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Grand Mesa National Forest
Map showing the location of Grand Mesa National Forest
Map showing the location of Grand Mesa National Forest
LocationDelta, Garfield, and Mesa counties, Colorado, United States
Nearest cityGrand Junction, Colorado
Coordinates39°04′00″N 107°53′00″W / 39.0668°N 107.8834°W / 39.0668; -107.8834
Area346,555 acres (1,402.46 km2)
EstablishedDecember 24, 1892
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsiteGrand Mesa National Forest

The Grand Mesa National Forest is a U.S. National Forest in Mesa, Delta and Garfield Counties in Western Colorado. It borders the White River National Forest to the north and the Gunnison National Forest to the east. The forest covers most of Grand Mesa and the south part of Battlement Mesa. It has a total area of 346,555 acres (541.49 sq mi, or 1,402.46 km2).[1] It is managed by the United States Forest Service together with Gunnison National Forest and Uncompahgre National Forest from offices in Delta, Colorado. There are local ranger district offices located in Grand Junction.

Animals that inhabit this forest are elk, mule deer, Canadian lynx, black bears, pine marten, cougars, and bighorn sheep. Birdwatchers get a seasonal opportunity to view species of bird such bald eagles, boreal owls, golden eagles, Mexican spotted owls, common ravens, wild turkeys and peregrine falcons.

Originally called Battlement Mesa Forest Reserve, created by Benjamin Harrison on December 24, 1892, it was the third forest reserve created in United States. It is the largest flat top mountain in the world.

Climate

Park Reservoir is a SNOTEL weather station on the Grand Mesa, located near Leon Peak (Colorado).

Climate data for Park Reservoir, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals: 9960ft (3036m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 29.9
(−1.2) 		31.9
(−0.1) 		40.0
(4.4) 		45.4
(7.4) 		53.9
(12.2) 		63.2
(17.3) 		68.7
(20.4) 		66.2
(19.0) 		58.5
(14.7) 		48.6
(9.2) 		36.9
(2.7) 		29.1
(−1.6) 		47.7
(8.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 16.8
(−8.4) 		18.5
(−7.5) 		25.4
(−3.7) 		31.9
(−0.1) 		40.6
(4.8) 		49.4
(9.7) 		55.5
(13.1) 		53.8
(12.1) 		46.3
(7.9) 		36.7
(2.6) 		24.8
(−4.0) 		16.5
(−8.6) 		34.7
(1.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 3.7
(−15.7) 		5.0
(−15.0) 		10.8
(−11.8) 		18.1
(−7.7) 		27.1
(−2.7) 		35.5
(1.9) 		42.3
(5.7) 		41.2
(5.1) 		34.5
(1.4) 		25.1
(−3.8) 		12.5
(−10.8) 		4.1
(−15.5) 		21.7
(−5.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.60
(117) 		4.59
(117) 		4.09
(104) 		3.80
(97) 		2.69
(68) 		1.30
(33) 		1.92
(49) 		2.38
(60) 		3.02
(77) 		3.76
(96) 		3.76
(96) 		4.64
(118) 		40.55
(1,032)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 69.6
(177) 		45.5
(116) 		65.2
(166) 		36.8
(93) 		24.3
(62) 		1.2
(3.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		6.3
(16) 		16.7
(42) 		45.2
(115) 		60.1
(153) 		370.9
(943)
Source 1: XMACIS2 (Park RSVR normals & Cedaredge 10.5 snowfall)[2]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation)[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007
  2. ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Park Reservoir, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 9, 2023.

External links


State of Colorado
Protected areas of Colorado
National Forests of the United States
Authority control databases
Categories