OCR Text |
Show Altogether, within the limits of their authoriza- tions and appropriations, these agencies are mak- ing great progress in securing and analyzing a wide range of data, including such fields as land classification, land use, land management; hydro- logic and meteorological data and the forecasting of floods and frosts; investigation of surface and underground water resources; determination of hydroelectric potentialities and classification of lands for power purposes; research into the habits, needs, and economic utilization of various forms of fish and wildlife; geologic information neces- sary for the location and design of structures; ac- quiring, analyzing, and interpreting a wide range of economic information in the associated fields of agriculture, industry ajid commerce; and the preparation of a wide variety of maps to combine these data to meet varying needs. In general, however, the Federal basic informa- tion program is essentially fragmented, with many gaps and overlaps, where an integrated approach related to the river basins as the natural planning units is necessary to sound water resources pro- grams. This does not overlook the able effort of the Bureau of the Budget to coordinate the work of the information-gathering and program agen- cies; rather it points to the necessity for extend- ing this coordination into the river basin. Integration of Data With Development Plans River basin programs call for a host of facts re- quired to fit plans and works into the physical, chemical, biological, and changing economic con- ditions of project areas and river basins involved. Moreover, many special problems arise in the operation of these plans that call for exacting manipulation as well as long-range views in flood forecasting, water supply forecasting, watershed management, and in control of disease, pollution abatement, and improvement of public health. An over-all plan for water resources develop- ment requires not only a full knowledge of the quantity, distribution, quality, and availability of water resources, but also an evaluation of related land uses and their effects on stream flow and pro- duction and movement of sediments. The mere possession of basic factual information will not insure success. Facts have to be used intelli- gently. Adequate facts may not guarantee ade- quate plans; but lack of adequate facts gives rise to faulty plans. Many examples of faulty plans may be found in the record of our water and land use projects and programs, past and present, resulting from inadequate data. The facts required to understand, to control, and to make use of our water resources cover a wide range of specialized fields. Besides those that may be grouped under physical, chemical, and biological, are the socio-economic factors. The latter are in most instances capable of being observed, measured, and presented in map form. They include population, income, employment, production, and damage from floods and droughts, as well as facts relating to agriculture, forestry, fishing and trapping, mining, manufac- turing, transportation, power, water supply, pollu- tion of streams, fish and wildlife, and recreation. Such correlation of data compilation and plan- ning activities at the basin level will assure the necessary basic information at each stage of the river basin program. Evaluation of existing in- formation will constitute part of the preliminary investigation. General coverage of the basin to compile and analyze the required data will con- stitute a part of the survey stage. More specific coverage of the local areas involved will provide the information essential to protection and effi- ciency at the construction stage. Finally, there will be the continuing analysis of basic informa- tion required for sound operation of the entire program and its constituent projects, to achieve the design objectives. This continuing analysis will include hydrologic data, making possible the forecasting of flood and low stages of stream flow, as well as such other information needed to assure the best use of an integrated system of reservoirs. The operation of such a system of reservoirs involves the dis- patching of water for the most efficient conserva- tion of waters, protection of life and property, and utilization of potential hydroelectric power. Dis- patching of stored waters to meet these require- ments is a complex task, requiring adequate, ac- 101 |