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. o (Xl .s::. OJ . . HISTORY OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Continued) 5. Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act On June 24, 1974, Public Law 93-320 was signed by the President. This Act is cited as the "Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act," The act is divided into Title I, which includes features to comply with the United States obligations to Mexico under Minute 242 of the Inter- national Boundary and Water Commission, and Title II, which authorizes construction and planning of salinity control features and the goal of maintaining lower mainstem salinity concentrations at or below 1972 levels, Features authorized for3 construction under Title I include a 100 million gallon a day (4.38 m Is) desalting plant, a brine discharge canal, lining of the Coachella Canal, acreage retirement and irrigation efficiency improvement programs in the Well ton-Mohawk Irrigation District, and development of a well field along the international boundary. Title II authorizes construction of the Paradox Valley, Grand Valley, Law Vegas Wash, and Crystal Geyser salinity control units and the expedited planning of 12 other salinity control projects in the basin above Imperial Dam. E. Economic Conditions The prosperity of agriculture in the Upper Colorado River drainage basin generally parallels the prosperity of the livestock industry. With vast areas of fine rangeland available for summe.r grazing, live- stock production is limited by the production of hay for winter feed. Intensified development of mineral resources in recent years has created new employment opportunities, including off-the-farm work for many farmers. The most extensive and commercially important mineral resources of the Upper Basin are coal, oil, and natural gas. The Upper Basin is also the leading domestic source of vanadium, uranium, radium ore, and molybdenum. Copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold are also com- mercially important. In recent years mining of trona has become exten- sive in the State of Wyoming. The recent shortage of energy has resulted in an intense search for new sources. As a result, investigations are underway for the commer- cial development of shale oil in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Fossil fuel powerplants are either being constructed or are in the planning stage for construction in the Upper Basin States. Coal gasification is an emerging industry in northwestern New Mexico where several billion tons of strippable coal are available. These developments have already and will continue to provide job opportunities throughout the area. The increase in population resulting from new job opportunities has created new markets for locally produced and imported products, has taxed muni- cipal facilities and water supplies in several areas, and has increased demands for electricity. Raw materials are also stimulating industrial activities in areas adjoining the upper drainage basin, particularly 28