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Home , Bennett Peak, Chili Line, Cochetopa Dome, Conejos Peak, Poncha Pass, San Luis Hills

A. AREA DESCRIPTION AND DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

1. Area Covered (Table A-1) The in south-central is a well-known land feature in the state. Located about midway between and Albuquerque, this is the largest alpine valley in . The vast, flat surface of the valley floor at 7,500 feet is bordered on the east by the sharply rising Sangre de Cristo , which ascend to 14,000-foot peaks, and to the west by the more gradually rising foothills and 12,000-foot peaks of the San Juans, which mark the Continental Divide. The Sangre de Cristos – Spanish for “blood of Christ” - are so-named for their rose hue at sunset.

Both ranges join near at the north end of this valley forming a ring of mountains, while the open end to the south slopes gradually downward after crossing the New state line. The great open space of the desert plain and the rugged snow-capped peaks of the Sangre de Cristos in spring resemble a veritable “altiplano” of the Rockies. This is also home to the Great Sand Dunes, which are the tallest dunes in North America and of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Boundaries of the San Luis Valley region are represented by the six counties of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, , and Saguache, each maintaining a separate identity but economically interdependent. About 122 miles long from north to south, and about 74 miles across, this covers an area of 8,193 square miles; larger than the state of Massachusetts, but with a combined 2010 population of 46,027 (only 5.6 persons per square mile). Table A-1 shows that Saguache County alone is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

Within its borders, the Valley harbors great diversity of natural and cultural settings. Landscape on the floor of the Valley changes dramatically with the presence of water. From its headwaters in the San Juans to the Texas coast, the Rio Grande is the nation’s second longest river and the lifeblood of the Valley’s agriculture and development in general. Canals and ditches from the Rio Grande and the as its major tributary, supply one of the state’s most important farming areas, famous for its potatoes, beer barley, alfalfa, and other crops.

Vegetation and cottonwood forests line these and lesser river courses across the Valley in contrast to the dominant tracts of greasewood and other desert plants. The state’s most extensive system of wetlands is also found here, which supports a variety of wildlife and wildlife areas, including the famous stopover place for crane migration between Idaho and the Bosque del Apache in .

The rise in substantially changes the landscape as marked by a succession of plant and tree species shown on the schematic cross-section of the Valley. This begins with sage, followed by pinon-juniper, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, aspen, extensive stands of Engleman spruce, and alpine tundra on the peaks. Streams, lakes, and reservoirs are found higher up and on the flats as well. Several million acres of public land affords a variety of recreational opportunity, wildlife habitat, and protected wilderness areas with hiking trails.

A true sense of place captured by the Valley’s natural setting is further enhanced by its depth of history, art, culture, and people as described later in this chapter and other parts of the analysis. Population is diverse, with 47 percent of Hispanic origin and 28.9 percent Spanish-speakers, many of whom are descendants of the early settlers.

2. Component Counties A very brief summary on each county is presented below to give some idea of their diversity and contribution

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to the region as a whole. Alamosa County: The City of Alamosa serves as the regional hub with the Valley’s largest hospital, airport, motels, business services, railroad and trucking terminals, industrial parks, federal and state government offices, and regional shopping. and Trinidad State Junior College are also located in Alamosa. Major attractions include the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad passenger line, , San Luis Lakes State Park, Alamosa , Colorado Gators alligator farm, and Cattails Golf Course. Alamosa County is home to four utility-scale solar plants, generating over 85 MW of electricity.

Conejos County: Major attractions include the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad that travel a narrow gauge track from Antonito to Chama, New Mexico, Mormon Pioneer Days, Jack Dempsey Museum, Platoro and La Jara reservoirs, Colorado’s oldest church in Conejos, and the Los Caminos Antiguos Byway. The is located in La Jara. Perlite mined in New Mexico and processed in Antonito is shipped by rail. Small farms and ranches with hay, sheep, and cattle are a visible part of the economy. Second homes are being built in Conejos Canyon, and Antonito is a gateway to New Mexico via US 285.

Costilla County: Major attractions include museums in and Colorado’s oldest town in San Luis, Stations of the Cross and the Shrine of All Saints, annual Santa Ana and Santiago celebration each July, a bronze foundry, artist colony in Jaroso, and the Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic and Historic Byway. Notable fishing areas include Sanchez, Smith, and Home reservoirs, and Culebra Creek. The county also contains the Valley’s largest tracts of private lands including the Blanca-Trinchera ranch, which focus on hunting and real estate, and the 70,000-acre La Sierra tract which was originally a Spanish land grant. Small villages and farms are notable near San Luis, with larger farms in Jaroso and the Fort Garland area. San Luis is about 40 miles from Taos, New Mexico.

Mineral County: Creede has art and sporting goods shops, the famous Creede Repertory Theatre, and airport. , located on , is in Mineral County. Guest ranches are located on CO 149, and many second homes are being built. Other attractions include a mining museum, ghost towns, North Clear Creek Falls, gold medal fishing on the Rio Grande, and access to the Rio Grande headwaters streams, lakes, and reservoirs in neighboring Hinsdale County. Creede is about 40 miles from Lake City on the Silver Thread Byway covering some of the most beautiful scenery in Colorado.

Rio Grande: Rio Grande is the largest potato and barley-producing county in the state. Monte Vista is known as the Valley’s agribusiness center but also has a tourist information center, regional shopping, the Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake, and an attractive main street. Del Norte serves as a gateway for tourists and has an expanded Rio Grande Hospital. South Fork is the fastest growing town, with extensive second home construction, tourism, a new golf course, and is the start of the Silver Thread Byway. Major attractions include Rio Grande County Museum, Beaver Reservoir, Big Meadows, gold medal fishing, and backcountry trails. It is also the closest town to Wolf Creek Ski Area, and gateway via US 160 to Pagosa Springs and Durango.

