Evening star., 1951-02-26

tAAS'
The study of the Potomac wa:
included among five Eastern rivers
The report also includes studies o
five Western rivers. The studie!
were made by representatives o1
various Federal agencies and were
revised and edited by the commits
sion staff. The report points Out
that the conclusions reached de
not necessarily represent the view.
Of any of the agencies represented
The studies of the 10 rivers
formed the basis for the first com.
mission report which advocated
the enactment of Federal legisla-
ton setting up a uniform policy
for the orderly development of the
Nations river basins.
- ., 10 Rivers Studied.
: The 10 rivers studied include the
Columbia. the Central Valley o1
California. the Missouri, the Rie
Grande and the Colorado in the
West, and the Connecticut, the
Alabama -Coosa, the Potomac, the
Ohio and the Tennessee in the
East. The Tennessee was included
1t was said, because it represents
the one river in the Nation where
a multiple-purpose plan is well
developed.
Commission Chairman Morris L.
Cooke said the studies, which con-
sidered in detail the plans, poten-
tialities and problems confronting
basin development in 10 major
drainage areas. supplied an admir-
able background against which to
test the recommendation of the
commission and to examine pres
ent programs and projects.
He said the cooperative basin
studies served another important
purpose in demonstrating the pos
sibility of bringing together many
agencies to agree upon the i'm
portant elements Of a single pro-
gram in which the objective Of
unified. multiple-purpose develop
ment finds practical expression.
He said the commission believes
that such cooperative effort is
essential to sound programming.
Mr.. Cooke said the interrela-
tionship of water development to
land management, and to social,
economic and recreational prob
lens is apparent in each of the
10 studies, and led to the COM
MISSIONS. emphasis on the ne
cessity for integrated basin de-
velopment programs.
Emphasizes Electric Power.
The report lays emphasis on the
development of hydroelectric pow
er potentialities in all basins, in
cluding that developed, In process
of being developed, and undevel-
oped.
1t believes that the solution to
the various problems now con-
fronting basin development will
lead to new agricultural produc-
tivity, industrial expansion, i'm
proved navigation, power devel-
opment, increase in wild game and
fish, and more recreation facili-
ties.
In its discussions on the Po-
tomac. the report states that ION
the whole" the large potentiali-
ties of the basin for serving human
needs generally are being allowed
to go unused" and adds that the
people of the basin should be
blamed in part for the slow de-
velopment of the area.
The report stresses the need in
the Potomac Basin for the de-
velopment OF multiple-purpose
reservoirs that would serve for
food control, hydroelectric power
development, wildlife propagation,
recreation and pollution control.
1t recalls that a plan for IA
reservoirs authorized by the Corps
of Engineers for preliminary ex-
animation in 1914, was reported
unfavorably because of local op-
position.
While not criticlzing the engi-
neers, the report hints that great
er local participation in the 1914
plan might have produced greater
achievements. 1t emphasizes the
Importance of local participation
in any plan envisioned for the
Potomac Basin, stressing the ne
cessity for careful studies to de-
termine the possible effect of one
project on other potentialities in
the basin.
Example Described.
For example, the report states
that movements to drain marsh
land in the Tidewater area may
have a disastrous effect on both
waterfowl and fur-bearing ami
mails.
This example also could apply
to upstream improvements, where
the careful consideration of the
effects of reservoir on the econ
omy. the history, the beauty and
all other aspects of life should be
carefully analyzed and weighed
before definite plan is adopted.
The report points out that al
though the Potomac Basin long
has been recognized as a water
power source, little use is being
made of its potentialities. There
now are only two large and 1s
small utility plants in the area
THE primary market for the
undeveloped hydroelectric power
in the Potomac River basin is in
q limited area Immediately ad-
. jacent to the watershed, compris-
ing a part of Maryland, the Dis
trict of Columbia and most ol
Virginia." the report stated.
THE electric energy require