Colonel PINNELL. I would like to supply this for the record if I may, Mr. Chairman. Senator HART. We would welcome it. A most impressive development has occurred. A Cabinet officer is arriving precisely at the hour he indicated he would manage to get here. As I told you, Colonel, I must ask you to step aside so we may hear the Secretary. Please stand by because I have a few more questions and I am sure the staff has. Mr. Secretary, we welcome you. We realize the problem of your schedule and we hope we may permit you to get back on that schedule. STATEMENT OF HON. STEWART L. UDALL, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR Secretary UDALL. Mr. Chairman, I have a prepared statement. I am sure you have developed some very pointed facts here this morning with regard to this long-term problem which affects so many States and so many people. I want to indicate at the outset that I am not here loaded up with all the answers to this very serious problem, but I am very encouraged at the initiative that you Mr. Chairman, and the committee have taken in focusing attention on this problem. Here we In many parts of the United States there are water shortage problems that are developing. Many of these are arid areas. have a very grave problem and one that can have tremendous damaging effects on commerce, on the water supplies, and on other resources if appropriate action is not taken, and I think the time has come to focus sharp attention on this problem and to initiate new steps to meet it. So I welcome the opportunity to appear here this morning to discuss the water and related land resource problems of the Great Lakes basins. Solution of the water problems of the Great Lakes the levels of the lakes, flood and pollution control, restoration of fisheries, and this is particularly the responsibility of my Department and one that I think should also evoke very keen concern, the full development and full use of their vast recreation potential, and possibly further development of their hydroelectric potential-is a challenging task and one of the most important of our time. I wish to congratulate the chairman, Senator Hart, for his initiative in focusing attention of his region and the Nation on this problem. You have called upon the executive branch to take active steps now, toward a planned solution of the problems of the Great Lakes basins. We shall respond. The principal focus of this hearing is the problem of the water level of the lakes. The Corps of Engineers has brought you up to date on its studies of this problem. The Department of Commerce will tell you of the serious effect of continuance of this problem on lake navigation as it affects domestic and foreign commerce. And the representative of the Department of State will tell you of the present status of a possible joint study with Canada of this level-of-the-lakes problem through the aegis of the International Joint Commission. As far as I am concerned I think the sooner that gets underway the better. I am here this morning as Chairman of the ad hoc Water Resources Council, informally established by President Kennedy in October 1961, to coordinate the policies, procedures, and planning activities of the Departments of Agriculture, Army, Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Interior in the field of water and related land resources. The four Secretaries of these Departments constitute the ad hoc Council which, with the enactment of the Water Resources Planning Act, would constitute a Water Resources Council established by legislation with functions additional to those the ad hoc Council can now perform without legislation. This legislation, proposed by President Kennedy and endorsed by President Johnson, has passed the Senate, as you know, and is now before the House of Representatives. We are hopeful of its passage this session and urge your continued support. One thing that would give us a push is for this legislation to move forward to enactment this session. The reason for my being here is that the ad hoc Water Resources Council has under serious consideration, for initiation at the earliest practical time, a comprehensive study of the water and related land resources of the Great Lakes basins in the United States. Such a study, if undertaken, would be dovetailed with that being considered for joint undertaking by the United States and Canada through the International Joint Commission. That international study, as I understand it, would focus upon the need for stabilization of the lakes by the two countries and the means which might be employed to bring about such stabilization. The comprehensive study, under consideration by our four Departments, would be concerned with all water and related land conservation and development opportunities and problems within the United States including Adequate harbor facilities and commercial navigation; Watershed protection in the upper reaches of the tributaries to the lakes; Commercial fishing conservation and development; Sport fishing and wildlife conservation; and The great opportunity presented by the Great Lakes for public water-associated outdoor recreation for large numbers of our people in this most populated section of our country. This study, as now conceived, would be undertaken over a period of 4 years with the aim of developing a framework plan for all beneficial water and related land uses of the basins. The framework studies would provide projections of essential economic factors. These projections would be translated into demands for water and related land resource uses. The quantity and quality of available water and the related land