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Show interrelations between their exploitation and water resources development. Expediency and local pub- lic pressures have forced construction of some proj- ects before a unified study of the resources of the basin was. undertaken or presented for approval to Congress and the people. This accounts for the piecemeal approach which has characterized the program thus far. Many ^vater resources projects have been built by private and public agencies. The Federal Govern- ment has constructed projects in the basin for navi- gation, irrigation, and flood control, and has begun construction on key water use structures within the framework of the Federal Missouri Basin Project, authorized by the 1944 Flood Control Act.1 These activities constitute the basis for planning future construction. Future programs must take into ac- count developments existing and under way, and their rate will depend on budgetary requirements for completing work now in progress. In addition to completing work now in progress, other water resources projects should be inaugu- rated soon to meet developing needs. These will consist primarily of: (1) measures for watershed management in critical areas; (2) local flood pro- tection in areas where severe flood hazards are in- adequately met by major construction works; (3) bank stabilization in critical tributary areas; (4) electric power facilities to supply urgent needs; (5) additions to irrigation facilities in areas where water supply is inadequate or shortages are immi- nent; (6) irrigation of lands which can be integrated with grazing operations; (7) local pollution abate- ment to alleviate health hazards; and (8) preser- vation of fish and wildlife affected by major projects. All these will be within the framework of a broad program for water resources development. Action should be undertaken at a rate deter- mined by restudy of the program as presently authorized, careful review of the various proposed projects, and preparation of a thoroughly inte- grated program in which all the elements are ade- quately considered. A thorough analysis of present works and the preparation of a compre- hensive basin program should be undertaken by the Federal agencies, cooperating with State and local groups through a Missouri Basin Commission, as proposed by this Commission.2 1 Act of December 22, 1944, § 9, 58 Stat. 887, 891. 2 See volume 1, A Water Policy for the American People, p. 53. Progress in Attainment of Ultimate Objectives The Existing Situation Viewed in terms of total potentialities, the water resources of the Missouri River today are relatively underdeveloped. A beginning has been made, however, in virtually all fields of activity, and the following accomplished: 1. Irrigated land in the basin amounts to ap- proximately 5 million acres, of which some 4.45 million acres have been irrigated through private and State initiative. The remaining 550,000 acres are watered by Federal projects. 2. A degree of flood control has been provided by the Fort Peck and Kanopolis Reservoirs, and by local protection works at several municipalities scattered throughout the watershed, the largest being at Topeka. 3. Partial regulation of flows in the interest of downstream navigation has been provided by the Fort Peck multiple-purpose reservoir. Channel stabilization works on the lower Missouri River, intended primarily for navigation but serving also to reclaim land damaged by the meandering river and still more by flood waters, have been partly completed. 4. Twenty-six existing hydroelectric plants pro- vide a total installed capacity of approximately 614,000 kilowatts, of which 113,400 kilowatts are in Federal plants and about 500,500 kilowatts are in non-Federal public and private utility plants. 5. Of the 1,300 cities, towns, and villages of 250 inhabitants or more in the basin, some 1,100 are provided with public water supplies and about 620 have sewage treatment plants of various types. 6. Desirable watershed management practices which affect water flow and reduce erosion rates have been established on 8 to 10 percent of the basin area. 7. Recreation facilities in connection with water resources projects have been built in a few instances, notably at the Lake of the Ozarks, con- structed by a private utility. The recreation op- portunities of the national forests and other public lands have been only partially developed and much is still to be done to meet the needs. Federal Projects under Construction Water control programs in the Missouri Basin promise to expand and stabilize the economic base 277 |