COLORADO GROWTH: BOON OR BANE?

Colorado is going to experience tremendous growth over the next few years, according to the best available evidence. At least two important factors will fuel Colorado's rapid growth: 1) The enticements of agreeable climate, great natural beauty and the lifestyles possible where the climate is favorable and the country beautiful. 2) The development of Colorado's massive energy reserves, primarily for use by other states.

Growth is nothing new to Colorado. Between 1900 and 1920 the state's population increased from about 540,000 to roughly 940,000 people. This 74 percent increase averages out to about 3.7% per year, somewhat above the current growth rate of about 2% per year. The total numbers of people were still relatively small.

From 1920 to 1940 Colorado's population increased only about 183,300 to 1,123,300, less than 1% increase per year. Included in this time span were the growth 'stagnant' years of the 1930's, when the great depression and the dust bowl caused people to move out of Colorado to what seemed like more favorable areas such as California.

The growth accelerated between 1940 and 1960, reaching a population total of 1,754,000 people by the latter year. The increase for this 20-year period is 56%, or 2.8 percent per year. What is important here is the fact that the numbers of people start to get really large, even though the yearly increase is still less than 3 percent. The 630,000 people added between 1940 and 1960 are 70,000 more people than lived in the state in 1900!

By 1970 the population was presumed to be 2,200,000, though many argued that this figure - up 446,000 since 1960 - was too low. The per-year increase was about 2.5%.

It has been estimated that Colorado's present population exceeds 2.6 million, with the dramatic growth mentioned in the first paragraph of this article still before us.

Let's turn away from state growth statistics and look at some local examples of growth. East of the Rockies, we find two of our nations most rapidly growing communities. Fort Collins is ranked fourth in the nation in terms of growth rate. Its population grew 28% from 1970 through 1974, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Colorado Springs ranked ninth in the nation, up 22.7% for the same period.

The foothills towns of Longmont (now 50,000), Loveland (now 32,000), Greeley (now 75,000), Boulder (now 80,000), Colorado Springs (now 155,000) and Fort Collins (now 80,000) - where I was born and raised - have all mushroomed into veritable warrens of large shopping centers, sprawling subdivisions and traffic laden streets.

A mantel of smog can almost always be seen from Fort Collins to Pueblo. The potential for its harm to living and non-living things becomes more real. Problems associated with water development, sewage and other waste treatment and disposal, crime and its prevention, minority relations and inflation grow even faster than the population.

Though its magnitude in terms of numbers is smaller, growth is also posing serious problems for communities on the western side of the Rockies. The population of Craig soared from 4,000 in 1970 to 9,000 in 1977. According to officials there, housing is virtually unobtainable, prices skyrocketed across the board and 'big city' problems such as traffic jams and drug abuse developed in the town, which had no (and presumably did not need) a police force(!)until 1975.

Meeker is expected to increase its population from 1800 in 1978 to about 10,000 in 1981! Hayden recently passed a large bond issue to handle dramatic increases in school enrollment there.

Governor Lamm, in requesting federal aid for areas growing rapidly because of energy development, was quoted as saying: "Now they're seeing (in places like Craig) that this kind of growth does not pay for itself, that the benefits might not equal the burdens." Hospitals must be built or expanded; the same goes for schools police forces and fire departments must be established or enlarged. Streets must be upgraded or built; water systems enlarged or developed. All of this must be done quickly as populations more than double in seven years, as was the case for Craig or increase five times, as will probably be true for Meeker.

In Durango, a well-established community with a recent history of sustained growth finds it difficult to cope with growth-produced or growth aggravated problems.

Water development is an issue that has caused deep divisions in the community. Recent controversy suggests that these divisions will grow wider. Planning and zoning issues have produced strident clashes between citizens with opposing views and between citizens and their elected officials. As growth pressures increase, so will the pressures for greater planning and zoning efforts. It seems likely the number of confrontations will grow and the level of acrimony will increase.

Waste disposal has become an increasing burden. Attempts to find a new waste disposal site have caused outrage among those citizens who live near to or on the way to proposed sites. There is controversy concerning recycling proposals and costs, though it seems apparent that recycling will and must become a fact of life.

Many more examples could be listed. The problems spawned or aggravated by growth are many and they are complex. Since there are no simple problems, there will be no simple answers.

But, as with world growth, there is really no question of whether growth in Colorado will stop or not. It will stop! The question is when and how.

The people of Colorado can find the will and the means to do it; or, the natural forces will do it, at great cost to the people in terms of suffering. Colorado's past growth has brought many benefits to the people. It has truly been a BOON. Continued growth can only be a BANE.