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<br />Droughts in the 1930's and 1950's accelerated the development of <br /> <br /> <br />well irrigation. The primary aquifer is the South Platte River valley, <br /> <br /> <br />but the Cache la Poudre River downstream from Fort Collins is also a <br /> <br /> <br />significant ground water source. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Agriculture is a major economic activity in the basin. Principal <br /> <br /> <br />irrigated crops are corn, sugar beets, beans, and alfalfa. Dry crop- <br /> <br />land prDduces winter wheat, barley, hay, or pasture in rotation. The <br /> <br />rich irrigated farmland has placed the Fort Collins - Greeley area <br /> <br /> <br />within the top 10 areas in the Nation fDr agricultural production. <br /> <br /> <br />Agricultural related industries such as sugar beet processing, cattle <br /> <br /> <br />feedlots, and packing houses are also important economic activities. <br /> <br /> <br />Cattle feeding operations in Weld County make Greeley the major <br /> <br /> <br />livestock market between Omaha, Nebraska, and the west coast. <br /> <br />In additiDn to agricultural industries, other area industries <br /> <br /> <br />include electronics, photo supplies, dental appliances, plastic <br /> <br /> <br />products, clothing, mobile homes, chemicals, cement, and lumber. <br /> <br /> <br />Tourism is impDrtant in the mountain area. Another large employment <br /> <br /> <br />sector is education, Colorado State University is located in Fort <br /> <br />Collins and the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community <br /> <br /> <br />College are located in Greeley. <br /> <br />The known SDurces of metallic minerals and strippable c,lal beds <br /> <br /> <br />lie outside the Cache la Poudre River basin. Minerals producen include <br /> <br /> <br />stone, sand and gravel, petroleum and natural gas, lime, gypsum and <br /> <br /> <br />mica. <br /> <br />The Larimer-Weld County area <br />of its strong economic base. <br /> <br />has a history of continued growth because <br />Table 2 indicates population trends. <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />. <br />