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<br />000538 <br /> <br />February 5, 1971 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />. , <br /> <br />which has been made possible by progressive water resource deve1op- <br /> <br />ments has constantly created new water and related problems, each <br /> <br />of which has become increasingly more difficult to solve. All too <br /> <br />often limited planning for the future has resulted in the construc- <br /> <br />tion of water development projects which would only meet existing <br /> <br />needs, while growth has continued at rates exceeding even the most <br /> <br />optimistic forecasts. <br /> <br />Since World War II, the population of the eleven Western States <br /> <br />has grown at a phenomenal rate and industrial activity has increased <br /> <br />proportionately. In addition to the expanding water and related <br /> <br />land resources requirements associated with this growth, there <br /> <br />has been increasing pressure to provide more water for enhancement <br /> <br />of fish and wildlife resources, recreation, quality control and <br /> <br />other purposes. Some of the most rapid economic growth has <br /> <br />occurred in areas of inherent water deficiency, thereby inrensifying <br /> <br />water problems of both quality and quantity in those areas. Water <br /> <br />and related land resource planning and development bave not kept <br /> <br />pace with these expanding water requirements. Thus, there are <br /> <br />,serious existing and emerging water problems in the various <br /> <br />water resource regions of the eleven Western States. <br /> <br />Congressional recognition of these water problems led to the <br /> <br />passage of the Colorado River Basin Project Act in 1968. In this <br /> <br />Act, the Secretary of the Interior was directed to conduct a <br /> <br />comprehensive reconnaissance investigation and develop a plan to <br /> <br />1-2 <br />