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<br />of water which must be applied each year just to leach the salts from
<br />the land have resulted in many farmers ,in the area not being able to
<br />produce at a profitable level.
<br />
<br />The effects of not solving the water supply and water qual!'t)'
<br />problems could result in the area not attaining its full economic
<br />potential. The lack 'of reachingthh potential wU 1 directly in-
<br />fluencethe over 42 thous'and persons project€d' ,to resldein the' '
<br />area by 'the rear 2000 (Table.1). 'OVer 17 thousand ofthe'seper$()ns
<br />were projectedtbbe'employed. Since the eConomy is dependent upon
<br />water, however, :l.t is doubtrulthat theeconomi:e 'activity'wi,thth' .,
<br />the area would be sufficient to generate this number of jobs without
<br />solving the'-water supply, and water' quality 'problems.
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<br />""'Table.1.
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<br />
<br />Projected Population, Employment and Per Capita
<br />IncQllle 'inLQvinll' Pecos, ReeVes' and Ward Counties,
<br />;) ';'~ '-;fi .'
<br />
<br />, ; ~'j"
<br />
<br />1975,
<br />
<br />1985
<br />
<br />~'f ~
<br />2000
<br />. \,." ,,,
<br />
<br />Population
<br />
<br />,43,2;3&
<br />15,783
<br />$3,278
<br />
<br />',' ..
<br />$4,597
<br />
<br />42,836
<br />16',806 , '
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<br />42,6,00
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<br />r t '2'42."
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<br />'$'7';15~f ' I,W"
<br />
<br />Employment
<br />
<br />Per Capita Income
<br />
<br />Inadditl-onto ,theeffec ts Of wat~rdsup'piy'andqua1ity,krobllnif
<br />the ar,ea will b~ effected by the increased aos,ts of the eriergyrequired
<br />fOr pumping irril5a!:ion water. Re'il'nt stu(!ie~ ',have ,indic~a~Eld tha't;tlie
<br />highpr,ices of natural gas 'along wh,h i.ncr.eased c,oats of other fairrr"
<br />inputs associated with irriMtipn may, preclud'e cropp'roduc'i:ion ,in' the
<br />area. Major a!ijustmllnts. 1.nthe agri<:~ltura.1'ecQnoIl)Y, of ,t,he,are,ac~uld
<br />include a change frQIII irrigated crop production to l~vestocK prod~ction.
<br />Such !,djustments, ,would have sedpus regionaliinplications through!p~ob-
<br />able defll.uIt in la.nd payments. l1'inancial institutions would. be i:lC:lyersely
<br />affected as borrpwers default and land value; decline." IU'turn';-'tll{'s
<br />situation can prod1,1ce impacts throl1ghout the region as well as the '
<br />,State by a!iversllly !lffllcting theeconoll)ic base, employment, population,
<br />e'arning, e~c. " ',",', '
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