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Show prehensive program should provide for drainage of wet lands where drainage does not conflict with higher beneficial use. Drainage improvements may be installed in connection with irrigation works, and on-farm and major drainage improvements made in nonirrigated areas. Fish and Wildlife Elements of a program for ultimate control and use of the Missouri Basin water resources must in- clude prevention of damage to and improvement of fish and wildlife, insofar as this is consistent with the other objectives of the program. Wherever practical, vegetative cover should be provided near reservoir areas to replace inundated cover and rest- ing places. Also, reservoir operation schedules should, where practicable, conform to fish and wild- life needs. Ultimately, a number of reservoirs, thousands of stock water ponds, and many wildlife refuges will permit increases in fish and wildlife populations. Recreation fishing on reservoirs will become im- portant; values associated with trout fishing and big game hunting in the mountains should be preserved. Recreation The demand for recreation in the basin is grow- ing rapidly. Additional facilities are needed to make recreational opportunities accessible to more people, and to relieve the pressure on existing recreation areas. The Great Plains, which occupy much of the central portion of the basin, are espe- cially in need of recreation facilities. Programs must contribute to meeting this need. Many of the reservoirs to be created will be in areas now largely devoid of recreation facilities. They will provide greatly enhanced opportunities for recreation. Such minimum facilities as access roads, picnic grounds, and boat docks should be developed at reservoirs, to permit public enjoyment of the water. The projects should, as far as pos- sible in the light of their major functions, be operated to provide maximum opportunity for recreation. Full development also entails maxi- mum use of the recreation opportunities of national forests and other public lands. Such areas, if appropriate facilities are provided, can accommo- date large numbers of people. State and local agencies should play an important role in the development and administration of recreation facilities. Auxiliary Programs Several auxiliary elements are desirable in a de- velopment program. Two of importance are a coordinated transportation system, and pilot plants to promote industrial development. The economic development of any area or city is in part determined by transportation facilities. The uncoordinated growth of air, water, rail, and highway transportation systems, combined with rapid economic changes, has led to the necessity for a readjustment in this field. If industry and agriculture are to flourish, they must be able to market their products competitively. This will require readjustment of freight rates and regula- tions, as well as improved water, rail, and highway facilities. The highway burden will be greatly in- creased; inundation for reservoirs will necessitate new highways, and new areas will have to be served. Most perishable foods and consumer goods will move by truck or freight; waterways can carry bulk commodities. Pilot plants will be necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of establishing certain industries within the basin. The Federal Government will probably have to furnish expert advice, research programs, and credit to supplement private investment for this purpose. Experiments are already under way with a plant at Louisiana, Mo. (outside the basin) working on the hydrogenation of coal, and one under construction at Grand Forks, to process lig- nite. Further programs along this line will be necessary. Some of the fields open for exploitation are sponge iron (Laramie, Wyo.), oil shale (Rifle, Colo.), and phosphate (Lander, Wyo.). Rate of Development The rate at which water resources development should take place in the Missouri Basin cannot be determined without further study. Although con- siderable work has been done on some phases of its water problems, the area of the basin is so vast and its problems so complex that the many steps to further development cannot now be defined. Too little is known of the basin's resources and the 276 |