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Show Chapter 1 Regional Character and Problems1 The Basin's Significance The Central Valley is one of the world's choice agricultural regions. The large acreages of deep, smooth alluvial soils, the mild climate, the long hours of brilliant sunshine in summer, and the con- trolled application of water have been used effec- tively for the production of high value crops. Five Central Valley counties are among the first 10 counties in the Nation in value of agricultural com- modities produced. Besides supplying significant portions of the food needs of California's rapidly growing urban centers, the Central Valley furnishes nearly all of the national supply of some fruits, and a significant share of the national rice production. It also makes important additions to the total pro- duction of cotton and several vegetable crops. 1 The original draft of this study was prepared during 1950 by the Committee on River Program Analysis of the Commission. The following persons served on the com- mittee, participated in the planning or review of the report, and contributed data to it: George G. Adkins, Federal Power Commission. Robert S. Anderson, Federal Power Commission. James Bowman, Tennessee Valley Authority. Nicholls Bowden, Tennessee Valley Authority. Raymond H. Davis, Soil Conservation Service, Depart- ment of Agriculture. R. H. Dewante, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. S. H. Gale, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. Paul Haney, Public Health Service. William E. Holy, Public Health Service. Carl F. Izzard, Bureau of Public Roads, Department of Commerce. Maurice LeBosquet, Public Health Service. Edward N. Munns, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. Victor Roterus, Department of Commerce. This astonishingly large agricultural production has been achieved by the use of only a part of the available irrigable soils. Limitations on irrigable land use have resulted from an inadequate water supply, and to a lesser extent, from marketing dif- ficulties. However, water supplies for irrigation are the critical element in further expansion of agriculture in the Central Valley. This basin differs from the nine others studied by the Commission in two important respects. First, the entire basin is contained in one State. Second, plans for its development were worked out by the State over many years prior to 1930. The plans are now the pattern for joint effort by the State and Federal Governments. During the past decade the growth of population and industry in California has been phenomenal. R. F. Stellar, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. E. F. Sullivan, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior. G. E. Tomlinson, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior. E. N. Torbert, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior. Frank L. Weaver, Federal Power Commission. Wesley Calef, President's Water Resources Policy Com- mission, committee secretary. Edward A. Ackerman, President's Water Resources Policy Commission, committee chairman. The study is based on information available between May and October 1950, including special basin reports submitted to the Commission by interested Federal agen- cies. Following preparation of the original draft by the Committee on River Program Analysis the study was edited and revised for the Commission by Edward A. Ackerman, John C. Beebe, John M. Carmody, Patricia Howse, Ed- ward N. Munns, Evelyn S. Myers, and Jane G. Perry. Individual committee members or the agencies where they are employed therefore may or may not be in agreement with particular conclusions here presented. 81 |