OCR Text |
Show facilities and manufacturing capacity for the de- velopment of one region, primarily for one purpose, at the expense of possibly greater needs in other areas. For example, the production of hydro- electric generating facilities at a rate sufficient to meet the above-mentioned schedule would require about one-half of the total present manufacturing capacity for such equipment during the next 10 years. Conclusions (1) The Federal Government has assumed the responsibility for supplying a major share of future power needs in the Northwest and must, therefore, provide for normal load growth. (2) The extent to which power should be pro- vided by the Government to supply stimulated load growth resulting from low rates should be deter- mined after consideration of the needs for resource development in other regions of the Nation and determination of the ability to supply all needs. (3) Emergency considerations of national de- fense may supersede other considerations in power development. No attempt has been made to weigh expenditure in the Columbia as compared to other regions on this basis. 4. Allowance for Future Industrial Water Needs in Specific Parts of the Basin The Problem Specific allowance to be made for potential in- dustrial water consumption in planning water developments in specific parts of the basin. The Situation Future industrial water needs, as anywhere in the world, present problems of quantity and quality. The general situation is favorable, but locally, at- tention must be paid to both quantity and quality aspects. Policy for development may take account of the following: Sites along the main stem of the Columbia, the lower Snake, the Willamette, Kootenai, and Pend Oreille Rivers are likely to be provided with ade- quate quantities of water for foreseeable industrial needs. Mineralization and pollution also are not serious problems, except on the Willamette and on the Pend Oreille and Columbia above Roosevelt Lake. Improvement of the Willamette within the decade is expected because of recently adopted water quality control regulations in the State of Oregon. Mineralization, sedimenta.tion, pollution, or in- adequate quantities of water are likely to be deter- rent to manufacturing industry along some of the eastern and southern tributaries. The Willamette and the Spokane are handicapped mainly by pollu- tion ; the upper Snake by Inadequate quantities; some upper Snake tributaries by sedimentation and pollution; the Palouse and some eastern Oregon tributaries of the Snake by sedimentation and inade- quate quantities. Locally throughout the arid and semiarid districts of the basin streams may contain dissolved minerals which are objectionable in cer- tain industries. Conclusions Very careful estimates of possible industrial needs along the southern and eastern tributaries appear necessary before plans are completed for improve- ment of these streams. Such questions as possible water requirements for industry based on the great Montana-Idaho-Wyoming phosphate deposits, and their bearing on future allocations of water for ir- rigation in southern Idaho, should be answered. However, at the moment, questions of quality ap- pear to be generally more significant in all parts of the basin than those of quantity allocation. Even in water-deficient areas complete use of water by irrigation cannot be considered a final deterrent to industry otherwise locally favored. The possibility of purchase of agricultural water rights for industrial use always permits finally a certain degree of flexibility in deficient areas. At the same time account should be taken of all foreseeable industrial needs In irrigation planning so as to avoid investment in works likely to become obsolete. For the eastern and southern tributary basins, therefore, estimates of industrial water quan- tity needs should be considered essential basic data for planning and programing. For all parts of the basin control of water quality should be, in the interest of industry, a coordinate objective of water resources planning. 5. Extent to which Land Treatment Programs Should be Included in Development The Problem Erosion control measures, reforestation, rehabili- tation of cover, and related land treatment essential 58 |