Evening star., 1946-07-28
Potomac River Basin Pact
Aids in Curbing Pollution
Four States, District and Federal Governments
Set Example by Joint Efforts to End
Contamination of Water
Bv James BirchffeId

BirchfieLd
in Virginia, sections of the Monocacy
River in Maryland and the Potomac
area Immediately above and below
Washington
The fourth classification, estimated
to include from S to per cent of the
basin. includes the Potomac at WASH
ington and in the Cumberland, Md,
area. In regard to Cumberland, how
ever. completion of the Savage River
dam as provided in the flood control
bill, signed by the President, is expected
to relieve pollution in that area by
providing an even flow during the sum-
mer months.
Commission members, faced with the
challenge of showing the Nation that
four States, cooperating through q
central agency, can plan and improve
a river basin common to all, are be-
ginning to think along broader terms
than pollution abatement, the purpose
for which the commission was formed.
Problems Interconnected.
EVEN d lldSLS SOilolNCl VI oAho
pollution problem shows that 1t leads
to food control and that food control
in turn leads to the conservation OF
both aquatic and wildlife and of the
land that forms the natural watershed.
And a byproduct of flood control Ii
power.
In other words any problem that af-
- he hoe hA
considered in its relation to all others.
MARYLAND State Senator L. Harold
Sothoron, commission chairman, has
stated the problem now facing the body.
There are in the Potomac Basin
many problems of multiple ADJUST
ments which require solution" Mr..
Sothoron said.
Land use is one of the most basic.
Uses of the land, whether for farming.
forest areas, or mining operations vital
ly affect the water resources in the
lower areas.
In the Monocacy River and Goose
Creek watersheds of the Potomac we
have considerable land erosion caused
by improper farming practices, which,
in turn, causes high turbidity in the
Potomac and seriously interferes with
navigation from time to time due to
sitting.
Would Distribute Costs.
TN the mountainous regions of the
basin in Western Maryland and West
Virginia many areas are badly eroded
because of land being used for farms
instead of for forest areas for which
it is better fitted. The lack of forest
cover in some of these areas contributes
to many of our foods
"One of the difficulties in carrying
forward any multiple project
in conjunction with water resources is
that political subdivisions and private
organizations have a reluctance to as
sumo their rightful share of the costs
of these projects-wanting to receive
the benefits, but refusing to share the
cost-desiring that funds be provided
by the Federal Government.
1T is the commissions belief that
much study can be given to this prob
lem and that where benefits occur,
local and private agencies should share
in the cost Of an improvement"
One of the greatest handicaps in
the speed of accomplishing any pro-
gram decided on by the commission
is its lack of power Set up as an
advisory body to collect data and make
recommendations for pollution abate-
ment, the group must depend for re-
suits on actions taken by the re-
spective States.
At present Pennsylvania, the last Of
the four States to enter the pact, has
perhaps the strongest laws regulating
stream pollution. The last session of
the State Legislature appropriated a
total of $4,000 900 to be used Jointly
for this work and to increase health
facilities
West Virginia Follows Suit.
The State has established a research
program to study means of decreasing
acid water ef1uence from the mining
areas and of correcting pollution from
industries along the States water
courses.
West Virginia recently has increased
its State Water Commission-the State
agency that handles pollution problems
from three to five members, and is
now formulating a program similar to
that of Pennsylvania. West Virginia
officials have indicated that the State
will clean up" all polluted areas
In Maryland, members of a Water
Pollution Committee authorized by the
last session nf tho Sfoto eoiSI Iot To
study the problems in that State, were
named recently by Gov. O'Conor and 1t
is expected that action to strengthen ex-
isting laws in the Free State will be
taken by Legislature next year Dean
S. S. Steinberg of the University of
Maryland, heads this group.
While Virginia now has an anti
pollution law, enacted early this year by
the General Assembly, it has made less
progress than the other three States.
A water control board, headed by
Delegate E. Blackburn Moore of Berry,
vile, has been set up but lacks the nee
essary funds for an adequate study of
the problem.
1t was recalled that the Virginia law.
recommended by the State Legislative
Advisory Council after a careful survey.
during which the advice of industry was
sought, was modified radically in COM
mittee after the Virginia Manufacturers
Association objected to its provisions.
In fact, so great were some of the modi-
dcations that Mr.. Moore, one of tha
bills sponsors, expressed the fear that
- =