WSP04621 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

problems. It conduded further that the task confronting the Nation ill the WJtl~r field is one of meeting growing demands on w3ter re'5uUI"(es in the most eftkient lTlanner L'OllSiSlent with publk aims. The Commillee recolllmended that comprehensive studies of water and related land resources be undertaken fur JII river baSinS in lhe Natinl1. It pointed out that severJI basins, of which the Missouri W:JS one. had shortages of water which will affect the economy ;JilL! future growth of the N:.IIion. Also. it brought out the problem of deteriOlating quality ill the water resources of the Natioll. The Senate Select Comlllittee's findings received Presidential support. Congressional action culminated in passage of the W<.Jter Resources Planning Ad of 1965. Under this Act, cOlllprehensive framework studies or assessments of all river basins in the United States .He to be undertaken ..ml! will be kept lip to date. A few such studies 31ready were underway in 1965. that for the Missouri Basin being the first initiated. Also under the Act, the W:Her Resources Council was created to encourage the conservation. development, and ulilization of water and relJli'd land resources on a comprehensive and coordinated basis by Ihe Federal Government, States. localities, and private enterprises. Further. the At:! provided matching grants to the Stales to assist in strengthening their planning capabilities to participate in the development of comprehensive water and related land resource studies, amI llevelop State plans. All States in Ihe Missuuri Basin have received such grants. PURPOSE AND SCOPE The utlimate objective in the development of water and related land resources is to attain their best use 10 Illeet the needs of the Missouri Basin's population. and thus make the greatest long.time contribution to Ihe economic growth and well-being of the peuple of the region and the Nalion. Since adoption of the basin pbn in 1944. many changes ha\r.e taken place with respect to water resources development. In addition, considerable progress has been accomplished in the technical fields. Also physical and economic factors have ch3nged materially in Ihe basin, particularly when viewed in the Iighl of its economic growth and aujustments in responding to needs. To lake these l:omplex changes into consideration and look ahead 50 years. the Missouri Basin Il1ter-Agency Committee. in February 1963, gave consideration to undertaking a comprehensive study of the basin. After assessing the work involved and means of accomplishment, the Committee, in June 1964. created a Slanding Committee on Comprehensive Basin Planning. It was decided that the Comprehensive Study should be of framework scope to provide guidance for 2 future multipurpose development of the water and rel:Jted land reS0urces for their optimum or best Use. This broad general program would provide guidance to Federal, Slale. and local people to meet shOrl- and long-term needs for the good of the people, the region, and the Nation. Framework plans would be developed lIsing generJI relations. reasoned approximations. avail- able data, and {he judgments and ingenuity of seasoned planners. In considering lhe nature of a framework study for the Missouri River BJsin. It was deternlined that the Comprehensive Framework Plan would consist of studies that provide long-run projections of economic develop- ment, translate such projections into demands for water and rel<tted land resource uses, make hydrologic projec- lions of water availability both as to quaI)t.i.ly and quality, and project related land resource availability so as to outline the chara<.:teristics of resource problems and the general appro3ches that appear appropriate for their solution. The studies would be concerned only with intraregional water resources and their use. except that n a t ural interregional hydrologic connections iJnd approved transbasin diversions would be considered. In the development and use of water and related land resources, the local people have a part to play. Since the framework phn has not focllsed on any specific project ~md is quite gener<:fl, public concern has not heen indicated. However, implementation of plans for development of water and related land resources will require active p3rticipatioll by the public and all levels of government. As detailed studies follow the framework study effort, public participation strategies wiJI become indispensable clements of such planning. The agencies of the States have a broader and very important role in the development and administration of natural resources. Every facet of water and related land resource development is covered by the Slate agencies which. in many instances, have the primary role. This has been true from the inception of statehood and has increased in tempo with the passage of time. All States have, in recent years, become much more active in reSOllfce planning work and some have active programs related to resource development. Many of the Federal agencies have a role in broad planning of resource development. In this Ihey cooperate with and Jssist coullterpart State agencies and local people, and the Departments of Interior, Army, and Agriculture have large development programs. ORGANIZATION The Standing Committee, which consists of a repre- sentative from each of the State and Federal Depart- ments represented on the Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee, organized an Executive Group and five Work Groups to carryon the framework study effort as