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Show cover. Poor land use practices on the middle and lower mountain slopes have contributed greatly to excessive runoff and erosion. Much of the mountain area is forested and a considerable part is in public ownership, mostly national forests. Returns from the forest resource are somewhat limited because the timber is over- mature, and cutting is limited because of in- accessibility. The large grassland areas of the Rockies furnish an important source of forage for both sheep and cattle from the numerous ranches scattered about the base of the mountains. A major conflict which affects water supply lies in the use of some of these summer ranges. In many areas overgrazing has caused a serious deterioration of the grass cover and damage to watershed values. Reductions in the grazing use are difficult because an important seg- ment of the range livestock economy of this region depends on the use of the summer ranges. Recreation use of these mountain areas is large. Three national parks and 17 national forests em- brace most of the mountain region. Hundreds of thousands of recreation seekers visit these moun- tains every summer. The tourist and recreation business contributes significantly to the regional in- come and is capable of further expansion. The mountains contain many mineral resources, although at present they are not of great economic importance. Gold was the magnet a century ago that attracted thousands to Colorado and Mon- tana. Although gold mining is not now a major activity, it is still a source of income in these areas. The prospectors still have hopes of more bonanzas. Mining in this region had a stimulating effect on the economy, settlement, and use of water resources of the basin as a whole. Cities like Helena and Bozeman grew rapidly. To bring supplies from the East, ooats came up the Missouri River as far as Fort Benton, Mont. Irrigation was started to supply food for the miners. The Missouri was har- nessed at Great Falls to provide power for smelting ores, and the city of that name was built. The Colorado Piedmont Section At the eastern base of the Colorado Rockies lies the Colorado Piedmont. It is an irrigated area growing high value crops in large volume. At the places where the numerous streams emerge from the mountains, many small reservoirs have been built to catch and hold the floodwaters. Sugar beets, fruit, vegetables, and fodder and feed crops for livestock are the principal products. Many feeder cattle from the range lands are fattened here for market. Industry has concentrated mainly about Denver, the largest city between Kansas City and the Pacific coast. Other small cities have also grown up in this section, such as Englewood, Boulder, Greeley, Longmont, Akron, and Fort Collins. Coal is an important resource and is mined by many small operators for local use. The great problem in the further growth of the Piedmont area is the insufficient water supply. Competition between the various water users has caused serious conflicts. The utmost conservation of present water supplies will be necessary to pre- serve the economy. Expansion will depend largely on obtaining new supplies. Water already is diverted from the Colorado River on the western side of the divide through tunnels to the Colorado Piedmont. The Colorado- Big Thompson tunnel takes water from the head of the Colorado River under Rocky Mountain Park to the east slope. Denver brings part of its water supply from the Fraser River, a headwater tribu- tary of the Colorado, through the Moffat Tunnel. The Northwestern Ranching Region At the western margin of the plains in Wyoming and Montana, surface conditions and climate com- bine to permit an agricultural economy of mixed dry land grain farming and cattle ranching. Some lands along streams are irrigated. Here the dude ranch came into being, preserving the color of the old West and providing a type of outdoor life that had been nearly lost. Over large sections of this region the plains are rough. Many of the streams have cut deeply into the surface in terraced valleys. The climate is too harsh to permit commercial production of many fruits, and the growing season is too short to grow some vegetables. The principal products are live- stock, hay, and small grains, especially wheat., The region is so remote from large population centers that only crops which can be produced cheaply can compete in outside markets. Because incomes and farm values are low, the land is used badly, and erosion is serious. Urban development is small, and manufacturing practically nonexistent. Long freight hauls and high rates are handicaps to all except industries depending on local markets. The northwestern ranching region has ample 166 |