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, ;{ "!', 't--s..J~ . w. The availability of Project water has the potential to influence population patterns in both the Project development and service areas. Previous paragrsphs described how the development of water attracted a temporary influx of construction workers, and the recreation impacts acknowledge the spinoff effects reservoirs have related to summer home and subdivision development adjacent to Project lands. The population increased in the counties when Project features were being developed between 1960 and 1970 census years. About 40,500 acre-feet of Project developed water is allocated for municipal and industrial use on an average annual basis. Consumptive use of water in the Project service area may also influence population patterns. The direct cause-and-effect relationship of water supply and urban growth is a moot point. On one hand, the availability of water provides the potential for economic growth of urban centers such as Pueblo and Colorado Springs. On the other hand, water itself does not cauae population growth and the shortage of water does not prevent growth of urban areas. Population growth is influenced much more by otiler factors than by water supply (McKee and Rice, 1974). A generally desirable location will attract people and a relatively undesirable place will experience out-migration (Rivkin/Carson, 1973). All kinds of environmental attractions of unequal appeal induce people to resettle. The climate, mountains, lakes, and open country generally are attractions by themselves (Rivkin/Carson, 1973). Other inducements include more jobs, lower crime rates, and ethnic distribution (Water Newsletter, J~~e 13, 1974), In relation to metropolitan areas it appears that water resource investments are more likely to be made in response to needs, and that it has more often followed residential development, highway construction, and economic growth (Rivkin/Carson, 1973). . A study was conducted to examine the rationale of using water supply as a means of population control. It concluded "that decreases in the per capita supply of water available in an area will not prevent people from migrating to that place if other important inducements are present" (Water Newsletter, June 13,1974). If restriction of population in the urban centers within the Project service area is a planning objective, then the most effective tools are the absence of sewers or restrictions on sewer connections (McKee and Rice, . IV-49