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GJ'C'3' Summary of Plan Components The recommended plan consists of three major compo- nents: directions for the future; plan elements; and next step toward plan implementation. Each component is summarized in the following sections. DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE The directions for the future, presented in Chapter 4 are an expression of water resources planning objectives for the Missouri River Basin. These planning objectives are de- scribed for 13 functions, each of which provides broad guidelines and goals for selecting and formulating the second part of the plan, its specific elements. The directions for the future are intended to reflect current regional, State, and Fed- eral planning policies and goals. Clarlc Canyon Dam, Montana PLAN ELEMENTS The plan elements are selected and formulated to achieve the objectives expressed in the directions for the future and to meet specific water resources needs identified during the planning process. The elements are presented in this report either as basinwide--those programs and projects which re- late to all or a large portion of the Basin--or subbasin- specifio--those which relate only to a limited portion of the Basin. The basinwide plan elements are given in Chapter 5. Subbasin-specific plan elements are provided in each of the eight subbasin Chapters, 6 through 13. While the elements ad- dress each or combinations of the 13 functions discussed in the directions for the future, emphasis is placed on com- prehensive water and related land resources planning pro- grams. The listing of recommended plan elements is extensive, numbering nearly 500. 7 CHAPTER 2 PLAN OVERVIEW NEXT STEP TOWARD PLAN IMPLEMENTATION The third component of the plan, next step toward plan implementation, has two parts. The first part is a series of conclusions and recommendations which highlight particularly important programs and projects, suggest steps that should be taken to implement recommended plan elements, and identify planning needs which should be addressed more fully during subsequent planning efforts. The second part is setting priorities for implementing recommended, particularly important plan elements. Conclusions and recommendations are based on an as- sessment of planning needs, planning objectives, and alterna- tive procedures for improving and implementing the plan. Filly conclusions and recommendations have been formulated through this process and are presented in the following section. They are intended to inform decision makers at all levels of those actions needed to ensure the orderly and coordinated utilization, development, management, and conservation of the Missouri River Basin's water and related land resources. The second part of the next step toward plan implemen- tation, establishment of priorities lor implementing particularly important plan elements, is accomplished through the Gem- mission's priorities program. Through this program the Com- mission sets priorities on programs for the coming four fiscal years in each of six program categories: data collection; planning-related research; special studies; regional or river basin planning; implementation studies; and program or project implementation. Programs for which the Commission sets priorities and which must be adopted elements of the basin plan are presented in the Commission's annual priorities report. Conclusions and Recommendations The recommended plan eiements address the near- term needs of the total Missouri Basin and each of the eight subbasins. To a large extent they meet those planning needs. However, in some cases additional planning efforts and coordj. nation of proposed programs are needed to fully achieve the Basin's planning objectives. Recommendations for effectively achieving those objectives are presented and numbered con- currently in the following sections for the Basin and each of the subbasins. Particular attention should be given to the first rec- ommendation, which deals with the need for implementing all of the individual plan elements identified in the last nine chap- ters of this report.