433 



by such corporations in applied technology for the region, along with 

 data-gathering and economic/technological studies; (c) demonstra- 

 tion programs of agricultural, silva-cultural, and industrial tech- 

 nology, related to the development of regional resources. 



The National Resources Committee, in one illustrative document 

 on Public Works Planning ^^ discussed 17 major drainage basins of 

 the United States. It attacked "orderless, unintegrated treatment of 

 water problems''' and declared that "sooner or later, the maximum sup- 

 ply of water that can be made regularly available in each drainage 

 basin must be put to its best coorclinated use." ^" The report stressed 

 that plans needed to be flexible, in order to be adaptable to changes 

 in technology and in requirements : 



No fixed or final water p^an is possible. Future water requirements in most 

 areas can be estimated only approximately and for comparatively short periods. 

 They will be affected by changes in density of population, in land use, in in- 

 dustry, and in social conditions. From time to time emphasis doubtless will be 

 placed upon different uses and problems of water. The nature and extent of 

 future changes of these kinds will be influenced in turn by the supply of water. 

 The .«upply now available may be insufiicient even for present needs. The extent 

 to which it can be increased may be unknown for lack of basic data on pre- 

 cipitation, infiltration, stream flow, and the like. Such data are lacking to 

 greater or less degree on both the surface and underground waters of almost 

 every drainage area. The general removal of these deficiencies in hydrologic 

 data will require many years even if adequate action to that end is initiated 

 promptly, since long-term records are indispensable for many major purposes. 

 The total supply of water that can be made available in a given drainage area 

 may change through the oi>eration of natural processes or through modification 

 of surface conditions by human action. For these reasons, any water plan, no 

 matter how frequently revised, must remain forever incomplete. Contimioiis 

 planning is necessary. 



In calling for a "sound water policy" for the Nation, the committee 

 offered seven recommendations, as follows (recommendations 1-6 

 are paraphrased, and 7 is quoted in its entirety) : 



1. The concern is not with water but with promotion of public safety, health, 

 convenience, comfort, economic welfare, and living standards. 



2. Promotion of integrated use and control of water, recognizing changing 

 "considerations of technical feasibility and of economic and social justification." 



3 Treatment of drainage basins as complete units. 



4. Observance of the rights of the States. 



.5. Planning based on thorough fact-finding and definitive study. 



G. Costs of projects distributed to correspond with benefits, as far as possible. 



7. In determining whether or not water projects are justifiable, and in dis- 

 tributing the costs of meritorious projects among the beneficiaries, it will take 

 properly into account social benefits as well as economic benefits, general benefits 

 as well as special benefits, potential benefits as well as existing benefits, wherever 

 they are involved. Some of these benefits are not capable of measurement, and 

 accordingly they commonly have been ignored in the past in evaluating certain 

 types of enterprises. They are subject to reasonable appraisal, however, and 

 their intangible nature will not justify their neglect in tlie future. In great 

 measure, they concern the public at large. A public water policy should assidu- 

 ously conserve and promote public interests. To this end, social accounting must 

 take its place with economic accounting. As effective water planning proceeds 

 year after year without interruption — planning based on fundamental and 

 exhaustive engineering, economic, and so-cial studies that cover all relevant 

 conditions — there inevitably will result not only a clearer understanding of 

 whiit constitutes the public interest, but also a greater opportunity to promote 

 it through equitable control and orderly development of water resources. 



" National Resources Committee. Public Worlcs Planning. December 19.'')6. (Washinyton. 

 U.S. Government Printing Office, Dec. 1, 19.36), pt. II. Drainage Basin Problems and 

 Programs, pp. 25-35. 



'-'Ibid., p. 32. 



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