| OCR Text |
Show Power.-There have been and are being collected data on power markets in connection with river basin develop- ments. These data are usually assembled in connection with a specific study. The principal elements in these surveys are the factors which affect the markets for power, the present and estimated future power requirements, the present power supply, and the need for additional generat- ing capacity, and the value of power. Additional data would be desirable on smaller areas than are now covered and for intercensal years. A breakdown of data would also be desira~ble in accordance with the uses; that is, commercial, industrial, farm, residential, nonfarm, etc., and in some cases, breakdowns within these categories. Flood damages.-Data on damages caused by floods are essential for consideration of flood-control projects and also for developing designs for structures or facilities which may be subject to flood damage. Records of flood damage which are used, as a basis for project benefit determinations are scarcely ever as complete as would be desired and in- creased effort should be made to obtain adequate data. As time goes o>n, it is believed that the gathering of flood damage data will result in a collection of information which will eventually be adequate for the study of flood- control projects in general. For individual areas, of course, it will probably always be necessary to make more detailed surveys, checking with local sources of information. Water supply.-Data on domestic and industrial water supply required for analysis of river-basin developments usually include those needed for the other studies. Since this problem involves use of water by population and by industries, it is necessary to have available most of the in- formation on these factors. As water-supply systems are designed to serve under future conditions, it is necessary to forecast future population, income, and industrial activi- ties as contemplated in the over-all economic base study. Data on changed trends in water consumption are also necessary in forecasting future use. Pollution abatement.-Basic economic data required in this connection involve estimates of direct and indirect damage from pollution of streams and benefits from its abatement. These data are similar to flood-damage in- formation and must, in general, be obtained from local sources. Fish and wildlife.-Data similar to that required under commercial fishing and trapping are needed to evaluate the impact of a river-basin development on various kinds of fish and wildlife. An appraisal of the costs and values of protecting these resources from commercial, recrea- tional, and purely aesthetic points of view needs to be made in connection with each river-basin program. D. Tabular Summary of Major Deficiencies In table 2, referred to previously, is summarized the major deficiencies, needs, and recommendations with respect to basic economic data in river basin planning. TABLE 2.-Summary of major deficiencies in basic economic data needed for river basin planning Item of deficiency Description of deficiency Need for the data Comment and recommendation A. Over-all economic base study: 1. Population-......... Age, sex, race, size of family data need For analyzing present and future de- State and local units should be en- to be provided on an annual basis for mands of the river basin economy couraged to make these estimates for as small as the county unit. These for water and other services that can interim census years on the basis of are provided by the decennial census be provided by river development. uniform estimating techniques de- but estimates for intervening years Also for evaluating impact of pro- veloped on the national level. Fed- are necessary. grams. eral agencies in cooperation should develop a method for adjusting State and local data now being collected to accord with the United States census data. 2. Labor force and em- Uniform annual data for as small as (See above.) ployment. the county unit, and by principal industry groups. 3. Income____ _______ Income estimates are now made an- (See above.) Periodic bench-mark income estimates nually on a national and State basis by counties should be prepared by and the need is for county estimates the National Government, and ex- not only in aggregate terms but by tended and supplemented by State principal sources of income. and local agencies. In the absence of official estimates, the latter agen- cies should be encouraged to prepare county estimates by breaking down the available State estimates, using local-area data and a uniform tech- nique of estimation. 4. Production............ Discussed below in connection with specific activities. 365 |
