OCR Text |
Show 402 contemplated one of a series of navigation dams, noting in this instance that this bill presented:58 a typical case of a river where its development by the Federal Government for navigation should go hand in hand with its development for water power. He said that the bill contained a "fatal defect" in its failure to provide means for exacting reasonable compensation for the privilege granted, and that this was as improvident as throw- ing away "any other asset of the Government." Consideration of Related Uses in Improvements for Flood Control.-A few years later, the need for comprehensive study of a river basin was recognized in 1917 flood-control leg- islation.59 Congress there provided that "all examinations and surveys of projects relating to flood control shall include a comprehensive study of the watershed."60 Moreover, it re- quired that reports thereon shall include data in regard to (1) the extent and character of the area to be affected by the pro- posed improvement, (2) the probable effect upon any navigable water, (3) the possible economical development and utiliza- tion of water power, and (4) "such other uses as may be properly related to or coordinated with the project."61 68 S. 7343; Sen. Doc. No. 949, both 62d Cong., 2d sess. (1912) ; 48 Cong. Riqc. 11796 (1912). 89 Act of March 1, 1917, 39 Stat. 948. The House Committee on Flood Control was first established by the 64th Congress in 1916. See 53 Cong. Reo. 2338, 2406 (1916). 80 § 3, 39 Stat. 950, 33 U. S. C. 701. 61 Id. An indication of the effect of this language on the scope of flood- control surveys appears in the following excerpt from an Army Engineer memorandum on the scope of a Sacramento-San Joaquin Basin report of the Army Engineers. "The report of the Chief of Engineers was made pursuant to specific congressional authorizations for surveys for flood control and related water uses. It is not presented or intended as a plan for the development of all of the water resources of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Basin, as it was recognized that ultimate plans for such full development would require additional projects and would extend far into the future, whereas the need for flood control and conservation of flood waters is a present urgent necessity in California. It was also recognized that Federal responsibility for irrigation improvements has been assigned by Congress to the Bureau of Reclamation." H. Doc. No. 367, 81st Cong., 1st sess., pp. IX-X (1949). |