WSP08059

• File Number: 8507
• Description: Rio Grande Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 9/1/1978
• Title: Main Report - Water and Related Land Resources Rio Grande Basin Colorado part 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Wilderness areas are unique to national forest lands. In
1974, the La Garita Wilderness Area had 22,100 visitor days of
use. The Upper Rio Grande Primitive Area, which was included
in the Weminuche Wilderness in 1975, received 36,900 visitor
days of use the same year. Assuming local expenditures of
$5.60 per visitor day, the resulting $330 thousand indicates
the direct wilderness benefit to the basin.

Hunting expenditures per visitor day (based on 0011, G. F. and
C. Phillips, 1972, Wyoming's Hunting and Fishing Resources,
1970, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.) in 1972 for service
stations, restaurants, lodging, retail trade, licenses, etc.,
for various hunting and fishing experiences are estimated at:

Deer
Elk
Sm<111 game
Game birds
Fish

$10.75
17.25
8.50
15.00
5.50

Using these data, the estimated expenditures related to
hunting in the basin approximates 14.6 million. These expend-
itures directly affect the retail and service industries of
the basin, in which nearly 30 percent of the work force is
employed.

4. Employment

A critical aspect of the basin's economy is the lack of
employment for the basin's labor forces. To bring this into
better perspective, a series of tables were developed in which
all the l<1bor forces are matrixed by industry and occupation.

On the one hand Table F-2 (sheets 1-3 of 6, Appendix F)
portrays the total number of people, the number of women and
number of minority individuals employed in 1974 in the entire
basin. These tables present some insight as to who is employed
where in the basin. Also Table F-2 (sheets 4-6 of 6, Appendix
F) was developed to present the same information but for the
seasonal employment which is also critical in the basin's
economy.

Using these tables as a base, one can compile employment
information for any industry/occupation sector or any combi-
nation thereof, in the basin. For instance, to determine what
occupations and how many people in each occupation were in-
volved in the timber industry in 1974, a simple Table V-II can
be constructed.

003411

V-24