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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br /> Soil Conservation Service, Colorado <br /> Technical Guide RANGE SITE NO. 285 <br /> Section II E Field Office <br /> August 1975 <br /> RANGE SITE DESCRIPTION <br /> fo r <br /> FOOTHILL SWALE <br /> Land Resource Area: Central Desertic Basins, Mountains <br /> and Plateaus (34) <br /> Southern Rocky Mountains (48) <br /> A. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS <br /> 1 . Physiographic Features <br /> This site occurs in the swales, valleys, alluvial bottomlands, <br /> and other low-lying areas which receive runoff from adjacent <br /> uplands. <br /> Elevation ranges from 6000 feet to 7600 feet above sea level . <br /> 2. Climatic Features <br /> Annual precipitation ranges between 12 to 16 inches, with <br /> about 60% coming as snow. <br /> The optimum growing season for native plants is April 15 to <br /> July 15. <br /> Due to its position, this site receives occasional beneficial <br /> moisture from run-in water and overflow water. <br /> 3. Native (potential ) Vegetation <br /> The aspect of this site is a valley grassland plant community <br /> with a rather sparse stand of shrubs, basin wildrye, western <br /> and streambank wheatgrasses, Indian ricegrass, squirrel tail , <br /> and Nevada bluegrass are the dominant grasses. Shrubs include <br /> bas-N big sagebrush, rubber rabbitbrush, and fourwing saltbush. <br /> Principal forbs are yarrow, fleabane, globemallow, Indian paint- <br /> brush, and wild buckwheat. <br />