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<br />2 <br /> <br />The protection and improvement of our <br />Nation's water resources and their associ- <br />ated environs are important to nearly every <br />American. People not only appreciate but <br />also understand the basic concepts of water <br /> <br />Accordingly, all land management agen- <br />cies have placed more emphasis on <br />environmental. protection. Reclamation is <br />a leader in this regard. Environmental <br />research is a top priority in Reclamation's <br /> <br />Waterline -A Word <br />}4"rom the Director <br /> <br />STANLEY L. PONCE <br />Chief, Research and Laboratory Services Division <br /> <br />resources management and how ecosys- <br />tems function. For example, the typical <br />middle-school-aged child now knows what <br />a wetland is in principle, how it functions, <br />and the diversity of life it supports. Further- <br />more, Americans are adopting a <br />conservation ethic, particularly in the <br />water-scarce west. <br />Along with this enhanced knowledge <br />base comes the expectation by the general <br />populace that water resource development <br />and management will be done in an envi- <br />ronmentally conscious manner. The <br />demand for reliable and pure water sup- <br />plies, irrigated lands, and plenty of <br />hydroelectric power now is accompanied <br />by the beliefs that: <br /> <br />. Wetlands will be protected. <br />. Fish will be able to migrate through regu- <br />lated river systems. <br />. Aquatic habitat and associated riparian <br />ecosystems will be protected. <br />. Ground waters will be conserved. <br />. Hazardous waste and wastewater will be <br />appropriately handled and treated. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />program. Efforts are directed toward solv- <br />ing environmental. problems associated <br />with water development projects. In fact, <br />Reclamation has recently joined forces <br />with the new National Biological Survey <br />to study aquatic ecology problems associ- <br />ated with regulated water systems in the <br />Western U.S. This is being accomplished <br />through a newly established Research <br />Center, located at Reclamation's research <br />complex in Denver, which is jointly <br />supported by both bureaus. <br />This issue of Currents focuses on some <br />key environmental. studies being per- <br />fonned by Reclamation's scientists and <br />engineers. Currents is but one of the <br />many ways that Reclamation technology <br />is transferred to the public for its use. If <br />you have any questions about these studies <br />or others in our environmental. research <br />program, please contact our Research <br />Coordinator at the Division's Denver <br />Office (303-236-6090) . . . . <br /> <br />] <br />