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Show Conclusion This publication deals with some phases of the Management of the Federal Public Domain which includes one third of the nation's land. The final chapter contains a series of tables showing for the first time quantitative measurements of some physical and economic results of consumption of water under present management programs. Study of these tables will show surprisingly meager results from the consumption of water under present programs which are strongly supported, in the recently released report of the Public Land Law Review Commission. This report costing $ 7,000,000 and requiring five years of activity by the Commission started out with the declaration: While water and land use problems are closely, almost inextricably, interwoven, this Commission is charged only with recommendations relative to public land policy. Therefore, we have confined our deliberations and recommendations to those significant water matters which have a direct relationship to public land policy. Unfortunately, the conclusions and recommendations of the Commission on public lands with many basic water interrelationships omitted will be accepted by public agencies and implemented along with other proposals of the Commission which may be on a sound basis. This Report - V in the series on The Physical and Economic Foundation of Natural Resources takes its place among those publications which have appeared at intervals over the last 20 years under a program designed to explore all the neglected features of our natural resources. Another publication VI in this series is now complete and will provide other parts of the still incomplete foundation. A sound and adequate program for the Management of our Natural Resources should have been established many years ago. When and how such a vital program will be formulated and put into effect must be listed as a great unknown. |