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<br />0D2284 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Non-benet'icial consUlll.Ptive use.-- Salvage of water through <br />eradication of pbreatophytes and other riparian vegetation is believed <br />to be practicable and econanical in certain parts of the region. <br />However, fey reliable data are available on the amOWlts of water <br />consumed by various plant species over the range of environments <br />found in the rep.o.n. In consequence, the potential tor salvage ot <br />water by diminishing the canSUlll.Ptive use can be estimated only <br />crude~. It is proposed, therefore, that (1) the present progl'am <br />of tank. experiments at Buckeye and at Ywna. be extended to Other <br />plant species and to environments typical of other parts of the region, <br />that (2) suitable localities be sought for testing the eradication <br />of vegetation by lowering the ground-water level, and that (3) the <br />frequency of channel overflow be ascertained in relation to the <br />extent and permanence of riparian vegetation. Cost, first year about <br />$225,000, next four years ~bout $215,000 year~. <br /> <br />Channel losses.-- Evaporation losses from the wet channels of <br />ephemeral streams following flood flows are known to be great. '.lbis <br />is attested by the observed decrease in unit runoff as drainage \U'8a <br />increases. ille practicability of increasing recharge to ground water <br />by ephemeral streams depends to a great extent upon the bydrologic <br />regimen of the stream channels under various environmental conditions. <br />It is proposed to measure the evaporation losses, grOWld-water recharge, <br />and streamflow of typical ephemeral channels to the pOSSible end of ., <br />increasing the available water su,pp~ by manipulating the channels. <br />:J!lstimated cost, first year about $100,000, next four years about ' <br />$175,000 year~. ' <br /> <br />General Hydrologic Research <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />General research in bydrologic processes, in techniques of <br />investigations, and in fundamental interrelationships between water and <br />its environment are proposed to support development and !DB,Ilagement <br />practices. Present knowledge and experience are deficient in several <br />respects, especially as the lilllit of the available water sUPP17: is <br />lLpproached. An improved understanding of the factors governing the <br />movement of ground water, with the cO!llPlications of var,yi,ng pel'llleabiliv <br />and bydrostatic pressures is needed for effective management of grOllJld- <br />water storage. Evaporation fran the land surface involves the floW ot <br />moisture througll unsaturated soil, about which little is known. A <br />better un~rstanding of the factors influencing inf'iltration, also a <br />problem in flow of water thro~ unsaturated media, ~ lead to means <br />for increasing recharge. Hydraulic che.racteristics of alluvial ch.n'neb <br />IDU8t be explored in considerable detail if effective measures tor <br />channel stabilization are to be developed. <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />