OCR Text |
Show study and comparison of present and probable future costs. Present construction costs are likely to be generally less than future costs. Estimates of cost should be made upon both bases, as now is engineering custom. For comparative purposes initial cost estimates should be projected ahead to the time of estimated future use to include carrying charges. Consideration of present plans for the basin shows that projects are being designed with regard to probable future water needs. The number of combinations of possible distribution of water and other benefits derived from engineering projects is very large. The problem of foreseeing future water needs is subject, therefore, to many unknown factors which depend upon possible future needs and decisions of water users. At the same time the design of major projects now, in such a way as to achieve the maximum flexibility for the future, must be accomplished without burdening present or prospective users with excessive costs and interest. Part of the procedure to solve this complex planning problem should be the working out of appropriate stages in long-range planning of engineering works ultimately needed to develop fully the water resources of the many tributaries of the Columbia River system. 8. Integrated Planning, Construction, and Opera- tion of Facilities on the Columbia, Particularly with Reference to the Place of Canadian Water Resources in the Program The Problem The extent to which a Columbia Basin compre- hensive plan should take account of all water re- sources in the basin, including those in Canada. The Situation The Columbia River Basin in Canada contains 39,500 square miles, or slightly over 15 percent of the total drainage area of the Columbia River. The Columbia River at Birchbank, British Columbia (with a drainage area of 34,000 square miles, of which 96 percent is in Canada) had a peak dis- charge during the June 1948 flood of 401,000 cubic feet per second, or about 40 percent of the peak discharge (1,010,000 cubic feet per second) of Co- lumbia River at The Dalles, Oreg. Similarly the Columbia River at Birchbank has an average an- nual runoff of about 54 million acre-feet or ap- proximately 41 percent of the average annual run- off (133.7 million acre-feet) at The Dalles. The potential hydroelectric power of the Canadian part of the basin is estimated at 7 million kilowatts, mainly on the Columbia, Pend Oreille, and Koote- nai Rivers. These data demonstrate the importance of the Canadian part of the basin in contributing to the total water supply, the necessity for the con- struction of works to control the Canadian dis- charges in the interests of flood control and the ef- ficient use of this resource in both countries. It may be feasible ultimately to develop more than 20 million acre-feet of storage partially or wholly in Canada. From the standpoint of flood control the development of this storage and that proposed for the United States would solve the serious flood problems of each country to a high degree of ef- fectiveness not possible by any other means. It would increase the dependable flow in the United States in an amount up to about 8,000 cubic feet per second usable for power through about 1,100 feet of head at existing, authorized, and proposed projects in this country. Electrical and hydraulic integration of the Canadian and United States parts of the basin can increase firm power greatly. Conclusions Complete integration and coordination should be sought with Canada with respect to planning, construction, and operation of the Columbia Basin development in order that the fullest and most efficient use can be made of these resources, in the manner that would be looked for if the basin were wholly in one country. The Canadian Govern- ment is making investigations of possible develop- ments in the Columbia River in Canada; and the International Joint Commission has before it a reference, under article 9 of the Treaty of 1909, for a comprehensive study of the water resources of the Columbia River. Many data have been prepared by both Governments as a result of this reference. There is reason to expect that the objective of full coordination may be achieved. Early close integra- tion, however, should further be encouraged, in- cluding parallel development of upstream and downstream facilities related in operation. 63 |