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Show Watershed management also includes small up- stream stabilization structures to retard water flow and prevent excessive cutting of channels. Very little work of this kind has been done compared to needs. Moreover, a gap exists between the water- shed measures planned by the Department of Agriculture, and the downstream flood control plans of the Corps of Engineers. There are local flood control needs on tributaries, where projects are not of sufficient size to receive attention by the Corps. "Works on the intermediate tributaries therefore should be a part of a basin development plan. Conclusions (1) Watershed management is an essential ele- ment in any program of use and control of the water resources of the Potomac Basin. (2) Improper practices and land use have caused soil erosion to be a serious problem in some parts of the basin.. This contributes to pollution, and must be given consideration in plans for any structure. (3) A watershed management program would prevent further deterioration of the soil resources, and offer greater employment and income poten- tialities in. the basin. Such benefits are just as im- portant as the downstream benefits of a watershed management program. (4) A watershed management program could increase the timber output of the basin greatly, and thereby add to available resources and local income. (5) Further research should be undertaken to meet deficiencies in the information needed to carry out an effective watershed program. 2. Need for Pollution Control The Problem The need for pollution control and the adequacy of programs and laws for accomplishment of pol- lution abatement. The Situation Two hundred years ago the Potomac River and all its tributaries were clean streams, abounding with fish and wildlife. As population grew, pollu- tion became more and more evident. Soil erosion became a problem about 100 years ago and shortly thereafter pollution from domestic sewage became a nuisance in certain localities. Sewage pollution was generally recognized as a health menace about the turn of the century, as evidenced by the preva- lence of typhoid fever in Washington. This re- sulted in the construction of the first filtration plant for the city in 1905. Pollution became progressively worse, due to the increase in number and size of municipalities and the industrial developments in the area. However, little was done to control pollution until the early 1930's. Progress was made from 1932 to 1941 in abating municipal pollution, but solution to indus- trial waste problems lagged far behind. Progress was interrupted during the war and ground was lost because of large population increases and industrial expansion. Urban population in the basin has increased approximately 50 percent since 1940. This has resulted in excessive loading on existing treatments works. Industrial output increased from 1939 to 1947 and industrial waste disposal problems have mounted correspondingly. The experience of Arlington County, Va., serves to illustrate the difficulty of keeping pace with un- foreseen developments. This county constructed a treatment plant with a design capacity of 50,000 population in 1937, considered at that time ample for all needs foreseeable. This plant now serves a population of 105,000. The bulk of this growth took place during World War II when treatment works could not be constructed. Plans for expan- sion of this plant were approved in 1947, but no construction has been undertaken. Water uses.-The principal water uses in the Potomac River Basin are for domestic and indus- trial water supply and recreational purposes. Nav- igation and power production also play a part, as do shellfish and finny fish propagation. Of great importance is the use of the streams for disposal and dilution of municipal and industrial wastes. This is a proper use, but indiscriminate dumping of sewage without proper treatment has resulted in damage in many areas. Principal among these are the Washington metropolitan area, the Luke-Cum- berland area in Maryland, and several isolated and scattered localities. Conflicts with respect to water usage are less intense than in some other basins, largely because quantity is generally adequate. Quality, however, has been impaired, resulting in less diversified con- sumption and more costly treatment in order to satisfy certain uses. Extensive damage to fisheries also has followed lower water quality. An example of conflicts in present use is shown in the Luke-Cumberland area, where excessively low- 594 |
