Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Duchesne and Uintah County populations have increased rapidly since <br /> <br />1970 as a result of oil exploration and drilling and continuing construc- <br /> <br />tion on the Central Utah Project. The rapid population influx has <br /> <br />leveled off but a sustained growth rate is anticipated through the year <br /> <br />2000. Development of oil shale and tar sands ~n the area are expected <br /> <br />to have a significant impact on the population and local economy. <br /> <br />East-central Uintah County contains the highest grade oil shale in Utah, <br /> <br />with an enormous development potential. The Uinta Basin alone could <br /> <br />produce an estimated 100 billion barrels of shale oil once processes have <br /> <br />been perfected. The mining of hydrocarbon gilsonite, bituminous sandstone, <br /> <br />and phosphate rock are important to the area's economy. <br /> <br />Agriculture is and will remain an important aspect of the economy of <br /> <br />the Uinta Basin. Cattle, sheep, wool, milk, hay, and other feed crops are <br /> <br />the major products and livestock grazing is a major land use. Nearby <br /> <br />National forest an~ National resource lands also provide graz~ng. <br /> <br />Climate <br /> <br />Most of the Uinta Basin is semiarid, but temperature and precipita- <br /> <br />tion vary widely. Daily temperatures can vary as much as 40 degrees. <br /> <br />Average annual temperatures range from -30. F to 105. F. <br /> <br />Winter precipitation falls mostly as snow, while thunderstorms <br /> <br />dominate the summer season when a northerly flow of warm moist air <br /> <br /> <br />from the Gulf of Mexico prevails. Average annual precipitation <br /> <br /> <br />is about 7.5 inches at Roosevelt but varies from less than 7 inches near <br /> <br /> <br />Ouray to about 40 inches in adjacent high mountains. Irrigation is <br /> <br />essential in cropped areas. <br /> <br />i}J~ &:":4 <br /> <br />6 <br />