Source: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1138879
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 23:02:30+00:00

Document:
497 forecasts water supply and stream flow.12 The similar activi- ties of the Geological Survey include the maintenance of 6,200 gauging stations and the conduct of nation-wide investigations concerning the occurrence, quantity, and quality of water in the United States.13 Moreover, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to make snow surveys and conduct research con- cerning long-range weather forecastings and the relationships between weather and soil erosion.14 Not to be overlooked is the 1938 provision for establishment, operation, and mainte- nance by the Weather Bureau of a current information service on precipitation, flood forecasts, and warnings, in connec- tion with authorized flood-control activities by the Army Engineers.15 The need for stream-flow and related data appears to be inherent in investigations concerning the effect on wildlife of pollution and of water impoundment or diversion. Investiga- tions by the Secretary of the Interior are authorized to include the "determination of standards of water quality for the main- tenance of wildlife," together with a study of methods of abat- 12 United States Government Organization Manual, 1950-51, pp. 264- 265 (1950). 13 Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior, p. 193 (1949). As we have noted, the act creating the Geological Survey did not mention stream gauging. In this connection, the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House in 1906 sustained a point of order against an appropriation for "gauging streams, and determining the water supply." He ruled that this term "does not fall within any of the provisions of the statute creating the office of the Geological Survey." IV Hinds, Precedents of the House of Representatives, § 3714. See also § 3715. This ruling was reaffirmed the following year. Id. § 3795. Nevertheless, in appropriation acts and in acts providing for reports, Congress has long made provision for stream gauging as a function of the Geological Survey. And in 1942, it authorized the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands for use by the Geological Survey in gauging streams. See supra, pp. 343-344. The Geological Survey performs many investigations for other federal agencies. For example, $2,400,000 was transferred in the fiscal year 1949 from other agencies to the Geological Survey for these investigations. An- nual Report of the Secretary of the Interior, p. 191 (1949). M Reorganization Plan No. IV, § 8, effective June 30, 1940, 54 Stat. 1234, 1236, 5 U. S. C. 133t note following. 18 Act of June 28, 1938, § 8, 52 Stat. 1215, 1226, 33 V. S. C. 706. See also supra, p. 146.

References: § 3714
 § 3715
 § 3795
 § 8
 § 8
 V.