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Show Roosevel* National Park is in the North Dakota badlands. Several national monuments dot the basin. Best known a-re those in the badlands of North and South Dakota. These are a source of considerable sediment and eroded material. The other monu- ments are primarily historical shrines or areas of geological interest. Far more numerous and significant are the series of State parks. Of these, the Custer State Park of South Dakota is perhaps the largest. It contains some of the most spectacular scenery of the Black Hills. Not all of these outstanding recreation areas are affected t>y the proposed water resources programs. However, proposals have been advanced for taking water from lakes and streams in these areas, and for construction within them. For example, a reservoir site exists in the Cloud Peak Primitive Area. I f this were used, as has been suggested, the reservoir would destroy Lake Solitude on Paint- rock Creek in Wyoming. Its construction is being delayed to determine whether an alternate site can be found. Proposals have been made to invade the other wilderness areas as on the Sun, Popo Agie, Wind, and Big Horn Rivers. One early proposal was for modification of Yellowstone Lake and diversion of water from Yellowstone Falls for hydroelectric power. Pro- ponents indicated this use would affect the park waters during nonrecreation seasons and only at night in the recreation season. This project, how- ever, has not been included in any program now being suggested. Conclusions Water projects should so far as possible be planned to avoid damaging unique scenic attrac- tions. Only as a last resort should such natural environmental areas be invaded and only after all other feasible possibilities have been utilized and opportunities exhausted. Water projects should be so planned and constructed that the na- tional parks, wilderness areas, and other unique scenic areas will not be adversely affected. Historical spots also deserve consideration. A number of places in the basin had special signifi- cance for the pioneers of only a century ago, and may become shrines visited by many. Develop- ments in conflict with such areas should be deferred as long as alternative projects may be at hand. In all this, a national pronouncement regard- ing the development and use of the major recrea- tional resources set aside for national purposes is badly needed. At present there is no firm public policy founded in sound legislation. One is needed that would specify the basic principles to be fol- lowed in preservation and use of these areas. Before such a national policy is enacted into legislation, however, a careful survey by a duly recognized agency should be made of all such lands to determine the boundaries of the areas in- volved, the outstanding features to be preserved, and the purposes to be served. The survey should also recommend broad management principles for the guidance of the public agencies concerned with the administration, improvement, and use of this form of recreation. The areas of outstanding pub- lic value to which these principles should apply should be delineated. In the meantime, the various construction agen- cies involved in planning for the land and water re- sources should themselves adopt a policy of post- poning proposals for invasion of such areas, and of developing alternate sites so as to avoid destroying values for which there is no substitute. 7. Uniform Policy on Providing Recreation Facilities in Reservoir Areas The Problem Policy to guide the installation of recreation facil- ities in reservoir areas. The Situation Flood control legislation provides for expenditure of Federal funds for recreation facilities; reclama- tion laws contain no similar provisions. In the reclamation program, however, recreation installa- tion has proceeded under authority granted in ap- propriations for specific projects. There is no uniform policy on acquiring excess reservoir lands to establish control over recreation land use. In some cases, like Marys Lake at Estes Park on the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, the Kanopolis Reservoir in Kansas, and Deerfield Reservoir in South Dakota, the demand for recreation use is of such magnitude that provision of minimum facili- ties for the requirements of health, safety, and pro- tection of public property is imperative. 269 |