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Show greater recreation utility in an area like the Ohio Basin where natural lakes are few than in an area like New England, it must be recognized that the act of damming a stream does not make the lake desirable for recreation. Criteria which dictate selections of locations for dams primarily for recrea- tion may be at wide variance with those used in seeking power development, pollution abatement, or prevention of floods. To evaluate the recreation possibilities of any reservoir, the characteristics which make any lake, natural or artificial, desirable for purposes of recreation should be examined: Its waters should be relatively clear and pure. Its level should be fairly constant. Its outline and setting should be pleasing. Possibilities for fishing should be good. The location should be in proper relation to popu- lation centers and to other lakes which have been or may be developed for park and recreation purposes. Under authority of the Historic Sites Act, 1935,u the National Park Service is concerned with pre- serving prehistoric or historic features which may be flooded by water projects. The Ohio River Basin is archeologically the most important area in northeastern United States. In addition, there are numerous historical sites and buildings which may be inundated. Although much archeological and historical research has been undertaken by States and local agencies, the water development program requires that additional research be made to pre- serve important prehistoric and historic records in- volved in reservoir areas. Because of inadequate funds, the National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution have not been able to keep abreast of these needs. During the latter part of the 1930's the Ohio Basin States, with the assistance of the National Park Service, prepared reports on the park, park- way, and recreational area programs for the States. These reports still stand as recreation master plans subject to such revisions as required by changed circumstances and conditions. In some cases the States have brought the plans up to date; in other cases they have indicated a desire to do so but have lacked means. Federal assistance has not been available to the States in recent years for this purpose. While coordinated recreation studies have been made on individual water-control projects, and "Act of August 21, 1935, 49 Stat. 666, 16 U. S. C. 461-467. while individual State recreation plans have been proposed, there has been no over-all basin-wide study of the recreation needs, resources, and poten- tials. Such a study would be carried out coopera- tively by Federal, State, and other interested agen- cies, and would involve technical assistance by the National Park Service to the State and local park authorities in planning, developing, and adminis- tering recreation areas, including those at Federal reservoirs. Although the National Park Service is now authorized to render such aids, appropriations for this purpose have been inadequate in recent years to meet the need. Conclusions (1) Because recreation development generally is primarily the role of State and local agencies, such agencies should be encouraged to continue and ex- pand their activity in the planning, accomplish- ment, and operation of recreation facilities. (2) The Federal Government should continue to aid in developing the recreation potentials at multiple-purpose reservoirs in the Ohio River Basin. Cooperation among Federal, State, and local agen- cies should be strengthened to this end. (3) As a part of the program of resources devel- opment studies in the Ohio River Basin, the Federal Government should undertake in cooperation with appropriate State and local agencies a basin-wide recreation study to determine present recreation needs as they relate to population distribution, trends, and characteristics, existing developments and programs, and recreation resources. Such studies are essential to provide an over-all frame- work or pattern within which the recreation sig- nificance of individual water resources projects may be evaluated and their development effectively planned. (4) Each over-all reservoir project estimate should include items of cost for (a) protection of existing recreation resources, and (b) con- struction, operation, and maintenance of recrea- tion facilities for which the Federal Government assumes responsibility. 10. Principles Governing Location of Facilities in Areas Previously Set Aside as Historical Sites or for Recreational Use The Problem Principles for resolving conflicts between pre- viously accepted use, such as national parks and 680 |