dark -gray fissile rock) is not found in the study area. The Dakota consists primarily <br />of resistant yellowish to gray, fissile sandstone, and conglomeratic sandstones interbedded with <br />dark gray carbonaceous shales, impure coal, and a basal conglomerate. It forms resistant but thin <br />sandstone ledges that are scattered throughout the study area. These ledges are often exposed <br />at the surface or are encountered within a few feet of the surface. <br />The deposits of Quaternary age consist of wind deposited material, streamlain alluvium, and local <br />slopewash. Deposits of a light -red sandy loam and loam loessial material mantle the nearly flat <br />mesa -like surface on the west side of the study area. <br />6. Soils and Geomorphology —1988 <br />The study area occupies the part of the gently sloping western portion of "First Park," an irrigated <br />area adjacent to Nucla on the east, south, and west. The study area is shown in Map 2.04.9 -1. The <br />ephemeral drainages generally cross the study area from northeast to southwest. Numerous small <br />man made ponds have been created along many of these drainages. Calamity Draw flows from <br />east to west along the southern border of the study area. Sewage lagoons for the town of Nucla <br />(Revised October 09) 2.04.9 -8 <br />