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<br />. <br /> <br />COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />102 Columbine Building <br />1845 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />February 18, 1975 <br /> <br />MEEKER PROJECT <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />The town of Meeker, the county seat of Rio Blanco County, is <br />located in northwestern Colorado immediately adjacent to the White <br />River, a tributary of the Green River. Meeker was incorporated in <br />1885 and has experienced a very slow growth since that time. The <br />present population is estimated at about 1,700 persons. <br />Throughout early history, the economy of Rio Blanco County was <br />dominated by the livestock industry. This industry is still flourishing. <br />However, with the development of the Rangely oil field some years ago, <br />. . <br /> <br />a considerable change in the economy of the county took place. In <br />more recent years, it has been determined that some eighty percent of <br />the high grade oil shale deposits in the western United States lie <br />within the White River Basin. Significant coal deposits are also <br />found in Rio Blanco County. The potential fossil fuel resources of <br />Rio Blanco County appear to be equal to and probably greater than such <br />resources in any comparable area of the world. Various oil companies <br />are now actively proceeding with plans to develop the oil shale <br />resources of the county. Various other companies are interested in <br />developing the coal resources of the county. <br />Meeker and the immediate area are already beginning to experience <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />growing pains. <br /> <br />New lands have been annexed to the city recently and <br />