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prior to 1920 and has remained more or less static since that time although population did increase some between 1930-40. The agricultural economy is augmented by the operation of nUlllerous mines in the nearby mountains. Agricultural Devel?pment Agriculture, the basic industry of the region, consists primarily of the production of livestock and fruit. Thousands of acres of rangeland and national forest lands surround the cuI tivated areas of the region, providing sUllllIler grazing for livestock. In general the cultivated lands of Delta County are located in valleys along stream channels and on flat terraces or mesas. Approximately 20 percent of all cultivated land in the county is within the proposed project area. The towns of Paonia and Hotchkiss are the trading and shipping centers for the population engaged in the farming of approximately 26,000 acres of land, the grazing of livestock on many thousand acres of rangeland, and the operation of North Fork Valley coal mines. With the large volwne of fruit produced in surrounding areas, an extensive fruit paclting industry has developed in these towns. The livestoclt crops are sold mainly on the Denver or Kansas City markets. rUlk snd butterfat have, in past years, been sold to creameries and dairies in Paonia, Hotchkiss, Cedaredge, Delta, and Grand Junction. The dairy market, howew.r, is shifting to the west coast as a result of increased local activity of large western distributors. Farm Organization There are approximately 238 farm units within the project area. The irrigated cropland is used as follows: alfalfa, 32 percent; irrigated pasture, 26 percent; fruit, 17 percent; small grain-,.principally barley, 11 percent; corn, 8 percent (about equally divided between that harvested for grain ?!leI th~ harves-teQllS silage); and idle, 6 percent. The over-all land use percentages indicate a general fanning area. There is, however, some intensive fanning represented in the 17 percent of land used for fruit. Fruit fanns are concentrated in certain localities less susceptible to damaging frosts. Fruit production accounts for a large portion of the areal s fann income even though it occupie$ a small portion of the irrigated land. Farms are of three main types: fruit, fruit-general, and general. There are about 15 Grade A dairy farms. In addition to fruit and general fann crops, livestock and livestock products are also important. There are 36 fann operators within the project area who have permits to graze livestock on Federal rangeland. National forest records show 30 operators graze 1,656 head of cattle during S1.llill1ler months on the Gunnison and Grand Mesa National Forests. Six other operators graze 9,546 head of sheep during summer mOnths on