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<br />II-I <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />"..'- <br /> <br /> <br />SECTION I I <br />PRESENT AND PROJECTED <br />POPULATION AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES <br /> <br />~:: <br /> <br />A. Genera 1 <br /> <br />,. <br />~i; <br />~.~ <br />~; <br />'~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />r <br />E <br /> <br />The Rio Grande Basin of Colorado includes all or parts of Ala- <br /> <br />mosa, Archuleta, Costilla, Conejos, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, <br /> <br />Saguache and San Juan counties. The valley floor, or generally that <br /> <br /> <br />part of the Rio Grande Basin below the 8,000 foot elevation, is known <br /> <br /> <br />as the San Luis Valley. In the following report the Rio Grande Basin <br /> <br />of Colorado and the San Luis Valley are referred to as the Basin and <br /> <br />the Valley, respectively. <br /> <br />The population density and economic activities vary widely <br /> <br /> <br />throughout the Basin. The economy of this area is primarily sup- <br /> <br /> <br />ported by agricultural activities. The extraction and beneficia- <br /> <br />tion of mineral resources and timber related activities are a sig- <br /> <br />nificant but secondary source of income. The mineral and timber <br /> <br />resources are located around the perimeter of the Valley. Tourist <br /> <br />related business and summer home developments are increasing rapidly, <br /> <br />particularly along the Rio Grande from South Fork upstream. The <br /> <br />recreational value of the area is gaining more widespread recog- <br /> <br />nition. Its contribution to the economy of the Valley should in- <br /> <br />crease as residents of the population centers look further afield <br /> <br />for relief from urban pressures. <br /> <br />...~, ,"-I - 't <br />f,., \. '..J.l: <br />