75 Water Assessment July 1973: Draft Plan of Study

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35 The severity of the water quality condition in each geographic unit will be expressed in terms of the number and percentage of river -miles in each of the above categories. The severity of water quality problems also will be described to the extent possible by indicating which measures of water quality (i. e. , microbiological, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, dissolved solids, taste and odor, dissolved gas, color and turbidity) are not meeting standards, to what degree, and from what causes. The impact of upgrading the water quality conditions in each geographic unit to meet the future - condition assumptions contained in Step 01 will be described from both an economic and environmental viewpoint. Fish and wildlife resources will be discussed in terms of ASA's, if possible. Examples include lake and stream fishing, as well as most forms of hunting. Migratory waterfowl and anadromous fish, on the other hand, will be discussed in terms of the total range of their habitat. Fish and wildlife problems will be discussed in the most meaningful terms possible. For example, most forms of hunting and fishing fit within the supply -need concept, wherein the supply (in man -days) minus the need (in man -days) equals the surplus or deficiency (in man - days). For migra- tory waterfowl and anadromous fish, however, problems will be discussed in terms of suitable water volumes, areas, flow characteristics, and dis- tribution of adequate wetlands or stream habitat throughout the migration range of the animals involved. All problems involving animal disease and water quality will be discussed in terms of causative vectors and chemical parameters. In cases where man's activities are the causative or aggra- vating agent of fish and wildlife problems, these activities will be identified. As with other aspects of the assessment, fish and wildlife problems, as they are affected by inadequate supplies of all the water properties, will be ranked according to severity for the near -term, mid -term and far -term - futures. Data inadequacies, such as for the quantification of in- stream flow requirements, will be described. Statements on Impact of Implementing Methods of Augmenting Water Supplies and Changing Patterns of Use (Component three of Step 02A) This task is not technically a part of the Adequacy Analysis; it is included in Step 02A because it involves statement s of a general nature on subjects that could, in the future, have a great impact on the adequacy of water supply. The task consists of preparing statement s on the following methods of augmenting or changing the utility of water supplies and of changing patterns of water use.