Saguache County: Saguache is the largest county spanning both mountain ranges, with many back roads and trails to high lakes and remote areas. Center is a busy potato processing, shipping and warehousing center of activity with San Luis Central Railroad providing freight service. It also has ag treatment facilities supporting a potato processing plant, and farmworker housing. The Crestone/Baca community lies at the foot of the most rugged part of the Sangre de Cristos, and has the greatest diversity of ancestry in the Valley including the Haidakhandi Ashram and Mountain Zen Center. It also has many second homes and hosts Colorado College classes. The courthouse is located in the town of Saguache, which has a museum and serves as a gateway to Gunnison via CO 114 and Poncha Springs via US 285. Valley View and Mineral Hot Springs are located off US 285 near Villa Grove. The Baca Ranch became the Baca National Wildlife Refuge as part of the designation of the Great Sand Dunes as a national park.

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3. Location and Travel Information (Table A-2, Map A-1) Location of the San Luis Valley within Colorado is shown on Map A-1. Table A-2 shows a distance of 73 miles from I-25 to Alamosa. Alamosa and the Valley are about halfway between Denver (239 miles) and Albuquerque (214 miles). Driving time to Denver is four to four-and-a-half hours via US 160/I-25 or CO 17/US 285, and three-and-a-half to four hours via US 285/I-25 to Albuquerque.

Use of snow tires, chains, or four-wheel drive vehicles are frequently required for winter driving on to Walsenburg, and Wolf Creek pass to Pagosa Springs and Durango. Other passes including Cochetopa, Cumbres, Poncha, and US 285 at the New Mexico border may also require these conditions on a less frequent basis. Spring Creek and west of Creede on CO 149 may be closed in winter.

Air service at the San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa is provided by Great Lakes Aviation with a United Airlines connection at DIA. Three flights per day go to and from DIA on weekdays, one to and from on Saturday, and two to and from on Sunday are available. Flight time is about one hour. Roundtrip fares average about $225 on weekdays, $330 on weekends. Car rental is available at the airport, and shuttle service to area lodging may be available.

Bus service by Black Hills Stage Line from Alamosa departs at daily for Pueblo at 6 a.m., or Denver at 6:20 a.m. The bus route is north to Salida, proceeding to Denver or connecting to a route to Pueblo. Travel times from Alamosa to other cities and towns listed in the table and shown on Map 2 range from about 15 minutes to La Jara, 20 minutes to Monte Vista, one hour to San Luis, and 1.5 hours to Creede.

4. Political Geography (Map A-2) County seats are indicated on Map A-2, and include Alamosa, Conejos, San Luis, Creede, Del Norte, and Saguache. Conejos is located a short distance north of Antonito. A total of 18 incorporated cities and towns are shown on the map as stars.

5. Climate (Table A-3) Climate on the valley floor of the San Luis Valley is characterized by dry air, sunny days, clear nights, moderate/high evaporation, and large daily temperature extremes. Extremely frigid conditions and blizzards can occur, but severe weather conditions such as tornadoes, floods, deep snow, and damaging hail are uncommon. Surface winds are heaviest from March-June, and gusts of 30/mph and greater are common. The strongest winds reliably blow from the southwest. 1 The mountains, which surround the broad interior valley, form substantial barriers against approaching atmospheric moisture. As a result, the valley floor is the driest place in Colorado, typically receiving only 7-10 of inches of precipitation a year.

The Valley also acts as a large collection basin to trap cold air, creating temperature inversions where dense, cold air is trapped beneath warmer air. Extremely cold temperatures occur when clear weather follows winter storms with significant snowfall. With close to 350 days of sunshine, 2 the cold temperatures are more bearable and noontime temperatures can be 35-40 degrees warmer than early mornings. The San Luis Valley receives between 5-7 hours/day of sunshine, which makes solar heating a feasible proposition.

By contrast, the foothills and mountains receive gradually higher amounts of precipitation with the increase in elevation. Table A-3 shows annual averages ranging from 7.1 inches in Alamosa (7,544 feet), 13.7 inches in Creede (8,838 feet), and up to 45.4 inches on Wolf Creek Pass (10,850 feet).

Snowfall also follows the same pattern, with the table showing an average low of 24.6 inches in Center to an amazing 435.6 inches on Wolf Creek Pass. The Wolf Creek Ski Area typically has the best quantity and

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quality of snow of any ski area in the state, and snow depths of 60 inches or more are common. High elevation also explains why an area located this far south in the continent (coordinates for Alamosa = 37.73 degrees N by 105.75 W) would have such relatively cold temperatures in winter and cool nights in summer.

Extremely low nighttime temperatures, which usually occur over a six-week period from around Christmas to early February, give the San Luis Valley a reputation of being one of the coldest places in the nation, but Gunnison and some other locales are as cold or colder. These reports do not take into account the relatively short number of hours over which these extremes occur, and the predictable sunshine, dryness of the air, and a sharp temperature rise by noonday.

The table shows January average minimums ranging from -1.8 degrees F in Alamosa to 10.1 degrees F in Crestone. Alamosa also holds title to the extreme low of -42 degrees F. Summer high temperatures are usually milder than most parts of the Southwest, ranging from a July average maximum of 65.8 degrees F on Wolf Creek Pass to 83.5 degrees F in Crestone.

