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. . . 001198 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This report is directed primarily toward suggesting ways in which the Uncompahgre Project could be improved and extended to enhance the social, economic, and enviroamental structure of the local area and the general region. The report is reconnaissance in scope and, in some respects, lacking in specific recommendations. It is intended for use as a guide for more intensive and detailed investigations. The investigations summarized in the report were initiated due to requests for improvement of the Uncompahgre Project from project water users, concern expressed by various individuals, groups, and agencies over increasing salinity concentrations in Colorado River water, and requests mostly from local groups for investigation of the feasibility of developing Dominguez Dam and Lake. Helpful assistance and much of the basic data used in the report has been provided by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association, the operating and con- tracting entity for water users of the Uncompahgre Project. Other assistance and data has been provided by various other individuals and agencies. Project Setting The Uncompahgre Project is located in Southwestern Colorado in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The region encompassing the project offers many diverse natural esthetic values ranging from sparsely vegetated valleys to spectacular canyons to forested plateaus to towering mountain ranges. Much of the region remains essentially in its natural state although some areas have been materially affected by the activities of man. Most of the formerly barren valleys con- tain irrigated farm lands, and many of the mountainous areas are dotted with evidence of past mining activities. Numerous small lakes are found in portions of the region, and reservoirs have been deve- loped at various locations to provide storage water for irrigation, recreation, municipal use, and hydro-electric power generation. The towns are located principally in and supported by agricultural deve- lopments, but mining, lumbering, tourism and various forms of recrea- tional activities are important to local economy. Much of the region is sparsely populated range and forest land that is utilized for live- stock grazing, mining, lumbering and various forms of outdoor recrea- tion including fishing, hunting and skiing.