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Show II. Recommendations General 1. In view of the recognized deficiencies in basic data required for water and land resource development, it is imperative that immediate steps be taken to provide this information on the basis of annually prepared programs. 2. Continuity in collection of basic data must be main- tained for those items which fluctuate widely, so that greater dependence can be placed upon analysis and use of such data. Furthermore, this continuity should pre- vail regardless of changes in location and magnitude of current construction works. An adequate national pro- gram for collection of data should be supported without interruption. 3. The procedure for developing our national water and associated land resources should, insofar as possible, work from the whole to the part, thereby procuring an over-all basis of information about our national territory in sufficient detail to identify areas within the total which may require intensive study and planning. 4. Since there is indisputable need for proceeding with the development of our resources, in spite of large de- ficiencies in basic data which cannot be met for a period of years, annual programs of resource surveying should be designed to provide the maximum amount of informa- tion in time to meet the current needs of the development agencies. The present procedure of the Bureau of the Budget, in collaborating with the basic data-collection agencies and the resource development agencies in the preparation of such programs, should be continued. 5. The adequacy of relevant factual information should be a principal criterion in approving or rejecting pro- posals for programs or projects involving water and related resource development, and a statement showing in detail the basic facts available should be an integral part of any proposal for such development. 6. There is a definite need for further processing of the large amount of data which have been collected by Federal, State, and private interests, to put them in more suitable form, for use of resource development agencies, both public and private. 7. Programs of research directed toward improving our knowledge of the physical, chemical, biological, and socio- economic phenomena affecting resource development, should be continued and enlarged. Similarly, it is essen- tial that research be continued to improve techniques and instrumentation, and to expedite analyses of data. 8. Applied research should be directed toward the ap- plication of findings of basic research to solutions of the many problems involved in resource development. 9. Hydrolo gy.-It is recommended that during the next 10 years : (a) An additional 5,600 precipitation gages and 500 evaporation and other type meteorological stations be established to supplement the 10,000 precipitation and 1,000 meteorological stations now in operation in the United States. (b) The Nation's climatological data be processed, utilizing available modern machine methods and that climatic maps be prepared. (c) Installation of 550 snow courses in the West in addition to the 1,100 now in existence, and installation of 200 in the remainder of the country where there are now approximately 500. (d) Installation of 5,800 new surface water statioas for gaging streams, reservoirs, and lakes, in addition to the 6,300 now in existence; daily temperature readings be taken at approximately 3,000 of the stream-gaging stations, 100 of which should be temperature recorders. (e) Reconnaissance, or general coverage surveys, be carried out in all areas of the United States for which no ground water surveys now exist; that intensive surveys be made in those river basins where acute need exists in connection with projects; and that, for purposes of gaging ground water supplies and estimating safe yields of aquifers, sufficient observation wells, to supplement the 359 now in operation, be installed. (/) The existing soil moisture stations be increased to several thousand. (g) Twelve hundred stations for daily sampling of chemical quality of water with daily temperature readings be established in addition to the 220 now in existence. (h) Sanitary water quality sampling stations be estab- lished where necessary for water-pollution control in con- nection with water resource development projects and at other suitable locations to meet the needs of the general public. (i) A series of stations to measure meteorological ele- ments, surface water, and ground water be established in the Territories and island possessions to overcome present deficiencies. (j) The programs for collection of basic data and hydro- logic research should be designed so as to make the most of information obtained with funds available, guided by sound engineering, hydrologic, and statistical principles. 10. Sedimentation.-It is recommended that the fol- lowing be accomplished during the next 10 years: (a) Thirteen hundred stations for the daily sampling of sediment loads in streams be established in addition to the 300 now in existence. (b) The program of surveys of deposited sediment be increased to encompass 1,400 reservoirs instead of the 417 now fitted with ranges for detailed surveys, and, further, the surveys should be repeated at regular intervals. (c) An enlarged program of channel stability surveys be carried out, particularly as a part of the design and operation of projects. (d) A series of stations to obtain sediment data be estab- lished in the Territories and island possessions to overcome the gross deficiencies now existing. 11. Topography.-It is recommended that: (a) Topographic mapping of the continental United States, at scales of approximately 1:62,500 or 1:24,000, be 326 |