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Show completed during the next 20 years. To date only 25 percent of such mapping is completed. (b) Topographic mapping of critical areas in Alaska (approximately one-third of the total area) be completed at the scale of 1 inch equals 1 mile or larger, within the next 20 years. (c) Provision be made for periodic revision of topo- graphic maps, to show up-to-date information. 12. Geology.-It is recommended that the United States, its Territories and island possessions be covered by standard general purpose geological maps, which show surficial as well as structural geology, within the next 30 years. Only 10 percent of such mapping is now completed. 13. Soils.-It is recommended that: (a) Nation-wide soil classification and mapping be completed during the next 20 years. (b) There be further cooperation among the soils data- collecting agencies and the users of soils data, to develop standard specifications and nomenclature for soil classifi- cation and mapping to meet both agricultural and engi- neering requirements. 14. Cadastral Surveys.-It is recommended that: (a) The cadastral survey of the public domain in con- tinental United States and necessary resurveys be com- pleted in the next 10 years. This requires survey of 116,000,000 acres and resurvey of 50,000,000 acres. (b) An orderly program of cadastral survey necessary for the settlement and development of Alaska be com- pleted in the next 10 years. At present less than 1 per- cent of the total area of Alaska has been surveyed. 15. Vegetation.-It is recommended that the forest and range surveys be completed in 15 years with periodic rechecks every 10 years thereafter. 16. Fish and wildlife.-It is recommended that collec- tion of data pertaining to fish and wildlife, including fresh- and salt-water fish, shellfish, and crustaceans, be accel- erated. Further, information is needed on population density and trends for the various fish and wildlife species. 17. Socio-economic.-It is recommended that: (a) Basic socio-economic data concerning population, means of livelihood, transportation, markets, power, in- dustrial production, and flood damages, not regularly col- lected by other agencies and intercensal interpolations, be provided for project planning; and that collection of data be continued for the appraising operations of water devel- opment projects and river basin programs. (b) State and local units be encouraged to make pop- ulations estimates for intercensal years, and that Federal agencies develop a method for adjusting State and local data. (c) Necessary data on agriculture be obtained through, the incorporation of additional appropriate questions in. the census of agriculture. (d) Necessary data on manufacturing be collected by the incorporation of appropriate questions in the census of manufactures. (e) Tourism and recreational aspects of water devel- opment be investigated concurrently with the survey in- vestigation stage of project development. (/) The Federal Power Commission conduct an annual canvass of manufacturing and mining establishments, and markets, to maintain data on power and energy for the years for which census data would not be available. (g) Collection of data be continued on the amounts and effects of flood damages and more emphasis be placed upon these data by appropriate agencies. (h) Collection of data on domestic and industrial water supply be accelerated. (i) Collection of information on water pollution be accelerated and placed on a continuing basis. 18. Land classification for agriculture.-It is recom- mended that: (a) Collection and field integration of soils and other basic data used in land classification required for land use and soil conservation, irrigation, drainage, clearing, and control of soil erosion, be accelerated. (6) Needs for basic or specialized data be anticipated and all available and applicable information be assembled and studied in preparation of legends for field surveys. 19. Land management effects.-It is recommended that: (a) Investigations be continued and enlarged to deter- mine effects of land management on watershed hydrology^ giving special attention to critical river basins and further, to bridging the gap between effects on runoff, water supply,, and erosion on experimental plots and small watersheds,, and such effects in larger river basins. (6) Provision be made for interagency cooperation in planning new experimental work, standardizing methods of analyzing and publishing data, maintaining an up-to- date inventory of data being collected by various agencies, and facilitating free interchange of information on unpub- lished data. III. Introduction All water that falls on the land as rain and snow is raw material annually recurring and available within varying limits for control, use, and conservation. The average annual depth of this precipitation varies over the 48 States from less than 1 inch to 146 inches and averages about 30 inches. Of this, about 30 percent returns to the sea in stream flow varying over the country from littl« or none to 80 inches. Availability varies widely and Ls 327 |
