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<br />LJ <br />C~ <br /> <br />The 1975 population of the basin was about 36,000 inhabi- <br />tants of which about 50 percent were urban and 50 percent were <br />rural. There are only three urban places (over 2,500 inhabitants) <br />in the basin. In addition, there are a number of small towns and villages <br />scattered throughbut the area along with numerous single homesteads on <br />farms and ranches. <br /> <br />Midyear 1974 population estimates of urban places were as <br />follows: <br /> <br />N <br />CJ1 <br />OJ <br />C;. <br /> <br />Place Coun ty Population Estimates <br />Raton Colfax 7,400 <br />Tucurncari Quay 7,550 <br />Clayton Uniori 3,050 <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />At the present time agriculture is the major economic base <br />in the AWR Basin in New Mexico. About 22 percent of the total <br />earnings are derived "from this source consisting of farming <br />(irrigated and dry) and ranching (primarily cattle) enterprises. <br />Manufacturing consists of a few light industries (about five <br />percent of total earnings) in urban areas and most of these are <br />agriculture-oriented. Mineral resources consist of coal, carbon <br />dioxide, metallic and non-metallic minerals. Except for coal <br />processing (Colfax County) and carbon dioxide production (Harding <br />County), the mineral resources have not been fully developed. <br />Recreation is important. There are a number of lakes which pro- <br />vide boating, swimming, fishing and other water-related sports; <br />in addition, there is stream fishing, excellent hunting, and op- <br />portunity for camping and hiking in the mountainous areas of <br />the bas in. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />During Activities 1 and 2, a <br />identified throughout the basin. <br /> <br />number of common problems were <br />These problems are as follows: <br /> <br />1. Surface-water supplies are limited and in most of <br />the area these supplies are fully appropriated or <br />committed, mostly for irrigation purposes. Uses <br />for other than irrigation of these supplies would <br />require a transfer of use from irrigation. <br /> <br />2. Throughout much of the area yields from gro~ndwater <br />aquifers are low to moderate and the quality of water <br />is generally poor. Where these conditions e~ist, the <br />supplies are not adequate to meet projected increased <br />municipal and mineral demands. <br /> <br />3. Surface-water runoff results in flood damage in urban <br />and rural communities. Uncontrolled flooding along <br />stream channels results in damage to diversion struc- <br />tures, bank-cutting, loss of irrigated cropland, and <br />destruction of roads) bridges, powerlines) and other <br />structures. <br /> <br />106 <br />