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<br />J\J1l891 <br /> <br />It is appMent that there is ulreudy an ad hoc w"I<~r rCCiources council <br />composed of the Silme four Secretaries mentioned in S. It 1 ], namely, the <br />Secretaries of AgrlculturE.:, Interior, Army, and Heidth, i::c1ucation and Welfare, <br />It also seems appMCrlt that althouqh there are no rlver ba"in commissions <br />exactly as contemplated in S, 11]1, the interugency committees at the field <br />level in the various river basins ure expected by thC' Executive [Jrunch to <br />perform many of the duties tha't would be assigned to rlver basin planning <br />commissions If the legislation were enuc;ted, In view or tiles,,, r1ev<;lopments, <br />the need for the enactment of d \Nater Rc~~ourc(~ rlan~llIF.~ !-\ct from the Federal <br />viewpoint ;nay he minimal except for the clement of COJ1"r"ss,on"lly approved <br />policy. Perhaps the greatest practical need from th" rr=;k,'al i.e;vd is the <br />same ne(,d referred to earlier with respect to the States; n,)m,c,iy, that some <br />method is needed, perhaps lD the form of monetary grams to the States, to <br />stimulate more State interest and participation in comprehensive river basin <br />planning. <br /> <br />Regardless of whether the proposed Water Resources Planning Act <br />is needed in the form of a law, a nd regardless of whether it becomes a law, <br />the studies and reports by the Hoover Commission, the S'-'nate Select Com- <br />mittee on National Water Resources, and others, upon which It is based have <br />been of great villu,,' in improvll1g the public's understanding of water problems. <br />Furthermore, the '-2ry fact that legislation to authorize a \!Velt,.:r R,-,sources <br />Planning Act has I:,,-,on introduced In the Congress has slim",latcd our citizens' <br />awareness <:if th8 water crisis that is upon us now in some regions of the <br />country. Certainty this public understanding a,,-j awareness have affected <br />the various bra;1ches of government and are finding expression in the <br />lmproved coordinatIOn of efforts among Federal departments and among <br />Federal, State, and local agencies to resolve water and r"lated land <br />resources problems, <br /> <br />, <br />., <br /> <br />-10- <br />