Ten rivers in America's future, from volume 2, the Report of the President's Water Resources Policy Commission

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Chapter 5 Policy Problems and Their Relation to Plans for Development Policy problems related to the development of the Connecticut River Basin are classified in four groups: (A) Distribution of benefits and responsi- bilities; (B) Conflicts in beneficial use; (C) The character of development; and (D) Development procedure. A. Distribution of Benefits and Responsibilities 1. The place of local public and private and State participation in planning, programing, financing, and operation. 2. Allocation of funds to local political units in lieu of taxes. 3. Extent of Federal Government concern with pollution control. 4. Federal responsibility in fish, wildlife, and recreation resources. 5. The place of a pooled account in power plan- ning and administration. B. Conflicts in Beneficial Use 1. Inundation of agricultural lands and of facili- ties for established enterprise, including transpor- tation facilities. 2. Extent to which flood plain zoning is practi- cable. 3. Conflicts between and associated with do- mestic and industrial water supplies, including problems arising from water pollution. 4. Weight to be given fishery production when in conflict with other purposes. 5. Principles for planning and construction of facilities in areas previously dedicated to scenic, recreation, and historical values. 6. Weight to be given recreation when in con- flict with other water uses. C. The Character of Development 1. Adequacy of basic data essential for basin development. 2. Present status and needs for comprehensive program. 3. Potential hydroelectric power in the regional power supply. 4. Possible coordination of potential power from the Connecticut and other New England rivers with the St. Lawrence International Rapids Project. 5. Land treatment program to be included in development. 6. Planning for future public and industrial water supplies. 7. Multiple-purpose versus single-purpose de- velopment. 8. Water resources developments and stabiliza- tion of industrial areas. D. Development Procedure 1. Acquisition of property in a reservoir area. 2. Coordination of water project and highway construction. 3. Interstate and international cooperation and coordination. These 22 issues in a number of cases parallel policy problems discussed for other basins but with different local emphasis. Because of the long period of settlement, problems associated with established institutions and traditional patterns of life are especially important. Adjustment of de- velopments to the economic life of the region in the manner which will contribute most effectively to preservation or enhancement of the already great capital investment therefore is a theme which recurs in many of the succeeding discussions. 489