OCR Text |
Show graining, financing, and operation of water re- sources development in the Ohio Basin. The Situation The past and present activities of local public and private interests and State governments in plan- ning, constructing, and operating water resources programs indicate their interest in such programs. Early in the history of the Ohio River Basin, State governments and private navigation companies con- structed canals and improved streams for naviga- tion. In certain areas partial flood protection measures were provided by private individuals and a few communities, in some instances with State assistance. Recently, local public interests have undertaken water resources projects for water sup- plies, flood control, sewage disposal, woodland im- provement, and recreation, and have provided navi- gation terminals. Private interests have developed water supplies, hydroelectric power installations, waste disposal facilities, navigation terminals, and recreation facilities. Since the Federal Government assumed responsi- bility for navigation improvements it has canalized the entire Ohio River and a number of major tributaries. Local public and private interests used these facilities and have provided other improve- ments of their own. The disastrous 1913 flood led to flood control improvements in the Miami River Basin. These were built by the Miami Conservancy District, a local public agency set up under State legislation providing for establishment of conservancy districts with taxing powers. The flood of 1913 led to other flood protection measures by several communities, including Columbus and Indianapolis. It, and subsequent floods in the Ohio Basin and elsewhere, led to demands for Federal participation in con- trolling floods. Recognition of the need for con- serving land and related sources resulted in Federal participation in other programs. State and local interests have given some assist- ance in planning, construction, and operation of Federal projects and programs. They are re- quired by law to furnish lands, easements, rights-of- way, and maintenance for local flood protection works. The extent to which State and local groups take part in other programs depends on the nature and scope of the project, the attitude of State or local groups toward it, and the legal and adminis- trative provisions for State or local participation. Among the States in the Ohio River Basin, the trend is toward providing the legal and adminis- trative means for increased participation in plan- ning, and to some extent in construction, of water resources projects. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District worked closely with the Corps of Engineers to plan and construct a system of res- ervoirs in the Muskingum River Basin. It is now cooperating with other Federal agencies to improve the lands and forests in and adjacent to the res- ervoirs. The Indiana Flood Control and Water Resources Commission was created to prepare a flood control plan for the State and to cooperate with the Fed- eral Government in flood control and related mat- ters. Federal flood control planning in the State is being closely coordinated with the plans of that agency. Similar agencies exist in Illinois and Kentucky. The laws of Pennsylvania provide for State participation in planning flood control works and in construction of such works, to the extent of sharing equally with political subdivisions the cost of local cooperation. The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, an interstate agency, was created in 1948 to conduct research and make recommendations to the States for pollution abatement. In some instances, State and private agencies contract with the Federal Government to make various highway relocations in connection with res- ervoir projects. State and local agencies can help solve flood problems by zoning against encroach- ments on natural channels and flood plains. Such encroachments, as well as neglect of channels, present serious problems in some localities. In the Ohio River Basin, industrial establish- ments and non-Federal electric utilities have con- structed hydroelectric plants with an aggregate ca- pacity of about 500,000 kilowatts. This represents but a fraction of hydroelectric potential in the basin. However, there are many fuel-electric plants serv- ing this highly industrialized region through inter- connected private utility systems. Future hydro- electric power plants should be integrated with other power sources in the region to provide the most economical power supply, and should be planned in relation to other aspects of water re- sources developments for the greatest total benefit. State and local governments are responsible for enacting and enforcing pollution abatement meas- ures. Because of the severity of the pollution prob- lem and its interstate character, joint State action has been undertaken under the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Compact. 665 |