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Show The availability of personnel trained in hydrology and in sedimentation is lagging far behind the demand. More emphasis should be placed on training personnel both to carry on basic research and to apply the results of basic research to specific problems. In general, the curricula of our universities do not provide for adequate hydrologic training. Hydrologic and Sedimentation Data in Territories and Island Possessions Alaska.-Urgent need for adequate information on water supplies in the Alaskan region that can be economi- cally and qu ickly developed for industrial, domestic, agri- cultural, mu-nicipal, and military uses demands that the collection of such data be accelerated. As of December 31, 1949, there were only 45 stream- gaging stations being operated in Alaska, all of which had been installed within the previous 3 years. Studies by the Geological Survey indicate need for more than 100 additional stations. There also is need for the analysis and special study of all surface-water records. An ex- ample of a s tream for which data are badly needed is the Yukon Rive i. It is exceeded in drainage area only by the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in North America, and is estinxated to have the fifth largest annual runoff of all rivers in North America. A definite knowledge of the discharge and the flow pattern is imperative, both for the river- development itself, and as a basis for inter- national agreement. Yet no records are now being ob- tained and only spasmodic, fragmentary records have been obtained in the past at any point on the river. At the Ramparts on the Yukon exists the largest potential power development in Alaska. A gaging station would be larger and more co stly than any in the United States and would be difficult of access and of operation, but should be installed prior to detailed planning for power develop- ment. Ground-water investigations have just begun in critical areas of Alas ka. Complications are introduced by charac- teristics of occurrence of ground water in Alaska which are quite different from those in the continental United States because of permafrost conditions. As a result, investigations must be accompanied by adequate research. The prograna for these investigations should be expanded to include detailed examinations of additional critical areas and reconnaissance of the remaining Alaskan region. Explorations, so far disclose that Alaska has enormous ground-wate r supplies of poor quality which makes treat- ment for most uses costly. Small quantities of good water have been found, but the safe withdrawal rate in these localities should now be investigated. A small amount of information about the chemical quality of surface and ground waters in Alaska has been collected by Federal and Territorial agencies. Practically all of the sca,nt available data relate to municipal and mili- tary supplies in widely scattered areas. Water supplies for military operations in the field are particularly important. Because of ttie accelerated military activity and the neces- sity for providing reliable information as a part of our national security, it is recommended that at least 40 to 50 chemical quality stations be established. In addition, provision should be made for special studies of the quality of surface and ground waters in strategic areas, and for adequate laboratory facilities. Information on sanitary water quality as affected by sewage pollution is more nearly adequate. Periodic inspec- tions of sources of pollution and analyses of water samples are conducted by the Territory of Alaska Board of Health. However, additional data are required on the wastes in receiving waters. A considerable amount of informa- tion is required on the effects of sustained low tempera- tures on treatment of ground water for domestic and industrial purposes and on sewage treatment processes. No comprehensive measurements have been made of the sediment loads transported by streams in Alaska. It is known that some rivers such as the Yukon carry large quantities of sediment, especially during the spring and summer seasons of melting ice and snow. Miscellaneous observations show that most streams flowing from glaciers and ice fields carry fine sediment known as glacial flour which is detrimental to turbine blades in power plants. To provide for systematic investigations of sediment in streams of Alaska it is recommended that about 40 sam- pling stations be established in the Territory. The collection of basic meteorological data in Alaska is far behind that of any other territory or island pos- session. There are approximately 130 precipitation and temperature stations serving an area of 586,400 square miles-an average of 1 station for approximately 4,500 square miles. Of the precipitation stations available less than 10 are of the recording type, while 6-hourly pre- cipitation observations are made from about 30 stations. On a comparative basis, the network density is only about 6 percent of that in the United States. Installation of additional precipitation stations, using existing equipment, will not provide an adequate data source for all parts of Alaska. This is especially true in the Bering Sea, Yukon, and other interior valleys, and Arctic drainage areas where precipitation for most of the year is in the form of snow and often accompanied by high winds. Further development of instrumentation is an essential part of an expanded data-collecting program for Alaska. In order to make available the minimum precipitation data-gathering facilities it is recommended that 125 sta- tions be installed immediately with additional installations to follow in northern and more remote areas as quickly as suitable instrumentation is available. Because of the ex- isting sparse network and comparatively small amount of available data, it is further recommended that all existing data be immediately processed and analyzed. Soil moisture and temperature data are needed in Alaska for the fuller interpretation of hydrologic data now being collected and proposed for future collection. These data will be particularly useful in Alaska in the indication of permafrost characteristics. They will be useful in refining the forecasting of stream flow and water yield from snow storage and rainfall and for determining the effect of watershed management practices on runoff and water yields. It is estimated that close to 1,000 soil moisture and temperature stations will be required over a 10-year period. After viewing the needs for knowledge of Alaskan water resources, it is recommended that the proposed additions to the surface water, ground water, sediment, hydrologic and meteorological, and soil-moisture programs be car- 352 |
