ABSTRACT
The climate of the Front Range Piedmont is influenced by a number of large-scale features, or climatic controls. Smaller scale controls influence the watershed climate in particular, generating remarkable variations along its 150 kilometer length. Large scale climatic controls that are important to the region include latitude, elevation, continentality, topography, and storm tracks. The latitude range of the watershed puts it in the line of predominant westerly wind currents, and accounts for its summer-winter seasonal patterns. The elevation of the watershed is important in its effect on temperature and moisture. Localized controls important in inducing variations in climate within the watershed include land form, orientation and location, elevation, slope and aspect, surface soils, vegetation, and human development. The montane forest region of the watershed is part of the Black Forest of Colorado. Grasslands dominate the watershed, marking it as part of a transition area moving from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains.
