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HE LOOK

OF OUR LAND

AN AIRPHOTO ATLAS

OF THE RURAL UNITED STATES

The Mountains and Desert

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE AGRICULTURE HANDBOOK NO. 409
ABSTRACT

Airphotos illustrate land use patterns and terrain in two land resource

regions in the Western United States. Portions of small-scale airphoto index

sheets and a stereopair of airphotos accompany the description of each area

that is reproduced from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296, ^^Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the

United States."

Key Words 5 Land resources. Land use patterns, Airphotos, Land resource regions, Land resource areas, North Central States.

Studies in the series on The Look of Our Land^—An Airphoto Atlas of the Rural United

Stales include:

A. Northwestern Forest, Forage, and Specialty Crop Region

B. Northwestern Wheat and Range Region

C. California Subtropical Fruit, Truck, and Specialty Crop Region

D. Western Range and Irrigated Region

E. Rocky Mountain Range and Forest Region

F. Northern Great Plains Spring Wheat Region

G. Western Great Plains Range and Irrigated Region

H. Central Great Plains Winter Wheat and Range Regions

I. Southwestern Plateaus and Plains Range and Cotton Region

J. Southwestern Prairies Cotton and Forage Region

K. NorthernLake States Forest and Forage Region

L. Lake States Fruit, Truck, and Dairy Region

M. Central Feed Grains and Livestock Region

N. East and Central General Farming and Forest Region

O. Mississippi Delta Cotton and Feed Grains Region

P. South Atlantic and Gulf Slope Cash Crop, Forest, and Livestock Region

R. Northeastern Forage and Forest Region

S. Northern Atlantic Slope Truck, Fruit, and Poultry Region

T. Atlantic and Gulf Coast Lowlands Forest and Truck Crop Region

U. Florida Subtropical Fruit, Truck Crop, and Range Region

This handbook, subtitled "The Mountains and Deserts,'' includes regions D and E.

Washington, D.C. 20250 May 1971

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.O. 20402 - Price $1
The Look of Our Land—An Airphoto Atlas of the Rural United States:

THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS

Compiled by

SIMON BAKER and

HENRY W. DILL, JR.^

BACKGROUND

The Economic Research Service has been conducting

studies on present and potential uses of land in the

United States. In connection with this activity, USDA

Agriculture Handbook 153 "Land Use and Its Patterns

in the United States," by F. J. Marschner, was published

in 1959. This landmark publication contained a color

map scaled at 1 : 5,000,000, entitled "Major Land Uses

in the United States." An unusual feature of the Handbook was 168 aerial photographs showing land use

patterns across the 48 contiguous States. The map,

text, and photos together showed the ways that our

land is used. This bulletin updates Agriculture Handbook 153, which is out of print and may be found only

in major libraries.

In 1965, another landmark publication appeared:

"Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource

Areas of the United States," USDA Agriculture Handbook 296, for sale by the Superintendent of Documents,

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

20402. Morris E. Austin and many others in the Soil

Conservation Service compiled this classification and

systematic description of U.S. resource regions. Twenty

land resource regions were delineated, which were further subdivided into 156 land resource areas, with in-

^ Simon Baker, formerly with the Economic Research Service,

is now with Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geography, Boca Raton. Henry W. Dill, Jr., is a Physical Science

Analyst, ERS, Natural Resource Economics Division, Land

Resources Branch.

formation on land use, elevation and topography,

climate, water, and soils for each.

This atlas, then, brings together text and photos

that show land use and related information according

to an established regional and area classification of

U.S. land resources.

The ways we use our land are usually described

verbally or quantitatively, or are depicted on maps.

These presentations are informative but limited. There

is no substitute for seeing, and an aerial view is unsurpassed for observing certain phenomena on the surface of the earth. Aerial photographs, used with maps

and descriptions, provide a comprehensive idea of how

land is used. Such richly detailed photos can be viewed

stereoscopically for three-dimensional study of relationships between items on the earth's surface and man's

activities.

The airphotos in this handbook were selected to

show characteristics and land use in 32 resource areas

in two regions comprising all or part of 11 Western

States. Accompanying the photos of each area is a

brief description of land use, climate, soils and

topography for that area.

USE OF THE AIRPHOTO ATLAS

Two facing pages are devoted to each land resource

area. A stereopair, usually at a scale of 1: 20,000, shares

each right-hand page with a description of the area that

is reproduced from Agriculture Handbook 296. To locate and orient the terrain shown in the stereopair, the

reader should refer to the numbers on the photo index

sheet (described below) on the left-hand page. He will

note that the compass orientations of the stereopairs

vary, but the index sheet clarifies the orientation.

The area shown on a stereopair overlaps two points

on a flight line showing the same portion of the earth's

surface. When viewed through a simple pocket stereoscope the scene appears three-dimensional. Any text

on aerial photographic interpretation or photogrammetry describes how such photos are made and how to

use the stereoscope.

Each left-hand page shows an aerial photographic

index sheet that includes the area of the facing stereopair. Each index sheet was selected to match the land

use description for the given area. An index sheet is

an uncontrolled mosaic made up of many individual

airphotos. The photos are assembled with their identification numbers showing, matched by eye, and mounted

on a board. The group is rephotographed, reduced in

scale, and printed for use as a reference for locating

specific photographs. Most of the index sheets in this

bulletin are reproduced at their original scale of

1: 63,360. A caution about using the index sheets: Since

many individual photos were fitted together by eye, the

fit is not always precise, so measurements of distance

or area on index sheets are only approximate.

Each index sheet is oriented with north at the top.

In some cases, flight lines of the individual photos were

other than north-south, so the page must be rotated to

read the number. To aid identification, the bottom label

of each index sheet gives the following identification:

Land resource area number, county, State, year and

month of photography, index sheet number and scale,

and agency for which the photography was flown. The

letter "P" on the label indicates only partial coverage

of the county.

Abbreviated sources shown on the photo index

sheets are: ASCS, Agricultural Stabilization.and Conservation Service; SCS, Soil Conservation Service; and

USES, Forest Service, of USDA.
WESTERN RANGE AND IRRIGATED REGION

21 Klamath and Shasta Valleys and Basins 32

22 Sierra Nevada Range 33

23 Malheur High Plateau 34

24 Humboldt Area 35

25 Owyhee High Plateau 36

26 Carson Basin and Mountains 37

27 Fallón - Lovelock Area 38

28 Great Salt Lake Area 39

29 Southern Nevada Basin and Range 40

30 Sonoran Basin and Range 41

31 Imperial Valley 42

Northern Intermountain Desertic Basins

Semiarid Rocky Mountains

Central Desertic Basins, Mountains, and Plateaus

Colorado and Green Rivers Plateaus

New Mexico and Arizona Plateaus and Mesas

San Juan River Valley Mesas and Plateaus

Black, Hualpai, and Cerbat Mountains

Arizona and New Mexico Mountains

Central Arizona Basin and Range

Southeastern Arizona Basin and Range

Southern Desertic Basins, Plains, and Mountains
D—WESTERN RANGE AND IRRIGATED REGION

545,200 square miles

This is a semidesert to desert region of plateaus, plains, basins, and many isolated mountain ranges. The annual

precipitation is 10 inches or less over most of the plains and basins but more than 50 inches on some of the higher

mountains. In the southeast most of the rain falls in the warm season, but elsewhere precipitation is higher in the

cool season. Average annual temperatures in most of the region are 45° to 55° F., but they range from 35° F. at

the higher elevations in the north to more than 70° F. in some of the lowlands in the south. The freeze-free season

ranges from less than 90 days in the north and in some of the higher mountains to more than 240 days in the south.

Sierozems, Desert soils, Brown soils, and Grumusols are extensive on the plains and plateaus and in valleys

throughout the region. Chestnut soils, Chernozems, and Gray Wooded soils occur on some of the mountain slopes.

Alluvial soils, Solonetz soils, and Solonchak soils on the plains and in basins and Lithosols on the mountain slopes

are also important.

