| OCR Text |
Show the Canadian and United States parts of the basin in planning, programing, and operation for water resources. It should facilitate the development of a master regional plan to guide the articulation of all phases of construction and operation. Finally it should permit unified operation of all facilities needed for river development. These are the ob- jectives of the comprehensive basin development approach, and the multipurpose program account suggested by the Commission. Important actions influencing the course of future development.-The character of the Colum- bia Basin future comprehensive development can differ substantially depending upon the decisions made on several issues, and the time at which those issues are met squarely. The past means of solution has been mainly one of temporizing when any vigor- ous objection or important obstacle confronted project proposals. This method obviously cannot be continued indefinitely, if the resources of the region are to be developed to their fullest potential. Among the issues which may constitute significant handicaps in pursuit of full, most beneficial devel- opment, are the following: 1. The lack of a multipurpose program account, and unified objectives in planning. 2. The fishing and reservoir conflict on the lower river. 3. State laws which retard development, either by restraining provisions, like the regulation of lake levels in north Idaho, or by inadequate regulation, like pollution laws. 4. Definite comprehensive appraisal of future agricultural needs, both for the region and the Nation. 5. Reconciliation of reservoir inundation with other beneficial water or land use, whether recrea- tional, agricultural, mining, or other. 6. Appropriations for research and data collec- tion which will permit these activities to keep step with other development. 7. Appropriations for watershed treatment and local, small-project water development so as to permit their proper timing. 8. Establishment of industrial decentralization as one of the objectives toward which water re- sources planning, construction, and operation should contribute. Definitive action or favorable attention to these eight points as well as to others can speed progress on the Columbia development notably. There is nothing in them which should not respond to tact, initiative, insight, and the understanding which comes with thorough investigation. However, they stress the need for mutual confidence, and a will for mutual assistance among all groups-Federal, the several States, communities, and private enter- prise, including the support of rationalizing legis- lation which will permit the best organized and smoothest cooperative effort. A final policy recom- mendation, therefore, is that the Federal Govern- ment, in its basin activities, seek the closest possible cooperation with all State and local interests in planning, constructing, operating, and financing the Columbia Basin water resources program. 77 |
