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Show The use of these lands has been severely handi- capped, however, by deficient drainage over thou- sands of acres and by numerous inundations on both the tributaries and the main stem which are often prolonged until nearly midsummer. The reclama- tion of these lands both by drainage and by flood protection presents a major opportunity for ex- panding the economic base of this section. Summary of Major Problems Water-or lack of it-is the basic cause of Mis- souri Basin difficulties. It is at the root of many of its special economic difficulties. Floods long have plagued settlement along the river. From one end of the basin to the other they have exacted an enormous toll in money and lives. They have car- ried away homes and possessions. They have de- stroyed crops and drowned livestock. Transporta- tion has often been disrupted. Even the land it- self has been destroyed or made useless, and cities no less than the smaller hamlets and farms have felt their fury. Droughts have left their mark on the basin. Lands have been abandoned, wheat fields have become dust bowls for periods. Cattle have died of starvation and thirst, and people have been forced off the land. Once flowing wells now are pumped; many dug wells have become dry. Storms too have beset the people. Wind storms are not uncommon and tornadoes do great dam- age. At times, intense rain storms beat down the crops. At others, frequent rains make fields too wet to cultivate. Blizzards periodically have brought intense suffering over great areas, causing loss of life and destruction of livestock and game. In recent years great snow storms have blocked roads, halting all traffic, and stopping communica- tion for weeks. In these storms farms and ranches were completely isolated, and much livestock and game perished. Severe freezes have upset normal operations and caused excessive damage. Despite these environmental hazards, man has persisted. He has conquered some of his troubles. But water is still limited in quantity, variable in its quality, and poorly distributed over the basin as a whole. These facts, together with the large size of the area, the type of agriculture, and limited min- eral resources, have been responsible for a scattered population and a lack of industrialization. Trans- portation costs are high, and because of the nature of the rivers, navigational opportunities are greatly limited. These troubles have stimulated search for cures. This has been found in part by controlling the flow of the rivers. By storing excess water for later use, both floods and drought may be overcome for im- portant sections in the basin. In the process, many byproducts become available-hydroelectric power, navigation, recreation, fish, and game. Their proper use in turn may serve to provide additional stability to the region. They can bring increased opportunities for employment in industry and in the trades and services. 169 |