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In addition to the many services provided for local populations throughout the study area, very important basic services have been springing up, especially along the Front Range, in response to the mushroomi ng act iv it ies associ ated with energy deve 1 opment and recrea- tion. Recreation and tourism, although not broken out as a separate industrial sector, can be singled out for their importance to the economy of the study area as a whole, and for their contribution to the general well-being of each sub area. Other important sectors of economic activity include transportation, communications, public utilities, and the construction industry. The importance of finance, insurance, and real estate companies is increasing throughout the study area, and especially in the Denver metropolitan area. ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS The North Platte River was studied from Seminoe Reservoir downstream to the confl uence wi th the South Pl atte, and the South Pl atte River was examined from Lake Cheesman downstream to the confluence with the North Platte, as shown on the frontispiece map. The Cache la Poudre River and a small segment of the North Fork of the South Pl atte River were also eval uated. The total 1 and area of the drainage was not exami ned, but an area 1 mile either side of the rivers and reservoirs was vegetatively mapped using color infrared aerial photography. It was felt that this area would be most directly affected by water resource development. The mainstem of the Platte River was studied by the Fish and Wildlife Service and is not considered in this analysis. In additi on, State and Federal wildl ife agencies provided information concerni ng important habitat features, recreati on areas, wi 1 dl ife con- centrat ions, refuges, stream class ifi cat ion, and presence of endangered species. Some on-the-ground examination was conducted to confirm habitat types and examine important resources. Each of the three states have cl assification schemes which rate stream fishery values on a numerical scale, with Class 1 streams having the highest fishery value while Class 4 streams have limited fishery resources. Cl asses 2 and 3 are gradational between the highest and lowest values, but even Class 4 streams have low (Wyoming) to moderate (Colorado) to substantial (Nebraska) resources. Streams without fishery values are not included in the classification system. North Platte River Habitat Types The habitats along the North Pl atte and South Pl atte Rivers were similar but the quantities of each varied. For example, prairie grassland was a major type along the North Platte with 54,586 acres but represented only about 12,000 acres along the South Pl atte (table 3). The acreage for wet meadow was over 68,000 for the South Pl atte and a 11