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<br />.... <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />(i\ <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />.) ;). ~ <br />4':;'1...! <br /> <br />E. Redon <br /> <br />This group of six reservoir sites is located in a <br /> <br />region bountifully supplied with outstar~ing opportunities for outdoor <br /> <br />recreation. The terrain is high and rugged, ranging from many spectac- <br /> <br />ular peaks of over 14,000 feet high, to valley floor levels of 7,683 <br /> <br />feet at Gunnison ann 5,820 feet at Montrose. The stream bed elevation <br /> <br />at th~ dam sites in this group ranges from 6,745 feet at Curecanti to <br /> <br />9,180 feet at Taylor ~ark. <br /> <br />The major industries of the region are cattle raising <br /> <br />and tCie catering to tourists. Uther lesser activities include the <br /> <br />mining of coal and mineral ores, and limited farming. Farming is con- <br /> <br />fined mainly to feed crops and~arden produce for local markets. <br /> <br />Silver ores were found in the vicinity as early as 1570 but the <br /> <br />hostility of the Ute prevented development. An attempt to establish a <br /> <br />farm colony in 1874 failed. Five years later, after the discovery of <br /> <br />important silver deposits near Crested Butte, the town of Gunnison was <br /> <br />laid out and it prospered. In 1893 it had a population of 6,000 (pres_. <br />ent population 2,200). <br /> <br />IV. F..~CTORS INFLU:~JCING REC:::S;'TIl-rAL DSVELOi';i3NT <br /> <br />This western slope area in west central Colorado is one of <br /> <br />the most famous and '.le11-lmown trout fishing territories in the United <br /> <br />States, attractinz t':ousands of fishermen and summer visitors annual1y. <br /> <br />The Gunnison National Forest within whose boundaries the Almont and <br /> <br />Taylor Park sites are located is one of the most extensively and <br />, <br /> <br />densely stocked big game ranges in the State of Colorado. Gama refuges <br /> <br /> <br />have been established for the protection of both big and small game. <br /> <br />Forest Service camp and picnic grounds lie within easy travel distances <br /> <br />31 <br />