OCR Text |
Show Hydroelectric power.-The aggregate potential- ities in liydroelectric power amount to about 9.2 million kilowatts, but present installations are only about 600,000 kilowatts. Much of this limited Ca- pacity is in non-Federal plants, largely private, but none ha,s been constructed by non-Federal inter- ests in recent years. In contrast the Federal Gov- ernment today has under construction projects with initial installations aggregating some 700,000 kilo- watts capacity and has authorized an additional 1.7 million lrilowatts of hydroelectric capacity. Upon completion of this program the Federal Govern- ment will have installations totaling 2.6 million kilowatts. Non-Federal hydroelectric installations will tota.1 about 500,000 kilowatts. All of this Fed- eral power is being generated in connection with multiple-purpose construction. The size and character of the projects, like those from Yankton upstream to Fort Peck Reservoir, are of further importance. Under current plans, most of "the power will be concentrated in the main- stem plants in this long reach of the river. These projects are multiple-purpose, principally for flood control, irrigation, navigation, and power. They are bothi large and expensive. Uncertainties exist as to quantities of water available, the necessary flexibility of operation plans, the possibilities of de- veloping the region and power markets, and the amount and kind of power which will be produced. Elements of risk are involved that private capital would not be likely to assume. Practically all of the existing hydroelectric power is produced in the upper and lower basin, with a negligible amount in the plains States. For ex- ample, there are no hydroelectric plants of 2,500 kilowatts or over in North and South Dakota and Kansas. Nebraska, an exception, has plants pro- ducing about 128,000 kilowatts, but in this case Federal assistance was available because the devel- opment was under public auspices. In trie upper basin, Colorado has 20,000 kilo- watts of hydroelectric power, all privately owned. Montana has about 270,700 kilowatts, of which 50,000 are Federal, and Wyoming has 63,400 kilo- watts, a.11 Federal. There are possibilities for addi- tional single-purpose projects, such as in using the head on the main stem Missouri River between the Great Falls plants of the Montana Power Go. and Fort Peck Reservoir. In the lower basin, Iowa has no hydroelectric installations. Missouri has 132,000 kilowatts, none of which is Federal; 129,000 kilowatts are privately owned. Further major installations for hydroelectric power in the upper and lower basin will be made only in connection with multiple-purpose projects. An example is the possibility, when associated prob- lems are solved, for slack-water navigation on the main stem from Yankton, S. Dak., 830 miles to St. Louis. Some 2.2 million kilowatts can be de- veloped in connection with a slack-water channel. As power often provides much of the total economic justification for such a project, it may make the difference between feasibility and infeasibility. It is likely, therefore, that the undertakings will be public, rather than private. Land treatment.-More than three-fourths of the land of the Missouri Basin is privately owned. The major burden of carrying out a land treatment pro- gram therefore will fall on the 582,000 farmers and ranchers who own or operate this land. Govern- ment agencies will have to provide some technical and financial assistance. But the proper use and management of the watershed lands cannot be at- tained without a large measure of interest, initiative, and responsibility by the people on the land. Soil conservation districts, organized and administered locally, provide a mechanism for Federal-local co- operation in establishing conservation practices on private lands. Irrigation.-Some irrigation developments will continue to be carried out by private groups, individually or collectively. Farmers working through soil conservation districts have planned pump or other water facilities to irrigate 327,000 acres. Devices for irrigating 185,000 acres have already been installed; during 1949, planning was completed for 82,000 acres, and water was applied to 52,000 acres. Farmers and ranchers are showing increasing interest in these individual farm or small group enterprises and they will probably be adopted more rapidly in the future. Private initiative in water spreading and flood irrigation will likewise be significant in the use of the basin's land and water resources. Other actions.-Private groups can play a more important role in providing recreation facilities. While the major installations will generally be associated with Federal projects, many of the im- provements needed to enable people to take advan- tage of the opportunities offered may well be a private responsibility. There are likewise oppor- tunities for private enterprise to construct small ponds and lakes, and other types of recreation space. Business enterprises can also participate in navi- gation projects through construction of terminal 257 |