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Show PART I INTRODUCTION Authorization, Purpose, and Scope The Upper Colorado Region is one of the major river basins in the United States included in a nationwide program to provide comprehensive river "basin plans for the development, use, and management of water and related land resources. This program stemmed from recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on National Water Resources; and planning con- cepts are embodied in Senate Document No. 97, 87th Congress, Second Ses- sion. The overall program was presented "by the President in the Fiscal Year 1963 "budget. The Upper Colorado Region study was approved "by Con- gress, and funds were provided to start this activity in Fiscal Year The States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming and the Upper Colorado River Commission participated with the various Federal agencies in this investigation under authority provided "by the appropriate state legislature. The "basic objective in the formulation of the framework plan and al- ternatives is to provide a broad guide to the best use, or combination of uses, of water and related land resources in each region to meet foresee- able short- and long-term needs. In studies to achieve this basic objec- tive, consideration was given to: (a) the timely development and manage- ment of these resources as essential aids to the economic development and growth of a region; (b) the preservation of resources, in appropriate in- stances, to insure that they will be available for their best use as needed; and (c) the well-being of all of the people as the overriding de- terminant in such planning. The purpose of this report is to present condensations of the find- ings of the supporting appendices; the description of the region; the present (1965) status of water and related land resource development; availability of water, land, and other resources; and regional needs a,nd demands. Also, the report presents a comprehensive framework plan and possible alternative plans, a comparison of proposed plans, conclusions reached, and recommendations for future action. The studies made for this report are preliminary, or reconnaissance, in scope. All geographic areas within the region and all purposes served by the conservation, development, and use of water and related land re- sources were considered. Available data pertinent to the study that have been collected, developed, and cataloged over the years by local3 State, and Federal agencies were utilized. The studies considered onlLy |