Laserfiche WebLink
<br />00'2733 <br /> <br />-21- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Suffice to say, if we are to operate effectively at influencing national <br />opinion, we must be buttressed with a never-ending flow of facts. This <br />is another area in which the Water Resources CouncH can fulfill its <br />charter. Compilation and presentation of data similar to that in the <br />first national assessment is always useful for keeping the public and <br />its representatives faced-up to reality. The comprehensive framework <br />river basin studies are sure to furnish useful building' blocks, to the <br />formulation of a dynamic public policy. I refer to this forthcoming <br />series of reports as building blocks, for they cannot give uS all of the <br />insights we need because of their intra-regional character. Fortunately, <br />other mechanisms are available for producing the data that are not <br />available for use from these framework studies. Here, I refer specific- <br />ally, to the program of reconnaissance study authorized by the Congress <br />in Title II of the Colorado River Project Act of 1968 we passed last year. <br /> <br /> <br />::it~;.,;:{.,;~ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />This work will go beyond the Type I studies of the Council in that it will <br />address itself to a unified water plan for the entirety of the eleven west- <br />ern-most contigous states. This is sure to be most useful in shaping <br />national water policy decisions-making in the remaining decades of this <br />century. <br /> <br /> <br />One may ask, just what are these decisions that must be made? Many <br />of us can enumerate several which come qUickly to mind. For my money, <br />however, there is one that transcends all others, and the answer to it <br />will shape the kind of society weare going to have in this country. It is <br />succinctly stated: Shall the Federal Government underwrite the water <br />supplies that are need,ed at times and places sufficient for people to be <br />able to reside, work and invest where they elect. Now, recognizing the' <br />failure to do so represents a policy of 'economic and social regimentation <br />alien to our culture and inimical to our sense of personal freedom? <br /> <br />Those of us who were personally privileged, if privileged is the word, to <br />sit through four years. of hearing on that Colorado Basin Act are aware of <br />the fact that there was considerable sentiment expressed: "Well, let the <br />people go where the water is--don't take the water where the people want <br />to go,". As I say, unless we find the answer to what are we going to do <br />about that, why we are going to have to enter into a social, economical <br />and cultural regimentation that is alien to us. <br /> <br />~{f~~; <br />~ <br /> <br />;~l:~>:}~:~:: <br />.....- "_.;..-.' <br /> <br />We must develop the data. The development of these data provides the <br />ethical rationale and justification for much of our interagency work, as <br />well as the broad scale planning that is going on within your agencies of <br />state and federal government. Of course, such plans do not portend <br /> <br />:;~::~~:?:.-::y-; <br /> <br />.:-:., <br /> <br />',.-'. <br /> <br />'d"'_ .. _ <br /> <br />" <br />