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participation by Federal, State, interstate, regional, local and private agencies. 

 If all participants use the study as a positive vehicle for concerted planning of 

 their individual water and related land resource programs, the success and 

 implementation of the plan is reasonably assured. 



_ The impact of the study will be strongly influenced by the degree of participa- 

 tion by State agencies. Because the Commission is a Federal-State agency, the 

 States are assured a strong voice in design and execution of the study. But 

 effective resource management will require aggressive action by a number of 

 agencies in each State, as well as action by Federal agencies. The Commission 

 will urge State fish and wildlife and outdoor recreation agencies, for instance, 

 to use the SENE study as a vehicle for planning their own programs — for getting 

 the most out of these resources for the interests they represent. It should be 

 emphasized that while Federal agencies have authority for a number of specific 

 programs — such as construction of dams and reservoirs, local flood protection 

 projects, navigation improvements, beach erosion control, and preservation of 

 outstanding areas as national parks or wildlife refuges — most of the actions 

 which will have to be taken to conserve and develop water and related land 

 resources are the responsibility of State and local governments, and private 

 individuals, businesses and other private institutions. 



Fully effective participation by each State will require coordination among 

 State agencies somewhat comparable to the coordination among Federal agen- 

 cies achieved their membership on the Commission. Each State may wish to con- 

 sider establishing an internal coordinating body to make certain that all State 

 agencies will be effectively involved in the study. Further, while Federal agencies 

 rnay assist counterpart State agencies in such study elements as outdoor recrea- 

 tion, fish and wildlife, or water supply, the prospects of effective action will be 

 substantially enhanced if these agencies assign professional personnel to arrive 

 at their own judgments and recommendations on what should be done in their 

 areas of responsibility. 



In this study there is special urgency for effective involvement by regional 

 planning agencies. All, or substantially all, of the study area is served by regional 

 planning organizations (Rhode Island's Statewide Planning Program .serves 

 this purpose in part). These regional planning programs cover land use, trans- 

 portation and other elements in addition to water and related land resources. 

 It is essential that the water and related land use plan developed through 

 the Commission recognize and complement the aspirations and objectives of 

 State and regional planning agencies. The converse, of course, is also true. Many 

 regional plans deal directly with water supply and waste disposal, and with use 

 and development of shorelines and other lands intimately associated with water. 



The Commission hopes, with assistance from State planning agencies, to 

 establish and maintain close liaison with regional planning organizations. 



While the study will span four years, recommendations for action by local, 

 State and Federal governments and private interests will be made as soon as 

 sound judgments can be made. In other words, prompt action may be recom- 

 mended on flood control projects, acquisition of critical land areas, or other 

 programs early in the planning process. 



A preliminary plan of study and coordinated budget has been prepared. This 

 document has been approved by the Water Resources Council, an agency of the 

 Federal government which coordinates all major water resources planning pro- 

 grams in which the Federal government is involved. Funding of the SENE study 

 will be processed by the Public Works Subcommittee on Appropriations of the 

 Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. 



The prelimininary document recommends an initial appropriation to all par- 

 ticipating Federal agencies for Fiscal Year 1970, and for the duration of the 

 study. The specific dollar amounts will be adjusted after a detailed plan of study 

 is projected. 



Prior to initiation of the SENE study, the New England Division, Corps of 

 Engineers, will initiate a series of investigations of flood problems in the Nar- 

 ragansett Bay drainage area identified by the floods of March 1968. Urgently 

 needed projects may be recommended for prompt action. Where flood control 

 projects may affect other uses of rivers or related lands, coordination will be 

 sought by the Corps through the Coordinating Committee for the SENE study. 

 As the SENE study goes forward, the flood control investigations will be directed 

 by the Corps as an important element of the overall study. 



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