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. . . On':<3fl7 ,..;}u v CHAPl'ER I GENERAL DISCUSSIONS agricultural products exported. The area i6 adapted to the livestock- base type of farming now practiced as vast areas of spring and summer range are available nearby on public lands and cl1matic conditions limit crop production largely to forage for feed. The available range lands are fully utilized. The average annual precipitation of 9.84 inches occurring during the growing season would appear to be sufficient to support dry-farming in the project area. There is one fairly large farm in the area that is being successfully dry-farmed. Most of the ranchers, however, apparently prefer to utilize their land only for grazing. Lumbering is practiced on a limited scale in the timbered areas adjacent to the project area. Production has increased somewhat in the last few years as some of the more inaccessible areas have been opened up by construction of new roads. The Forest Service plans to construct several new roads in the near future to provide access to mature timber stands in the San Juan National Forest to the north and west of the project area. Production of natural gas has flourished in the last few years in the southwestern part of Archuleta County but no such activity is anticipated in the vicinity of the project area. Some uranilUn finds near the project area have been reported but there has been no known production to date. The famous mineral springs at Pagosa Springs nlUnber of people who bathe for curative purposes. bathing facilities affords employment for several attract a sizeable Operation of the people. During the summer and fall of each year the surrounding scenery, streams, lakes, and primitive forests, along with fishing and big game hunting, are enjoyed by thousands of tourists. Irrigation Several attempts have been made over a long period of time to irrigate lands from the Piedra River and its tributaries. Some of these attempts have been successful while others have failed or have met with only partial success. The Piedra Falls ditch, which diverts water from Piedra River near the site of the proposed Piedra Diversion Dam, serves an estimated 1,100 acres of land on the east side of the river .io Piedra Park. A smaller ditch, diverting at about the same site, serves an estimated 200 or 300 acres of land on the opposite side of the river. Except in a few serious drought periods, these two ditches have had an adequ.ate natural flow water supply without reservoir storage. 3