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Show Chapter 5 Elements of a Plan for Ultimate Development of Water Resources Elements of a plan for full development of the water resources of the Potomac River Basin must include both ultimate objectives and the desirable rate of development to meet these objectives. Certain fundamental criteria would be included: 1. Plans would be comprehensive in nature, encompassing in a well-balanced program all phases of water resources development and related land use programs. 2. Elements must be economically feasible but would include some desirable features not sus- ceptible of economic analysis. 3. The benefits created would be as widespread as possible. 4. Effective development of facilities for arresting deterioration of the physical environment in the region would be considered. 5. A definite contribution would be made to the economic life of both the region and the Nation, and to national defense and welfare. 6. Proposals would be logical parts of, and con- sistent with, a national program for the development of water resources. 7. Plans would take into account such social values as recreation, scenic assets, and in particular the need for enhancing the public usefulness of the water areas surrounding the Nation's Capital. 8. Fully integrated effort by all interested agencies, private, local public, State, and Federal would be provided for. The cooperation of people throughout the basin would be enlisted. Ultimate Objectives of Development In the light of current knowledge, a sound eco- nomic program for the Potomac River, which would assure the most practicable and complete develop- ment of water and related resources, and the greatest financial and social return to people in the basin whether rural or urban, should provide for the ultimate accomplishment of the following functional objectives: Watershed Management and Sediment Control Watershed management is needed to assist in the achievement of a stable flow necessary for maxi- mum water utilization and to conserve and protect the productive capacity of the basin's soil resource. Provision for such management should be on a basin-wide basis and should precede, wherever reasonably possible, construction of facilities whose life or operation is significantly affected by upstream water and erosion control measures. Watershed management includes a variety of land use and treatment measures and practices de- signed to foster minimum erosion and usable, stable water yield. Those yields will be consistent with the productive capacity of the land for crops, forage, forests, or other uses. Specific watershed manage- ment practices to be promoted in the basin are agronomic and cultural soil conservation practices; controlling gullies and stabilizing stream channels of tributary streams; improving road drainage and revegetating cut slopes and fills; and the use of supplemental and minor engineering works to aid in the control of erosion and excessive runoff. Restoring the forest cover on abandoned, submar- ginal land is also a part of watershed management, as is forest fire control and use of proper methods of timber cutting and logging. Control of runoff and erosion in this manner also promotes good land use, increasing the soil's pro- ductivity and value. It complements and increases the life and value of downstream water facilities. 617 |
