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<br />'. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />CHAPTER II <br /> <br />SETTING <br /> <br />McE1mo Creek drainage, the population was 5,439 in 1950; declined to <br /> <br />4,876 and 4,380 in 1960 and 1970 respectively; and increased to an <br /> <br />estimated 4,834 in 1975. <br />Population increases in the early 1950's were credited to the boom in <br /> <br />oil, gas, and uranium exploration in adjacent areas. Subsequently, the <br /> <br />decline between 1960 and 1970 occurred as exploration activity decreased. <br /> <br />Beginning in about 1970, a new period of growth began throughout the <br /> <br />entire area. While the exact cause of the recent growth has not been <br /> <br />determined, the increasing popularity of the area to retirees appears to <br /> <br />be a major factor. <br /> <br />Physiography <br />McE1mo Creek, is located near the Four Corners Area of Colorado, New <br /> <br />Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Elevations range from less than 4,600 feet at <br /> <br />the confluence of McE1mo Creek and the San Juan River to over 9,500 feet <br /> <br />at the upper end of the watershed. Rolling hills in the north give way <br /> <br />to high mesas, broken tablelands, and flat areas cut by deep, narrow <br /> <br />canyons along the southern boundary of the area. <br /> <br />Soils <br /> <br />The soils in the McElmo Creek Basin can be divided into three types. <br /> <br />The Billings (gray) soils series, alluvial in origin, is derived from <br /> <br />Mancos shale and covers most of the far eastern and southeastern portion <br /> <br />of the drainage. The Monticello (red) soils series, aeolian in nature, <br /> <br />1S derived from Dakota Sandstone and covers the north and western basin <br /> <br />area. The northeastern portion of the unit area consists of a Dakota <br /> <br />sandstone formation, which results 1n a variety of soil t,@'014"8'Ong <br /> <br />6 <br />