Recent years have had milder winters and much hotter summers than experienced in the past, indicating a global warming trend and/or extended drought cycle. Record highs of 90-plus degree F were set in 2002, which accompanied record low rainfall and the lowest water conditions in the Valley’s recorded history. Climate allows a growing season of 90-130 days, with frost-free days ranging from 73 in Monte Vista to 124 at the Great Sand Dunes.

6. Geology (Map A-3, Map A-4, Illustration A-1) The San Luis Valley is part of the much larger Zone, which extends from southern New Mexico northward through the San Luis Valley to its northern termination near Poncha Pass. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east are the result of extensive block faulting during the , and the placement of basement, sedimentary, and Tertiary intrusive rocks in contact with Tertiary valley-fill deposits. The on the western flank are the result of extensive Tertiary volcanism. In sharp contrast with the steeply faulted eastern side of the valley floor, the volcanic rocks of the San Juans gently dip eastward into the valley floor where they are interbedded with valley-fill deposits. 1

Five distinct physiographic provinces (Upson 1939) are noted: • Alamosa Basin --- A broad almost featureless plain of alluvial valley-fill • --- Rugged hills and mesas of eroded volcanic rock. • Taos Plateau --- Widespread thick basalt flows. • Costilla Plains --- Represent an erosional feature rather than a depositional one. • Culebra Re-entrant --- A topographically diverse area with elevated foothills near the mountains, an eroded central depression, and a prominent mesa toward the valley center. 1

Faults in the valley floor, which produce geothermal water flows, have not been much of a concern for earthquakes, but mild quakes do occur occasionally. An earthquake registering 3.4 on the Richter scale was registered at an epicenter 20 miles southwest of Del Norte in May 1991, with a previous quake of 3.1 in the same area in January 1988. A smaller quake in 2007 in San Luis registered 2.6. 3

7. Land Ownership (Table A-4) A total of over 5.24 million acres is estimated within the six counties of the Valley, with 2.9 million acres under federal control (55 percent); 2.16 million acres private land (41 percent); and 178,711 acres (3 percent) owned by state government. Costilla County is virtually 100 percent privately owned, with Mineral almost the exact opposite at 93.5 percent federal ownership. Alamosa shows 72.6 percent in private ownership, and only

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19.8 percent federal.

Nearly two million acres (39.1 percent) of the Valley’s acres are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and a little over 618,000 acres (11.8 percent) are under control of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Saguache and Mineral counties have the greatest concentrations of national forest, and Saguache and Conejos have the greatest concentrations of BLM.

Federal lands managed by the National Park Service amount to 121,518 acres and represent 2.3 percent of the Valley, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now holds 105,521 acres, or 2 percent.

8. Land Use (Tables A-5A, A-5B, A-6) About 2.3 million (43.6 percent) of the total Valley acreage in Table A-5B is utilized as rangeland; 2.1 million acres (39.3 percent) is forest; and a little over 616,000 acres (11.8 percent) is classified as agricultural land.

County land uses vary from the regional pattern. Alamosa (60.4 percent), Conejos (51.7 percent), and Costilla (47.5 percent) have higher percentages in rangeland; Rio Grande (25.2 percent), Alamosa (24.3 percent), and Conejos (16.0 percent) have relatively greater shares for agriculture; and Mineral (71.2 percent) and Saguache (43.6 percent) have larger percentages of forest.

Table A-6 shows a total of about 2.1 million acres covering the area defined as the “valley floor.” Larger concentrations include: heavy vegetation (21.2 percent); irrigated meadow (13.1 percent); medium vegetation (9.6 percent); and sparse vegetation (26.5 percent).

Crop acreages include about 139,000 acres of alfalfa; 114,000 of grain; 80,000 acres of potatoes; 7,600 acres for other vegetables.

9. Area and Economic History, 1840-1970 The following list provides a brief history of the Valley to understand the events that shaped its development. Dates are approximate and events are selected. Early Settlement, 1840-1880 • Before 1840 --- Ute Indians are the predominant people. Notable Spanish explorers include Juan de Onate, Juan Maria Rivera, and Juan de Bautista Anza. Americans such as Zebulon Pike and John Fremont followed. • Early 1840’s --- Mexico established land grants in the Valley, including the Trinchera, Baca Grande, and Sangre de Cristo. • 1848 --- San Luis Valley is ceded to the by Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. • 1851 --- Fort Massachusetts is established. • 1852 --- San Luis founded as the first permanent Spanish settlement. • 1850’s --- Flourmills built to grind wheat. • 1866 --- Christopher “Kit” Carson appointed commander of Fort Garland. • 1870 --- Gold and silver discovered in the San Juan mountains spur development of Del Norte and Saguache. • Early 1870’s --- Mormon settlers establish Manassa, Sanford, and Romeo. • 1878 --- The Denver & Rio Grande completes its line to Alamosa, soon becoming the Valley’s hub for grain and timber shipments.

Boom and Bust, 1880-1920 • 1880 --- Tracks are extended to Antonito and Espanola on the “,” and extensions to

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Creede and Poncha pass are being developed. • 1883 --- Rio Grande Canal is the first major irrigation project. • Late 1880’s --- The beginning of a shift from wheat to potatoes as the chief crop. • 1893 --- A 12-year drought strikes the Valley, and many farms are abandoned. Mining is impacted by a drop in silver prices. • 1905 --- Forest Service begins management of public lands and regulates grazing. • 1906 --- First upstream storage dams built on the Rio Grande.

World Wars and Depression, 1920-1950 • 1920 --- World War I brings prosperity with potato prices at $4.00/cwt. • 1921 --- Colorado begins building concrete highways. • 1925 --- Adams State College is established. • 1932 --- The Great Depression finally hits the Valley, and potato prices drop to $0.35/cwt. • 1940 --- Census population reaches 51,217. • 1941 --- World War II commences and Red McClure potatoes are shipped in volumes to feed troops. • 1950 --- Wartime military service and migration to defense jobs lowered the population to 45,963.

