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<br />In addition to vegetation management, which in all its various forms is <br />the forte and mission of the Forest Service, the Regional Plan also <br />looks at such things as: <br /> <br />- The effects of watershed protection and improvement. <br /> <br />- Quantification of instream and diverted water needs now <br />and in the future. <br /> <br />- In-house conservation of water use. <br /> <br />Surface and groundwater management in conjunction with others. <br />- Weather modification. <br /> <br />- Waste water reclamation, and <br /> <br />- Desalination. <br /> <br />These were listed in roughly a descending order of our ability to meaning- <br />fully implement the activities fOr water yield improvement. It should be <br />pointed out that we consider improvement in water quality and timing of <br />flow adjustments to be positive contributions to the total volume of usable <br />supply. <br /> <br />I want to back up for a mOment to say a few words about weather modification. <br />We have neither the Congressional mandate or the expertise to engage in <br />weather modification. Yet the high mountains of the National Forest <br />System are the logical targets for winter weather modification efforts. <br />Our past experience and involvement has been limited up to this point. <br />As a major land management agency, we have a vital interest in and a <br />state in the outcome of this relatively new technology. <br /> <br />The next speaker on today's agenda will discuss weather modification. <br />Let me assure you of our interest in this subject. It stems from our <br />conviction that all affected parties must understand and respect new as <br />well as traditional management programs in the context of total resource <br />protection and improvement. We recognize the water problems collectively <br />faced, but in the quest for sOlutions, my agency cannot abrogate responsi- <br />bility for multiple resource management. PSIAC is one of the vital links <br />in the process of interagency understanding and cooperation for the common <br />good of the American people. <br /> <br />In summary about our Region1s plan, we're still in the early stages of <br />the process. We have investigated the current water situation with a <br />lot of help from'people and groups within and outside our organization. <br /> <br />The water issue will be assessed along with the other nine identified <br />public issues and management concerns in formulating management alterna- <br />tives, a'nd from the alternatives a preferred alternative will be selected. <br /> <br />C-4 <br />