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Show CHAPTER K - NATURE AND EXTENT OF RJTURE STUDIES Water Supply Studies Previous water related developments in the Region have concentrated on satisfying immediate problems. The struggle to live with deficient water supplies has often overshadowed other considerations. There has been constant and fierce competition for the available water among the expanding cities, agriculture, the mineral industry, and the fish, wild- life, and recreational interests. Recently, the public interest has broadened to include a greater consideration of the social and environ- mental aspects. To best serve the well-being of the greatest number of people, the future planning and development of water and related land resources must study all alternatives and evaluate all water related activities. Ele- ments to be considered include: water quality; enhancement of fish and wildlife; protection and enhancement of areas of historical, scenic, or unique ecological values; and other environmental factors. To achieve this aim, improved methods will be required for evaluation of the envi- ronmental aspects and to establish the relative merits of alternative development opportunities. Planning emphasis should be oriented to comprehensive resource development and to the preservation and enhance- ment of natural resources. The development of state water plans has been undertaken by the States of the Region. These studies and the framework studies have supplemented each other. As the development of the state water plans advance, a close working relationship with future Federal planning programs should continue so that they are interrelated to best serve the interests of the Region. The Western United States Water Plan Study, as provided for in Title II of Public Law 90-537, Colorado River Basin Project Act, is a vehicle for the continued broad comprehensive water resource planning to forestall the impending water crisis in the West. The Act provides for a final reconnaissance report to be submitted on or before June 30, 1977. Of primary importance to the Lower Colorado Region during the 1965 to 1980 period are detailed studies of the means by which the Region1 s water supplies may be augmented. The studies should be in sufficient detail to provide a basis for project authorization. The early action, program should include: (l) studies of the effects of ground-water overdraft in the critical areas and the extent of irreversible damages to be expected if overdraft continues; (2) investigation of ground-wa/ter 123 |