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<br />l'1031DG <br /> <br />f1' <br /> <br />CHAPTER II <br /> <br />GENERAL DISCUSSIONS <br /> <br />Climate <br /> <br />Climate in the South San Juan project area is temperate ani semi- <br />arid. The summers are characteri2ied by warm days and cool night s while <br />the winters are cold. Temperatures range from a minimum of 150F. below <br />2iero to a maximum of about loooF. The frost-free period is about 150 <br />days and the mean annual temperature is about 50oF. The average annual <br />precipitation is 8.99 inches at the Bloomfield station. About half of <br />this occurs during the growing season, making irrigation necessary for <br />successful crop production. With irrigation climatic conditions are <br />favorable for growing most field crops, a variety of garden crops, ani <br />such fruits as apoles, pears, peaches, cherries, and apricots. <br /> <br />Population <br /> <br />The population of San Juan County was 8,330 in 1920, 14,700 in 1930, <br />17,110 in 1940, and 18,120 in 1950. Nearly half the county population <br />in 1940 was Indian. Farmington, N. Melt.. with a 1950 po;pu}.ation of <br />3,600, is the largest town in the county and is located 10 miles north <br />of the project area. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Principal trading centers are located at Farmington, N. Mex.., and <br />Durango, Golo. Durango, with a 1950 population of 7,500, is located <br />about 75 miles northeast of the project area. -Schools, churches and <br />recreat10nal facilities are located at Farmington, A2itec, and Bloomfield. <br />School busses transport student s from outlying areas in the county to <br />centrally located schools. <br /> <br />Present Development <br /> <br />The project lands are almost totally undeveloped at the present <br />time. With the limited rainfall they support only a very sparse vege- <br />tation and are now used mostly by Indians for the gra2iing of sheep. <br />The most highly developed agricultural area near the prqject is that <br />around Fartnington and adjacent small towns where farmers are success- <br />fully raising fruits and other crops by diverting irrigation water <br />directly from the San Juan River and tributary streams. <br /> <br />.., <br /> <br />A number of small industries help to support the local economy. <br />These are located outside of the project area in or near the commercial <br />and trading centers of the region. Mining of coal for local use and of <br />precious metals such as gold, silver, uranium, and vanadium is carried <br />on in the San Juan Basin. Lumbering and natural gas production are <br />other local industries. Proven fields in the San Juan Basin contain <br />great quantities of natural gas and recently constructed pipelines are <br />conveying gas from the basin to the west coo st and to Albuquerque, N. <br />Mex. Both oil and natural gas have been found within the project area. <br /> <br />17 <br /> <br />ii: <br /> <br />