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At present, the economy of Garfield County is based on agriculture, mining, and tourism-recreation. Increased activity in the extraction of natural gas, oil from oil-shale deposits, coal, and carbonate minerals is expected. Garfield County is located in a mountainous region of plateaus and canyon lands that are part of the Rocky Mountains. A number of waterways cut deeply through the high mesas which run into mountain peaks that are at approximately 13,000 feet. Elevations in the western end of the county range from 5,000 feet to 8,000 feet; the east end has valleys at 6,000 feet and is bordered by high mesas at elevations from 7,000 feet to 11,000 feet. The headwater terrain is precipitous and inaccessible. The highest and most mountainous areas are in the northeast section. Towering cliffs, in some locations, compose the transition from river level to high forested mesas and mountains. The Town of Silt is situated approximately 20 miles west of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and approximately 8 miles east of Rifle, Colorado. The unincorporated areas of Garfield County border the Town of Silt on all sides. All streams in Garfield County are tributaries of the Colorado River, which traverses the southeastern and south-central portions of the county on a west-southwesterly course. The Roaring Fork River, the principal tributary to the Colorado River within the county, flows northwesterly and drains the southeastern comer of the county. East and West Salt Creeks drain the far western portions of the county; Roan, Parachute, Rifle, and Main Elk Creeks, and other small creeks flowing south, drain the west-central, central, and northeastern portions. Garfield, David Mann, and Beaver Creeks, all flowing north, drain most of the southeastern portion of the county_ Drainage from the most northeastern section is northwesterly into the systems of the White River. The White River is a tributary to the Colorado River via the Green River.. The stream system shows markedly dendritic patterns and the stream ways are steep and well-defined. A verage stream gradients on the watercourses studied by detailed methods range from 25 feet to 40 feet per mile on the Roaring Fork River and are up to 100 feet per mile on Cattle Creek. The climate of the county is characterized by cool summers and moderately severe winters, especially in the mountainous northeast comer. Drastic climate variations occur within short distances due to dramatically varying topography.. Local weather conditions may change rapidly due to movement of storm systems from west to east through the region. Precipitation in the county ranges from 10 inches to 15 inches in the river valleys to 30 inches to 40 inches in the high mountainous northeastern areas. Average snowfall varies from approximately 40 inches at Rifle to approximately 70 inches at Glenwood Springs. Snowpack normally begins to accumulate in late October, and snowmelt begins in late April and continues into June or early July. Rain may occur over large areas of the county from late spring through late fall and 6