Postwar Era, 1950-1970 • 1950 – Railroad cuts back services due to competition from trucking and declining log shipments. • 1950-1960 --- Adams State College increases enrollment to 3,000. • 1969 --- Gerry Outdoor Sports Industries locates plant in Alamosa’s industrial park, employing 100. • 1960-1970 --- Population hits a low of 37,466 in 1970. Agriculture remains the Valley’s principal economic base. Proliferation of center pivot sprinkler systems reduces labor demands.

10. Summary of District Involvement in the Valley’s Development, 1970-Current District operations to improve economic conditions in the Valley counties over the past 44 years has required four partnership changes. Each has had different points of emphasis with varying degrees of success as described in the following summaries.

District Activities Under SCEDD, RDPC, and COG, 1970-July 1980 Before the existing six-county District was formed, the Valley counties were part of the larger Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD) based in Pueblo. Programs at this time were operated under a partnership of SCEDD, the San Luis Valley Regional Development and Planning Commission (RDPC), and the SLV Council of Governments (COG).

The RDPC was established in 1970, starting with offices on campus and strong ties to Adams State College as an affiliated organization. In 1972, the COG was formed to carry out the administrative functions, with RDPC representing the Valley counties on the SCEDD and advisory to COG.

The main focus at this time was on infrastructure, funded mainly by HUD and state agencies encouraging regional planning under Colorado Management and Planning Regions. The San Luis Valley COG operated as Region 8 in the state system.

Programs under the COG umbrella included mapping and drafting services; assistance to local governments in completing comprehensive plans needed for HUD funding; base studies; zoning and subdivision regulations; housing program coordination; water and sewer, open space, and outdoor recreation planning; nursing and health planning; water quality monitoring; job training programs; senior citizen services; and others.

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Following are some of the major development projects during this period: • Alamosa Industrial Park --- $700,000 EDA Public Works. • Grant to establish community development partnerships with COG, ASC, and Hispanic community --- $785,000 W. K. Kellogg Foundation. • Cumbres & Toltec railroad restoration. • J. R. Simplot potato company (decided not to locate in the Valley).

District Activities Under RDPC and COG, 1980-1982 A separate San Luis Valley Economic Development District was formed in August 1980 with RDPC as the contracting entity and COG providing the staffing support. Emphasis shifted from planning and infrastructure to an aggressive search for new industry. The following project developments or efforts made are attributed to the RDPC/COG partnership: • Alamosa Mushroom Farm (currently Rahkra Mushroom Farm) --- $12 million investment • Colorado Agro Energy ethanol plant --- $7.5 million investment. Closed shortly after startup due to design problems and drop in oil prices. • SLV Protein Energy. Never became operational due to equipment problems. • Prospect for barley malting plant did not materialize. • Prospect for diversified wood products manufacturing using small shops in various locations and an interstate agreement with New Mexico did not materialize. • Other unsuccessful attempts were made to develop boxed beef packing; alfalfa pellet mill; various types of manufacturing for adobe bricks, gun safety devices, mining equipment, solar energy equipment, and industrial scrubbers; and an attempt to connect Valley produce with the Tulsa Barge Canal for accessing Gulf ports.

RDPC Administration, October 1982-December 1993 COG terminated its operations in September 1982 following spending cuts affecting its programs. Determined to continue District activities for the Valley, RDPC secured EDA and local government support; completed organizational work needed to carry out staffing and operations, and relocated to smaller office facilities on campus. A revised course of action was required due to reduced operating budgets and staff levels, and a greater emphasis was focused on tourism and the existing small business base believed to provide a more consistent return on investment.

Selected projects and developments under RDPC management of the District are as follows: • The San Luis Valley Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) was founded in 1984 as an ongoing tool to assist business projects. • Nonprofit tax-exempt status under 501 (c) (3) of the revenue codes was established as part of the reorganization work. • Legal assistance from RDPC helped to create the Mountain and Valley Wool Association (MAVWA) as main sponsor for the Taos Wool Festival. • Regional tourism planning and marketing began with the hiring of a tourism coordinator and attractions map. Later this was spun-off as the Valley-Six Promotion Council. • RLF gap financing generated 30 business startups and expansions in the period including Brimhall Industrial (re-manufacturing of generators and other large power plant equipment); San Luis Care Center; San Luis Assisted Living Center; and five fast-food restaurants with a tourism rationale. • A focus on the Valley’s geothermal resource potential for aquaculture and RLF funds was a major factor in the development and expansion of the SLV Alligator Farm and intensive culture tilapia operation. • The prospect of a $10 million Louisiana-Pacific Corporation aspen wafer board plant did not

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materialize. • The Gerry sewing-machine operation was shut down in August 1983 following a company decision to move operations overseas. In the late 1980’s, a separate SLV Economic Development Council (EDC) was formed along the lines of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), which required paid business membership. Main emphasis was placed on business recruitment, administration of Colorado Enterprise Zone state tax credits, development of business location incentives, and tourism.

After a decline in funding sources and staff turnover, it was determined that a model of this type could not be sustained without state funding support. Grants were eventually provided to establish offices in downtown Alamosa, and the RDPC co-located with EDC in 1990. Work programs of the two agencies emphasized a high level of cooperation and adjustments to avoid any duplication of effort, but since both required local matching funds for operation consolidation was advised.

