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Show of accuracy are available for only a part of the basin, mostly in the lower section of the drainage. The lack of these maps has not hindered general planning, but has been a serious handicap in as- sembling inventories and planning the management of the forxest and range resources in the Rocky Mountains. In some cases, the lack of detailed topographic maps for a specific engineering proj- ect has been overcome by a special survey. How- ever, the lack of reliable maps is a real handicap to all agencies involved in land management and transportation. It increases costs of public land administration, road building, and laying out of irrigation and drainage systems. The current map program is wholly inadequate to meet the needs. Some topographic surveys on the public lands have not been tied into the regular Land Office system of surveys. Before more topographic maps of these arreas are made, the cadastral survey should be completed. The lack of recognized land lines is greatly handicapping administration of such lands. Geology.-In a region as heavily mineralized as the Missouri Basin, the lack of geological data is a special handicap and is retarding the growth of the basin. L^ck of detailed information on the mineral resources is handicapping road construction, ad- ministration of public lands, retarding the artificial replenishment of underground waters, and delay- ing the reduction of erosional debris. Economic.-There are many economic problems on which, data are not sufficient for detailed plan- ning. To be successful, farms must be organized in such sizes and types as will permit farmers to repay the irrigation costs. Data on farm expenses and on tine economy of the various enterprises are lacking. Data on costs and returns under all con- ditions for much of the new land, and capital re- quirements of new farmers and related matters are needed. Even on the established areas, con- struction of levees has necessitated extensive drain- age operations. Economic studies of the effect of drainage, types of organization, costs and returns, and methods of repayment should be developed. Bureau of Reclamation experimental farms, like those in South Dakota, are giving attention to these problems, but more extensive investigation is needed. With the exception of proposed irrigation in sub- humid areas like the Missouri-Souris, economic studies of the basin have been sufficient for general planning purposes. They are far from adequate, however, for more complete planning. Lacking are such data as the economics of zoning as an alter- nate method to engineering measures for flood con- trol. A study should be made as to the economics of different forms of water use. Income data, re- payment ability, and other similar and related facts are needed. So also are forecasts on water demands to meet future industrial and other needs. Such studies also require investigations of future indus- trial opportunities by specific types of industry in various areas, including transportation and other cost factors, marketing considerations, minimum feasible plant sizes, and their capital costs. Of more than special interest in this connec- tion are the opportunities for the hydrogenation of coal and lignite. Such possibilities should be thoroughly investigated.- Resources data are largely lacking for detailed planning of range and forest resources, wildlife and fisheries management, and recreation. Conclusions Basic data are available for generalized plan- ning on the main stem of the Missouri, although even for this purpose deficiencies in such data for sedimentation, consumptive use, and evaporation are so great that many assumptions have been nec- essary. For detailed planning in tributary areas, the data are fragmentary and their degree of suffi- ciency depends largely upon the use to which they are to be put. Thus soils information is not suffi- cient for detailed project planning except as the data may be obtained specifically for an individual project. A positive program should be adopted to re- move the more serious deficiencies from the list within the next decade. Unless this is done, pub- lic concern as to the possibility that the basin is being developed uneconomically is likely to grow. It is therefore in the public interest to see that the essential data become available soon. A research program over a broad front of physical, biological, and economic factors is an essential part of data collection in which all public agencies must par- ticipate. The troubles associated with the control and use of the water, especially in the lower reaches, suggests the desirability of a Missouri Valley water- way experiment station. Such a station in the al- luvial valley would endeavor to work out the basic principles of river management for a heavily laden stream on which much construction is in sight. In this type of research undertaking, both the en- 197 |
