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OG1236 CHAPTER I II REGIONAL AND LOCAL NEEDS . areas but many rural districts are without piped systems. Few of the rural homes are now connected to sewsge systems and, as the rural districts continue to develop, the need for providing facilities for the handling and treating of wastes will become increasingly important. Most of the present recreation use of the region is during the summer and fall periods although snow-oriented winter sports are developing rapidly. Facilities to accommodate skiers have been pro- vided in many areas and other facilities are being developed. Most of the lakes and reservoirs are located at high elevations where boating and fishing is limited to the summer and early fall. Water temperatures of the high lakes and reservoirs discourage swimming and water Skiing. A need exists for development of reservoirs in the lower areas to expand the water-oriented recreation season and provide a balanced recreation program for local residents and visitora. . Many of the headwater streams draining heavily vegetated areas are relatively clear and free of sediment even during periods of snow melt and rain runoff. The reaches of streams in the sparsely vegetated, lower elevation areas are muddy and debris laden for extended periods following any significant runoff. Reservoirs in these areas would act as traps for sediment and debris, making the streams below the reservoirs more attractive, more habitable for fish and waterfowl and more suitable for recreation and other uses. Waters of the Colorado River and its tributaries are becoming increasingly saline due to increased within-basin uses and diversion of water to outside areas. Water salinity is a problem in some local areas but not to the extent encountered by users of water from the Lower Colorado River Basin. Development of feasible methods of reducing salinity contributions from the various sources is important to the entire Colorado River Basin. The accelerating depletion of energy resources coupled with the ever increasing demand for various forms of energy constitute one of the most important problems facing the Nation. Western Colorado con- tains vast deposits of coal and oil-bearing shales that will undoubt- edly be needed and developed as energy sources in the future. Coal has been mined in various quantities since the initial settlement period and coal production has recently been increasing due to export- ation to other areas and construction of steam-electric powerplants in the region. Various companies are considering construction of additional steam plants, primarily for serving power markets in other areas. Development of oil shale has been actively considered for many years and several plants have been constructed and operated primarily to test and develop extraction techniques. There has been little commercial production at the plants. . 39