WSP11260 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

(j J ;) 3 3 :\ ...... ", '~'. CHAPTER II PROBLEM AREAS This section turns to the general discussion of present and/or potential types of development, consequent changes in water allocation and in water quality, and the potential impacts upon the fish and wildlife resources of the region. None of the types of development, or of water allocation, or of the water quality changes to be discussed is inevitable. Although each is reasonably likely to occur in one form or another, there are many alternatives for shaping the scale. the mode, and the location of each type of development. These alternatives represent a wide range of water allocation and water quality changes, and a wide range of impacts upon fish and wildlife. However, because of the diverse alternatives avail- able, many options for public decision-making remain open which will permit the achievement of a socially desirable balance between developmental and fish and wildlife values. , .. . ".:": '::~'.:.... , :.:..::.=/:;; . '::<~~~';.~>':.;:' ";_ ';'-J "," - : '. .": ',' : .', -;="'. :'. .~. .: . .:-;::;:.~::. .." :~.: ":<:-:;::.~ -:'~,.:.: ......:.... -,- -, .... TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT Agriculture .... ." In the Upper Missouri Basin, agriculture accounts for over 2/3 of water withdrawals and over 90% of consumptive water use, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The great bulk of agricultural water use in the region is for irrigation. Irrigation has provided a major impetus to water resource devel- opment in which both small scale private developments and large scale federal projects have been common. While in recent years private develop- ment of sprinkler irrigation, using water from both ground and surface . ", .'. .~ . . : <'~:::::.;',\:.('.::'~~:;;::,::; :. -\':':~-' ~.::.: .. " ...;....'" 7