350 



upstream water resource development activities to have long range 

 impacts downstream on estuarine resources. The downstream influences 

 of these projects are being considered and are of importance to the 

 Department's interest and responsibility in the estuarine zones. 



NationaZ Park Service 



The preservation of marine life and environments and the provision 

 for marine-related recreational activities are major considerations in 

 the National Park Service's administration of 24 areas alon^ the Na- 

 tion's seacoast and along the shores of the Great Lakes. Fifteen of 

 these areas are national parks and monuments where resource protec- 

 tion is a major management objective; seven are national seashores 

 located along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and two are 

 national lakeshores located along the Great Lakes where outdoor 

 recreation is a primary management consideration. 



In addition, 28 units within the national park system are historical 

 areas found along our coastlines. Total length of shoreline in these 

 52 areas exceeds 1,870 miles. 



The service's combined role in marine-related areas is to preserve 

 and manage natural, scenic, historical, and scientific features of these 

 areas, to interpret these features for park visitors, to provide and 

 maintain facilities and services necessary for park visitors to safely 

 enjoy compatible recreational activities, and to provide access to waters 

 and beaches. The service, also, participates in comprehensive river 

 basin and water resources project planning and in review of project 

 proposals and permit applications. 



Office of Saline Water 

 The primary objective of the saline water conversion program is to 

 develop practicable low-cost methods of producing fresh water from 

 sea and other saline waters. The research and development program is 

 conducted by means of research and development grants and contracts 

 awarded to individuals, universities, private research organizations 

 and industrial firms, and other government agencies. Estuarial waters 

 are one source of saline waters for desalting. Disposal of waste brine 

 from a large desalting plant may be a problem in relation to envi- 

 ronmental conditions m certain estuarine situations from the view- 

 point of increases in salinity and temj>erature. The Office of Saline 

 Water brine disposal research program is directed to determining any 

 detrimental effects and means of alleviating them so that the economic 

 production of fresh water by desalination can be continued without 

 imposing stresses on the environment. 



Office of Water Resources Research 

 The Office of Water Resources Research, authorized under the 

 Water Resources Research Act of 1964 (Public Law 89-404) provides 

 a major benefit to the Nation. It seeks to stimulate, sponsor, and supple- 

 ment present programs of research and training in the field of water 