San Luis Valley Development Resources Group (DRG), January 1994-present • The RDPC and EDC boards agreed to combine as many organizational memberships as possible from both boards under the EDA District membership guidelines, with a name change to the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group. Staff positions of both agencies were retained, with one chosen to head the DRG. A joint resolution to this effect was made in November 1993, the EDC was dissolved, and the name change became effective in January 1994.

Accomplishments of the consolidated organization are noted throughout this document, with selected ones as follows: • Development of the Center ag waste treatment plant in June 1998 --- $2.7 CDBG assistance package. • Partnership effort with DOLA to establish the E-911 Authority and GIS/GPS Authority. • Proposed Rio Grande Hospital expansion --- $600,000 Colorado Department of Local Affairs Energy Impact Grant (total project estimated at $11.5 million). • CEDS consistency approval for San Luis Main Street project --- $835,000 EDA Economic Adjustment. • “ “ “ South Fork Industrial Park --- $595,000 EDA Economic Adjustment. • “ “ “ Cumbres and Toltec track upgrades --- $1.6 million EDA Public Works. • Collection lines for Colorado Gourmet Potato plant and warehouses in Center --- $87,740 USDA Rural Development RBEG grant. • Creede Repertory Theatre housing for actors --- $658,500 ($86,000 CDBG grant, $300,000 DOLA, and balance from State Historical Fund and private foundations). • Feasibility grants for B-size potato processing --- $55,000 RBEG, $6,068 Colorado Economic Development Commission. • Carrot processing feasibility grant --- $22,081 Colorado EDC. • Barley processing feasibility grant --- $10,000 Colorado Department of Agriculture, Marketing Division. • Development in April 2003 of the Idaho Pacific/Otter Tail potato flake plant in Center as the Valley’s largest agricultural value-added operation, representing $550,000 in BLF loans and $4.4 million in private sector investment. • A series of One Land, One Plan community meetings and workshops in 2005 provided input on Valley issues and needs to U.S. Senator and native son, . • Development in February 2005 of the Alta Fuels biodiesel blending plant in Alamosa, assisted by $200,000 in SLVDRG loans and representing $1.8 million in private sector investment. • Economic Impact study for Adams State College in March 2005 shows total impact at $70.1 million and is instrumental in a $2.9 million Opportunity Grant award to the college.

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• After being closed for over 10 years, a total of $360,000 in SLVDRG loans and $640,000 in private investment in January 2007 made it possible for Moraine Partners of Wisconsin to purchase the former potato starch plant north of Monte Vista. The plant operated with 18 employees and then abruptly closed in October, 2012. • Purchase of a depot building in downtown Alamosa in 2007 made it possible to create a Business Development Center including the SLVDRG offices and other co-located agencies. Receipt of a $350,000 grant from Department of Local Affairs in 2009 allowed SLVDRG to pave the parking lot, remodel the interior offices, install an elevator, and retire the mortgage loan. • Several large scale solar operations using the Valley’s abundant solar resources to produce electricity have been or are being developed including: o Sun Edison, April 2007, 8.2 MW photovoltaic facility in Alamosa County, o Cogentrix Energy, LLC, 30 MW photovoltaic facility in Alamosa County, o Iberdrola Renewables, November 2010, 30MW photovoltaic facility in Alamosa County, o SolarReserve, November 2011, attempted to build two 100MW “power tower” facilities in Saguache County north of Center, CO. The PUC denied their request and the project has stalled. • SLVDRG is working with the National Renewable Energy Lab and other partners to assess the feasibility of developing a 100-megawatt operation using CSP technology and requiring over $300 million in private investment. • Development of the San Luis Valley Community Action Agency to contract and disburse and annual grant of approximately $145,000 in Community Service Block Grant funding to SLV non-profits providing assistance to low income client to assist their movement from poverty to sustainability. • Management of the San Luis Valley Enterprise Zone. • Colorado Blueprint planning process identified five areas of concentration which have been incorporated into this document.

1 Bureau of Land Management, San Luis Valley Resource Management Plan, September 1989. 2 Article by Nolan J. Doesken and Thomas B. McKee of CSU Colorado Climate Center entitled “The Incredible Climate of the San Luis Valley,” 1989. 3 Colorado Geological Survey, 2012.

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Table A-1 Land Area and Population Density, 2010

Population Square Persons per Other States Square Persons per Miles sq/mi Miles sq/mi 2000 2010 2000 2010

Alamosa County 15,445 722.64 20.7 21.4 Rhode Island 1,034 1,003.2 1018.1 Alamosa city 8,780 5.39 Alamosa East CDP 1,458 3.61 Delaware 1,949 400.8 460.8 Hooper town 103 0.25 Connecticut 4,842 702.9 738.1 Conejos County 8,256 1,287.39 6.5 6.4 Antonito 781 0.40 Hawaii 6,423 188.6 211.8 La Jara town 818 0.35 Manassa town 991 0.93 New Jersey 7,454 1,134.2 1195.5 Romeo town 404 0.23 Sanford town 879 1.46 Massachusetts 7,800 810.0 839.4

Costilla County 3,524 1,226.95 3.0 2.9 New Hampshire 8,952 137.8 147 Blanca town 385 1.78 Fort Garland CDP 433 0.37 United States 3,531,905 79.6 87.4 San Luis Town 629 0.56

Mineral County 712 875.67 0.9 0.8 Creede town 290 0.68

Rio Grande County 11,982 911.96 13.6 13.1 Del Norte town 1,686 1.00 Monte Vista city 4,444 2.60 South Fork town 386 2.50

Saguache County 6,108 3,168.53 1.9 1.9 Bonanza town 16 0.44 Center town 2,230 0.83 Crestone town 127 0.31 Moffat town 116 1.40 Saguache town 485 0.40

San Luis Valley 46,027 8,193.14 5.6 5.6

Colorado 5,116,796 103,641 41.5 48.5

Source: Population - 2000 population from U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census. - 2010 population from U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Decennial Census. Square miles - Colorado and counties - U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 & 2010 Decennial Census . U.S. and other states - U.S . Census Bureau, 2000 & 2010 Dicennial Census.

