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Show reservoir purposes it could have afforded relief for the present unsatisfactory conditions in Yosemite. Recently proposals have been made for the study and possible use of the power resources in Kings Canyon National Park. The Department of the Interior, in carrying out the law10 and intent of Congress is opposed to encroachment by water projects in that park. The preservation of primitive country for en- joyment of wilderness recreation is an established policy of the Forest Service in administering the national forests. Some of the better known of these wilderness areas are Kings River, Upper San Joa- quin, Emigrant Basin, Desolation Valley, and South Warner Mountains. Two threats to this program are presently be- yond the control of the Forest Service or the Secretary of Agriculture. First, since those areas are in lands withdrawn from the public domain for national forest purposes, they are subject to mineral location under the mining laws. Second, water impoundments may be planned for national forest lands_, including these wilderness areas. Conclusions A resolution of conflict between park and wilder- ness areas on the one hand and proposed water projects on the other is desirable. All factors in- volved at any location where a conflict develops should be studied. The study should include full consideration of alternative project locations, alter- native opportunities for equal recreation and scenic attractions, and the possibility that reservoirs may not impair but may actually increase the recrea- tional value of an area. In general, the following principles are con- sidered applicable to the Central Valley: (1) Where the area has unique scenic, inspira- tional, or scientific values, it should not be adversely affected. (2) Developments in conflict with scenic areas of a lesser order should be deferred as long as equally feasible alternative projects are at hand for the same use. (3) The presence of a large and growing popu- lation, and the general physical attractiveness of the State for visitors, create needs which give an importance to social benefits of park and wilderness areas beyond that in most other regions. (4) Mining laws) should be revised to prevent MAct of March 4, 1940, 54 Stat. 41, 16 U. S. G. 80. mineral entry on public lands when such entry will be used for purposes that would destroy the public or scenic values of an area. (5) Final determination of ultimate use should be on the basis of highest beneficial use. 3. Inundation of Facilities of Established Enter- prises The Problem Factors to be considered where proposed reser- voirs would inundate valuable lands or established improvements. The Situation This problem arises in most water resources pro- grams throughout the country. The Central Val- ley is no exception. However, the problem thus far has not caused serious difficulty in this region. The number of people involved is not great and their relocation usually is relatively simple. Some cases have been deferred for future reconsideration. A typical case of the latter kind is illustrated by the authorized multiple-purpose Iron Canyon (Table Mountain) Project on the Sacramento River downstream from Shasta Dam. The reser- voir would inundate a large area of agricultural land. Local interests are strongly opposed on the grounds that land inundation would reduce income to the area and at the same time increase taxes on adjacent lands. In view of this opposition, together with opposition from fishing interests, investi- gations were made to determine whether a com- bination of smaller reservoirs on tributary streams could be economically substituted for storage at the Iron Canyon site. It was found that the cost of equivalent storage on the tributaries would be con- siderably greater than the cost of Iron Canyon Reservoir, and would not be justified. However, a leveed bypass in upper Butte Basin would provide a considerable portion of the flood protection which would be provided by Iron Canyon Reservoir. This project now has been authorized for construc- tion. As a result the Iron Canyon Project has been deferred. Other examples of this problem are on the Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers, where reservoirs have been built by local irrigation districts for irri- gation and power. On the basis of increased de- mands for water and power it appears that much greater reservoir storage capacities are justified on these streams than are now provided by the Don 122 |