WSP01377

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence-Federal Agencies
• Date: 8/24/1954
• Author: ADEdmonston
• Title: United States Geological Survey 1948-1955-Protection of Quality of Waters of the Western States
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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within the State including saline waters, as related to all
sources of pollution of whatever nature and to recommend any
steps that might be undertaken to improve or protect the quality

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of such waters. Under this directive the Division is making

comprehensive state-wide investigations of surface and ground

waters to determine the waste loadings that can be put on the

waters without impairing their various beneficial uses. All

other quality problems are being studied.
The "State Water Resources Law of 1945" created the

State Water Resources Board which is empowered to study and
make recommendations to the Legislature on all projects for the
control, conservation, protection and use of water in the State.
Since waters to be used by any project proposed by this Board
must be of suitable quality for those uses, the Board has a

vital interest in protection of water quality, The Division of

Water Resources, as the staff of the Water Resources Board, is

preparing The California Water Plan, which will provide for the

fullest practicable conservation, control, protection, and

utilization of the State's water resources in all areas of the

State. In developing this plan, full recognition is being
given to all quality problems now extant and to those which
will arise as agricultural, urban, and industrial development

~roceeds ,

~ On the whole, substantial gains have been made in

recent years in correcting cases of pollution, The regional

water pollution control boards have experienced difficulty in

some instances, however, due to lack of power to control the

location of waste discharges from industrial and urban developments

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