resource would be determined. Thus, the characteristics of future water and related land resource problems would be identified and the general approaches that appear appropriate for meeting these problems, including possible alternative solutions, would be developed for public consideration. The basic objective of this framework_study would be to provide a broad guide to the best use, or combination of uses, of water and related land resources of a region to meet foreseeable short- and long-term needs. This study would come to grips with the resolution of conflicts between various water uses as well as the opportunity, provided in comprehensive planning, for joint provision of various uses through multiple-purpose facilities. Resolution of conflicts, and minimization of cost through multiple-purpose means, are essentials of good planning. They are essential also if the Congress is to be expected to act promptly and surely on the solution of water problems. The plan would give focus to, and provide a basis of judgment upon, the various individual planning activities that are now being undertaken in the area by the various Federal and non-Federal agencies. For example, there are over 100 special studies being undertaken by the Corps of Engineers alone in these basins. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has a study underway focused upon its particular concerns with water quality control in the Great Lakes. And the several agencies of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior are undertaking individual studies in this area from their own special points of view. A fully coordinated, comprehensive study effort in these basins would give focus and general direction to needed developments, reconciling any problems that exist between these present individual planning efforts, and all aimed at solving the basin's problems and providing strong basis for action. Adequate solution of the level-of-the-lakes problem through the joint study by the United States and Canada is necessary to the engineering and economic feasibility of other measures that might be planned in our comprehensive study where lake stabilization is essential or a highly desirable factor. Incidentally let me say with regard to the Canadian part of the problem, of course this is a resource that the United States shares with the people of Canada, and I think one of the very hopeful trends in recent years, and I have been in the middle of much of this, and I am very much encouraged by it, is the trend toward a greater degree of cooperation in resource development between our two countries. I would cite as one example of that, Mr. Chairman, the development of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. The Senate ratified that treaty 3 years ago. The Canadians have just finished ratifying it. It is a joint plan for the development of a resource which will begin to move forward this fall into the development stage. It is a very massive project involving several hundreds of millions of dollars, and the sharing of benefits under that plan. Likewise we are talking with the Canadian Government in the early stages with regard to the Passamaquoddy power project, which again is a resource that both countries share. So I think we are going to find that the Canadian resource people are as concerned as we are about the problem, and that they will be positive and constructive and cooperative if we present the problem to them. In a number of areas apart from commercial navigation, the problems can be serious. For example, no good can come from planning migratory waterfowl refuges in marshlands if there is not reasonable assurance that water levels will be maintained. Similarly, planning of small boat harbors for recreation, either for private or public development, requires knowledge of the level of the lakes. Substantially 37-173-64-3 increased costs can be incurred in changing the location of such facilities, from time to time, if the lakes rise or fall. On the other hand, economic and other technical data developed in the course of the four-Department comprehensive study would be essential in establishing the benefit to the United States of measures to stabilize the level of the lakes. Stability of the lakes would have a pervasive effect on many water uses. Thus, the effects of such stabilization, no doubt mostly beneficial, provide the primary basis for decision on whether the costs of stabilization are worthwhile. The four Departments believe that this hearing, to develop information from all sources as to the importance both of a joint United States-Canadian study and a more comprehensive study of water and related land resources in the United States, is very useful. The information developed here will enable us to better gage the importance to the Great Lakes region of undertaking the proposed comprehensive study and to advise the President whether such study should be initially budgeted in fiscal year 1966. Comprehensive studies coordinated by the four Departments and undertaken in coordination with other Federal agencies and the States are now underway in 19 river basins within the United States. In other words, we are already using this technique. This program of comprehensive development was initiated by President Kennedy in 1961 as a result of the report of the Senate Select Committee on National Water Problems, headed by the late Senator Kerr. That committee, as the chairman well knows, called for preparation of comprehensive studies covering the whole of the United States by 1970. Senator Hart was a leading member of the Senate select committee. I am very pleased