WSP02127

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 8/1/1976
• Title: Technical Memorandum - State Regional Futures and Problem Lists -- Activity 2 Phase II -- 1975 National Assessment --- part 1 of 3 -- Cover Page - page 134
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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The 1975 population of the basin was about 36,000 inhabitants of which about
50 percent were urban and 50 percent were rural. There are only three urban places
(over 2,500 inhabitants) in the basin. In addition, there are a number of small
towns and villages scattered throughout the area along with numerous single
homesteads on farms and ranches.

Midyear 1974 population estimates of urban places were as follows:

Place - County

Population Estimates

7,400
7,550
3,050

Raton
Tucumcari
Clayton

Colfax
Quay
Union

At the present time agriculture is the major resource base in the AWR Basin
in New Mexico. About 22 percent of the total earnings are derived from this source
consisting of farming (irrigated and dry) and ranching (primarily cattle) enterprises.
Manufacturing consists of a few light industries (about five percent of total earnings) ,
in urban. areas and most of these are agriculture-oriented. Mineral resources consist
of coal, carbon dioxide, metallic and non-metallic minerals. Except for coal processing
(Colfax County) and carbon dioxide production (Harding County), the mineral resources
have not been fully developed. Recreation is important. There are a number of lakes
which provide boating, swimming, fishing and other water-related sports; in addition,
there is stream fishing, excellent hunting, and opportunity for camping and hiking
in the mountainous areas of the basin.

GENERALS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

National and state projections indicate continued increases in population
will take place in the AWR Basin in New Mexico. The increase in population will
result in increased demands on water and related land resources and a prime objective
of the state is to promote orderly development of these resources for the benefit
of all its citizens.

So as to cover a wide range of alternatives futures, New Mexico has used three
sets of population projections in state planning studies. The projections are
identified as BBR 1968, OBERS 1968, and BEA-B8R 1972 and range from a high, medium,
and low level of projection, respectively. Without advocating anyone of the
projections, they give an opportunity to look at a wide range of possibilities in
future time frames. In the AWR Basin all three projections were used to estimate
future requirements for water and related land resources. It should be noted that
the state recommended OBERS 1968 projections (mid-range) be used in comparisons of
the State/Regional Future and MCC data. However, in preparing the tables where
comparisons were made BBR 1968 was used.

A basic assumption used in this and other studies is that water supply will
be limited to the surface and groundwater supplies available to the state of New Mexico.
Further, it is assumed that existing water laws, administrative procedures, and
interstate water compacts will be essentially unchanged during the period of study.

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