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OnJ1S'3 . . . FOREWORD At its inception in 1965, when its name was adopted, t.he San Juan Investigation was planned only for San Juan County, Utah. It was later extended to include adjacent areas in Grand County, Utah, and Dolores, San Miguel, Montrose, and Mesa Counties, Colo., that are southwest of the Dolores River. The investigation grew from a desire of the local people t.o have a comprehensive st.udy made of possibilities for water resource developments within their area. Understandably, t.hey desired t.hese possibilities to be considered with those of other areas in the Upper Colorado River Basin in determining the best utilization of the basin's undeveloped water re- sources. Active support for the investigation was given by the San Juan County Water Conservancy District, formed in 1964, and init.ially by t.he Utah Water and Power Board, and lat.er by the Board's successors, t.he Utah Board of Water Resources and t.he Division of Water Resources in the De- partment of Natural Resources. Congress cooperat.ed by amending the 1966 Public Works Appropriation Bill to provide funds t.o start the study. The Conservancy District and the Water and Power Board also contribut.ed funds for the work. The interrelationship of water with other resources in this uniquely endowed study area led to their comprehensive investigation. In the preparation of this report various Federal and State agencies and local groups cooperated wit.h the Bureau of Reclamation in providing data and advice to assure that the planning would be keyed to t.he welfare of the people of t.he area and to ot.hers having an interest. in the develop- ment of its resources. The San Juan County Water Conservancy District and the Utah Division of Water Resources provided counsel and other assistance in the investigation. The Utah Geological and Mineralogical Survey prepared a comprehensive report in 1969 on the mineral resourceS of the area. This has been pub- lished in t.wo volumes--Part I (Special Studies 24) on Petroleum, Potash, Ground Water, and Miscellaneous Minerals and Part II (Special Studies 2411) on Uranium and other Metals in Sedimentary Host Rocks. Infonnation on preliminary plans for a road development program was provided by the Utah State Department of Highways. The National Park Service reported on existing and potent.ial recrea- tion as one of the important economic values of the study area. Apprais- als of recreational aspects of a number of potential water resource proj- ects were made by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife appraised the fish and wildlife potentialities of these projects and reported generally on fish and wildlife resources of the area.