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.1 I 0 I CJ N .- .- I t~ I 1 I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I economic decline. Thus, when viewed from an economic standpoint and considering the simultaneous developments in other industrial sectors, the significance of the groundwater 9roblem is am91ififed. LOUISIANA 1. Red River Area, ASA 1107. This problem area involves all of the parishes in the Louisiana portion of the study area which lie adjacent to the Red River. All of the problems to be described are in some way related to the Red River. The areas immediately adjacent to the Red River, specifically the floodplains of the Red River, receive the greatest impact from the problems which exist. However, the end results are both parish wide and region-wide in scope and magnitude (figure 1). The problem area under consideration includes the parishes of Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Bienville, Red River, and Natchitoches. It is predominately a rural area with the only major urban center being the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Population within the region was 395,111 in 1970 with the Shreveport SMSA accounting for 321,182. The population of the area is predominately white (66 percent). The major sources of employment in the area are wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, government, and services accounting for 21.4 percent, 19.9 percent, 17.4 percent and 11.7 percent of the total resgectively. Caddo and Bossier 9arishes account for most of the employment in these categories. Agricul- ture is least important in the more urban parishes but is still a significant source of employment in Red River and Natchitoches parishes. In Bienvil1e, Bossier, Natchitoches, Red River, and Webster parishes lumber related industries predominate. Caddo parish contains the largest number of manufacturing establish- ments with publishing, food, lumber, machinery, and fabricated metals industries being most Common. The topography of the problem area under consideration varies from that of an alluvial valley at or near flood level of the Red River and its tributaries to upland flat woods of intermediate elevations. Vegetation of the alluvial valley is hardwood vege- tation of the wetland variety giving way to mixed pine and up- land hardwoods in the uplands. The climate in this area of Louisiana can be classified as moist sub-humid to humid; i.e., precipitation generally exceeds evapotranspiration. Average rainfall in northwest Louisiana is 53 inches. Normal monthly temperatures range from a low average of 49 degrees in January to a high average of 82.8 degrees in July. In summer, the area is under the influence of maritime tropical air bringing moisture inland from the Gulf of Mexico. During winter the area is subjected alternatively to tropical and polar air mass influence. 33