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Show 2. Irrigation.-Storage reservoirs, major canal systems, water-distribution systems, land-leveling and improve- ment. 3. Power development.-Dams, turbines, generators, and transmission lines. 4. Navigation.-Harbor improvements, locks and dams, open channel improvements by dredging, jetties, bank revetments, contraction works and canals. 5. Shore protection and beach erosion control. 6. Watershed treatment.-Establishment and control of vegetal cover, reforestation, terracing, contour farming, check dams, stock farm ponds, and other measures for im- proving land use. 7. Drainage.-Canals, ditches, levees, pumping sta- tions, control structures, and water conservation areas. 8. Domestic and industrial water supply.-Reservoirs, aqueducts, wells, ground water recharge, filter plants, pumping stations, and sewage disposal plants. 9. Pollution abatement.-Reservoir storage to increase low flow, and plants for treatment and systems for dis- posal of sewage and industrial waste. 10. Construction of railroad and highway bridges, cul- verts, and airfields. 11. Fish and wildlife facilities.-Hatcheries, fish ladders, and refuges. Certain activities are related to the foregoing types of resource development. Some of these are flood forecast- ing, flood plain zoning, water supply forecasting, and measures to control disease and for improvement of public health. Billions of dollars have already been spent in all por- tions of the country for the development of our water resources. The pressure of increasing demands upon our water resource and the prospect of serious water problems has indicated need for a thorough review of all phases of plans of development. The basic facts pertinent to planning include a multitude of types, many of which are essential to the optimum development of our most valuable national asset. The success of these programs will rest on the foundation of basic facts. Thus, the standards, adequacy, and accuracy of the basic data are primary considerations and yardsticks for evaluating potential projects. An intelligent over-all plan for water resource develop- ment requires a complete knowledge of the quantity, dis- tribution, quality, and availability of the resources. In addition, to develop water resources to their fullest po- tential, it is essential to evaluate the relation of the water to the land. This report evaluates the present status and adequacy of basic data, establishes standards for the collection of data, defines the relation between basic data collection and project development, and recommends improvement in the collection and analysis of basic data to provide a full understanding of the potentialities of our water resources. IV. Facts, the Basis for Resource Development Success in the conservation, use, and development of our national water and related land resources is largely dependent upon adequate knowledge and interpretations of relevant facts and conditions. Facts have to be used in an intelligently applied planning procedure. Those who prepare and process plans may be counted on to use the available basic data. Although adequate data may not guarantee adequate plans, the lack of such data tends toward faulty plans, and prevents optimum development at minimum cost. Examples of such faulty plans may be found in the record of water and 5and use projects and programs in the United States. A. The Facts Needed For the success of projects and programs concerned with our water and land resources, two principal classes of facts are needed. These are: 1. Physical (including biological and chemical). 2. Socio-economic. Those of the first class, facts about our national assets in physical resources and environment, are concerned with data that can be observed, measured and recorded. The principal categories are: 1. Hydrology. (a) Precipitation. (b) Evaporation and other meteorological data. (c) Surface water. (d) Ground water. (e) Soil moisture. (/) Chemical quality of water, (g) Sanitary quality of water. 2. Sedimentation. 3. Topography. 4. Geology. 5. Soils. 6. Cadastral survey. 7. Vegetation. 8. Fish and wildlife. 329 |