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, . . Vegetation Areas of hi gher 'el evati on are covered with forests of pi ne, fi r, spruce, and silver stemmed aspens, broken by small glades and mountain meadows. Pinion and juni per trees, interspersed with scrub oak, mounta i n mahogany, rabbit brush, bunch grasses, and similar plants grow in the intermediate elevations of the mesa and plateau regions. Large areas in the Upper Basin are dominated by big sagebrush and related vegetation. Many of the streams are bordered by cottonwood, willows, and salt cedar. Scattered cottonwoods and chokecherries grow in the canyons with the cliff rose, redbud, and blue columbine. A profusion of wildflowers carpets many mountain parks. At lower elevations large areas are almost completely devoid of plant life while other sections are sprinkled with desert shrubs, Joshua trees, other Yucca plants, and saguaro cacti, some of the latter giant plants reaching 40 feet (12 m) in height. Occasionally, cottonwoods or desert willows are found along desert streams with mesquite and creosote bush or catclaw and paloverde. Many river flood plains have been overrun with tamarisk or salt cedar to the extent that a large volume of water is being consumed by such vegetation. Economic Conditions The prosperity of agriculture in the Upper Colorado River drainage basin generally parallels the prosperity of the livestock industry. With vast areas of fine rangeland available for summer grazing, livestock production is limited to the production of hay for winter feed. Intensified development of mineral resources in recent years has created new employment opportunities, including off-the-farm work for many farmers. The most extensive and commerCially important mineral resources of the Upper Basin are coal, oil, and natural gas. The Upper Basin is also the leading domestic source of vanadium, uranium, radium, and molybdenum. Copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold are also commercially important. In recent years mining of trona has become extensive in the State of Wyoming. The increase in population resulting from new job opportunities has created new markets for locally produced and imported products, has taxed municipal facilities and water supplies in several areas, and has increased demands for electricity. Raw materials are stimulating industrial activities in areas adjOining the upper drainage basin, particularly areas near Denver, Pueblo, Provo, and Salt Lake City. These adjoining areas all import water from the Colorado River Basin and without the imported water their economic growth would be limited. Tourism as an industry has increased significantly in recent years because of the many natural attractions. Manufacturing as a basic industry is of relatively minor importance in the Upper Basin. Irrigated areas in the Lower Colorado River Basin and in adjOining basins using Colorado River main stream water are highly productive and the agri- cultural operations very intensified. Gross crop values per acre probably are greater than any other area of comparable size in the world with a 1968 average gross crop income of $415 per acre. " 7