Much of the land in this region is used for range, but irrigation agriculture is practiced where water is available

and soils are favorable. Feed crops for livestock occupy much of the irrigated land, and peas, beans, and sugar beets

are grown in many places. Cotton and citrus fruits are important in southwestern Arizona.
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21—Klamath and Shasta Valleys and Basins

California and Oregon

14,700 square miles

Land Use : About one-half of the area is owned by the

Federal Government; the remainder is in farms and

ranches. Between5 and 10 percent of the land is irrigated and used to grow potatoes, grain, seed crops,

and hay and for pasture. An additional1 or2 percent

is dryfarmed to grain. Most of the remaining land,

both privately and publicly owned, is in grass or open

woodland used for grazing. Forests of ponderosa

pine, Douglas-fir, and fir on the upper mountain

slopes produce some lumber.

Elevation and Topography: 2,500 to 4,500 feet,

some mountain peaks 6,000 feet or more. Lava plateaus and many valleys and basjns make up most of

the area. Steep mountain spurs and rim-rock escarpments surround the plateaus.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—12 to 20

inches in most of area but as much as 30 inches at

higher elevations; summers are dry. Average annual

temperature—45° to 52° F. Average freeze-free

period—70 to 140 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: The low rainfall and the consequent erratic

flow of local streams limit the supply of water for

agriculture. Ground water is scarce in the dense lava

rocks that underlie much of the area. In areas underlain by more porous rocks, ground-water supplies are

large but mostly untapped.

Soil: Chestnut soils (Bieber) on terraces and fans and

Grumusols (Lassen and Montague) on uplands and in

basins are the most extensive soils. Also important

are Alluvial soils on flood plains in the valleys and

Brown Forest soils on the more humid higher mountain slopes in Oregon. , ,.»0;..

22—Sierra Nevada Range

California

22^00 square miles

Land Use: More than one-half of the land is owned

by the Federal Government; Yosemite and Sequoia

National Parks are in this area. The remainder is in

privately owned forests, farms, and ranches. About

90 percent of the land is in forests of ponderosa pine,

sugar pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, white fir, and

Jeffrey pine. These forests are used mostly for recreation and as wildlife habitat, but lumbering is an important enterprise in those privately owned. Open

woodland and grassland, mostly above the timberline,

provide some summer grazing. Some of the valleys,

amounting to1 or2 percent of the total area, are used

for growing hay and grain for livestock.

Elevation and Topography: 2,000 to 8,000 feet,

some mountain peaks 14,500 feet. Most of the area

consists of strongly sloping to precipitous mountains

crossed by many valleys having steep gradients. Some

plateau remnants and mesas are included.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—40 to 60

inches over much of the area, as low as 15 inches in

the lower valleys and foothills, and as much as 70

inches on the mountain peaks ; precipitation increases

from south to north; summers are dry, and much of

the winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—35° to 52° F., decreasing with elevation.

Average freeze-free period—30 to 180 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: The abundant rainfall and snowfields on the

higher mountain slopes supply water to many large

perennial streams. Much of this water is used in

adjoining valleys.

Soil : Detailed information is lacking for much of this

area. Reddish-Brown Lateritic soils (Aiken, Sites,

and Holland) and Red-Yellow Podzolic soils (Mariposa) are extensive on the humid mountain slopes.

Ando soils (Windy) are in tuff, Regosols in granitic

materials, and Lithosols (Iron Mountain and Tollhouse) on the steeper slopes. Brunizems (Childs)

and Alluvial soils occupy narrow flood plains and

alluvial fans in the vafleys.

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Index Sheet 29 of 33. ASCS. 1: 63,360

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23—Malheur High Plateau

Nevada, Oregon, and California

28,300 square miles

Land Use: About three-fourths of the area is owned

by the Federal Government. Livestock production on

range is the principal agricuhural activity. Grain

and hay for winter feed and pasture are grown in the

1 or 2 percent of the area that is irrigated. Small

areas on the upper mountain slopes are in forests of

Jeffrey pine and fir.

Elevation and Topography: 4,500 to 7,000 feet,

some mountains more than 9,000 feet. Nearly level

basins and valleys are bordered by long gently sloping

alluvial fans. North-south-trending mountain ranges

and a few volcanic plateaus rise sharply above the

valleys.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—8 to 14 inches in most of the area but as much as 20 inches on

some of the higher mountain slopes ; fairly evenly distributed through fall, winter, and spring but low in

summer. Average annual temperature—41° to 50°

F. Average freeze-free period—60 to 140 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: Water is scarce except at higher elevations

where rainfall is higher. Streamflow is erratic and

depends mostly on runoff from melting snow. The

large ground-water supplies in the gravel- and sandfilled valleys are mostly untapped.

Soil : Detailed information is lacking for much of the

area. The major soils are Sierozems and Brown soils

on older alluvial fans and terraces; Grumusols,

Humic Gley soils, and Solonetz soils in dry lake basins

and younger alluvial deposits; and Regosols and

Chestnut soils (Simpson) on most mountain slopes.

24 Humboldt Area

Nevada

10,700 square miles

Land Use: About four-fifths of the land is owned by

the Federal Government; the remainder is in farms

and ranches. Livestock grazing on native range of

grasses, sagebrush, shadscale, greasewood, and other

shrubs is the principal agricultural enterprise. Less

than2 percent of the area, narrow strips along the

major streams, is irrigated and used to grow hay and

grain for winter hvestock feed and tame pasture.

Elevation and Topography: 4,000 to 6,000 feet,

some mountain peaks more than 9,000 feet. The eastern half is a nearly level plain covered by lacustrine

materials. In the western half north-south-trending

mountain ranges are separated by nearly level broad

valleys filled with alluviuin and some lacustrine materials.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—6 to 12

inches in most of the area but as much as 20 inches

on some mountain slopes; summers are dry. Average annual temperature—A0° to 5D° F. Average

freeze-free period—60 to 130 days, decreasing with

elevation.

Water: The low rainfall and intermittent streamflow provide only a small amount of water. Ground

water is abundant in the deep valley fills but has been

little used.

Soil : Sierozems are the most extensive soils but Solonetz soils and Solonchak soils are also widespread in

the basins. Alluvial soils and Humic Gley soils (Humboldt) occupy relatively narrow bands on stream

flood plains and the younger lower alluvial fans and

Lithosols the steep slopes of dissected fans and the

steeper mountain sides.

11

25—Owyhee High Plateau

Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho

24,700 square miles

Land Use: About three-fourths of the area is owned

by the Federal Government; most of the remainder

is in farms and ranches. Native grasses and sagebrush cover much of the area, and livestock production on range is the principal agricultural activity.

Valley lands, amounting to 2 or 3 percent of the total

area, are irrigated and used for growing grain and

forage for livestock. Small areas in Idaho are dryfarmed to grain. Open forests of Jeffrey pine and

some fir on the high mountain slopes supply lumber.

Elevation and Topography : 4,500 to 7,500 feet in

plains and basins, mountains more than 10,000 feet.

Steep north-south-trending mountain ranges are separated by broad basins filled with alluvium.

Qimate: Average annual precipitation—8 to 16

inches over most of the area but as much as 30 inches

on mountain slopes; evenly distributed throughout

the yea-r although low from midsummer to early autumn. Average annual temperature—43° to 47° F.

Average freeze-free period—90 to 140 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: Water supplies from rainfall and streamflow

are small and unreliable. Streamflow depends largely

on accumulated snow on the higher mountains.

Ground-water supplies are abundant in the deep fill in

valleys but have not been used much.

Soil: Brown soils (Lickskillet and Ruckles) and

Chestnut soils (Newell, Gem, and Elmore) occupy the

higher fans and the lower mountain slopes, Lithosols

the steep slopes, and Chernozems the gentle mountain

slopes. Planosols are prominent on some plateaus.

Sierozems are the principal soils in the older alluvial

deposits of basins and Alluvial soils and Humic Gley

soils (Humboldt) on flood plains of the few major

streams. Solonetz soils are extensive on the lower parts

of the basins.

