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In addition to tliese studies, tlie SENE study will maximize the use of existing 

 reports and plans. These would include the Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Con- 

 necticut outdoor recreation plans, Development Plan for the Water Supply- 

 Resources of Rhode Island, State public investment plans, economic base studies, 

 fisheries resource management studies and flood protection, navigation, and 

 water supply studies. In addition, numerous plans prepared by regional planning 

 agencies will serve as a major component of the study. 



Many research projects and studies underway or in process are designed to 

 develop data, not to recommend specific action programs. Many other studies, 

 while action-oriented, are focused on specific resource uses (water supply, or 

 flood control, or fisheries management), or on limited geographic areas, or on 

 action by a single level of government. The SENE study is designed to help 

 local. State and Federal agencies and private interests act in concert on behalf 

 of all uses of water and related land resources throughout the area. 



The region, although small in area (4,600 sq. mi.) is densely populated, and 

 major portions of the region are highly industrialized. Approximately 5 million 

 people or 50 percent of the population of New England live in the area ; by the 

 year 2000 the population is expected to be 7 million. 



There are many strong reasons for a regional approach to management of 

 water and related land resources. Communities looking for expanded water 

 supplies are likely to be in competition for the same sources of additional water. 

 A number of areas in the region — including Cape Cod and Narragansett Bay- 

 are prime tourist and recreation areas heavily used by people from other parts 

 of New England and the nation. Navigation facilities, both commercial and 

 recreational, serve the entire area. And floods, droughts, and pollution cross local 

 and State boundaries. 



The water and related lands of the area constitute a complex system of inter- 

 related resources. The wise use of these resources — for economic growth and 

 stability, for outdoor recreation, for their contributions to an attractive environ- 

 ment for living — requires coordinated planning and action. 



Cooperation Is Key 



The New England River Basins Commission is a partnership of Federal, State 

 and interstate agencies which have authority to carry out action programs. 

 Eight Federal agencies, six interstate agencies and seven States are represented 

 on the Commission. The Governor of each member State designates a representa- 

 tive, assuring that the full resources of a variety of State agencies may be drawn 

 upon. 



The Commission provides a vehicle through which action agencies can join in 

 planning action programs. The Commission does not do its planning in isolation 

 from those agencies which can acquire and manage lands, or build, operate and 

 maintain facilities. 



In the SENE project, responsibility for major elements of the study will be 

 borne by government agencies having responsibility and competence in certain 

 fields. For instance, the Corps of Engineers will work with State and interstate 

 agencies on planning for flood control, navigation improvement, beach erosion 

 control and hurricane protection. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation will work 

 with State park and recreation agencies to identify outdoor recreation needs and 

 opportunities for meeting them, and to recommend specific action by local. State, 

 Federal and private agencies. 



The New England River Basins Commission has established a Coordinating 

 Group under the Chairmanship of Frank Gregg, the Commission's Chairman. A 

 member of the Commission's staff, Walter M. Newman, serves as Executive 

 Secretary of the Coordinating Group. Members of the Coordinating Group include 

 representatives of Federal, State and interstate agencies. 



The Coordinating Group is now preparing a detailed outline for carrying out 

 the study. The plan of study will make specific assignments for portions of the 

 study — flood damage reduction, outdoor recreation, water supply, water pollu- 

 tion control, fish and wildlife, environmental quality, etc. One agency has primary 

 responsibility for each study element. The lead agency is assisted by a team of 

 other agencies and individuals, including private, local. State and Federal repre- 

 sentatives, to develop a coordinated program in its area of responsibility. Ele- 

 ments of the study are continuously reviewed by the Coordinating Group and 

 the Commission, and will eventually be combined into a coordinated Commission 

 report recommending an action program to secure the best use of all resources 

 for all purposes. 



A pivotal issue in the development and usefulness of the plan will be full 



