o 



c 

 <u 



a. 



low rank of the Plains may change. Expected 

 energy production from fossil fuels in the 

 Plains region would result in extensive water 

 withdrawals. 



Regional Rank — Water Withdrawals 

 1965 2000 



1. West 



2. Northeast 



3. Southeast 



4. Plains 



1. Northeast 



2. West 



3. Southeast 



4. Plains 



Projected regional requirements for water 

 are not strictly binding in terms of developing 

 water supply programs. As indicated earlier, 

 water may be used at points and in regions 

 distant from its origin. For example, the major 

 streams crossing the Plains to the Mississippi 

 River originate in the West. Thus, range man- 

 agement programs in one region, such as the 

 West, can have important effects outside the 

 region. 



In addition to uses that withdraw water from 

 the streams, "use up" some, and return some, 

 there are "in stream" uses. These include pro- 

 duction of hydroelectric power, navigation, 

 recreation, and production of fish and wildlife. 

 Most suitable hydroelectric sites have been de- 

 voloped. However, it is expected that require- 

 ments for recreation, fish and wildlife, and 

 navigation, as well as for energy, will increase. 



In addition to all the needs for managing 

 lands and waters already described is the need 

 to reduce the frequency of and damage by 

 flooding. 



Qualitative Indexes of Demand 



The Nation's forest-range environment is im- 

 portant to the quality of American life. Space 

 is limited. Casual wasting and polluting, hardly 

 noticed in the process of national growth, have 

 become serious. Past abuses have caused seg- 

 ments of the environment, including forest- 

 range ecosystems, to need repair and rehabilita- 

 tion (fig. 33). 



51 



