WSP06571

• File Number: 7630.425
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Piedra River
• State: CO
• Basin: Western Slope
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 2/13/1979
• Author: USFS - Colorado DNR
• Title: Piedra River Final Environmental Impact Statement and Wild and Scenic River Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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D. SOCIAL A....'\) ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Historic and Cultural: The river corridor is associated with the prehistoric Anazasi culture.
MOst earlY-Occupation by this culture occurred below the area being studied, but evidence of
some tral\l:lient occupation exists in the river corridor.

Historically, the Piedra drainage did not have the rapid develop~ent experienced in other parts
of Colorado. The area lacked the base minerals that attracted populations of ~iners and asso-
ciated support developlllentll. E.llrly Spsnbh explorers bypassed the Piedra Valley.

Present Communities and Economics: in the upper valley, ~ineral and Hinsdale (ounties are
separated frOIll their county seats and Other county t~~s by the Continental Oivide. This
isolation has caused all activities except county government to be centered in Pagosa Springs
and Archuleta COunty. With fe-w exceptions. social and economic data for the isolated portions
of Mineral and Hinsdale Counties could not be developed. Since the trade and economic base of
these scattered residences is tied directly \lith Pagoaa Sprlnga and Archuleta County, this plan
considers the three counties as a single entity (hereinafter referred to as the County).

!he County is rurai, with an econolllic base provided by tour lam. lumbering and agriculture. The
desire to liv~ in th~ appealing natural setting offered in the area is one of the main reasons
for population increase. Tourism helps familiari~e people with the region; to a lesser "Ktent
it also provides jobs vhen they come to locate. ~f

in-migration is expected to continue in spite of a chronic unemployment rate varying from 8.8
percent to 11.1 pcrceot annually. This ia continually higher than desired and lndicates a
definite need to increase employment opportunity.

!ABLE i
!olonthly Unemployment Fluctuations for Archuleta
County ,,, Salllple Years 1975, 1976. 1977, 1978 " May 1979
(Percent rate of un"""ployment)
Jan. Feb. .,,,, Apr. ..,. June July Aug. Sept. ""L Sov. Dec.
1975 11.9 23.9 20.0 20.3 13.6 ',6 U ,,) ',8 U 8.0 10.1
1976 l).~ 12.1 13,9 ", U '-' 6,0 7.1 4.9 ',I 7,6 12.5
1977 11,4 21.0 20.1 16.7 11.3 11.4 10.4 ',8 ", 12.8 14.5 18..5
1978 23.8 23.7 26.0 25.3 )0.0 22.4 17.9 11.9 8,' ',6 ,,) 1),3
1979 11.9 18.0 16.0 18.4 14.8

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Source: Colorado Division of Employment

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Ti=ber and sawmill operations have been an economic mainstay in the county. In recent years.
however, natio[lal market desunds have been creating periodic fluctuations. Ranching also
contributes to the economic base. \lhile hay is the only field crop in the agriculture sector of
the econom)'. !loth h.ay production and cattle production are decreasing. l./

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So ,tudiell have been made on the tourislII and recreation cOlllpc>nents of the county's economic base,
but indicators such as lodging, Forest Service recreation uSe and State records On hunter use
ShOW an upward trend.

Sever41 needs and attitudes were eKpressed by the local public during both the information meet-
ing and the alternative workshop_ With a few dissentin~ opinions. the general local attitudes
expressed\lere:

Recreation and tourism growth are seen as desirable and inevitable; however, the growth
should be controlled to prevent enviro~ental degradation in the river draiuage.

The foreat Service (Federal gover~nt) should continue timber sales to aid the county
road and school activities through the 25 percent fund.

1:../ Hayes, Vicki L.. A Social-Econolllic Profile or the San Juan~. 1971.. USDi-Rureau of l...1nd
~nagement San J~n Area OffIce and Western Interstate CommiS5ion for Higher Education,
pp.6-23.

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Lucyk, Philip J., EconoGic Inventory Archuleta ~ Colorado, 1976. Upper San Juan
Regional Planning CommIssion and Western Interstate Commis510n for Higher Education,
pp.12-19.

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