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26—Carson Basin and Mountains

Nevada and California

7,500 square miles

Land Use: Nearly three-fourths of the area is Federally owned; most of the remainder is in farms and

ranches. Grazing of livestock on native grasses and

brush is the principal agricultural activity. Narrow

bands along the major streams, amounting to1 or2

percent of the total area, are irrigated and produce

grain, hay, and some tame pasture. About5 percent

of the area on the high mountain slopes is in pinyonjuniper woodland and Jeffrey pine forest.

Elevation and Topography : 4,000 to 6,500 feet in

valleys, mountain crests about 11,000 feet. The

steeply sloping north-south-trending mountain ranges

are separated by broad valleys and basins.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—5 to 15

inches; falls mostly as snow in winter; summers are

dry. Average annual temperature—40° to 52° F.

Average freeze-free period—60 to 150 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: The low rainfall provides little water buta

few large rivers supply irrigation water along their

courses. Ground water is abundant in the valleys but

has been little used.

Soil: Humic Gley soils (Carson and Bishop) occupy

the poorly drained lower fans and flood plains and

Alluvial soils the better drained young alluvial fans.

Desert soils, Sierozems, Brown soils, and Solonchak

soils are the principal soils on the older fans and

terraces and Lithosols and Chestnut soils on the steep

mountain slopes.

15

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27—Fallon-Lovelock Area

Nevada

12,200 square miles

Land Use: About four-fifths of the area is Federally

owned; most of the remainder is in farms and

ranches. Much of the land is used for range, but the

native shrubs and sparse grass cover provide only a

small amount of grazing. One or two percent of the

area, mostly near Lovelock and Fallón, is irrigated

and farmed intensively. Sugar beets and potatoes

are the important cash crops, but grain, hay, and

tame pasture for livestock occupy more acreage.

Elevation and Topography: 3,300 to 6,000 feet in

valleys, some mountain peaks more than 8,000 feet.

The north-south-trending steep mountain ranges are

separated by broad valleys and basins. The few large

rivers of the area terminate in playa lakes in the

basins.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—4 to 12 inches; very low from midsummer to early autumn.

Average annual temperature—45° to 55° F. Average

freeze-free period—60 to 150 days, decreasing with

elevation.

Water: Water for irrigation is obtained from the few

large rivers in the area. Water from rainfall and

ground water is scarce in most places, and the ground

water is generally too salty to use for irrigation.

Soil: Alluvial soils (Lahontan and Fallón) on flood

plains and young alluvial fans are the important agricultural soils. Desert soils (Woolsey) and Sierozems

are the main soils on older fans, terraces, basins, and

deserts and Solonchak soils and Solonetz soils (Toy)

in the lower parts of the basins. Lithosols are the

principal soils on steep mountain slopes, but deeper

soils in the Regosol group are on some of the less

sloping areas.

17
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28—Great Salt Lake Area

Utah, Nevada, and Idaho

61,800 square miles

Land Use: Between three-fourths and nine-tenths of

the area is owned by the Federal Government, and

large tracts are used for training and testing purposes

by the Armed Forces and the Atomic Energy Commission. Livestock production on range is the principal agricultural activity over most of the area, but the

desert shrubs and grasses havea very low carrying

capacity. In most of the area, the extent of the livestock industry is determined largely by the amount of

hay, pasture, and grain that can be produced by

irrigation from small local water supplies. In the east,

irrigated cropland is used for growing potatoes, sugar

beets, vegetables, and fruits. The irrigated land

amounts to only1 or2 percent of the total area.

Elevation and Topography: 4,000 to 6,500 feet

in the basins and 6,500 to 11,000 feet in the mountains. Nearly level basins bordered by long gently

sloping alluvial fans lie between widely separated

north-south-trending steep mountain ranges.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—5 to 20 inches; midsummer to early autumn is driest period.

Average annual temperature—45° to 55° F. Average

freeze-free period—60 to 160 days, decreasing with

elevation.

Water: Water is scarce. Both surface water and

ground water are used for irrigation. Streams for

the most part are small and intermittent and depend

on sources in the higher mountains. Deep wells are

possible but costly; shallow wells are unreliable in

flow and the water commonly contains large amounts

of salt.

Soil : Detailed information is lacking for much of this

area. Alluvial soils (Penoyer, Oasis, Genola, and

Lahontan) on flood plains and young alluvial fans

are the important agricultural soils. Desert soils,

Sierozems (Dixie), and Calcisols (Neola, Palisade,

and Escalante) are the important soils on old alluvial

fans and terraces. Solonetz soils (Uvada and Harding) and Solonchak soils (Saltair, Cache, and Land)

are extensive in the salt and alkali basins. Lithosols

are believed to be the principal soils on the higher

hills and mountains.

19

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29—Southern Nevada Basin and Range

Nevada and California

22,900 square miles

Land Use: More than 90 percent of the area is owned

by the Federal Government, and much of it is used

for training and testing by military forces. The

desert shrubs and sparse grass cover provide only a

small amount of grazing. About 3 percent of tha

land, mosdy in valleys in Nevada, is irrigated. Potatoes are the principal cash crop, but much of the irrigated acreage is used to grow grain and forage for

livestock.

Elevation and Topography: 2,000 to 5,500 feet in

valleys, the higher mountains more than 13,000 feet.

The north-south-trending steep mountains are separated by broad valleys that are bordered by sloping

fans and terraces and, in some places, by old beach

ridges.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—Mainly 3 to

12 inches but as much as 20 inches on mountain

slopes; summers are dry. Average annual temperature—45° to 60° F., decreasing with elevation.

Average freeze-free period—120 to 230 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: Streamflow supplies only a small amount of

water for irrigation. Ground-water supplies are small

and are mostly untapped. In California most of the

water is controlled by the city of Los Angeles and is

not available for local use.

Soil: Alluvial soils (Lahontan and Penoyer) and

Humic Gley soils (Bishop and Pahranagat) are the

principal soils on valley flood plains and in the younger basin deposits. Desert soils and Calcisols (Pahroc)

are extensive in the coarser alluvial deposits and

Regosols (Preston and Quincy) in wind-worked or

wind-deposited sands. Lithosols (Theriot) are the

principal soils on steep mountain slopes.

21

30—Sonoran Basin and Range

California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah

61,800 square miles

Land Use: About four-fifths of the area is owned by

the Federal Government; much of the remainder is

owned by local governments. Most of the land is

covered by desert vegetation consisting of creosotebush, cacti, mesquite, Joshua trees, and some short

grasses. This desert cover is used only locally for

grazing because of the low forage production and

lack of water for livestock. About1 percent of the

land, consisting of Alluvial soils along the Colorado

and Gila Rivers, is irrigated. Cotton and citrus

fruits are the major crops, but many kinds of winter

vegetables and other crops are grown.

Elevation and Topography: 280 feet below sea

level to 4,000 feet above in valleys and basins, some

mountain ranges 11,000 feet. Broad basins, valleys,

and old lake beds make up most of the area, but there

are widely spaced north-south-trending mountains

throughout.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—2 to 10

inches in valleys but as much as 25 inches on mountain slopes; fairly evenly distributed through the year.

Average annual temperature—60° to 75° F. but as

low as 50° F. in the mountains. Average freeze-free

period—240 days but much shorter on the higher

mountains and as long as 280 days in the south.

Water: Water is scarce. Agriculture depends almost

entirely on irrigation water from the Colorado and

Gila Rivers. Some large springs in Nevada and wells

in both Nevada and California provide some irrigation water.

Soil: Alluvial soils (Cajon, Gila, and Hesperia) and

Humic Gley soils (Foster) are on flood plains of the

larger rivers and Calcisols (Las Vegas and Mormon

Mesa) and Red Desert soils (Adelanto, Superstition,

Mohave, aud Sunrise) on the older alluvial fans and

terraces and in the better drained basins. Solonetz

soils (Pond) are characteristic of the low wide basins,

and Lithosols occur on steep mountain slopes.

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23

31—Imperial Valley

California

2,500 square miles

Land Use : Intensive irrigated agriculture is practiced

in this area. Citrus fruit, dates, grapes, sugar beets,

many kinds of vegetables, small grains, flaxseed, hay,

and tame pasture grasses are grown. Many livestock

are fattened each year in feedlots. Nonirrigated land

is in desert vegetation that has only slight value as

range. The principal plants are mesquite, arrowweed, yucca, saltcedar, and cacti.

