Editing Colorado (section)

===Plains===
[[File:Picketwire Canyon.jpg|thumb|The arid high plains in Southeastern Colorado]]

Approximately half of Colorado is flat and rolling land. East of the Rocky Mountains is the [[Colorado Eastern Plains]] of the [[High Plains (United States)|High Plains]], the section of the Great Plains within Colorado at elevations ranging from roughly {{convert|3350|to|7500|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.summitpost.org/colorado-county-highpoints/532245|title=Colorado County Highpoints|access-date=February 27, 2012}}</ref> The Colorado plains are mostly prairies but also include [[deciduous forests]], [[butte]]s, and canyons. Precipitation averages {{convert|15|to|25|in|mm}} annually.<ref name="ccc">{{cite web|url=http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu/climateofcolorado.php|title=Climate of Colorado|last1=Doesken|first1=Nolan J.|last2=Pielke| first2=Roger A. Sr. |author-link2=Roger A. Pielke|last3=Bliss|first3=Odilia A.P.|date=January 2003|publisher=Colorado Climate Center—Department of Atmospheric Science—[[Colorado State University]]|access-date=January 25, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209230420/http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu/climateofcolorado.php|archive-date=February 9, 2009}}</ref>

Eastern Colorado is presently mainly farmland and rangeland, along with small farming villages and towns. [[Maize|Corn]], [[wheat]], [[hay]], [[soybean]]s, and [[oat]]s are all typical crops. Most villages and towns in this region boast both a water tower and a [[grain elevator]]. Irrigation water is available from both surface and subterranean sources. Surface water sources include the [[South Platte]], the [[Arkansas River]], and a few other streams. Subterranean water is generally accessed through [[artesian well]]s. Heavy usage of these wells for irrigation purposes caused underground water reserves to decline in the region. Eastern Colorado also hosts a considerable amount and range of livestock, such as cattle ranches and hog farms.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://coloradosun.com/2019/04/08/colorado-cattle-rustling-brand-inspectors/|title=Colorado cattle rustling's colorful history helps modern brand inspectors keep up with a changing crime|work=The Colorado Sun|access-date=March 27, 2021|last=Simpson|first=Kevin|date=April 8, 2019}}</ref>