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Show GENERAL, 69 sidered but have not yet enacted any regulatory controls. As a prac- tical matter, in view of the ambulatory nature of cloud formations, air currents, and storm patterns, it is obvious that there are impor- tant interstate implications, and it is likely that the role of the States will be largely confined to information filings, and that the Federal Government will either assume the role of direct regulation or will set controlling guidelines for State regulation. The third observation relates to the practical problems of the new water supply added by precipitation. Whether unsatisfied existing water rights on an overappropriated stream can be construed to ex- tend to the additional yield of water is unlikely, but it is a question that has not been fully answered. But far more difficult is the factual determination as to just how much additonal water supply was added by the weather modification activities. Those owning water rights with a call on the natural yield of the stream certainly will protest any effort to deliver part of the water to others unless it clearly appears that nature would not have delivered such water to the watershed; and they will be equally resolute in opposing any assess- ment of costs against them to pay for weather modification activities which they believe yielded them no benefits. These problems must be resolved legislatively and administratively, and it is likely that any major precipitation augmentation program which is placed in opera- tion will be on a watershed basis with predetermined arrangements for allocation of the additional water yielded and for assessment and payment of costs incurred in conducting the operation. 5.3 Kegulation of Land for Water-Related Purposes Water use is associated with land use. New regulatory controls are in the process of emerging to govern the use of land, and this in turn will govern the use of water on the land so controlled. All States now either have, or are in the process of preparing, statewide water use plans. Land use planning, on the other hand, has historically been delegated to counties and cities (implemented through local zoning ordinances), and it is not too surprising that few States have state- wide land use plans. But practically every State is now in the pro- cess of studying feasible means of implementing land use plans. Federal legislation to encourage comprehensive statewide land use planning appears to be imminent, and when such legislation is en- acted the States can be expected to implement such planning. And, in one way or another, the land use plans and water use plans will be coordinated to produce a statewide program for conserving and developing natural resources. Several areas of vital concern have already received rather inten- sive consideration by a number of States. These problems have in- cluded flood plain management, preservation of seashores and wet- lands, protecting the natural environment of streams and lakes, zoning to regulate commercial development adjacent to small lakes and ponds, industrial siting, and others. The only observation of significance to be made at this juncture is that rather comprehensive land use planning will bring into exist- ence a more complete network of land use controls, and these controls will largely influence water use patterns. |
