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Show PART VII COMPARISONS AND CONCLUSIONS Water supply Sufficient water is physically available for on-site regional use and export to meet the needs projected by the regionally interpreted OBERS (6.55 million acre-feet) and the three states' alternatives at 6-55, 8.16, and 9*^ million acre-feet. However, augmentation of the Colorado River system water supply will be required to meet the higher development levels and downstream commitments. The exact quantity of augmentation cannot be determined because of varying interpretations of compacts and treaties which affect the Colorado River Basin water supply. Land resources Land resources exist in sufficient quantity to meet requirements of all projected levels of development. Potentially irrigable land over that used in 1965 totals 7«06 million acres. Selection from these lands can be made to meet irrigated land needs up to the 1 million additional acres pro- jected under the largest alternative. Of the 6O.k million acres used for grazing in 1965* 5*8 million acres should be retired as they are unsuitable for continued grazing use. Placing of all remaining grazing lands on a sustained yield basis will provide for increasing forage production from 6*h to 8.39 million animal unit months. The small total requirements for urban, industrial, transportation, utilities; developed recreation, fish and wildlife; and developed minerals can be selected as needed but will result in decreases in land available for grazing, timber production, and dry cropland. Need will continue to select and preserve lands for wilderness, primi- tive, outstanding natural, historic, and cultural areas and scenic rivers. Management is required, under the multiple-use concept, of about kl million acres for key habitat of wildlife. Nearly all lands are available for ex- tensive use as undeveloped recreation and hunting areas. Commercial timber exists on 9*^ million acres. Reduction in commer- cial forests of about 225,000 acres will result from conversion of* forest lands to other uses. This will necessitate an intensified timber manage- ment and timber harvest program to achieve the required production--about seven times the present production. Minerals There is ample evidence to suggest that the resource base of the more important minerals customarily produced during the past two decades in the Upper Colorado Region is sufficient to meet all reasonable demands through 2020. The physical presence and production potential of such commodities as molybdenum, coal, and trona clearly fit this assumption. Oil, gas, and uranium are examples of minerals that appear to have a less favorable L03 |
