Laserfiche WebLink
<br />o <br />,'.~ <br />~-,:..) <br />t::I <br />~ <br />!Xl <br /> <br />The OBE-ERS projections for the Region were modified somewhat to more <br />closely reflect regional trends. These "Modified OBE-ERS" projections <br />have been used in development of the Lower Colorado Region comprehensive <br />:framework program. A comparison of the Modified OBE-ERS and OBE-ERS <br />projections is included in the latter part of Appendix IV, Economic <br />Base and Projections. <br /> <br />Population is expected to increase nearly 4 times, municipal and <br />industrial water requirements over 6 times, electric energy requirements <br />over 42 times, recreation demand over 6 times, and flood damage Will <br />increase nearly 8 times by the year 2020. Personal per capita income <br />in the Regi:on was $2,292, about 90 percent of the national average in <br />1965, and by year 2020 is projected to almost equal the national average <br />of more tha.n $12,000. <br /> <br />Water Supply <br /> <br />Much of the Region I s economy is. sustained by utilizing ground-water <br />reserves. In 1965, the depletion rate of these reserves reached 2.5 <br />million acre-feet annually due largely to the lack of facilities for <br />enabling the Region to utilize its share of Colorado River water. The <br />Southern Nevada Water Project, presently under construction, the Central <br />Arizona Project, and the Dixie Project in utah must be completed at an <br />early date in order for the Region to utilize the remainder of the avail- <br />able renewable water supplies. In the absence of an imported water <br />supply, grollnd-water overdraft is expected to continue and the regional <br />water deficiency is projected to reach 4.50 million acre-feet annually <br />by year 2020. <br /> <br />Water r\:!source-oriented programs need to be accelerated in the future <br />With respect' to both planning and implementation if future requirements <br />are to be satisfied on a timely schedule. The basic long-range objective <br />is augmentation of the Region I s water supplies in sufficient increments <br />to meet future water requirements and reduce ground-water overdraft. It <br />is recognized that a program of this magnitude Will probably require time, <br />in the orderjof 20 years, to implement. In the meantime, all possibilities <br />for lessening the effects of the increasing water deficiencies must be <br />explored. <br /> <br />The :framework program includes expansion of water conservation and <br />management practices, more intensive water reuse, vegetative management <br />for increased water yields, and treatment of brackish water. Water sal- <br />vage programli and vegetative management programs for increased water yield <br />are expected to add about 500,000 acre-feet annually to the local water <br />supply by 2020. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of <br />untapped ground-water reserves in remote basins Which could provide an <br />interim water supply. <br /> <br />~ <br />, <br />t <br />! <br />c <br />, <br />, <br />I <br />, <br /> <br />viii <br /> <br />