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Show The central fact revealed is the lack of a unified federal policy respecting the development, utilization, and conservation of water resources, including related uses of land. From a pyra- miding of statutes for over 100 years, several policies have evolved. Each addition has usually dealt with the most press- ing need current at the time. Despite some harmonizing in- fluences of the trend toward multiple-purpose projects, and despite the unifying influences of the swing in recent years toward comprehensive development, federal law concerning water resources is today a unit in name only. For the com- ponents have frequently been unmatched in the process of legislating separately for different "primary" purposes while treating other purposes as incidental or complementary. To portray this legislative evolution, we shall first refer to the sources of federal authority and then survey on a functional basis the more significant laws as they deal with navigation, flood control, irrigation, power, other public purposes, and re- lated land uses. Separate attention will be required for those legislative provisions trending toward comprehensive develop- ment of river systems and their watersheds. Notwithstanding that trend, however, repeated instances of lack of statutory coordination lead finally to a comparative summary of the dif- fering legislative requirements which vary with the type of project or with the agency made responsible. In thus surveying existing law, we shall see that- The powers of the Federal Government are limited to those delegated by the Constitution. But their character and scope have facilitated their ready adaptation to the demands of our geography and growth as the Federal Government has assumed varied and increasing responsibilities and participation respect- ing water-resource activities. The availability of water has vitally influenced the Nation's growth. Thus, cities sought and flourished on the best coastal harbors. Later, our rivers became a principal means and chart for westward expansion. And as interstate highways of com- merce, they were subject to federal control under the grant of power to regulate commerce among the states. Relying on that power, the Federal Government early under- |