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<br />February 5, 1971 <br /> <br />000529 <br /> <br />I. <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Water has played a vital role in the economic growth and development <br /> <br />of the West since the advent of the first settlers. The distribution <br /> <br />of water resources throughout the West is dependent upon climatic <br /> <br />conditions and related factors which vary widely from region to <br /> <br />region. Precipitation varies from nearly zero in the arid parts <br /> <br />of Arizona and southern California to over 100 inches per year in <br /> <br />[ <br />" <br /> <br />are similarly wide. Runoff and streamflows resulting from these <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />some of the coastal and mountainous areas. Temperature ranges <br /> <br />widely different conditions necessarily vary even more widely. <br /> <br />Many of the water problems of the West are directly related to the <br /> <br />disparities in the occurrence of water supply and requirements, both <br /> <br />in time and place. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />A great deal of progress has been made since the turn of the Century <br /> <br />in development of the water resources in the West by private and <br /> <br />local interests, as well as various State and Federal agencies. <br /> <br />Owing to the dictates of economics, the cheapest and easiest to <br /> <br />develop water projects were the first to be constructed. Naturally, <br /> <br />local water supplies were developed first. Some of the major <br /> <br />water resource projects which have been constructed, notable as <br /> <br />they are and vital as they have been to growth and economic develop- <br /> <br />ment, represent comparatively localized planning when viewed from a <br /> <br />westwide regional standpoint. Economic growth throughout the West <br /> <br />I-I <br />