Here toeeneur tue OvNoeB-U ls Loe L 13aN ai 
PROGRESS IN WATER CLEAN-UP 
By Jane Tester 
In the field of water conservation, 1964 was a year of progress. While the 
pollution problem continues to grow, our laws finally seem to be catching up. 
The Water Resources Research Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-379) was 
signed by President Johnson on July 17. The law provides the funds and 
authorization to establish water research centers in all states The program 
will be established at land grant colleges. The government will be engaged 
in a 10-year program of matching funds, grants, and contracts for the 
research. The program will be unique in one respect: It provides for 
cooperation between various governmental units on the local, state, and 
federal levels, and includes cooperation with educational institutions, private 
firms, and individuals engaged in water research. 
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (P. L. 88-578) will help 
local and state governments to develop outdoor recreation facilities and will 
finance federal acquisition of recreational areas. Water resources in those 
areas would thus be protected. The fund will be financed in a number of 
ways: admission and user fees in federal recreational areas des'gnated by the 
President; proceeds from sales of federal surplus property; and proceeds 
from the existing federal tax on motor boat fuel. 
President Johnson mentioned the water pollution problem in his state- 
of-the-union message. We should look for introduction of bills in this 
session of Congress that would strengthen the Water Pollution Control] Act. 
Illinois will be in the news this Spring. The U. S. Public Health Service 
has completed a four-year study on the extent of water pollution in the 
southern end of Lake Michigan. Anthony Celebreeze, Secretary of Health, 
Education, and Welfare has called a conference on the pollution problem 
for March 2, 1965, in McCormick Place, Chicago. Officials of Illinois and 
Indiana will be asked to attend the conference. The Public Health Service 
study is expected to be the highlight of the conference. 
Let’s give a vote of thanks to two organizations that have worked long 
and hard on the problem of water pollution. The League of Women Voters 
has been working since 1956 on water resources. Members have supported 
national legislation, instituted river basin studies, and testified at hearings. 
On Jan. 22, 1965, Illinois League members met in Chicago to hear a day-long 
program on Water Resources. A panel of League members spoke in the 
morning, and the afternoon program was highlighted by Mr. William C. 
Ackermann, Chief of the Illinois State Water Survey, who spoke on ‘Plan- 
ning and Research for Water Resources.”’ 
The other organization is the Illinois Clean Streams Committee. Under 
the able chairmanship of the late Robert Buzard, the Committee worked 
successfully on problems of detection and law enforcement. We deeply 
regret the loss of Bob Buzard, a real leader in the fight for clean streams. 
2029 Oxford Street, Rockford, Illinois 
