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<br />WATER STUDIES - SOUTHWEST <br />By WilLIAM T. DAVOREN, R8gic~nal Coordinator <br />Pacific Southwest Region, Department of Interior <br />San Francisco. California <br /> <br />THE NEW EXPLORATION OF THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST <br /> <br />Many early scientific and military explorers made dire forecasts about the future of much of <br />the area we know today as the Pacific Southwest. Yet, by developing land and by transporting water <br />across vast distances for cities, industries and irrigation, the emigrant Westerners started the thriving <br />economy and way of life this mountain desert-seacoast area enj,oys today. Its vast mineral, petroleum, <br />timber and agricultural resources were unlocked. Today approximately 23 million Americans live in <br />this region, and its rapid growth continues. <br /> <br />All of this has happened on a short water supply base. Now the limits of this water supply are <br />clearly in view. The potential growth of the region is endangered. Existing economies are already <br />threatened in some areas. This was documented in the 1960 reports of the U.S. Senate Select Commit- <br />tee on National Water Resources. <br /> <br />Planning at aH levels of government and the private sector is necessary to cope with the dif- <br />ficult years ahead. The possibilities of changing present water uses and of increasing the natural supply <br />_ _ _ through weather modification, desalting, improved use and re-use of existing supplies, and impor- <br />tation - - - must be planned. There is national interest as well as regional concern in this problem. The <br />Pacific Southwest needs a framework for its future. This is the new exploration. <br /> <br />THE FRAMEWORK WATER AND LAND STUDIES <br /> <br />The most comprehensive survey of America's lanlland water resources and needs is now und- , <br />erway. Under the direction of the Water Resources Council, created by the Water Resources Planning <br />Act of 1965, State and Federal agencies are now at work in 10 of the total 18 river basin study areas <br />that will cover the nation. <br /> <br />Commonly referred to as "comprehensive", "framework" or "Type I" studies, the formal title <br />is Comprehensive Framework Study of Water and Related Land Resources (Type I). The four study <br />sub-regions of the Pacific Southwest area study are: <br /> <br />Califoinia, <br />Upper:Colorado River Basin, <br />Lower; Colorado River Basin and <br />Great Basin. <br /> <br />A Summary Analytical Report for the entire Pacific Southwest region will be compiled from <br />the four area studies. This first extensive study of the land and water problems of the Pacific South- <br />west was begun in late 1966, and is scheduled to end in 1971 with the completion of the summary re- <br />port. <br /> <br />Fiscal Years <br /> <br />REPORT SCHEDULE <br />1967 <br /> <br />1968 <br /> <br />1969 <br /> <br />1970 <br /> <br />1971 <br /> <br /> <br />Summary Report -- - - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - / / I! / I! /II! /I /I /I /I / /I / / /I / /I / /I /I /I <br />California - -- - - - -- - - - - - --- - --- - - - - - - --- / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /I / / / / / / / / / / / <br />Lower Colorado - - - - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / <br />Upper Colorado - - - - - - -- --- - - - - - - -- -- - - - / / / / / /I / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / <br />Great Basin - - --- - - -- - - - - -- - - - - - - --- - --- - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - --- - - / / / / / / / / / / / / <br /> <br />-32- <br />