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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />c <br />00 <br />w::.. <br />--.l <br /> <br />HISTORY OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Continued) <br /> <br />areas near Denver, Colorado; Pueblo, Colorado; Provo, Utah; and Salt <br />Lake City, Utah. These adjoining areas all import water from the <br />Colorado River Basin and without the imported water their economic <br />growth would be limited. <br /> <br />Tourism as an industry has increased significantly in recent years <br />because of the recreational developments and the many natural attrac- <br />tions. Manufacturing as a basic industry is of relatively minor im- <br />portance in the Upper Basin, <br /> <br />The irrigated lands in the Lower Basin that use Colorado River's <br />main stream water are some of the most highly productive lands in the <br />United States because agricultural practices are generally year long and <br />highly intensified. The average gross crop income per acre in 1974 was <br />about $800 per acre for the 849,000 acres (344,000 ha) irrigated by main <br />stem waters in the Lower Basin. <br /> <br />Southern California is one of the most rapidly developing regions <br />both industrially and population-wise in the Nation, Colorado River <br />water for municipal and industrial purposes is supplied to approximately <br />130 incorporated towns and other communities in this area with a popu- <br />lation of about 10 million people. lhf Metropolitan Water District <br />diverted 794,600 acre-feet (980 x 10 m ) of Colorado River water in <br />1976. Flows to the Metropolitan Water District has been reducing and <br />will be further reduced when the Central Arizona Project starts divert- <br />ing. State project water was blended with Colorado River water to <br />provide a better quality water for the southern California area. The <br />Colorado River supplies about 36 pe~cent of all of the developed water <br />in the 4,900-square-mile (13,000 !un ) service area, This water ranges <br />from a minor supply for some entities to a complete supply for others. <br /> <br />29 <br />