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In general, the drainage pattern of Rangely is from southeast to northwest. The White River flows westward on a meandering course just north of Rangely. The drainage basin of College Canyon Draw, also known as Dragon Wash, is south of the town. The stream enters the town along its southern corporate limits, flowing west and northwest to join the White River. The drainage basin of Coal Mine Draw is also south of town and is situated directly to the west of the College Canyon Draw drainage basin. The stream enters the town in the western half of its southern corporate limits, then flows west and northwest to its confluence with the White River. Rangely rests on a bedrock formation of Mancos Shale of the Upper Cretaceous age. This layer is more than 5,000 feet thick, and is essentially a dark grey, calcareous, marine depos i t that weathers light grey to yellow brown. Selenite gypsum is common throughout the formation. The soils of this area have formed under a low- effective annual precipitation. Soil-parent materials are mainly calcareous, clayish shales and sandstones; however, sandy and gravelly outwash, windblown sands and silts, and alluvial sediments are also extensive. Surface soils are light colored and range in texture from sandy loam to silty clay. Subsoils are principally clay loam or clay in texture, and have a permeability rate that varies from moderate to slow. Sandy subsoils with a high permeability rate are a minor component within the area. Tourism is of little significance to the town, even though Dinosaur National Park is only 30 miles to the north. Available lodging in Rangely is limited to that required for oilfield workers. However, the town is growing. Based on 1970 and 1980 Bureau of Census population figures of 1,591 and 2,113, respectively, Rangely experienced a 33-percent population growth in 10 years. Today, Rangely has a population of approximately 2,530, according to a survey conducted by the Town of Rangely Department of Communi ty Development (Reference 2). Oil has been the lifeblood of the town, but cattle and sheep ranching is also considered important to the economy of this rural community. The town is looking forward to further coal and oil development. Other natural resources in the Rangely area include rare earths, copper, silver, gold, thorium, aluminum, low-grade uranium, and high-grade oil shale (estimated to contain more than 1.5 trillion barrels of oil). Oil shale development holds many possibilities for social and economic growth. Although large scale plans for oil shale development have already been made, implementation has presently been suspended until economic conditions change. Topography in the Rangely area is extremely diverse, and includes dissected plateaus, sharp ridges, abrupt cliffs, and rugged badlands that are interspersed with open valleys, meadows, and basins. The presence of underlying rock layers with wide differences in resistance to erosion has been the principal factor in the evolution of these varied landforms. Erosion in the rolling shale hills and badlands around Rangely 1S severe. Deep and 4