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areas of land under irrigation, increasing mining exploration, developing known mineral resources, expanding the utilization and processing of forest products, and expansion of recreation developments. Broadening of the economic base is urgently needed to provide employ- ment opportunities in new and expanded industries and associated ser- vice enterprises that would result froM these developments. The basin has numerous land use and manageMent problems. Gully and streambank erosion, streambed aggradation and seeping of bottom1ands, problem soils, sediment production, and excessive runoff are widespread. Phreatophyte invasion of irrigated areas is common. This accentuates problems associated with. inadequate 1ateseason irrigation water supplies. Mine and concentrator tailings, radioactive uranium mill wastes, irriga- tion return flows, diffuse salt areas, and sediment production from eroding lands constitute hazards to water quality. The only railroad in the basin is the narrow gauge branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western. This line provides only limited freight capa- city. The Si1verton branch has been developed into a very successful tourist attraction. Paving of roads and highways in recent years has improved farm-to-market transportation facilities and relieved somewhat the relative isolation of the area. The main line of the Santa Fe Rai1raod passes near the southern border of the basin and is readily accessible by highway; however, the distance from this rail source to the populated part of the basin makes rail transportation both slow and expensive. Connections to Denver and other principal market areas are poor. Consequently, most of the transportation requirements have to be met by highway facilities. Frontier Air Lines provides scheduled air service at three points within the Basin. Overgrazing by domestic livestock has resulted in gullying and soil loss on some areas within the basin and has contrihuted to a severe deterioration of vegetative cover over large areas. Good range management could improve production of range forage, contribute to improved water yield and reduce erosion and sediment production. Timber and other forest products are important to the economy of the basin. There are a number of operating sawmills, a paneling plant, a match-stick factory, and a new spruce plywood mill in production employing over a 1,000 people. The total value of wood products produced in 1908 was in excess of ~16 million. The higher mountains forming the rim of the basin constitute a popular recreation area. The basin has several developed recreation areas including national forest lands, national parks and monuments, histo- rical and scenic locations, and private recreation sites and develop- ments. The tourist and'recreation industry is a very important element in the economy contributing more than ~18 million in 1965. The basin has remarkable recreation attractions, such as fishing 1-2 r F .