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Map A-1

Colorado

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority

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Table A-2 Travel Information

One-Way Miles From Alamosa Walsenburg (I-25) 73 Colorado Springs 163 Poncha Springs/Salida 77/83 Montrose 187 Gunnison 122 Denver 239 Pueblo 121 Lamar 244 Durango 150 Grand Junction 248 Taos, NM 90 Dallas, TX 779 Santa Fe, NM 141 Los Angeles, CA 1,070 Albuquerque, NM 214 Chicago, IL 1,259 Phoenix, AZ 596 New Orleans, LA 1,365 Kansas City, KS 679 New York City, NY 2,057

Commercial Airline Services – San Luis Valley Regional Airport – Bergman Field, Alamosa Great Lakes Aviation - United Airlines connection to Denver International Airport Alamosa-DIA Mon-Fri 6:00/7:00 am12:08/1:08 pm 4:28/5:28 pm Sat 8:00/9:00 am Sun 10:45/11:45 am 4:28/5:28 pm DIA-Alamosa Mon-Fri 7:00/7:55 am12:35/1:30 pm 3:30/4:53 pm Sat 10:35/11:58 am Sun 12:35/1:30 pm 3:30/4:53 pm

Bus Services – Pick-up and drop-off 111 Pike Ave., San Luis Valley Apts., Alamosa Tickets at Alamosa Best Western, 2005 Main St., Alamosa Black Hills Stage Lines Alamosa/Salida/Denver All days 6:20/7:45/11:15 am Alamosa/Salida/Pueblo All days 6:00/7:45/10:00 am Denver/Salida/Alamosa All days 2:00/5:20/6:45 pm Pueblo/Salida/Alamosa All days 3:05/5:05/6:45 pm (Connecting to/from Pueblo at Salida) Major Highways US 160 Alamosa east to Walsenburg and I-25 link to Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver Alamosa west to Pagosa Springs, Durango, Cortez US 285 Alamosa south to Espanola, Santa Fe, Albuquerque Monte Vista north to Saguache, Poncha Springs, Fairplay, Denver CO 17 Antonito south to Chama, NM, Alamosa north to US 285 CO 149 South Fork northwest to Creede, Lake City CO 114 Saguache northwest to US 50 link to Gunnison, Montrose CO 159 Fort Garland south to San Luis, Taos

Radio Stations KGIW/KALQ - FM 1450/93.5 FM Alamosa KSLV 1240/95.3 FM Monte Vista KRZA (NPR station) 88.7 FM Alamosa KSPK 100.3/103.5 FM Walsenburg KASF (Adams State) 90.9 FM Alamosa KZBR 97.1 FM Alamosa

Commuting Distance One-Way Miles From Alamosa Monte Vista 17 South Fork 48 La Jara 14 Manassa 24 Hooper 20 Crestone 50 Sanford 19 Ft. Garland 26 Center 32 Saguache 57 Blanca 21 Antonito 30 Del Norte 35 Creede 70 Romeo 21 San Luis 49 Moffat 37

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Map A-2 Political Geography

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority

Cities, Towns and Communities Alamosa Antonito Blanca Bonanza Capulin Center Chama Conejos Creede Crestone Del Norte Fort Garland Hooper Jaroso La Garita La Jara Manassa Moffat Mosca Romeo Saguache San Acacio San Luis Sanford South Fork Villa Grove

A-13 San Luis Valley Development Resources Group 2013 CEDS

shine "" 91 73 108 " " 115 " " 107 Free Growing Annual 20 99 124 90-130 days 330 days 9 06 97 " " 5.6 Total (in) Total AvgAnnual Total (in) Total Avg Annual Precipitation Snowfall Frost Crop AverageMinimum Table A-3 (Degrees Farenheit) Elevation and Climate poster, SLV Water Quality Demonstration Project. Quality Water Demonstration SLV poster, Temperature Climate Summary (www.wrcc.dri.edu) Summary Climate AverageMaximum Jan Apr July Oct Annual Jan Apr July Oct Annual Days SeasonSun 7,5448,120 34.7 59.0 34.8 82.3 56.3 62.67,901 80.8 60.27,683 59.4 36.2 58.4 -1.8 57.7 36.1 80.9 23.9 59.3 64.28,403 9.8 47.5 80.5 28.2 24.5 63.27,965 59.5 50.7 35.4 31.8 58.1 23.7 59.6 3.9 36.4 81.7 24.8 58.1 61.98,838 2.1 30.0 80.8 46.3 25.8 7.1 60.8 27.6 59.0 46.9 37.9 11.1 27.0 55.2 58.7 2.0 25.5 78.4 25.4 61.27,868 3.7 25.6 47.4 31. 26.07,663 7.9 26.5 41. 57.9 46.0 35.2 7.3 26.6 58.2 6.3 34.5 25.4 78.7 23.7 58.8 62.07,645 26.0 80.6 43.2 21.4 62.67,871 8.6 25.1 58.2 33.2 24.8 7,694 9.6 58.6 58.7 5.7 36.3 23.9 80.5 26.7 59.4 62.3 0.5 35.5 83.7 47.7 24.5 59.2 24.3 13.7 61.6 29.6 81.1 58.4 46.4 20.0 62.8 25.9 -0.9 59.9 27.4 25.2 59.3 9.5 24.3 45.9 46. 28.0 26.4 9.4 4.1 49.4 25.7 7.7 30.7 24.3 47.4 28.3 29.5 39.7 7.0 26.4 24.5 13.0 8.3 25. 61. 23.5 10,850 30.2 40.9 65.8 48.1 45.9 4.4 17.5 40.6 24.3 21.5 45.4 43 Level – ft) – Level (Mean Sea (Mean Elevation San Luis San ValleyWater Resources U.S. U.S. Survey,Geological The NationalJulyMap, 2012

