Laserfiche WebLink
<br />'062~g.: <br /> <br />FOREWORD <br /> <br />This is a report of the progress made by bureaus of the Department <br />of the Interior cooperating in the resources development program author- <br />ized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 and subsequent legislation. It <br />summarizes progress made on individual units of the plan and relates <br />that progress to the overall effort. <br /> <br />'.:/~< .</.:;>:,>." <br /> <br />,,;"., <br /> <br />~D~;.(~ :..\~:~;~~(t <br /> <br />The Department of the Interior, created by an Act of Congress in <br />1849, is often called the "Department of Natural Resources" because it <br />is responsible for a wide variety of programs concerned with the manage- <br />ment, conservation, and wise development of America's natural resources. <br />In its assigned function, the Department bears a special obligation to <br />assure that our expendable resources are conserved, that renewable re" <br />sources are managed to produce optimum yields, and that all resources <br />contribute their full measure to the progress, prosperity, and security <br />of America now and in the future. <br /> <br />~~~;',~:'i~{:f~J., <br /> <br />~. " <br /> <br />The Department has responsibility for the use and management of <br />millions of acres of federally owned lands; administers mining and min- <br />eral leasing on a sizable area of additional lands; irrigates reclaimed <br />lands in the West; manages giant hydroelectric power systems; administers <br />grazing and forestry programs on federally owned range and commercial <br />forest lands; protects fish and wildlife resources; provides for conser- <br />vation and development of outdoor recreation opportunities on a nation- <br />wide scale; conserves hundreds of vital scenic, historic, and park areas; <br />conducts geologic research and surveys; encourages mineral exploration <br />and conducts mineral research; promotes mine safety; conducts saline <br />water research; administers oil import programs; operates helium plants <br />and the Alaska Railroad; is responsible for the welfare of many thousands <br />of people in the Territories of the United States; and exercises trustee- <br />ship for the well-being of additional hundreds of thousands of Indians, <br />Aleuts, and Eskimos, as well as being charged with the resource manage- <br />ment of millions of acres of Indian-owned lands. <br /> <br />Against this backdrop of departmental responsibility, the Congress, <br />in the Flood Control Act of 1944, adopted a "Plan for the conservation <br />and control of the water resources of the entire Missouri River Basin ... <br />and the use of such resources in watershed development." The legislation <br />also authorized construction of the initial stages of the plan by the <br />Department of the Interior and the Department of the Army. Recent action <br />by the Congress has necessitated the reauthorization of individual units <br />of that plan prior to actual construction. <br /> <br />In mid-1964, Interior Department agencies joined with other Federal <br />agencies and with the ten Missouri River Basin States in the prosecution <br />of a Type I "Comprehensive" Study of the Missouri River Basin area. A <br />preliminary report on the study was made to the Missouri Basin Inter- <br />Agency Committee in June 1968 and a final report is now scheduled for <br />late in calendar year 1969. <br /> <br />tii <br /> <br />'.;:::.:<:>~~.::.:..:., .......;.;... ......:.:.::"=._.:.<,~/>.,:.:.:.:-.; ", . '......,.' . ...- /~.:' <br /> <br />.;:;?::.>~;:r;;;;;';{J;;'S-:;-:~:::::::'~J<:>"';.:H . - ,.:,.' <br /> <br />'. '.' ~~.:. <br /> <br />-::;..:...:.;;.... <br /> <br />,'.r.: ..;;'.... <br /> <br />',-". ...../::.. <br />