WSP00282 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

o W N l'<) HIsrORY OF DEVELOPMENT New Mexico were granted the exclusive use of the waters of the Gila River system in the United states. The decree did not affect the rights or priorities to the use of water in any of the other Lower Basin tributar- ies of the Colorado River. The decree permits the states of the Lower Basin to now proceed with developments to use their apportionments of Colorado River water. Major new developments would be the Southern Nevada Water Supply project in Nevada, the Dixie project in utah, and the Central Arizona project in Arizona. D. Economic Conditions The prosperity of agriculture in the upper Colorado River drainage basin generally parallels the prosperity of the livestock industry. With vast areas of fine rangeland available for summer grazing, livestock pro- duction is limited by the production of hay for winter feed. Intensified development of. mineral resources in recent years has cre- ated new employment opportunities, including off-the-farm work for many farmers. The most extensive and commercially important mineral resources of the basin are coal, oil, and natural gas. The Upper Basin is also the leading domestic source of vanadium, uranium, and radium ore, and molyb- denum. Copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold are also commercially impor- tant. The increase in population resulting from new job opportunities '" has created new markets for locally produced and imported prOducts, has taxed municipal facilities and water supplies in several areas, and has increased demands for electricity. Raw materials are stimulating indus- trial activities in areas adjoining the upper drainage basin, particu- larly areas near Denver, Pueblo, Provo, and Salt Lake City. These ad- joining areas all import water from the COlorado River Basin and without the imported water their economic growth would be limited. .. Tourism as an industry has increased significantly in recent years because of the many natural attractions. Manufacturing as a basic indus- try is of relatively minor importance. in the Upper Basin. Irrigated areas in the Lower Colorado River Basin using Colorado River main stream water are highly productive and the agricultural oper- ations very intensified. Gross crop values per acre probably are greater than any other area of comparable size in the world. For the 1964 crop year, approximately 764,200 acres of irrigated land in the Lower Colorado River Basin were provided a full water supply from the Colorado River and produced a total gross crop income of about $272,151,000. This gives an average gross crop income of $356 per acre. The Pacific Southwest is one of the most rapidly developing areas in the Nation, both industrially and populationwise. Colorado River 13