Elevation- Great Dunes Sand ConejosCounty Conejos Manassa County Costilla Blanca San Luis Mineral County Creede Creek Wolf Pass GrandeRio County Norte Del MonteVista Saguache County Center Crestone Saguache Source: www.nationalmap.gov Center, Monthly Western Regional - Climate Climate www.wrcc.dri.edu growingseasonCrop - Alamosa County Alamosa

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Map A-3 San Luis Valley - Mountain Peaks

1 14,345 14 Wild Horse Mesa 8,826 2 13,517 15 11,132 3 Mt Ouray 13,944 16 14,037 4 13,203 17 Mount Lindsey 14,042 5 Del Norte Peak 12,400 18 Treasure Mountain 11,908 6 12,600 19 Lobo Lookout 11,800 7 Bristol Head Mountain 12,706 20 Trout Mountain 11,950 8 14,069 21 Jacobs Hill 9,445 9 14,294 22 Bowers Peak 12,449 10 Crestone Needles 14,191 23 Trickle Mountain 10,132 11 Kit Carson Mountain 14,165 24 Flagstaff Mountain 12,072 12 Lookout Mountain 12,448 25 13,849 Pool Table Mountain 12,215 Storm King Mountain 10,849 13 26

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority

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Map A-4 San Luis Valley – Physiographic Provinces

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority

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Illustration A-1 San Luis Valley – Cross Section

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Table A-4 Land Ownership, 2013

Alamosa Conejos Costilla Mineral Number % Number % Number % Number % Total acres 460,366 100.0 825,535 100.0 786,199 100.0 562,154 100.0

Federal 91,229 19.8 482,803 58.5 531 * 525,376 93.5 U.S. Forest Service 19,939 4.3 299,788 36.3 500 * 525,376 93.5 Bureau of Land Mgmt 39,671 8.6 182,873 22.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 National Park Service 19,640 4.3 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serv 11,274 2.4 142 0.0 31 * 0 0.0 Bureau of Reclamation 706 0.2 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 Other federal 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

State/Colorado 34,940 7.6 70,717 8.6 6 * 625 * State Land Board 33,031 7.2 63,476 7.7 6 * 625 * Colorado Div. of Parks & 1,909 0.4 7,241 0.9 0 0.0 0 * Wildlife Private 334,197 72.6 272,015 33.0 786,168 100.0 36,150 6.4

Rio Grande Saguache San Luis Valley Number % Number % Number % Total acres 584,422 100.0 2,028,307 100.0 5,246,984 100.0

Federal 344,438 58.9 1,457,965 74.5 2,902,342 55.7 U.S. Forest Service 276,268 47.3 931,853 45.9 2,053,223 39.1 Bureau of Land Mgmt 54,751 9.4 340,448 16.8 618,242 11.8 National Park Service 0 0.0 101,878 5.0 121,518 2.3 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serv 13,419 2.3 80,654 4.6 105,521 2.0 Bureau of Reclamation 0 0.0 3,065 0.2 3,771 * Other federal 0 0.0 67 * 67 *

State/Colorado 11,115 1.9 61,304 3.0 178,711 3.4 School Trust Fund 9,448 1.6 59,286 2.9 165,875 3.2 Colorado Div of Wildlife 1,667 0.3 2,018 * 12,836 *

Private 228,869 39.2 509,037 21.5 2,165,932 41.3

Source : San Luis Valley GIS-GPS Authority based on 2011 COMap data.

www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/comap www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/comap * Less than 0.1%.

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Map A-5 Land Ownership

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority

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Table A-5A Land Cover by County, 2006

Alamosa County Conejos County Costilla County Classification acreage sq/mi % acreage sq/mi % acreage sq/mi % Unclassified 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 Urban 13,122.6 20.5 2.8 13,714.5 21.4 1.7 9,321.2 14.6 1.2 Developed High Intensity 122.2 3.6 1.7 Developed Low Instensity 6,844.9 4,061.4 2,255.4 Developed Med Intensity 1,346.9 340.3 34.5 Developed Open Space 4,808.6 9,309.2 7,029.5 Agricultural Land 99,473.6 155.4 21.5 95,030.6 148.5 11.5 44,865.0 70.1 5.7 Cultivated Crops 279.8 111.0 15,297.0 Pasture Hay 99,193.8 94,919.6 29,568.1 Rangeland 279,237.3 436.3 60.4 424,315 663.0 51.4 456,811.7 713.8 58.1 Shrub/Scrub 256,320.0 244,223.5 343,487.9 Grassland/Herbaceous 22,851.9 180,091.9 113,323.8 Forest Land 26,818.7 41.9 5.8 232,710.1 363.6 28.2 243,434.2 380.4 30.9 Mixed Forest 969.7 9,524.3 13,652.6 Evergreen Forest 23,235.3 168,317.7 187,172.9 Deciduous Forest 2,613.7 54,868.1 42,608.7 Water 2,714.0 4.2 0.6 1,976.3 3.1 0.2 2,208.5 3.5 0.3 Wetland 30,183.6 47.2 6.5 52,771.9 82.5 6.4 14,720.2 23.0 1.9 Woody Wetland 17,246.4 30,218.8 10,318.9 Emergent Herbaceous Wetland 12,937.2 22,553.2 4,401.3 Barren Land 10,763.5 16.8 2.3 5,072.0 7.9 0.6 15,042.2 23.5 1.9 Tundra 41.8 0.1 0.0 90.1 0.1 0.0 211.5 0.3 0.0