Elevation and Topography: 240 feet below sea

level to 600 feet above. This nearly level plain is

broken by scattered steep-sided valleys and steep

mesas.

Climate : Average annual precipitation—2 to4 inches.

Average annual temperature—70° to 75° F. Average

freeze-free period—280 to 350 days.

Water: Agriculture depends almost entirely on water

from the Colorado River, but wells provide irrigation

water locally.

Soil: Alluvial soils (Imperial and Gila) are in the

fine- and medium-textured young alluvial deposits

and Regosols (Indio) in coarse- to medium-textured

alluvium and wind-deposited or wind-worked sands.

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Land Resouree Area 32

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Index Sheet4 of 9. P. ASCS. ]: 6.^.360.

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32—Northern Intermountain

Desertic Basins

Wyoming and Montana

9,000 square miles

Land Use : Slightly more than one-half of the area is

owned by the Federal Government; the remainder is

in farms and ranches. Most of the privately owned

land and much of the Federally owned is used for

grazing. Range consists mostly of desert shrubs and

brush, but short grasses and mid grasses grow on the

more favorable sites. Between3 and5 percent of

the land is irrigated. Alfalfa and other feed crops

occupy the largest acreage, but dry beans, sugar

beets, and potatoes are important cash crops.

Elevation and Topography: 5,000 to 7,000 feet.

Sloping alluvial fans on the outer edges of these large

intermountain basins coalesce into broad plains in

the centers. Badlands are typical of the dissected

parts along the outer edges.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—5 to 14 inches; highest in spring and early summer. Average annual temperature—About 45° F. Average freeze-free

period—115 to 140 days.

Water: The low and erratic rainfall provides onlya

small amount of water. The Big Horn River and its

larger tributaries bring irrigation water into the area

from the bordering mountains.

Soil: Desert soils (Worland) and Sierozems are on

the outwash-mantled shales and sandstones and Alluvial soils (Billings) on the alluvial fans bordering the

uplands. Lithosols (Chipeta) and badlands occupy

the more steeply sloping dissected areas, Solonetz

soils (Meeteetse) the small conspicuous areas of alkaline clay shales and alluvial deposits along drainageways, and Alluvial soils (Shoshone) the imperfectly

drained flood plains.

27

33—Semiarid Rocky Mountains

Wyoming

6,500 square miles

Land Use: One-fourth or more of the land is owned

by the Federal Government; the remainder is in farms

and ranches. Most of the privately owned land and

much of the public land is grazed. Desert shrubs, mid

grasses, and mountain shrubs cover most of the area,

but there are open woodlands high in the mountains.

Small areas in isolated valleys are irrigated and used

for growing hay and grain.

Elevation and Topography: 6,000 to more than

8,000 feet. Isolated mountain ranges that have steep

slopes and narrow valleys rise sharply from desert

basins.

Oimate: Average annual precipitation—12 to 16

inches ; highest in spring and early summer. Average

annual temperature—About 45° F. Average freezefree period—Less than 120 days, decreasing with

elevation.

Water: Water is scarce. The low rainfall, small and

intermittent streamflow, and scarcity of ground water

seriously limit agriculture.

Soil: The steep upper mountain slopes are mainly

rough stony land. Lithosdls (Stecum and Laporte)

occupy the less sloping parts. Chestnut soils (Bresser)

the intermediate slopes, Brown soils the lower slopes,

and Grumus.ols some of the areas underlain by basic

volcanic rocks.

29
'ñLand Resource Area 34

Emerv Co., I Itah. October 1962.

Tn,IcN''il,rK:^, „fS. P. ASCS. 1:63,360.
4,500 to 7,500 feet in

few mountain ranges

Broad intermountain

34—Central Desertic Basins, Mountains,

and Plateaus

Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah

45,600 square miles

Land Use : Slightly more than one-half of the area is

owned by the Federal Government; the remainder is

in farms and ranches. Most of the privately owned

land and much of the public land is used for cattle

and sheep grazing. Sagebrush, greasewood, other

desert shrubs, short and mid grasses form the principal cover; pinyon-juniper woodlands are on the high

mountains and plateaus where there is more rainfall.

Between2 and5 percent of the land, mostly along th«

few large streams, is irrigated. Hay and pasture

occupya large part of the irrigated land, but deciduous fruits, beans, and sugar beets are important

crops in the south. Small areas that have deep soils

and receive enough rainfall are dryfarmed to wheat

and other crops.

Elevation and Topography :

basins and on plateaus, the

1,000 to 2,000 feet higher,

basins anda few isolated small mountain ranges

merge intoa dissected plateau in the south. Sloping

alluvial fans at the edges of the basins merge into flat

plains in the center. The plateaus have gently sloping

tops that are cut by steep-walled canyons.

Qimate: Average annual precipitation—7 to 12

inches; fairly evenly distributed through the year.

Average annual temperature—40° to 52° F. Average freeze-free period—Less than 100 days in most

of area but as long as 180 days in the south.

Water: Water is scarce. Irrigation water is available

along the few large streams that bring water into the

area from adjoining mountains. Ground-water supplies are meager and little developed.

Soil: Desert soils (Worland, Orchard, and Mesa) and

Sierozems in weakly consolidated sediments or old

alluvium are extensive. Alluvial soils (Green River,

Billings, and Uncompahgre) are in the young alluvial

deposits along the few perennial streams, Solonetz

soils in many small areas and basins, and Lithosols

(Santana and Persayo) and rough broken land on

canyon walls, deeply dissected fans, and mesa sides.

Chernozems (Bridger) and Gray Wooded soils

(Uinta) occur in small areas on the higher mountain

slopes.

31

35—Colorado and Green Rivers Plateaus

Utah and Arizona

42,600 square miles

Land Use: Less than one-third of the area is in

privately owned farms and ranches; the remainder

is in Indian reservations or is owned by the Federal

Government. Grand Canyon and Zion National

Parks and several national monuments are within the

area. Much of the land has an open grass-shrub

cover, and there are pinyon-juniper woodlands on the

higher plateaus and mesas.A small amount of

grazing is obtained from this land. About1 or2

percent of the land, consisting of flood plains and

alluvial fans, is irrigated. Feed and forage for livestock are the main crops, but potatoes and sugar beets

are important cash crops.A slightly larger total

acreage in areas that have enough rainfall, mostly in

the south, is dryfarmed to wheat and other crops.

Elevation and Topography: 5,000 to 7,000 feet

over most of the area, some high plateaus and mountains 10,500 feet. Gently sloping plateaus and mesas

are deeply and abruptly cut by canyons. Stream

valleys are narrow and widely spaced.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—6 to 16

inches ; fairly evenly distributed throughout the year

but low in early summer. Average annual temperature—45° to 55° F. Average freeze-free period—

100 to 220 days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: Water is scarce. Streamflow is generally

small and intermittent but some water is stored in

reservoirs. Ground water from deep wells is costly,

and water from shallow wells is usually high in

salts and fluctuates in amount.

Soil: Detailed information is lacking for much of

this area. Alluvial soils (Redfield, Tours, and

Navajo) along the flood plains are the important agricultural soils. Sierozems (Blanding) and Calcisols

(Mellenthin) occupy the plateau tops, older terraces,

and alluvial fans. Lithosols (Moenkopie) and badlands or rough broken land are extensive in the

mountains and on plateaus.

DSA- 5AA-39

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33

36—^New Mexico and Arizona Plateaus

and Mesas

New Mexico and Arizona

26,200 square miles

Land Use: About one-fifth of the area is owned by

the Federal Government; an equal or larger part is in

Indian reservations. The remainder is in farms,

ranches, or other private holdings. Desert shrubs

and short grasses cover most of the area, but there

are open pinyon-juniper woodlands at high elevations. Most of this land, both privately and publicly

owned, is used for range. Less than1 percent of the

total area is cropland. Most of it is irrigated and used

for growing hay and tame pasture grasses, but cash

crops a-e grown locally. In the southwest, small

areas are dryfarmed to grain and hay.

