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<br />...3G'"( <br />r <br /> <br />MISSOURI RIVER BASIN <br /> <br />Deportment of Agriculture is of t,he opinion that the proposal of <br />the division engineer and of the Board for progressive step-by-step <br />cooperative devclopment is a construct,ive approach to the solution <br />of the problems of water use in the J\lissouri River Basin and it <br />assures its full cooperation in the accomplishment of tills plan. That <br />Department bcli,wes that it may be of portie.ulor ossistonce through <br />it.s progrnms for water-flow retardation find soil-erosion prevention <br />which may serve as valuable supplements to the comprehensive <br />program. <br />5, TIle Fedcrnl Power Commission is of the opinion that the pro- <br />posed comprehensive plan should go for toward resolving present <br />conflicts of interest in the use of the water resources of the hasin <br />through the construction of adelition,,1 storage rcservoi"" These <br />conflicts now a.rise because of insufficiency of usn.ble water, under <br />present conditions of bosin dcvelopmcnt, to meet all pl"Ojected wiLter <br />requirerncnts. The ComnlissioIl approves the fE:'cognit.ion in the <br />report of tbe importance of cooperation aIllong government.al agencies <br />and local interests in the development of the program and it desires <br />to cooperate further in the working out of details. It considers that 'I <br />tbe Missouri Basin affords a unique opportunity for such coopemtive <br />procedure, which should be directed to assure the maximum benefits I <br />possible under the multiple-use concept. The Commission is con- <br />vinced that power de,'elopment will prove an important foctor in <br />the :Missouri Basin pro[;ram ond bclicyes that at leost 10,000,000,000 <br />kilowatt-hours of additioual hydroelectric energy per year may <br />eventuolly be developcd without socrifice of othcr beneHts to the . <br />region frOIn the use of its wuter l'eSOUrCl'S. The COllnnission recom- <br />mends tho t current aut.JlOl'izotions for flood control be broadened to <br />permit construct.ion for mult,iplc-purpose USe ond that the plan of <br />the division engineer and the Boord for undcl"toking the development <br />of the Missouri River on a step-by-st,ep bosis be authorized, wit,h <br />latitude for such modification os changing conditions show to be <br />desirable, <br />6. The Bureau of Reelamotion believes that the development of a <br />truly comprehensive plan of improvement for the Missouri River <br />BaslO can best be occomplished through integration of the studies and <br />investigations of the Corps of Engineers with those of the Bureau, <br />each agency operating in its respective field as determined by existing <br />law. A proportionate share of all the bencfits from an inte~rated <br />basin program should, in the opinion of the Bureau, be apphed to <br />each feature of tho program in advance of construction, and all reser- <br />voirs, including Fort Pock, should he operated to obtain the maximum <br />benefit from all water uses, with preference being given to functions <br />which contribute .most to the welfare and livelihood of the greatest <br />number of people. The Bureau recommends adoption of the policy <br />that works of improvement under a comprehensive plan should he <br />constructed, maintained, and operated by the agency with the domi- <br />nant interest under existing law, after appropriate consultation with <br />other agencies definitely concerned with phases ot,her than that in-' <br />te,rest. The Bureau considers the plan of improvement proposed in <br />the reports of the division engineer and the Board of Engineers for <br />Rivers and Harbors, adequate for flood control along the lower river, <br />hut calls attention to flood problems on the upper t,ributarics for which <br />a solution is not providod. It is the opinion of the Bureau that reser- <br />