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Show TABLE 1.-Elements of a Water Resources Plan-Continued In any comprehensive resources development plan these elements must be considered not only in terms of their physical, economic, and social relation one to another, but in terms of their relation to the underlying purposes to be served. General Principles Planning for the conservation, development, and utilization of the Nation's water and land resources to serve these broad regional and na- tional purposes is a complex task. The degree of success in attaining the objectives will depend in large measure upon the guiding principles that prevail. The Commission concludes that the following principles are essential: 1. Each regional plan should be comprehen- sive and coordinated, covering the conservation, development., and utilization of the natural re- sources of the region and seeking to meet the needs of agriculture, industry, public health, welfare, and all the other fields in which needs exist that can be satisfied by proper use of the resources of the region. 2. Planning should be approached with the multiple-purpose concept and with the aim of maximum net benefits based on full considera- tion of alternative plans for meeting existing and anticipated needs. This means that, from the start of planning, full weight must be given to watershed management, municipal and indus- trial water supply, hydroelectric power, pollu- tion abatement, fish and wildlife, and recrea- tion, as well as to flood control, irrigation, and navigation, to the extent of their importance in the particular region. It should assure joint coordinated action of all interested Federal, State, and local agencies on an effective coopera- tive basis. 3. Planning should proceed from actual or potential needs to projects and programs in order that basin programs may not become ends in themselves. The Commission cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of investigating pub- lic needs before considering plans for programs or projects designed to satisfy them. 4. Planning should be designed to meet re- gional, State, and local needs within limits estab- lished by the interests of the Nation as a whole. It should be kept in mind that each region is a part of the Nation, with its legitimate regional 48 Element Purpose Type of works and measures 6. Irrigation...........____ Agricultural production___........________________ Dams, reservoirs, wells, canals, pumps or pumping plants, weed control and desilting works, distribution systems, drainage facilities, farm land grading, farmsteads. 7. Pollution abatement...... Protection of water supplies for municipal, domestic, in- Treatment facilities, private and public. Reservoir storage dustrial and agricultural use, and for aquatic life and for augmenting low flows and for water purification, recreation. sewage collection systems. Legal control measures. 8. Drainage----- ._______ Agricultural production and protection of the public health. Ditches, tile drains, levees, pumping stations, soil treatment. 9. Recreational use of water Increased well-being of the people___..............____ Reservoirs, lakes, facilities for recreational use, works for resources______....... pollution control, scenic park and monument reservations, and wilderness areas. 10. Fish and wildlife......... Reduction or prevention of fish or wildlife losses due to Wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries, fish ladders and screens, man's works, enhancement of sports opportunities, pro- reservoir storage regulation of stream flows, stocking of vision for expansion in commercial fishing. streams and reservoirs with fish, pollution control, and land management. 11. Sediment control______ Reduction of silt load in streams, protection of reservoirs, Soil conservation, sound forest practices, proper highway improvement of water supply, fostering of fish. construction, desilting works, channel and revetment works. 12. Salinity control_______ Abatement or prevention of salt water contamination of Reservoirs for augmenting low stream flow, barriers, agricultural, industrial, and municipal water supplies. 13. Insect control ------------ Public health. Protection of recreational values. Pro- Proper design and operation of reservoirs and associated tection of forests and crops. works, drainage and extermination measures. |