to report to him, especially, that his great work on that committee is bearing fruit in major comprehensive studies throughout the United States. Major examples of comprehensive water and related land studies underway, in the eastern part of the country are the Connecticut River Basin and the upper Mississippi River Basin. Two smaller comprehensive studies, within the larger area of the Great Lakes basins, are now underway in the Grand River Basin in Michigan, tributary to Lake Michigan, and Genesee River Basin in New York, tributary to Lake Ontario. Fifteen comprehensive studies, including that for the Great Lakes basins as a whole, are yet to be initiated before response by the executive branch and the Congress to the call of the Senate Select Committee on National Water Problems will have been answered. I have a more detailed statement concerning the work of the ad hoc Water Resources Council and the present and past activities of our four Departments and their several constituent agencies, relating to water and related land resource matters in the Great Lakes basins. I would like to file this additional statement and have it made a part of the hearing record. Senator HART. This also will be printed as though given in full. Secretary UDALL. Also I have with me this morning representatives of the four Departments who are available to answer any questions you may have. Henry P. Caulfield, Jr., Chairman of the Interdepartmental Staff Committee of the ad hoc Water Resources Council, and Director of the Resources Program Staff in my Office, will be glad to answer any general questions and appropriately refer more detailed or technical questions to his staff colleagues within the four Departments who are here. Again, let me say it is a pleasure to appear before you this morning. Also, again, I would like to congratulate the chairman for his initiative in bringing the water problems of the Great Lakes, particularly the level of the lakes problem, pointedly to the attention of the people of his region and of the Nation generally. You may be assured of the full cooperation, Mr. Chairman, of my colleagues, the Secretaries of Agriculture, Army, Health, Education, and Welfare, and myself in working out feasible solutions to the important water problems being considered here this morning. Let me finally, Mr. Chairman, commend you personally and the committee once again for focusing attention at this time on this problem, and I think that it is time that we mustered all our resources and tackled it head on. Thank you very much. (The additional statement of Secretary Udall follows:) ADDITIONAL STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AS CHAIRMAN OF THE AD HOC WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL BEFORE THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JULY 24, 1964. This additional statement is divided into four parts. The first part is an explanation of the coordination efforts of the Departments of Agriculture; the Army; Health, Education, and Welfare; and the Interior in their comprehensive river basin studies. The current activities of each of the four Departments in the Great Lakes area are then briefly indicated. The third part is concerned with water and related land resources of this area. Finally, the type of study which we of the ad hoc Water Resources Council have in mind for the Great Lakes region is outlined. Many of the other water resource problems are only remotely related to the present serious problem of low lake levels. However, we of the ad hoc Water Resources Council believe that an analysis of all water and related land resources needs and problems is necessary to really comprehensive and balanced use and preservation of our water resources. The Secretaries of the Army; the Interior; Agriculture; and Health, Education, and Welfare the four Secretaries who would compose the Water Resources Council proposed by President Kennedy, endorsed by President Johnson, and included as title I in the water resources planning bill, passed by the Senate and now before the House-have been requested by the Bureau of the Budget to coordinate their planning programs and budgets for comprehensive river basin studies. In response, the four Departments have participated in an extensive coordination effort, both in the field and in Washington, with respect to their comprehensive river basin planning programs and responsibilities. This coordination has resulted in the development of concurrent schedules and identification of work items proposed for accomplishment by each agency for those studies currently underway. In addition, less detailed studies are proposed to substantially meet the administration's goal of having comprehensive studies for the major basins in this country by 1970. The 16 more detailed studies are expected to result in recommendations by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Army, and the Department of the Interior concerning improvements in accordance with existing agency responsibilities and authorities. Two of these detailed studies are of river basins within the drainage area of the Great Lakes. These are the Genesee River Basin draining into Lake Ontario and the Grand River Basin draining into Lake Michigan. The less detailed or framework studies, 3 underway and 15 yet to be started including 1 for the Great Lakes region, will furnish a broad appraisal of overall water and related land resources problems and general approaches to their solutions, and will constitute a basis for further detailed planning-on a coordinated basis under the regular planning programs of the agencies involved-of projects |