Elevation and Topography: 5,000 to 7,000 feet, a few isolated mountains more than 8,000 feet. These

plateaus and mesas have gentle slopes except for

precipitous slopes along valley walls and edges of

mesas.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—10 to 13

inches in most of the area and 15 inches at higher

elevations; about two-thirds falls from midsummer to

early autumn. Average annual temperature—About

50° F. Average freeze-free period—120 to 180 days,

increasing from east to west.

Water : Because of the low rainfall and sparse streamflow, water is scarce. A small amount of water for

irrigation is available along the major streams that

flow into the area from surrounding mountains.

Soil: Sierozems (Chacra) are extensive in the drier

parts of the area and Reddish-Brown soils (Corduroy

and Prieta) and Brown soils. (Progresso) at higher

elevations. Regosols (Otero and Preston) in deep

sands and Alluvial soils (Billings, Woodrow, Puerco,

Tours, and Prewitt) on flood plains are important

throughout the area. On the steeper slopes of canyon

walls and mesa breaks, rock outcrops and rough

broken land are common as are Lithosols (Travessilla,

Persayo, and Oro Grande).

35

37—San Juan River Valley Mesas

and Plateaus

New Mexico

4,700 square miles

Land Use: About half the area is in range of desert

shrubs and short grasses. An additional 10 percent,

mainly at higher elevations, is pinyon-juniper woodland that provides some grazing. About one-third

of the area is owned by the Federal Government and

some of it is grazed. Between1 and2 percent is irrigated cropland in narrow discontinuous bands along

the San Juan River and its larger tributaries. Grain

and hay for livestock feed are the main crops, but

fruits, vegetables, and other cash crops are also grown.

Elevation and Topography: 5,000 to 6,000 feet.

Gently sloping broad valleys and plains are bordered

by deeply dissected bands of steep slopes and sharp

local relief. Other steeply sloping areas are the margins of mesas and a few isolated low mountain ranges.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—7 to 10

inches; about two-thirds falls from midsummer to

early autumn. Average annual temperature—About

50° F. Average freeze-free period—140 to 160 days.

Water: The low rainfall and intermittent streamflow

provide onlya small amount of water for agriculture. Only the few major streams supply enough

water for irrigation. Ground water is scarce and of

poor quality and is mostly untapped.

Soil: Sierozems (Blanding) and Desert soils (Mesa)

are the principal soils. Alluvial soils (Billings, Christainburg, Genola, and Tours) occur on the narrow

flood plains of major streams and on some of the

younger and lower alluvial fans and Regosols (Preston) in windblown sands in the same positions.

Lithosols (Persayo) are very extensive and there are

large areas of badlands in the dissected belts adjacent

to the major stream valleys.

1

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^T" V 'î fc j<^ \Iohave Co.. Ariz. May 1965.

- '.W/ Kingman Sheet. USGS. 1: 12.5.001

i:3

.;^..
38—Black, Hualpai, and Cerbat Mountains

Arizona

6,500 square miles

Land Use: About two-thirds of the land is owned by

the Federal Government and an additional 10 percent

or more is in Indian reservations. The small remaining part is in farms and ranches. Between 5 and 10

percent of the area at high elevations is in open woodland; desert shrubs and grasses cover most of the

remainder.A large part of both publicly and privately owned land is used for range. Small areas on

flood plains and in small basins are irrigated from

deep wells and used mostly to grow grain and forage

although cotton is an important cash crop. Other

small areas are dryfarmed to grain and hay.

Elevation and Topography : 2,000 to 4,500 feet in

valleys and basins, mountain peaks 8,300 feet. Northsouth-trending steep mountain ranges are separated

by broad valleys and basins.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—10 to 14

inches; fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.

Average annual temperature—58° to 65° F. Average freeze-free period—190 to 240 days.

Water: Water is scarce throughout the area, which

limits its use for range. Deep wells are the principal

source of irrigation water in the valleys.

Soil: Detailed information is lacking. Lithosols are

dominant on mountain slopes and covera very large

part of the area. In the valleys Alluvial soils occupy

the younger flood plains and fans, and Red Desert

soils, Reddish-Brown soils, and Calcisols the higher

fans, terraces, and foothills.

39
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Land Kesource Area 39

Yavapai Co., Ariz. September 1%0.

•^ Index Sheet 11 of 25. P. ASCS. 1:63.360
^ if*Sí. -J;^

1

39—Arizona and New Mexico Mountains

Arizona and New Mexico

35,100 square miles

Land Use : About three-fifths of the area is owned by

the Federal Government, and an additional 10 percent

or more is in Indian reservations. Much of this area

is so rough and steep that it has little economic use.

About two-fifths of the total area is used for range. At

lower elevations the range consists of mixed grasses,

chapparal brush, and pinyon-juniper woodland.

About5 percent of the area, the upper mountain

slopes and crests, is in forests of spruce, fir, and ponderosa pine. Mining is important in some of these

mountains. Less than1 percent of the area, mainly

in narrow valleys, is irrigated from streamflow or

wells. Hay, pasture grasses, and grain are the main

crops, and orchards and vegetables are important in

some valleys.

Elevation and Topography: 4,500 to 10,000 feet,

some mountain crests 12,600 feet. This area consists mostly of steep foothills and mountains, but it

includes some deeply dissected high plateaus.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—10 to 35

inches, increasing with elevation; highest from midsummer to early autumn; mostly snow in the mountains. Average annual temperature—Mainly 40° to

55° F., decreasing with elevation. Average freezefree period—40 to 150 days in most of area, decreasing with elevation ; 240 days in the lower foothills.

Water: Many of the larger streams flow the year

round, but the volume of water fluctuates widely.

Some water is stored in reservoirs. Ground water

is scarce and so deep that pumping to the surface is

expensive. Springs and shallow wells provide stock

water in many places.

Soil : Detailed information is lacking for much of the

area. Brown soils, Reddish-Brown soils, and Reddish

Chestnut soils are the principal soils in the foothills

and vaUeys and Gray Wooded soils. Brown Forest

sßils, and Podzols on the upper mountain slopes and

crests, but Lithosols, stony land, and rock outcrops

occupy large areas on both mountains and foothills.

41
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Land Ucsourte Arc;! i

I'inal Co.. Ariz. January 1964.

I ndex Sheet 1 of 12. P. ' ASCS. 1: 63,360.

^«^
40—Central Arizona Basin and Range

Arizona

19,000 square miles

Land Use: About one-half of the land is owned by the

Federal Government and an additional 10 percent is

in Indian reservations. About 10 percent of the area,

mainly along the Gila and Salt Rivers, is irrigated.

Where water is of high quality, the principal crops

are vegetables and cotton; where water is of poor

quality, tame pasture is the principal use. The large

unirrigated acreage has little economic use, but some

grazing of the desert shrubs and short grasses is possible in favorable seasons.

Elevation and Topography: 1,000 to 2,500 feet,

higher mountain ranges 5,000 feet. Low basins

bordered by gently sloping alluvial fans are separated

by steep north-south-trending mountain ranges.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—5 to 10

inches; highest in midsummer and midwinter. Average annual temperature—60° to 74° F. in most of the

area, decreasing to 55° F. in the foothills along the

northern edge. Average freeze-free period—225 to

300 days.

Water: Water for irrigation is provided mainly by

reservoirs along the Gila and Salt Rivers. Deep wells

provide irrigation water in some places, but the water

table is dropping steadily. Except for the few major

rivers, streams are few and poorly defined and flow

only after local storms.

Soil : The most extensive soils are Red Desert soils on

the older alluvial fans and terraces. Alluvial soils on

flood plains and the younger alluvial fans, Calcisols

in highly calcareous materials, and Lithosols on valley walls and mountain slopes.

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43
«5, Land Resource Area 41

Cochise Co.. Ariz. January 1958.

Index Sheet 6 of 8. P. ASCS. 1:63,360.

Ï, * "«-" -,.'3^1..
41—Southeastern Arizona Basin and Range

Arizona

17,700 square miles

Land Use: Nearly one-third of the area is owned

by the Federal Government; the remainder is in

farms, ranches, and other privately owned holdings.