Total 462,289.8 722.4 100.0 825,680.9 1,290.1 100.0 786,614.5 1,229.1 100.0

Mineral County Rio Grande County Saguache County Classification acreage sq/mi % acreage sq/mi % acreage sq/mi % Unclassified 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Urban 2,281.0 3.6 0.4 15,049.0 23.5 2.6 15,573.6 24.3 0.8 Developed High Intensity 0.0 35.3 1.1 0.0 Developed Low Instensity 472.1 6,413.7 6,986.5 10.9 Developed Med Intensity 54.9 1,093.8 513.0 0.8 Developed Open Space 1,754.0 7,506.2 8,073.0 12.6 Agricultural Land 768.9 1.2 0.1 99,377.5 155.3 17.0 115,537.4 180.5 5.7 Cultivated Crops 35.2 338.7 154.6 0.2 Pasture Hay 733.7 99,038.8 115,382.8 180.3 Rangeland 153,212.2 239.4 27.3 225,118.4 351.7 38.5 1,023,952.8 1,599.9 50.5 Shrub/Scrub 2,996.7 96641.5 517,998.0 Grassland/Herbaceous 150,215.5 128477.0 505,954.8 Forest Land 358,848.5 560.7 63.8 207,811.5 324.7 35.6 748,335.2 1,169.3 36.9 Mixed Forest 14,396.9 10,545.4 17,496.2 Evergreen Forest 290,243.3 160,925.7 612,715.3 Deciduous Forest 54,208.3 36,340.5 135,619.9 Water 1,074.1 1.7 0.2 673.7 1.1 0.1 920.2 1.4 0.0 Wetland 24,034.4 37.6 4.3 31,939.6 49.9 5.5 56,184.5 Woody Wetland 19,712.0 20,564.0 35,649.5 Emergent Herbaceous Wetland 4,322.4 11,375.6 20,535.0 Barren Land 21,864.6 34.2 3.9 4,443.8 6.9 0.8 50,137.1 78.3 2.5 Tundra 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0 0.0 0.0 18.9 0.0 0.0 Total 562,083.6 878.3 100.0 584,420.6 913.2 100.0 2,028,152.8 3,169.0 100.0 Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority, based on data collected by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service - National Geospatial Management Center National Land Cover Dataset (2007)

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Map A-6 Land Cover

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority

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Table A-5B Land Cover San Luis Valley, 2006

San Luis Valley Classification acreage sq/mi % Unclassified 0.0 0.0 0.0 Urban 69,067.6 107.9 1.3 Developed High Intensity 163.9 Developed Low Instensity 27,033.9 Developed Med Intensity 3,383.6 Developed Open Space 38,486.2 Agricultural Land 455,057.7 711.0 8.7 Cultivated Crops 16,216.3 Pasture Hay 438,841.4 Rangeland 2,562,761.6 4004.3 48.8 Shrub/Scrub 1,461,726.1 Grassland/Herbaceous 1,101,035.5 Forest Land 1,835,644.4 2868.2 35.0 Mixed Forest 66,598.1 Evergreen Forest 1,442,726.2 Deciduous Forest 326,320.2 Water 9,567.0 14.9 0.2 Wetland 209,844.6 327.9 4.0 Woody Wetland 133,718.7 Emergent Herbaceous Wetland 76,126.0 Barren Land 107,367.0 167.8 2.0 Tundra 369.2 0.6 0.0

Total 5,249,679.2 8,202.6 100.0 Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority, based on data collected by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service - National Geospatial Management Center National Land Cover Dataset (2007)

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Table A-6 Valley Floor Land Use Acreage, 2013

Land Cover Alamosa Conejos Costilla Mineral Rio Grande Saguache Total % Alfalfa 24,767 39,745 21,679 0 25,439 27,848 139,478 6.7 Bare ground 17,406 3,195 2,429 0 809 21,563 45,402 2.2 Coniferous trees 9,108 12,135 38,105 0 75 16,593 76,016 3.7 Deciduous trees 7,068 3,820 9,033 0 2,375 21,465 43,761 2.1

Grain 27,626 22,176 8,280 0 28,956 27,177 114,215 5.5 Heavy vegetation 72,875 50,186 148,922 0 21,979 146,342 440,304 21.2 Hydrophytes 937 592 334 0 296 544 2,703 0.1 Irrigated meadow 64,495 74,834 17,093 0 48,827 65,931 271,180 13.1

Medium vegetation 24,663 28,961 73,507 0 7,649 64,585 199,365 9.6 Non-irrigated meadow 23,058 22,771 10,902 0 13,033 29,140 98,904 4.8 Potatoes 27,947 2,189 4,861 0 25,852 19,215 80,064 3.9 Sparse vegetation 135,687 79,895 103,956 0 17,642 212,460 549,640 26.5 Vegetables 1,377 136 486 0 2,234 3,351 7,584 0.4

Water 1,254 8 2,072 0 91 239 3,664 0.2 Total Acres* 438,268 340,643 441,659 0 195,257 656,453 2,072,280 100.0

Source: San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority, Dec. 2013, based on data collected by the Colorado Decision Support System, 2007. * The portion of acres in the counties considered part of the valley floor. Mineral County is not considered part of the valley floor.

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