OCR Text |
Show engage in such investigations as promise to disclose sources of water heretofore unknown, especially underground sources; ( 3) develop and maintain a systematic quantitative accounting of the uses and disposition of water supplies; ( 4) determine and measure the chemical and physical characteristics of water with respect to its quality and usability; ( c) the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior are authorized to expand the scale and scope of the data gathering, research, and other activities and programs enumerated in subsections ( a) and ( b) of this section and to develop and participate in cooperative programs with other Federal and non- Federal governmental agencies and educational institutions to the full extent required to achieve the objectives of the program established by this Act. Such activities and programs shall be expanded from those prevailing at the effective date of this Act within the shortest period of time consistent with the orderly recruiting of personnel and the effective scheduling of such activities and programs, and for those parts of the program specified as follows the scale of activity shall be no less than sufficient to - ( 1) process, classify, and summarize accumulated hydrologic data within a period of two years; ( 2) provide a Nation- wide summary appraisal of hydrologic and geologic features of major catchment areas within a period of three years; ( 3) complete a preliminary appraisal of the magnitude of the Nation's ground water resources, the nature and extent of unsound and excessive uses, and the basic conditions governing effective replenishment and utilization within a period of three years; ( 4) develop for each major catchment area within a period of three years, and for each subdivision thereof as soon as may be practical, a balance sheet of water resources accounting showing the gross volumes of water from precipitation and the respective quantities of water consumed in various beneficial uses, the net gain or loss to surface and subsurface storage, the volume of outward drainage, and the quantities dissipated in wasteful evaporation and transpiration; ( 5) maintain the water resources accounting, when once established, on a current basis. SEC. 4. Basic hydrologic data and the findings of hydrologic research obtained under the provisions of this Act shall be publicly released fully and promptly and shall include data and material originating with other Federal and non- Federal agencies or individuals when determined to be of acceptable standards and accuracy and to be pertinent to the objectives of this Act. SEC. 5. The rights and responsibilities of the several States and local governments in connection with water resources shall be recognized, and cooperative or joint programs with non- Federal public agencies and with educational institutions are hereby authorized to be carried out in a manner that will most effectively promote the purposes of this Act. SEC. 6. To facilitate the program established by this Act - ( a) the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior shall have the common responsibility to develop and support effective procedures of collaboration and |