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Show of that area, and various programs have been initi- ated for that general purpose. In 1944, separate proposals were presented to Congress by the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation to deal with some major phases of water control. On the basis of these separate reports, Congress later ap- proved a plan for the conservation, control, and use of the basin's water resources, taking those parts of the two proposals which had been agreed upon by representatives of the two agencies. Certain projects for irrigation, flood control, nav- igation, municipal water supply, and power were authorized for construction. Consideration was given to a number of factors, one of which was the immediate need for flood control structures on the main stem of the Missouri River and important tributaries. It was regarded as desirable to build several irrigation projects, generally in conjunction with flood control or power development, in the central and western parts of the basin. These irrigation facilities were geographically dis- tributed along the various tributaries of the Missouri River. Works were selected which were clear cut, in the sense that they did not appear to require solution of extremely difficult physical and legal problems, such as transbasin diversions, integrated use of surface and ground waters, or modification of State laws or compacts. Hydroelectric power developments were selected that could be incor- porated into multiple-purpose reservoirs. Kortes was the first plant to begin power generation in the initial stage, taking advantage of river regulation already provided by two reservoirs on the North Platte River. Channel stabilization in the lower reaches of the river was selected as desirable for early work because of the length of time required to confine the chan- nel by means of permeable dikes, and deposition of sediments. A flood levee program also was deemed essential in the initial stage to supply interim pro- tection during construction of major flood control reservoirs. Construction was undertaken either shortly before or soon after the end of World War II. Exclusive of works in existence and authorized prior to passage of the Flood Control Act of 1944,3 the Bureau of Reclamation had completed or was building, as of June 30, 1950, the following: 18 reservoirs providing 14.3 million acre-feet of active storage capacity for irrigation, flood control, and other purposes. •Act of December 22, 1944, § 9, 58 Stat. 887, 891. 18 gravity and pumping projects irrigating about 1 million acres of new lands, and providing supplemental water for 500,000 acres of presently irrigated lands. 3 power plants of 1Q1,000 kilowatts total capacity. A municipal water supply for more than 20 cities and towns. Roads, docks, water supply, and sanitation fa- cilities for recreation at a number of reser- voirs nearing completion. Some tree plantings and protective cover for wildlife. Projects under construction by the Corps of Engineers include the following: 6 reservoirs providing 53 million acre-feet of storage capacity for flood control, power, and navigation. A navigational channel, 9 feet, Sioux City to mouth. Agricultural levees from. Sioux City to mouth of river. Local protection works at Omaha, Kansas City, Hot Springs, Coxmcil Bluffs, Mandan, etc. Under Nation-wide authorizations the Depart- ment of Agriculture is carrying on the following major activities in the Missouri Basin that relate directly to land and water: Administration and protection of 21,443,000 acres of public land.4 Technical assistance to 416 soil or other con- servation districts which include an area of over a quarter billion acres. Incentive payments to finance a part of the cost of applying conservation practices on farms and ranches. Credit for farm purchase, and for land and water developments. Grants-in-aid to the States for the promotion of agricultural extension and research. A rural electrification program with the ob- jective of extending electric power to all rural families. 'Included are such activities as providing recreation stock water, fish and wildlife habitat, erosion and sediment control, irrigation of mountain meadows and other grass- lands, replenishing ground water, as well as management of land for conservation of its renewable resources. 278 |
