198 THE FUTURE OF ARID LANDS 
million acre-feet a year in the 17 arid western states. A greater 
waster is the class of plants known as phreatophytes. Tamarisk or 
salt cedar is one of the better known of these water-loving useless 
plants. It has been estimated that in the west these consume more 
than 20 million acre-feet of water a year. The importance of the 
loss is illustrated by the fact that water developments in Cali- 
fornia, which have cost hundreds of millions of dollars to provide 
for a population of 12 million, assure a water supply totaling only 
21 million acre-feet. The previously used chemical spraying and 
mechanical methods of controlling phreatophytes in reservoir 
deltas and elsewhere undoubtedly can be improved upon. 
Ground water pumping in too many places has been overde- 
veloped. Improved state laws, or in some states the passage of 
ground water codes, and better enforcement of laws certainly are 
needed to improve control of ground water use. Beyond law, 
however, we need also additional engineering information about 
ground water. Water development planning is giving constantly 
greater attention to combined development of surface and ground 
water resources. 
Important principles are involved not only in the technological 
problems sketched above, but lie also in the broader considera- 
tions of comprehensive resource development. Such planning is 
intended and I am sure will be accomplished by the joint efforts 
of local, state, and federal agencies. Beyond local or state bound- 
aries there is need for regional research, for analysis of regional 
needs properly related to national needs, for analysis of econom- 
ical development, and for balanced area development. 
The days of quick and inexpensive exploitation of any natural 
resource are in the past. Our situation today is such that important 
progress can be made only through the unified effort of the many 
interests involved and the planning for any given area. 
There can be no room for jealousies or enmities between de- 
velopmental groups, public or private. We cannot afford compe- 
tition between sciences; teamwork is essential between chemists, 
geologists, engineers, economists, hydrologists, and agricultural 
specialists. 
Ill-conceived development is an extravagance no nation in the 