The vegetation consists of desert shrubs and short

grasses at lower elevations, grass and mesquite at

mid elevations, and ponderosa pine woodland that has a grass ground cover at high elevations where moisture is more plentiful. Between one-half and threefourths of the area is used for range, and livestock,

production on range is the principal agricultural

activity. One or two percent of the area, land along

the upper Gila River and its large tributaries, is irrigated. Cotton and alfalfa are the main crops, but specialty crops are important locally. Where water is of

poor quality and less certain in amount, grain and

forage to supplement range feed are the main crops.

About1 percent of the land is dryfarmed to hay and

grain.

Elevation and Topography: 2,500 to 6,000 feet,

isolated peaks and ranges 10,000 feet. Widely

spaced narrow mountain ridges and peaks rise sharply

from this nearly level broad plain. There are some

basins and dry lake beds.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—8 to 20

inches ; highest at high elevations ; low in spring and

early summer and fairly evenly distributed through

the rest of the year. Average annual temperature—

55° to 70° F. Average freeze-free period—180 to

240 days.

Water: The upper Gila River and its tributaries are

the only year-round sources of surface water for irrigation. Much of the irrigation water is obtained

from deep wells, but the declining water table anda

high salt content limit the usefulness of this source.

Soil: Red Desert soils, Brown soils, Reddish-Brown

soils^ and Calcisols are the principal soils in much of

this area. Alluvial soils are extensive on flood plains

and on the lower younger alluvial fans. Lithosols

occupy most of the mountain slopes.

45
EDR- lBB-7b

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EDR- lBB-fc<»

EOR- lBB-68

EDR- lBB-1%

EDR- 1BB-1B5
42—Southern Desertic Basins, Plains,

and Mountains

New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona

62,000 square miles

Land Use: About one-third of the land is owned by

the Federal Government ; most of the remainder is in

farms, ranches, or other private holdings. The Federally owned land is concentrated in New Mexico,

Two-thirds or more of the total area is in range.

Short grasses and desert shrubs cover much of the

area, but there are open pinyon-juniper woodlands

at high elevations. All this range hasa low carrying capacity. Less than 1 percent, consisting mainly

of narrow discontinuous strips along the Rio Grande

and Pecos Rivers, is irrigated. Other small areas are

irrigated from wells. Cotton, cantaloupes, and vegetables are the principal crops ; grain sorghum, alfalfa,

and other feed and forage crops are grown also.

Elevation and Topography: 2,500 to 5,000 feet

in basins and valleys and more than 8,000 feet in

the mountains. Broad desert basins and valleys are

bordered by gently to strongly sloping fans and terraces. There are steep north-south-trending mountain ranges and many small mesas in the western part.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—8 to 16

inches; highest from midspring to midautumn.

Average annual temperature—50° to 65° F. Average freeze-free period—200 to 240 days in most of

area but 180 days in the northern ends of the Pecos

and Rio Grande valleys.

Water : Surface water and rainfall are scarce throughout the area, which imposes severe restrictions on its

use for range. The Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers

anda few of their larger tributaries are the only

perennial streams. Ground water in deep valley fill

provides water for domestic use and livestock and

locally for some irrigation.

Soil: Red Desert soils (Mohave and Tijeras) and

Lithosols (Cottonwood) are the dominant soils of the

area. Others are Calcisols (Reagan, Reeves, and

Karro) in highly calcareous materials and Regosols

(Tivoli, Preston, and Cowan) in deep sands. Reddish-Brown soils (Brownfield) are extensive east of

the Pecos River. Alluvial soils (Brazito, Vinton, Gila,

Glendale, and Imperial) in the valleys are the principal soils used for crops.

£0R- IBB-121

47
ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE AND FOREST REGION

43 Northern Rocky Mountains

44 Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys

45 Alpine Meadows and Rockland

46 Northern Rocky Mountain Foothills

47 Wasatch and Uinta Mountains

48 Southern Rocky Mountains

49 Southern Rocky Mountain Foothills

50 San Luis Valley

51 High Intermountain Valleys
E—ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE AND FOREST REGION

236,800 square miles

Rugged mountains are the dominant feature of this region, but there are some broad valleys and remnants of

high plateaus. The annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 40 inches over much of the region, but it is less than 10

inches in some valleys and 50 inches or more on some of the mountain peaks. Average annual temperatures are

mostly 40° to 45° F., but they range from 35° to 50° F. The freeze-free season is 100 to 140 days in most valleys

and basins but decreases to 40 days or less in the high mountains where frosts occur every month of the year. Some

of the highest mountains are covered by glaciers and have permanently frozen ground. Foothills in the southern

part have a freeze-free season as long as 160 days.

Chestnut soils, Chernozems, and Brown soils are the dominant soils in valleys and on the lower mountain slopes

and Gray-Brown Podzolic soils, Gray Wooded soils, Podzols, and Alpine Meadow soils on the upper mountain slopes

and crests. Lithosols and rockland are extensive on the steep mountain slopes, and Alluvial soils are important in

valleys.

Grazing is the leading land use in both valleys and mountains, but lumbering is important in some of the

forested mountain areas. Recreation is an important land use throughout the region. Irrigation agriculture is

practiced in some of the valleys and dryfarming in others. Grain and forage for livestock are the main crops;

beans, sugar beets, peas, and seed crops are also grown where soils, climate, and markets are favorable.

49
Land ResourcL- Area 43

I Clearwater Co., Idaho. September 1962.

Index Sliret 8 of 14. P. USFS. 1: 63.360. f
43—Northern Rocky Mountains

Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming

100,000 square miles

Land Use: About four-fifths of the area is owned by

the Federal Government. Yellowstone and Glacier

National Parks and several other parks, forests, and

monuments are in the area. Heavy forests of western

white pine, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, larch,

hemlock, Douglas-fir, and spruce cover much of the

land at the upper and intermediate elevations. On

lower slopes, especially in the south, forests are more

open and have an undergrowth of shrubs and grasses.

All the forested areas are used as wildlife habitat and

for recreation ; they produce timber as well. Mining

is important in northern Idaho and western Montana.

Meadows on the upper mountain slopes and mountain

crests above timberline are used to some extent for

summer grazing. Less than 2 percent of the area is

cropped. Forage and grain grown under irrigation

in some of the valleys provide feed for dairy cattle

and other livestock. In Washington and Oregon,

valleys that have enough rainfall are dryfarmed to

wheat, peas, and a few other crops.

Elevation and Topography : Mostly 4,000 to 8,000

feet but ranges from 3,500 feet to more than 12,000

feet. High mountains having steep to precipitous

slopes and sharp crests are cut by narrow valleys that

have relatively steep gradients. In the western part,

some high plateaus are dissected by deep steep-walled

canyons. Large lakes are common at higher elevations, especially in the glaciated areas.

Climate : Average annual precipitation—Mainly 20 to

50 inches, increasing with elevation, and less than 15

inches in some valleys ; most of the precipitation during fall, winter, and spring is snow; summers are

dry. Average annual temperature—Mainly 35° to

45° F. but 50° F. or more in some low valleys; somq

of the highest mountains are continuously covered by

ice and snow. Average freeze-free period—60 to 135

days, decreasing with elevation.

Water: The moderate precipitation and the many

perennial streams provide enough water, including

that needed for irrigation in the cultivated valleys.

The streams also supply water to adjoining areas for

irrigation and other purposes. Springs and shallow

wells in the valleys provide a moderate amount of

water for domestic use and livestock. Elsewhere,

ground-water supplies are small and mostly untapped.

Soil: Detailed soil information is lacking for most of

the area. Alpine Meadow soils (Ptarmigan and Vasquez) are on the upper slopes and crests of many of

the mountains. On forested mountain slopes Brown

Podzolic soils (Helmer, Waits, Bonner, and Holloway), Gray Wooded soils (Uinta, Woodrock, Whitefish, Tongue River, and Lake Creek), and GrayBrown Podzolic soils are extensive. Rock outcrops,

rough stony land, rough broken land, and Lithosols

(Duncom) occupy the steepest slopes. Soils on the

lower slopes grade from Brunizems (Burgess) to Chernozems (Mires and Little Horn) and Chestnut soils

(Skalkaho, Buena Vista, and Avon) with decreasing

elevation. Brown soils (Garo) are orr the lowest

slopes, which receive the least rainfall.

