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Show little training other than that required to obtain a pilot's license. Claimed results of their work have varied greatly. Natural weather is so vari- able that it is difficult to accurately interpret re- sults. Much observation under control condi- tions with statistical analysis will probably be necessary before the effectiveness of artificial nucleation of clouds will be known. Some eminent physicists and meteorologists have forecast that natural precipitation can be more than doubled by this means. If this should prove to be the case, a new scientific tool of far- reaching economic importance will become avail- able to increase agricultural production and hy- droelectric power and to make water supply more generally available to mankind. The implications are so great that substantial funds should be made available to accelerate our knowledge of cloud physics, natural precipita- tion, and effectiveness of artificial nucleation of clouds in inducing controlled precipitation. RECOMMENDATIONS In order to assure the fundamental information required for sound planning of river basin pro- grams, the Commission offers the following rec- ommendations: 1. The continuing collection and analysis of basic information should be recognized as an es- sential part of the Nation's water resources pro- gram, and a definite portion of annual Federal investment in river basin programs should be allo- cated to assure adequacy in this field, in the inter- ests of economy and security. 2. The national program for the collection and analysis of basic information should be subdi- vided, as far as possible, by river basins, with rep- resentatives of the data gathering agencies ac- tively participating in the planning of basin multi- ple-purpose programs. In this way the informa- tion will be constantly compiled and analyzed to meet the needs of the planning process. Ade- quate data for broader national uses should be recognized as one of the objectives of all basin programs in order that the integrated results may become a continuing body of knowledge concern- ing the resources of the Nation as a whole. 3. In connection with each recommendation for authorization of, or appropriation for, devel- opment of water resources, Congress should re- quire from the responsible river basin commission a statement showing the adequacy of basic in- formation available in connection with the plan- ning process. Such showing of adequacy of rele- vant information should be an important crite- rion in connection with the approval or rejection of proposed undertakings. 4. Adequacy of hydrologic information should be assured by undertaking within 10 years (a) an increase of about 50 percent in the number of precipitation gages, snow courses, and other mete- orological stations; (b) processing of available climatological data utilizing modern machine methods; (c) doubling the number of surface water stations for gaging streams, reservoirs, and lakes with temperature readings at about one- fourth of the total; (d) considerably increasing the number of soil moisture stations; (e) greatly increasing the number of sampling stations for testing the chemical quality and degree of pollu- tion of water, particularly in connection with water resources development projects or other locations required to meet the needs of the public; and (f) extending such surveys to the territories and island possessions. 5. Adequacy of sedimentation information should be assured by undertaking within 10 years (a) construction of four times as many stations as now exist for daily sampling of sedi- ment loads in streams, (b) inclusion of about three times as many reservoirs in the number now fitted with ranges for surveys of deposited sedi- ment, (c) an enlarged program of channel sta- bility surveys, particularly as a part of the design and operation of projects, and (d) extending such surveys to the territories and island posses- sions. 6. Adequate mapping of the United States and its territories and island possessions should be assured by (a) topographic mapping, to be completed within 20 years, and to be revised periodically, and (b) geological, surficial, and 107 |
