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<br />The Missouri River Basin Commission has prepared this
<br />water and related land reSQurces plan in order to fulfill its re-
<br />sponsibili~ies as the Basin's principal water resources com-
<br />prehensive planning agency. The area covered by the plan, the
<br />Missouri River Basin, is shown on Figure 1. The plan, which is
<br />the first basinwide comprehensive, coordinated, joint plan the
<br />Commission has prepared, is the product of the Commission's
<br />evolving planning process-a process that will mature and
<br />improve over time. For the present, this is the Commission's
<br />adopted and recommended water and related land resources
<br />plan for the conservation, utilization. development, and man-
<br />agement of the Missouri tlasin's water and related land re-
<br />sources.
<br />
<br />Background and Authority
<br />
<br />The Missouri River Basin Commission was established
<br />in 1972 under the authority of the Water Resources Planning
<br />Act of 1965 (P.L 89-80), which states in part that each river
<br />basin commission shall:
<br />
<br />Serve as the principal agency for the coordination of
<br />Federal, State, interstate, local, and nongovernmental
<br />plans for the development of water and related land re-
<br />sources in its area, river basin, or group of river basins;
<br />prepare and keep up-to-date, to the extent practicable;
<br />a comprehensive, coordinated, joint plan for Federal,
<br />State, interstate, local, and nongovernmental develop-
<br />ment of water and related land resources....
<br />
<br />The Missouri River Basin Commission has formally defined its
<br />comprehensive, coordinated, joint plan as follows:
<br />
<br />At a given time, the comprehensive, 'coordinated, joint
<br />plan (CCJP) is the recommended plan adopted by the
<br />MRBC, which serves currently as a basis or guide for
<br />the conservation, utilization, development, and man-
<br />agement of the water and related land resources in all
<br />and parts of the Missouri River Basin. The CCJP is de-
<br />scribed in one or more documentsthat have been ap-
<br />proved by the MRBC identifying those structural and
<br />nonstructural as well as other measures designed and
<br />recommended to enhance the economic, environmen-
<br />tal, and social conditions of the Basin and parts thereof.
<br />The CCJP provides recommendations on water and re-
<br />lated land resources that incorporate the results of
<br />Federal, State, interstate, local, and nongovernmental
<br />planning (Levels A, B, C, and others). The CCJP is de-
<br />veloped through a continuous and dynamic procedure
<br />and is evolved in stages.
<br />
<br />CHAPTER 1
<br />INTRODUCTION
<br />
<br />Prior to establishment of the Missouri River Basin
<br />Commission, a comprehensive framework study and report
<br />were completed by the Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Commit-
<br />tee. The report on the study was published in December 1971.
<br />It was subsequently adopted by the Missouri River Basin
<br />Commission as the baseline report for the Missouri River Basin
<br />and the first part of a comprehensive, coordinated, joint plan.
<br />
<br />In July 1973, the Commission adopted a resolution to
<br />update the framework study to reflect more recent basic data,
<br />to respond to changing goals, new projections and new laws,
<br />and to support and respond to State, regional, and national
<br />water and related land resources plans. The framework study
<br />update effort was merged with the U.S. Water Resources
<br />Council's 1975 National Water Assessment in November 1973.
<br />Much of the data and information contained in this report was
<br />prepared as part of the National Assessment.
<br />
<br />Purpose of the Plan
<br />
<br />The purpose of the comprehensive water and related land re-
<br />sources plan for the Missouri River Basin is to provide for deci-
<br />sion makers and planners at all governmental levels a
<br />documented comprehensive, flexible, and balanced plan for the
<br />short- and long-range conservation, utilization, development,
<br />and management of the Basin's water and related land re-
<br />sources. Evolutionary in nature, the plan is intended to be con-
<br />sistent with changing regional and national economic, environ-
<br />mental, and social goals. This approach serves several pur-
<br />poses:
<br />
<br />. It provides an integrating bridge that facilitates State,
<br />local, and nongovernmental participation in the formu-
<br />lation of Federl\1 programs.
<br />. It helps to avoid conflicts and duplication in planning
<br />by utilizing a centralized review of all prospective proj-
<br />ects and programs.
<br />. It provides an opportunity to assess cumulative
<br />regional environmental effects not apparent on a
<br />project-by-project basis.
<br />. It assists in setting regional priorities and provides
<br />support for project and program activities included in
<br />the plan because of their regional importance.
<br />. It provides a valuable information source and refer-
<br />ence containing abbreviated descriptions of ongoing
<br />and prospective water resources projects and pro-
<br />grams in the Basin.
<br />. Finally, the Commission's. water resources plan will
<br />serve as an integral component of the U.S. Water Re-
<br />sources Council's Water Assessment and Appraisal
<br />Program.
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