|
|
|
|
|
|
From the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce:
SUMMER
Chimney Rock near Bayard, Nebraska
AUTUMN
near Scottsbluff, Nebraska
WINTER
7 Windmills north of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
SPRING
Flowering Crab near Westmore School in Scottsbluff
|
|
Climate
Average Length of Growing Season Vegetation & Natural Resources
Scottsbluff and Gering and the surrounding communities of the North Platte Valley experience the “four seasons” of the year and the splendor of nature that accompanies these changes. While spring brings a lush green carpeted effect to the area, autumn shows her beauty in the various reds and golds of trees and shrubs. The first and subsequent snowfalls each year surround the Valley in a blanket of white, and the frosted trees have a magical “wonderland” quality. With the average date of the last frost being May 12th and the average date of the first frost being September 28th, the area experiences many days of mild temperatures. The winds are quite often warmed by the downslope or chinook effect from the higher elevations to the west and bring rapid warming and melting of the snow. Easterly winds during the winter and early spring cause upslope conditions, with low cloudiness and precipitation. The average temperature at this time is in the upper 40’s. During the winter, highs average about 40, with lows in the teens. Temperatures of zero or below occur approximately 15 times during the winter. Outbreaks of Arctic air bring cold wave conditions about five times each season. Snow with strong winds, causing blowing and drifting, occur several times each winter, with a severe blizzard of extended duration occurring about once every thirty years. High temperatures in the summer generally range from the 80’s to 90’s, with occasional temperatures of 100 or slightly above, but very low humidity. Lows of around 60 are common during the summer. Most of the precipitation occurs in the spring and summer in the form of thundershowers. The Platte River dividing
the two main communities is a wide, shallow stream that has little effect
on the climate. Water stored in numerous upstream reservoirs is used
for extensive irrigation in the Valley. (Per University of Nebraska -Lincoln - 1971-2000)
Water Equivalent = 16.33 inches (no data on how much is rain and/or snow)
Average
Length of Growing Season 136 days (based on the period 1893-2004)
3,849 feet at base of Scotts Bluff National Monument
Vegetation & Natural Resources Because of its relatively dry climate, Nebraska has a vegetation that is primarily grasslands, with about 2% of the total area under forest cover. Trees exist along the river valleys and on the higher sandstone escarpments of the northwest. In the east the river valleys are dominated by oak, hickory, and elm trees. Farther west the river valleys are lined with cottonwood, willow, and elm trees. Ponderosa pines grow on the Great Plains escarpments of the northwest. The prairie of the west, once covered with tall bluestem grass, is now mostly cultivated, although the Sand Hills still have such natural grass cover. The dry Panhandle region has a shorter and sparser grama and buffalo grass cover with occasional sagebrush. The sandy plains of the southwest have sand sage mixed with grasses. Wildlife includes coyote, antelope, deer, fox, badger, and prairie dog. Only a little more than a hundred years ago the Nebraska prairies were the grazing land of millions of bison; today bison are found only in isolated reserves. Pheasants and quail are common, and waterfowl and gulls are found at the many lakes and reservoirs. Fish that inhabit the state's streams and reservoirs include bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish, and pike. Petroleum is the most important mineral resource and is found in the Great Plains region, especially in the southwest and in the Panhandle. The state, however, does not rank high among the nation's petroleum producers. A small amount of natural gas is also recovered. Most of the other mineral production involves construction materials. Sand and gravel are found in the river valleys, stone (particularly limestone) is found in the east, and clay is present throughout the state. Since its early settlement in the mid-19th century, Nebraska has had an economy based on agriculture, specifically the raising of livestock and the growing of corn (for feed) and wheat. During the 1930s the economy suffered from the effects of Great Depression and an extended drought. Since World War II the construction of flood-control projects has been responsible for the increased area of farmland under irrigation. Although farming is still extremely important, services and manufacturing have expanded rapidly in recent decades. Farming accounts for 11% of the annual gross state product in Nebraska. The state has some 56,000 farms, which average 841 acres in size. More than 95% of the state's total land area is under agricultural use. Livestock products make up nearly two-thirds of Nebraska 's yearly farm income. Nebraska ranks as one of the top three cattle-producing states in the country. Large ranches dominate cattle production and are located primarily in the Sand Hills, the Panhandle, and the southwest. Ranchers ship the cattle east for feeding before they are sent to market. Dairying and hog production are concentrated in the eastern half of the state. Sheep are raised in most parts of the state, but especially in the Panhandle. Poultry raising is important in the eastern region of Nebraska . Crops make up more than one-third of Nebraska 's annual agricultural income. Corn, the most important crop and the dominant feed grain, forms the basis of the state's livestock industry. It is grown throughout the state but especially in the northeastern, eastern, and south central areas. Other major crops are grain sorghum, grown in the southeastern and south central regions; soybeans, grown in the eastern third of the state; and wheat, grown in the south and the Panhandle. Hay is produced throughout the state. Barley, rye, oats, and millet are grown on a smaller scale in the west and northeast. Sugar beets, beans, and potatoes are grown in the west in the vicinity of the North Platte River. Nebraska is one of the top states in the amount of land under irrigation. Most irrigated land is found in the semiarid west and in the south central counties. The Ogallala Aquifer, a vast underground reservoir, underlies a major portion of Nebraska. Development of the Ogallala Aquifer has brought prosperity to farms and communities throughout the High Plains region of the United States. The documented drawdown of the Ogallala Aquifer, and the resulting Six-State High Plains Ogallala Aquifer Study, indicate that Nebraska's groundwater reserves are more plentiful and stable than other High Plains states. Forestry is of little importance to the Nebraska economy. Small amounts of oak, hickory, and walnut are cut for furniture and lumber. The commercial fish catch is of negligible value. The mining industry accounts for less than 1% of the annual gross annual state product in Nebraska . Petroleum makes up about half of the total value of minerals produced; most of the output comes from the southeast and the Panhandle. Other mineral commodities include sand and gravel, stone, clay, cement, lime, and gems. Enterprises engaged in manufacturing account for 13% of the annual gross state product and employ some 95,000 workers. The leading industry is food processing; meat products are particularly important. The other leading industries manufacture industrial machinery and electronic equipment. Among these manufacturers are motor-vehicle parts and telephone equipment.
Copyright © 2002-2003 Twin Cities Development Association, Inc. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Platte River
