Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />o <br />(=J <br />C.) <br />(10 <br />~ <br />N <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />Under the direction of the Water Resources Council and the Pacific <br />Southwest Inter-Agency Committee, the Great Basin Region State-Federal <br />Interagency Group organized and directed this comprehensive framework <br />study, The study is an assessment of the ability of the Region to meet <br />the needs of assumed projected levels of population growth and economic <br />development, Present uses are identified and available resources <br />compared with estimated needs to the year 2020, <br /> <br />The Region comprises approximately 136,700 square miles covering <br />most of Nevada, about half of Utah, and lesser parts of Idaho and <br />Wyoming. Elevations range from 2,100 feet to over 13,000 feet. The <br />climate varies widely but is generally semiarid. Precipitation varies <br />from 3 to 5 inches in the southern deserts to about 60 inches in the <br />high mountains, averaging about 11 inches annually, Average annual <br />temperatures range from 600F in the south to 300F in high mountain <br />valleys. The relative humidity is generally low, winds are light to <br />moderate, and sunshine is abundant. Average frost-free periods range <br />from 100 to 175 days in the major agricultural areas. <br /> <br />The Region is characteri~ed by north-south trending parallel <br />mountain ranges separated by broad desert basins, Lacking access to <br />the sea, landlocked lakes once covered large areas, Ancient shorelines, <br />beach features, and lake remnants are prominent features. <br /> <br />The total nominal surface-water supply is about 10 MAF (million <br />acre-feet), Total ground water in storage in the upper 100 feet of <br />saturated material is about 200 MAF, While estimates of stored ground- <br />water appear large, the amount that can be practicably withdrawn from <br />any given area is limited by quality, distribution and location. <br />Annual withdrawals and depletions in 1965 were 8.7 and 6.0 MAF, <br />respectively, primarily for agriculture. <br /> <br />The soils principally comprise the shallow mountain soils, the <br />variable mountain valley soils, and the deep valley floor soils. <br />Vegetal cover consists of limited alpine areas, more extensive forested <br />areas, and vast range and barren areas, <br /> <br />Most of the population is located along the eastern boundary of <br />the Region and along the western border of Nevada, <br /> <br />Regional Economy <br /> <br />Future needs and economic levels of development have been estab- <br />lished by OBE-ERS(Office of Business Economics and Economic Research <br />Service) projections, The population is projected to increase from <br /> <br />i <br /> <br />