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Show the economic life or to the realization of full water development in the area. (2) Tliat portion of the basin embraced by the approved lower Columbia River fisheries program should be held inviolate from reservoir construction or other water control works not already authorized or licensed at least until the completion of the con- struction and development phases of the fisheries program. Construction of authorized works not al- ready under way and which are considered poten- tially of great damage to the fishery should be de- ferred as long as suitable alternative projects can be developed. (3 ) Fishery resources should be preserved as long as possible, in the light of other development re- quirements. When a choice must be made, as for example fcetween fisheries and power, the decision should be made on the relative contribution of the two functions to regional and national well-being. (4) A deadline should be set for the completion of the analysis of effects of alternative plans for development upon the fishery and upon power pro- duction and other beneficial uses of the river. This analysis should include complete consideration of the economic as well as other effects of water de- velopment. A reasonable period for completion of such analysis would seem to be a 10-year period in which sufficient appropriations are available for the program. 2. Principles for Planning and Constructing Fa- cilities in Areas Previously Dedicated to Scenic Valuer or Wilderness Use The Problem Where previously accepted scenic values, as in national parks, are in conflict with development of water utilization for other purposes, what principles should prevail in planning, construction, and operation? The Situation In the Columbia area, as elsewhere in the West, water developments are gradually pressing upon areas dedicated to other uses. Among these are various types of recreational areas, such as national parks, national monuments, and wilderness areas. Some of tlhese, like Crater Lake, are considered to be so outstandingly inspiring that their waters probably -will never be used for other beneficial purposes Oian recreation. Most sections of Yellow- stone National Park and the mountains of Glacier National Park have similarly outstanding scenic attractions. Boundaries of these recreational areas have been established in various ways. Some have been care- fully delineated before the reservation was estab- lished, others have followed certain topographic features. Some boundaries have been agreed upon in advance with local agencies, and with interested associations of special groups, although such agree- ments were not always based upon complete and adequate information. Areas thus may have been included in some of these units which do not have attractions of the same high quality encompassed elsewhere in the reservation, or which do not lend themselves to the same physical and spiritual type of recreation found generally within the designated unit. A section in the western part of Glacier Na- tional Park which would be inundated by the pro- posed Glacier View Reservoir is thought by some to be such an area. However, because of its en- croachment upon the park, the Glacier View Proj- ect has met with very strong objections, and authori- zation has been postponed. There are three major objections: (1) im- pairment of the park views (although reservoir pro- ponents argue that the reservoir could be operated so as not to impair views of the mountains); (2) destruction of an 8,000-acre stand of virgin Ponde- rosa pine (not yet owned by the Park Service, but negotiations for purchase are under way) ; and (3) destruction of a major part of the winter habitat of the park's white-tailed deer, 30 percent of the mule deer winter range, and 70 percent of the beaver habitat. About 1 percent of the park's present area would be inundated, nearly all of it relatively flat land. Of the three objections the most serious would seem to be the destruction of wildlife habitat, which, it is alleged, would impair park values as a whole. However, insufficient study has been made as to possible alternative means of maintaining the wild- life. The Glacier View Reservoir, on the other hand, could be a valuable unit in the basin power system. It has a relatively low construction cost for the amount of storage provided (95 million dollars; 3,160,000 acre-feet); and a relatively high benefit- cost ratio (1.84 to 1). Alternatives in the main development plan, like Kooskia, Idaho, or Paradise, Mont., are much more expensive, have somewhat lower benefit-cost ratios, and have other important disadvantages. 48 |
