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<br />The Oenverand RIo Grande 'o'Iestern R<l1 I road traverses the flood pia Ins <br />of the Animas River and Junction Creek. ThIs narrow gauge line has become <br />tamous across the country and Is responsible for most of summer and fall <br />tourIsm In the "rea. Past floods on both streams have washed out bridges <br />and track. DIsruption of sorvlceon thIs liM foroxtenslvepododsof <br />tlmooould havc. a slgnlfica.1t c.ffccton the economy ot 1-he city. <br /> <br />The present population of the Durango urban area (14-15,000--ebout <br />10,OOQinthecltyl Is projected to Increase TO about 19,000 by theyoar <br />2000. (a) <br /> <br /> <br />At pro~cnt, the study area Is moderately urbanized. Aboy1- 24 percent <br />of the study area Is devoted to residentIal, commercIal, and IndustrIal <br />uses, and about 47 percent Is utilized for agrIcultural purposes or Is <br />vacant. The rem"inlng area, approximately 29 pereon1-, Is utilized by <br />publIc fIJellltiesand rlghts-of-"'ay for roads, rallroads,lJndutllltles. <br />During the next 25~30 years, land use patterns ;:Ire expected to change a1- <br />a moderate rate. Urbanization ",III contInue to coeroach Into agrIcultural <br />are1lsas low density housing develops along Junction Creek and the oast <br />side of the Mlmas Valley. By the ye"r 2000, It Is expected that about <br />32 percent of the study area wIll ~e devoTed to resldent!"I, commercIal, <br />end industrial uses; alldthatabout34percelltwill be devoted to public <br />facIlities and rlghts-of~~ay for roads, rail roads, and utilities. The <br />amount of agricultural Jr.dvacant land 11'1 th.. study "r"" wIll declIne to <br />about 34 percent at that tIme. <br /> <br />(a) Baa6d on Colorado Stat", Pl..wl1ling Office projiJotions in th", La Plata <br />County Ccrnprehensive Plan (1~7I). <br /> <br />5 <br />