51
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Land Resource Area 44 %'v.ír^:-»-^r! - "% *••

^.''. Lake Co., Mont. June 1964. '>•.' ;*i>i>^ '-»", 'X*î^Î^1^ ' «mVljm. "^^-m.*

*^ Index Sheet 5 of 7. P. ASCS. 1: 63.360. Lvivi---'<^«^--S*"'Cr'"''i?''*T*T ^ ~^^ Î
44—Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys

Montana and Idaho

16,200 square miles

Land Use : Nearly all the area is in farms and ranches.

As much as one-third of the land in some valleys is

irrigated. Potatoes, sugar beets, and peas are important cash crops, but hay, grain, and pasture for livestock feed occupy a much larger acreage. Some areas

that have enough rainfall are dryfarmed to wheat and

peas. Between one-third and one-half of the

area is in range of native grasses and shrubs. Beef

cattle and sheep are the principal livestock, but dairying is important near the larger towns. Much of the

area in northern Idaho is forested, and elsewhere

many steep and stony soils are in woodland. These

forests yield some lumber and are also used for

grazing.

Elevation and Topography: 2,000 feet to as much

as 6,000 feet, highest in southwestern Montana. The

deep valleys bordered by mountains are mostly

north-south trending. In the valleys, nearly level

broad flood plains are bordered by gently to strongly

sloping terraces and fans. In many places the valleys

have been modified somewhat by glaciation, and in

the north lacustrine sediments cover much of the valley floors. Local relief within any given valley is

slight to moderate.

Climate: Average annual precipitaiion—12 to 16

inches in most of area and 20 inches to 33 inches in

northern Idaho ; fairly evenly distributed through fall,

winter, and spring but low in summer; most of the

winter precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—40° to 47° F. Average freeze-free period

—100 to 120 days in much of the area, 80 days or

less at the highest elevations, and 140 days or more

at the lowest.

Water: Perennial streams flowing into the area from

surrounding mountains are the principal sources of

water. The amount is usually adequate but depends

on the snow accumulation in the mountains. Ground

water is abundant in the deeper unconsolidated fill

materials and is used to some extent for irrigation.

RainfaU is adequate to permit some dryfarming at

higher elevations and throughout the area in northern

Idaho.

Soil: Alluvial soils (Chamokane, Corvallis, and Gallatin) on flood plains and young alluvial fans are the

principal agricultural soils. Humic Gley soils (Lamoure) and Low-Humic Gley soils (Radnor) on wet

flood plains are extensive, mainly in the north. Brown

soils (Musselshell, Riverside, and Avalanche) occupy

terraces and fans at the lower elevations where rainfall is low, Chestnut soils (Skalkaho, Martinsdale, and

Kalispell) similar positions where moisture is more

plentiful, and Chernozems (Bridger, Bozeman, Crestón, í McDonald, and Flathead) where the moisture

supply is even more favorable. Solonetz soils (Post,

Ravalli, Haccke, and Round Butte), Regosols (Kiwanis and Blanchard) in deep unconsolidated materials, and Lithosols (Laporte, Spring Creek, and

Stecum) on steep slopes are other important soils.

Gray Wooded soils (Crow and Whitefish) and Brown

Podzolic soils (Cabinet, Waits, and Bonner) are on

the highest foothills and spurs.

53
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45—Alpine Meadows and Rockland

Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming

10,700 square miles

Land Use : Most of the land is owned by the Federal

Government. Alpine grasses, herbaceous plants, and

shrubs cover much of the area but small parts are

forested. This cover provides some summer grazing

for sheep, but wildlife habitat and recreation are the

principal uses. Small valleys are irrigated and used

for growing hay, tame pasture, and some grain for

livestock.

Elevation and Topography: 8,500 to 14,500 feet,

mostly more than 10,000 feet. The rolling to steep

or precipitous upper mountain slopes and crests are

covered in places by snowfields and glaciers.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—Mostly 20

to 40 inches, less locally, and more than 50 inches

in some places; fairly evenly distributed throughout

the year but somewhat higher in winter ; much of it is

snow. Average annual temperature—32° to 40° F.,

decreasing with elevation; some of the highest areas

are perpetually frozen. Average freeze-free period—

Mainly less than 40 days and as long as 80 days in

some parts.

Water : The heavy snowfall feeds streams that provide

water for lower areas.

Soil: Detailed information is lacking. Most of the

soils have dark surface layers high in organic matter

and have been tentatively classified as Alpine Meadow

soils (Ptarmigan and Vasquez) or as Bog soils (Nystrom). Some have perennially frozen layers (permafrost) and are similar to soils of arctic regions. Rock

outcrops and rough stony land with little or no soil

cover are extensive.

55
Land Resource Area 46

Sublette Co., Wyo. September 1956.

Index Sheet lof 9. P. ASCS. l:63.:'.r)n

": '* s* vj.'. *'UKi^ . A ¡

'S
46—Northern Rocky Mountain Foothills

Montana and Wyoming

23,000 square miles

Land Use : About one-fifth of the land is owned by the

Federal Government; the remainder is in farms and

ranches. One-half or more of the area is in range

of short and mid grasses and some shrubs. Many of

the valleys are irrigated, but they amount to only1 or

2 percent of the total area. Grain and forage for livestock are the main crops, but potatoes, sugar beets,

peas, and some other crops are grown also. About onefifth of the area, mainly along the northeastern side,

is dryfarmed to wheat. Some of the highest hills are

in forest.

Elevation and Topography : 3,700 to 6,000 feet in

the north, increasing gradually to 6,000 or 8,000 feet

in the south and in central Wyoming. The rugged

hills and low mountains are cut by many narrow

valleys that have steep gradients. Broad flood plains

and fans bordera few of the major rivers.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—Mainly 12

to 20 inches, 30 inches at highest elevations, and 10

inches in some basins; the maximum is in spring in

the north and in early summer in the south; winter

precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—

45° to 50° F. Average freeze-free period—Mainly

100 to 120 days but only 80 days at highest elevations.

Water : Rainfall is too low for successful crop production in some of the area but is adequate for grain

farming and forage production in other parts. The

major rivers provide most of the water for irrigation,

but small streams furnish local supplies. Ground

water is abundant in the fiU in some valleys, but over

most of the area ground-water supplies are meager or

lacking.

Soil: Chestnut soils (Fairfield, Martinsdale, and

Grail) are the most extensive, but Brown s,oils (Wolf,

Big Horn, Bew, and Musselshell) occur in the drier

parts. Also extensive on the steeper hill slopes and

valley walls are Lithosols (Lismas, Cheadle, Midway,

and Spring Creek). Alluvial soils (Green River,

Havre, Lohmiller, Chamokane, and Banks) occupy

the flood plains and young alluvial fans and Solonetz

soils (Arvada, Beckton, and Gilt Edge) the smafl

basins and depressions. Some Brunizems and Chernozems (Teton, Little Horn, and Woodhurst) are on

the moist higher foothills.

57
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47—Wasatch and Uinta Mountains

Utah, Idaho, and Colorado

22,000 square miles

Land Use : Less than one-third of the area is in farms

and ranches. Most of the remainder is owned by the

Federal Government, and there are several national

parks and monuments in the area. Some land is in

Indian reservations. The upper mountain slopes and

crests are in alpine meadow and the lower slopes in

grass and sagebrush. There are open woodlands at

intermediate elevations and some dense forests on

moist sites. Both grassland and woodland are used

for summer grazing. Recreation and mining are

other important uses of land in the area.A few of

the large valleys are irrigated; forage for livestock

is the main crop, but other crops are grown also.

Elevation and Topography: 5,000 to 9,000 feet,

some p.eaks 13,500 feet. These strongly sloping to

precipitous mountains have narrow crests and valleys.

