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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3-2 The Montezuma valley generally experiences low humidity and precipitation, reasonably wide daily temperature changes, a high percentage of sunshine hours each year and westerly winds. Average precipitation varies in the valley, but is in the 10 to 20 inches per year range, with late summer being the wettest period. Winter maximum temperatures reach the mid 30s, while summer temperatures are more into the low 90s. Corresponding daily minimum temperatures average 0 degrees F and 50 degrees F. Historical population Growth As the majority of the water demand from the pipeline will come from Cortez and Towaoc, it is appropriate to review growth in these communities and to evaluate growth projections. The population growth of the City of Cortez and Towaoc, as measured by the united States Bureau of Census, is given in Table 3-1. Prior to 1970, no population data is available for Towaoc. The population growth for Cortez is illustrated on Figure 3-1. Rapid growth in the 1950s due to expansion of oil and uranium industries resulted in a population of nearly 7,000 people by 1960. A down-turn in both of these activities accompanied by significant emigration of school leavers during the 1960s caused a significant reduction in Cortez's population. This fluctuation in growth rate is dramatically shown on Figure 3-1. The population also fell according to the Census figures between 1975 and 1980. The City of Cortez feels that a more realistic count of the 1980 population should have been 7,700 people. As a Ci ty of assumed. and this growth in and 1980 figures. basis for planning and projecting future growth within the Cortez's sorvice area, some population base must be The best estimate of the 1985 population is 7,700 people will be used to project future growth in population and water demands. The annual population growth between 1930 was approximately 4.2 percent per annum based on Census projected population Growth population projections for the Cortez area have been completed by the USBR, Mon te zuma County, the Cortez Public Works Department, and independent consultants. These projections have been based primarily on a compounded percentage growth rate derived from past growth rates. population projections become the very essence of water planning studies because all future water demands are based on those projections. If the population projections are too high, the cost of providing the water facilities will be borne by a smaller BROWN AND CALDWELL C CONSULTING ENGINEERS