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I'\......,~ U j J..:.. ~ s . CHAPTER II DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA Oth~r important attractions Many important Bcenic and recreational attractions in addition to those described above are located in the extensive public land area ad- ministered by the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service or are within the Navajo Indian Reservation. Further reference to these attrac- tions is made in Chapters IV and VII. Economic Development . Until the 1940's agriculture was the principal industry in the San Juan Area. At about that time agricultural development leveled off and, following the national trend, farms have incr~ased in size and decreased in number. Agricultural employment dropped from around 2,200 people in 1940 to 500 in 1965, according to estimates based on Utah State Employment Service data. About 160,000 acres are cultivated in rotation, but only about 40,000 acres are cropped annually. The noncropped culti- vated land is in pasture or fallow or is idle. About 17,500 acres are under irrigation systems but only about 13,000 acres are usually irri- gated. There are probably less tha~ 200 full-time farms, mostly of the cash-grain or sheep and cattle type. There is little dairying or intensive-type production in such crops as fruit and vegetables. .. Mining is an important industry in the area but is subject to wide fluctuations in activity, as discussed in Chapter VI. The value of min- eral production in the area in the last 10 years has varied between $75 million and $150 million and has been dominated by petroleum and uranium. Petroleum currently accounts for 75 to 80 percent of the production value, uranium and vanadium 7 to 15 percent, and potash 5 percent. Employment in mining grew from 125 people in 1940 to around 2,000 in 1960. It has since fallen off to about 1,200 at present but still exceeds the employ- ment in any other single industry. Recreation or tourism in the area is in an increasing trend and is making an important contribution to the local economy. A 1962 study by the University of Utah indicated that as much as 18 percent of the em- ployment is directly or indirectly dependent upon recreation. With more than 80 percent of the land in the San Juan Area in gov- ernment ownership or in ~n Indian reservation, government employment is .. relatively high, and among industries it is second only to mining in the number of people employed. Government employment extends into the sev- eral national parks, mon1unents, recreational areas, forests, and other public land areas. Some of it also relates to roads and highways which are lengthy in proportion to the sparse population. . Trade.. service, and transportation industries are also importa.nt in the area's economy and provide employment for many people. 22