Some high plateaus have gently sloping tops and steep

sides. The mountains are dissected by many streams,

and lakes are common on mountain crests that have

been glaciated.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—Mainly 12

to 20 inches but as much as 40 inches on some mountain peaks; evenly distributed through the year; much

of the precipitation is snow. Average annual temperature—35° to 47° F., decreasing with elevation.

Average freeze-free period— Mainly 60 to 120 days

but as short as 30 days on the high mountain peaks.

Water; Streams, lakes, and ground water supply

enough water for the range and forestry enterprises

of most of the area. Perennial streams also provide

irrigation water in the few major valleys.

Soil: Detailed information is lacking for most of the

area. On the forested parts of the mountains Gray

Wooded soils are dominant, but Lithosols and rock

outcrops occupy large areas on the steepest slopes.

At lower elevations, Brunizems and Chestnut soils are

extensive as are Alluvial soils on the flood plains ofa

few large rivers.

i.'-^'' .^-c

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Land Resource Area 4S

Garfield Co., Colo. September 1952.

: 63,360.

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48—Southern Rocky Mountains

Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah

54,300 square miles

Land Use: Slightly more than one-half of the land

is owned by the Federal Government; the remainder

is in farms, ranches, or other private holdings. The

upper mountain slopes are in forests of Engelmann

spruce, lodgepole pine, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir,

and ponderosa pine. Oak brush and open pinyonjuniper woodlands are at intermediate elevations, and

grasses, sagebrush, and other shrubs grow on the

lower slopes and in valleys. Most of the grasslana

and much of the more open woodland is grazed. Recreation and mining are important throughout these

areas also. Some hay is harvested from irrigated

meadows in valleys, and fruit and vegetables are

grown in some irrigated valleys in New Mexico. At

lower elevations the gently sloping mesas and uplands

are dryfarmed to wheat and beans.

Elevation and Topography: 5,000 to 11,000 feet,

some peaks 14,500 feet. These strongly sloping to

precipitous mountains are dissected by many narrow

stream valleys with steep gradients. High plateaus

and steep-walled canyons are fairly common, especially in the west.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—Mainly 10

to 30 inches but as much as 40 inches or more on

some of the higher mountains; most of the precipitation falls in winter as snow. Average annual temperature—35° to 50° F. Average freeze-free period—

100 to 140 days at lower elevations, 160 days in the

southern foothills, and 10 to 80 days at higher elevations.

Water: Water is abundant from streams and lakes,

and ground water is plentiful. The lower .valleys

depend on streamflow for irrigation water.

Soil : Very little information is available. Gray Wooded soils,. Brown Forest soils. Podzols, and Gray-Brown

Podzolic soils are on the forested upper slopes and

Alpine Meadow soils in the high narrow valleys.

Rockland is extensive, especially at higher elevations.

Some Chernozems and Chestnut soils (Monticello)

occur on the lower slopes but Lithosols are widespread

in these areas.

61

49—Southern Rocky Mountain Foothills

Colorado and Wyoming

5,700 square miles

Land Use: At least four-fifths of the land is in farms

and ranches ; nearly all of the remainder is owned by

the Federal Government. Open woodlands of pinyon,

juniper, and some ponderosa pine are at high elevations and oak brush, other shrubs, and short grasses

on the lower slopes and in valleys. Both grassland

and woodland are widely used for grazing. Hay,

pasture, and feed grains are grown in irrigated valleys, which amount to less than 5 percent of the total

area ; even smaller areas are dryfarmed to wheat.

Elevation and Topography: 5,500 to 8,000 feet.

These rugged hills and low mountains are in narrow

bands along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. They are much dissected, and in many places

they are crossed by large streams flowing eastward

from the Rocky Mountains. Local relief is several

hundred feet in most places.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—15 to 20

inches; low in winter, increasing through spring to

midsummer, and decreasing in autumn. Average annual temperature—40° to 50° F. Average freeze-free

period—Mainly 120 to 160 days but shorter at higher

elevations, especially in the north.

Water: The major streams crossing the area provide

irrigation water for the narrow belts of cropland in

their valleys, but elsewhere water is scarce.

Soil: Very little detailed information is available.

Gray Wooded soils (Kettle) are dominant at high

elevations and Chestnut soils (Wellsville) and Brown

soils (Stoneham and Terry) at lower elevations.

There are some Regosols (Berthoud) in wind-deposited or wind-altered sands and Alluvial soils on flood

plains in the larger valleys. Lithosols (Laporte and

Travessilla) on steep mountain slopes and valley walls

are probably the most extensive soils.

63

50—San Luis Valley

Colorado

1^00 square miles

Land Use: Most of this area is irrigated cropland,

but wet meadows and areas of desert native range are

scattered throughout. In the closed basin north of

the Rio Grande, crops are subirrigated. Potatoes,

malting barley and other small grains, field peas, and

sweetclover are the major crops. Outside the closed

basin, the principal crops grown under surface irrigation are small grains, field peas, cool-season vegetables, and hay. Wet meadows are used for both hay

and grazing. The native range of greasewood, rabbitbrush, other desert shrubs, and salt grass has low

grazing value.

Elevation and Topography: 7,500 to 7,700 feet.

These nearly level broad valleys are deeply filled with

old alluvium. Local relief is slight.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—Mainly6

to8 inches, increasing to 10 inches in some foothills.

Average annual temperature—About 42° F. Average

freeze-free period—100 to 120 days.

Water: Irrigation water is obtained from the Rio

Grande River and ground water and is applied mostly

by subirrigation methods. The water table is maintained at a depth of 20 to 30 inches in many of the

coarse-textured soils. Surface irrigation is used on

the fine-textured soils. Salinity isa problem in much

of the area.

Soil: Coarse- to medium-textured Alluvial soils (Alamosa) that are partly calcareous and slightly to

moderately affected by alkali and salts are the most

extensive. Desert soils and Sierozems are on older

terraces and fans and Regosols in deep sandy deposits.

65
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Costilla Co.. Colo. Julv 1963.

Index Sheet 1 of 1. P. ' \SCS. 1 : C>^:.\6(). ^^r, ^ >'^

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51

—High Intermountain Valleys

Colorado and New Mexico

4,700 square miles

Land Use: Nearly one-half of the land is owned by

the Federal Government; the remainder is in farms

and ranches. The Great Sand Dune National Monument is in this area. Desert shrubs and some short

grasses cover most of the land, but the sand dunes

are barren. Blue grama grassland and open pinyonjuniper woodland are at high elevations. Both woodland and grassland are used for summer grazing, but

they havea low carrying capacity.A few valleys,

less than5 percent of the total area, are irrigated.

Most of the irrigated land is in hay meadow, but peas,

lettuce, potatoes, and other vegetables are important

cash crops in New Mexico.A small amount of land

is dryfarmed to wheat.

Elevation and Topography: 7,000 to 9,000 feet.

Nearly level to gently sloping old valley fill covers

much of the area. Gently sloping to steep hills underlain by basalt are extensive in the south. Local relief

is slight except in the south where it is as much as

several hundred feet.

Climate: Average annual precipitation—6 to 20

inches, increasing from north to south; falls mostly

during the growing season. Average annual temperature—^0° to 50° F. Average freeze-free period—

100 to 140 days.

Water: In the north low rainfall supports onlya

sparse cover of range plants, but in the south rainfall

is adequate to supporta good cover of grass and

sagebrush. Some irrigation water is provided by

small reservoirs on intermittent streams flowing into

the area from surrounding mountains. The Chama

River is an important water source in the south.

Wells that tap ground water in the deep valley fill

are also important sources of water for irrigation and

domestic use.

Soil: Detailed information is lacking for much of the

area. Lithosols (Apache) derived principally from

basalt are dominant in the west and coarse-textured

Regosols and dune land in the east. Reddish-Brown

soils (Prieta), Desert soils (Hondo), and Solonetz

sßils are in deep coarse old valley-fill materials. Medium-textured Alluvial soils over gravel are of small

total extent but are important for crops.

67
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Bogue, Donald J., and Beale, Calvin L. 1961.

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68 t^r U, S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1971 O -1122- 0219