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1\.) en t- oo . . River Basin; and Farmio.gton, New Mexico, ranked as the Region I s largest urban center, partly because of the Four Corners thermal electric plant construction. Between 1970 and 1975, the populations of Grand Junction and Rock Springs had the largest increases, the former running a very close second for the status of the Region's largest city, Vernal, Utah, although less than 10,000 in population, is becoming a significant popu- lation center in the northeast part of that State. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The four largest employment sectors in the Region are wholesale and retail trade, professional services, agriculture, and mining, These occupatioo.s were responsible for nearly three out of every five jobs in 1970, Agriculture has been a historically declining industry, By 1970, farm employment was less than 10 percent of total employment. Most farm activity is and has been devoted to livestock husbandry, including livestock products (dairy products and wool especially), About 75 per- cent of farm sales are derived from livestock and livestock products; the remainio.g sales are from field crops, fruits, and vegetables. In terms of economic activity, the region has been sustained by primary extractive industries. Because of the large distances to national markets, the only significant manufacturing industries are those which reduce raw material weights or serve local markets, It is likely that the economy of the Region will continue to be based upon such primary industries and that the Region will therefore experience the cyclic economic effects that those extractive industries produce. The oo.ly significant stabilizing influence on the economy has beeo. the large growth in year-round tourism and recreation. The io.creasing number of recreational visits has led to rapid growth in recreation- and urban-related occupations. This urban-associated employment has replaced mining, farming,and forestry in importance, both individually and collectively, Per capita income in the Upper Colorado River Region was $4,087 in 1974, This figure is low in comparison to that for Colorado, the Rocky Mountain region in general, and the United States, as shown in Table 2,1. Reasons for this difference are reflected in the: (1) arid climate and relatively low agricultural productivity; (2) lack of an industrial/manufacturing base with attendant high-skill jobs; and (3) low population density and lack of major service centers accompanied by the high incomes generated in the service sector, 2-7