Elevations are 5800 to 7200 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 12 inches. The mean annual air temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F. and the frost- free season is 120 to 150 days. These are the Chita , and Parida soils. Chita soils are at slightly higher elevations, are typically on north slopes and are in an Ustic moisture regime.
Parida soils are in a coarse-loamy family.
Palacid soils are well drained with rapid runoff and moderately slow permeability. Palacid soils are used for livestock grazing and for wildlife habitat. The natural vegetation pinque, black grama, blue grama, broom snakeweed, Indian ricegrass, galleta, sideoats grama, mountainmahogany, and yucca. Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, 1989. Argillic horizon - the zone from about 8 to 45 inches.