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<br />~ <br />r-:-...:J <br />00 <br />,oJ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />rapidly developing energy industries and their desire to <br />live in small towns or rural neighborhoods. <br /> <br />ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES <br /> <br />Agriculture is the basic industry in the project area which <br />is basically rural, and agricultural service enterprises are <br />also an important part of the local economy. Irrigated <br />1 ands are primari ly base operations for 1 ivestock enter- <br />prises, with about 85 percent of the presently irrigated <br />land used for the production of hay and pasture. The <br />remaining 15 percent produces small grains and minor amounts <br />of fruit. Large areas of nearby public and private lands <br />are used for livestock grazing. <br /> <br />Small livestock auctions operate in Rifle and Glenwood <br />Spri ngs, and 1 a rge lots of ca 1 ves and 1 ambs are usua lly <br />contracted to buyers or shipped to outside markets. Nearly <br />all of the fruits grown in the area are sold locally. An <br />alfalfa pelleting mill is located in Silt. <br /> <br />Natural gas is the only mineral resource now being produced <br />in any significant quantity, with three gas fields lying <br />wholly or partly within the project area. Several gas wells <br />are in commercial production, and others are supplying small <br />amounts for the private use of neighboring farmers. <br /> <br />Significant amounts of sand and gravel are produced from the <br />bed of the Colorado Ri ver and from terrace depos i ts above <br />the river. These resources are mostly used locally for <br />concrete aggregate and for roadway surfacing. <br /> <br />A-6 <br />