OCR Text |
Show country to produce farm crops indicate the need for new land, then a whole series of social con- siderations must be analyzed. The need for new farm production might be met through irriga- tion in one place, or drainage in another, or land clearing in another. In one case the develop- ment might have little influence on the long- range development of the region; in another it may be essential to the balanced growth of the area, or offer essential dispersion of agricultural production. These factors would have to enter into the final judgment, in addition to the ques- tion of how much farmers would benefit from the adoption of the program, which is amenable to benefit-cost analysis. To a large extent, estimates of long-range na- tional needs for increased production reflect the specific requirements of various regions of the country. Thus, the rapid growth of population and industry in a particular region would make the increase of basic productive facilities in that area a matter of national as well as regional con- cern. Similarly, the national interest in equaliza- tion of opportunity throughout the country could be expected to result in national pressure for the fullest possible development of undeveloped areas. It is in these connections that the importance of program evaluation becomes particularly ap- parent. The public aspects of development are much more readily understandable on a regional pattern than for a single locality. Realistic plans for a regional development must, of course, satisfy the broad cultural and social, as well as economic, goals of the people of the region. National interest is both necessary and inevitable. Equally necessary and equally inevitable, if the program is to succeed, are re- gional participation and approval, based on full evaluation of the proposals. Information for Evaluation The type of evaluation discussed here calls for a wide range of information, including the fol- lowing: For Program Evaluation: 1. The relationship to the estimated national and regional requirements for agricultural pro- duction, power, transportation, municipal and industrial water supply, flood protection, recrea- tion, or other benefits which would be met by the program. 2. The extent to which, in physical and eco- nomic terms, the program represents natural re- source depletion on one hand, or conservation and more efficient use of resources on the other. 3. Total construction, operation, maintenance, and other costs of the program. 4. The estimated economic benefits and costs of the program to direct users, to the various groups in the area, and to the people of the region and the Nation, to the extent that all these respec- tive benefits can be identified and measured. 5. The extent of the ability of identifiable ben- eficiaries to repay costs in accordance with net benefits received, and the extent to which existing reimbursement provisions will require repayment. 6. Estimated effects of the program on the tax income of the affected localities, of the State or States, and of the Nation. 7. The costs involved in providing the general welfare or social benefits included in the program, and the total contribution to general well-being expected to accrue from the development. For Project Selection: 1. The physical or quantitative contribution of the project to the regional or basin program. 2. The place of the project in development of the program. 3. Total construction, operation, and mainte- nance costs, and costs of production per unit. 4. Estimated economic benefits. 5. Ability of beneficiaries to pay for services received. 6. Contribution of the project to regional con- servation needs. 7. Social obstacles to action on the project. 8. Alternatives serving the same purpose as the development, including possibilities of non- water resources developments (as steam genera- tion for hydroelectric power). 62 |