OCR Text |
Show proper application of land treatment programs and for correlation of these programs with other phases of water resources use. Soil surveys have been made for about one-half of the area within the basin. In 1950, surveys were being conducted in Fayette County, Ind., and Fairfield County, Ohio. Detailed land use capability surveys, recently recog- nized as an important part of soil studies, are not as advanced as soil surveys. Preliminary land use classification studies are available for most rural private lands. Aerial photography.-Aerial photographs are available for the entire basin, but most of them are more than 10 years old. Through a cooperative program between the States and the Federal Gov- ernment by which the States furnish funds to cover approximately half the cost of the original photog- raphy, contracts were let during 1949 and 1950 which will secure current aerial photographs for more than two-thirds of the area in this basin. Mineral resources.-Considerable data have been and continue to be collected by the various States and the Bureau of Mines on mineral resources of the basin. Forest resources.-Adequate data on the forest resources of the basin are available, although more research is needed to develop sound forest and watershed management practices. Fish and wildlife resources.-Data on the fish and wildlife resources of the basin will be collected through investigations now in progress or those necessary in connection with other water resources developments. Economic data.-Data on population, population trends, and industry are available from the Bureau of the Census. Data on agriculture, industry, and transportation are usually available from various sources, including local or State agencies. High- way planning survey maps of State highway depart- ments are also sources of economic data. Some major deficiencies in economic data are the following: Income data on a county basis (available now by States only), population and em- ployment data on a comparable basis from State to State for intercensal years, and data on industrial use of water. Conclusions Certain types of basic information are available for the Ohio River Basin. However, there are no topographic maps for certain areas, and maps for other areas lack adequate topographic detail or are obsolete. There is a lack of precipitation data of long record in some of the remote localities, espe- cially continuous records from recording pre- cipitation gages; a lack of stream-flow data in some of the headwater areas and on the smaller streams; and lack of data for land classification. There is need for more adequate information on surface water quality and the quality and availability of underground water supplies. Aerial photographs of the basin should be kept current. Even though the existing needs are gradually being overcome, basic data are required, not only to satisfy immediate needs but as a basis for future planning activities. Each agency concerned with the development of basic data is faced with the problem of balancing funds available for such pur- poses against immediate needs on the one hand and long-range needs on the other. Since the provision of basic data is essential to the efficient accomplish- ment of water resources development, and since the cost of providing it is low in relation to the total development cost, it is important that data collec- tion and analysis go forward promptly and ade- quately. 2. Status and Need for a Comprehensive Basin Program The Problem Integration of basin planning and other action on water resources improvement. The Situation Each of the Federal agencies with programs relating to the conservation and development of the resources of the Ohio Basin has particular functions it is authorized to perform. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for plan- ning and constructing engineering works designed primarily for flood control, navigation, power pro- duction, and other purposes. The Nation-wide programs of several agencies of the Department of Agriculture are proceeding in this basin. The Production and Marketing Ad- ministration, Soil Conservation Service, United States Forest Service, Agricultural Research Ad- ministration, Extension Service, Farm Credit Ad- ministration, Farmer's Home Administration, Ru- ral Electrification Administration, Bureau of Agricultural Economics-all have programs related directly or indirectly to resources use. The Department of the Interior has power 661 |