| OCR Text |
Show Basins and Groups of Basins No precise determination of such regions can be made when all resources are considered. But, for water resources planning, the river basin or, in some regions such as the Southeast, South- west, or New England, groups of river basins will be found to provide the most useful regions for planning purposes. The Nation should have comprehensive, mul- tiple-purpose, and coordinated plans for each of the regions so delineated. Each of the plans should be carefully adapted to the potentialities of the region as well as to the regional and na- tional needs and should include local and State as well as Federal undertakings. Such a plan need not initially be in complete detail, but it should constitute a framework into which can be fitted, in proper relation to all other activi- ties, the projects and programs as they are fur- ther developed. Within this framework it may prove impor- tant to undertake intensive studies of selected sub-basins far in advance of other sub-basins. For example, because of its relation to the sedi- ment problem in the Missouri Basin, intensive study of the Big Horn sub-basin at an early date seems warranted. But these expedited studies must always be made in the light of comprehen- sive plans for the entire basin. Basin plans developed on this basis must, of course, in combination provide for the achieve- ment of the important national as well as re- gional goals which are outlined in chapter 2. The Commission is convinced that assurance of such harmony with national objectives can only be obtained through the establishment of some central review agency responsible for the evalua- tion of all projects and programs. This does not require the merger of agencies operating in these various fields. Agriculture and forestry, industrial and com- mercial development, transportation, public health, recreation, and national defense are in- separable parts of our natural economic and social structure. Resources development plans, involving various combinations of these elements as shown in the following tabulation, have wide ramifications in the economy. For example, flood control on the Ohio, the Missouri, or else- where has its real justification as an element in protection of human life and of economic de- velopment-whether agricultural, industrial, or commercial. Similarly, irrigation as an element has as its justification the stabilization and en- largement of the Nation's and the region's agri- cultural plant. The Main Elements The main elements in a water resources plan, with their relationship to a comprehensive re- gional program, may be summarized as follows: 47 Element Purpose Type of works and measures 1. Watershed management-. Conservation and improvement of the soil, sediment abate- Soil conservation practices, forest and range management ment, runoff retardation, forest and grassland mainte- practices, headwaters control structures, debris detention nance and improvement, water storage, and improve- dams, and farm ponds, ment of water supply. 2. Flood management_____ Conservation storage, river regulation, recharging ground Dams, storage reservoirs, levees, flood walls, channel im-water, water supply, development of power, protection provements, floodways, pumping stations, watershed of life, reduction of flood damage, and protection of treatment practices, floodplain zoning. (See 8 below.} economic developments. 3. Water supply_____.....- Provision of water for domestic, industrial, commercial, Dams, reservoirs, wells, conduits, pumping plants, treat-municipal, and other uses. ment plants, distribution systems. 4. Navigation................ Transportation____________________......_____ .. Dams, reservoirs, canals, locks, open channel improvements, harbor improvements. 5. Hydroelectric power____ Provision of power for economic development and im- Dams, reservoirs, penstocks, power plants, transmission proved farm and living standards. lines. TABLE 1.-Elements of a Water Resources Plan |
