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Show and other lands and to reduce to a minimum the real and potential damage to the water resources. 6. Development and Operation of Facilities for Future National Defense Needs The Problem The place of national defense in planning for fu- ture water resources development. The Situation Any forecast of future defense needs for in- dustrial water, electric power, and other contri- butions from water resources is attended with con- siderable uncertainties. If the experience of the last war can be taken as a guide for a possible fu- ture emergency situation, the demands for resources of all types will considerably exceed estimates which could be made on the basis of present industrial and military technology. In general, technical progress always seems to greatly increase demands upon all resources. The water resources of the Columbia Basin are not likely to be an exception. The following considerations would seem to apply to trie relation of defense needs to the water resources of the Columbia Basin in the event of a future national emergency: The Pacific Northwest already contains a con- centration of many important strategic industries, which include light metals plants, aircraft factories, and the two atomic energy installations at Hanford, Wash., and Arco, Idaho (in construction, 1950). It may be expected that their expansion and the introduction of additional plants will fully utilize the large blocks of power available in this basin. The art of substitution among materials in limited supply is likely to be even more important in a future emergency than it was in World War II- The history of such substitution, whether for metals or other materials, generally shows a markedly increased energy consumption to pro- vide the sa,me service. Full development of the energy resources of the basin therefore can be con- sidered a desirable step toward solving the almost certain critical materials problems which are likely to be part of an emergency. Development of river navigation facilities for bulk transport on the Columbia, Snake, and Wil- lamette will be a useful supplement to the thin net- work of rail and road, which would be heavily taxed in the event of war. Development of additional agricultural produc- tion in the region may be considered a strategic measure, since food self-sufficiency in the area will free railway rolling stock, trucks, or shipping other- wise required. Decentralization of industry within the region, as elsewhere in the Nation, is vital to national defense. However, many present forces tend to concentrate further industry in the established centers along the lower Willamette and Columbia, and in the southern part of Puget Sound. Water resources development and operation should ac- cordingly be designed to encourage development of industry in other localities within the region. Conclusions (1) In the best interests of national defense, full development of the Columbia Basin water re- sources generally should be encouraged. (2) Development of navigation facilities along the lower and middle Columbia, and the lower Snake, might be undertaken in a manner that will promote growth of manufacturing industry in central and southeastern Washington. (3) Decentralization of manufacturing industry should be encouraged, insofar as possible, by provid- ing power rate incentives along the middle and lower Columbia, and at other sites not adjacent to major settlement. (4) Measures should be taken which will pro- vide water of requisite quality for industry along the lower Snake and which will anticipate future pollution problems. 7. The Relation of the Engineering Design of Major Works at a Given Time to All Probable Future Water Needs The Problem The extent to which major engineering works in river development should be designed so as to be adaptable to all possible beneficial uses of water in the area they serve, even though some poten- tial uses may be deferred indefinitely. The Situation One of the more important aspects of compre- hensive river basin development is that of preserving the opportunity for future beneficial use. Needs for water or water storage in many parts of the 60 |