| OCR Text |
Show in the coal fields. Abandoned pits and strip min- ing are major sources of acidity, and methods must be developed to prevent the discharge of mine wastes into the streams. This can be done suc- cessfully only through research. Knowledge of the soils of the basin is too limited for sound land management programs. There is general recognition of the flood and silt source areas of the basin, but the character, nature, and extent of erosion and its causes have been determined for only about a fourth of the area. A land classification survey of the basin should be made that would disclose opportunities for added parks or other preserves, reservations that might be required for expansion and scattering of govern- mental functions throughout the basin, and the best use of land from an over-all standpoint. Topographic and geologic maps are available for most of the Potomac Basin. Some of the older topographic maps do not meet modern standards and should be revised. More is probably known of the geology of this area than for most other basins of comparable size in the United States. There are sufficient economic data available for general basin planning, but much more is needed for the detailed plans basin development will re- quire. Such data should include population and industrial trends, opportunities for industrial de- velopment within the area without detracting from natural beauty and attractions, transportation needs throughout the basin, and the opportunities and requirements for decentralizing governmental activities. Conclusions Sufficient information now is available on many features of the Potomac Basin for the immediate needs of planning the engineering phases of the de- velopment. Information on such aspects as power marketing, flood control, hydrology, and geology is included. There are, however, a number of fields of activity which should be greatly strength- ened before complete development of the water and land resources is possible. These encompass not only the collection of data and its analysis, but re- search on phases that will have a direct impact upon plans for developing the water resources. The deficiencies in biological data are pressing, especially those related to the fisheries. Problems of migratory fish and of wildlife must be met, and those of the shellfish industry in the lower river and the associated waters of the Chesapeake must not be overlooked. Land treatment programs should be based upon a greater amount of soils and related data, and be guided in their application by land use surveys and the results of research. Methods of preventing the discharge of wastes from abandoned mine workings must be developed. Hydrologically, enough data have been collected for initial development. There is still time to ob- tain supplemental data which will be required for complete development, if collection of such data is undertaken soon. The lack is greatest in the upper reaches and in tributary areas. Even greater at- tention should be directed to meeting the problems of turbidity, bed load, sedimentation, and water quality, both sanitary and chemical. The presence of the National Capital and its significance in the basin suggest the need for careful recreational and land use planning. Such plan- ning will take into account many factors of a social and economic character not found in other areas, including possible needs for relocating governmental activities. 2. Conservation and Use of Ground Water The Problem The specific problems related to the conservation and use of ground water. The Situation In the Coastal Plain area ground water supplies are thought to be sufficient for the present time, but anticipated future demands indicate a shortage of domestic and industrial water. Already a number of wells which in the past were flowing must now be pumped. There is need for strict regulation of the available ground water resources, especially with respect to the capping of abandoned flowing wells which now waste large quantities of water thus helping to diminish the usable supply. In the Piedmont area, the underground water situation is not well known, although there are localities where supplies of high quality water are abundant. In some areas the supply of ground water for industrial and domestic use is inadequate for present needs. This may be due either to the limited supply of the basin, overpumping, lack of adequate replenishment, or slowness of the trans- mission rate. In the District of Columbia area, ground water is difficult to obtain in some places where needed for domestic and public supply. 609 |
