WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

BANK STABILIZATION

Thousands of acres of America's most productive farm land along the of our Nation's rivers are being destroyed annually. We urge Congr correct this staggering national loss. A systematic program of bank zation will also protect flood control structures, aid navigation and ave relocation of valuable public and private facilities such as levees, higl railways, bridges, dock and harbor and industrial installations.

CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

The responsibility for the authorization of projects and the control of appropriated for their construction rests with Congress.

The Bureau of the Budget is infringing upon and thwarting the aut of Congress by selecting projects for construction and allocating funds priated by Congress for such specific projects.

We are opposed to these practices of the Bureau of the Budget and 1 mend that Congress now reassert its constitutional authority and respons by directing that the funds appropriated by Congress be expended fo specific purposes for which the appropriations were made and that Co prevent attempts by the Bureau of the Budget to exercise control over dates of Congress.

CONTINUING CONTRACTS

We believe that the good faith of the United States is involved in m adequate funds avialable to complete continuing contracts at a rate will permit the contractor to prosecute his work with the greatest po economy.

FEDERAL REGIONAL VALLEY AUTHORITIES AND ADMINISTRATIONS

We oppose the creation of additional Federal regional valley authoriti administrations for the control and operation of our Nation's river b Such entities become superstates, transcend State and local gover and are not subject to sufficient control by Congress or regulating and au branches of government.

It is our sincere conviction that all legitimate objectives of land and conservation can be achieved under the coordinated direction of existing age without the State socialism inherent in any regional authority, no m how disguised.

We urge Congress to enact legislation providing for river basin contro operation by existing agencies in cooperation with the States involved

FEDERAL STEAM PLANTS

We believe that controlling floods, providing and improving navigation claiming arid lands, protecting soil against erosion and generating hydroele power incidental to these functions are proper activities of the Fe Government.

We oppose the construction of steam generating plans for the produ of power for resale by authorities, administrations or agencies of the Fe Government.

The construction of steam plants for the generation of power for com cial resale puts the Federal Government into the power business in d competition with its citizens and is not a proper function of Government We oppose the use of continuing funds by the Department of the Int for the purpose of enabling rural electric cooperatives to build steam p and high voltage transmission lines for direct sale or lease to the Depart of the Interior. Such loans avoid the clearly expressed intent of Cons to control the operations of these two agencies through annual appropria bills.

We believe that the effect fish and wildlife of the area mental agencies and that all damages to these resources.

FISH AND WILDLIFE

of constructing water resource projects upon should be considered by the appropriate gov practical steps should be taken to avert ser However, we oppose any interpretation of

ently enacted legislation which would permit the Federal Fish and Wilde Service or any other agency to delay or require excessive modification of ans for projects authorized by Congress.

FLOOD CONTROL

We consider the catastrophic loss of lives and property due to floods to be necessary drain upon the resources of this Nation. We recommend food control projects be vigorously prosecuted to completion, with particthe efforts to expedite projects which will also contribute to the developnt of navigation, the security of municipal and industrial water supplies, reduction of stream pollution, the development of irrigation and the cidental generation of hydroelectric power.

FLOOD PLAIN DEVELOPMENT

Realizing that most flood damages result from man's encroachment on natural Blood plains and that there is frequent justification for such occupancy, we Dobeless urge that local governments recognize that ill-advised flood plain development should be discouraged by all practicable means.

FORESTRY

We emphasize the importance of scientific multiple use management of our sands to flood and erosion control and to the overall national economy. Forest resources are renewable and can contribute much to national requirements for economic and social advancement. We believe real conservation four forest resources requires a policy of wise use as contrasted to one d preservation.

We recommend a more foresighted policy of forestation, reforestation, insect and disease control, and forest management. We recognize the need for adequately protecting all forest and range lands from damage by fire as basic to the full production of timber, forage, the control of erosion, and water rund We urge that the States extend adequate fire protection to all lands in need of such protection. We endorse the principle of Federal-State cooperation in fre control.

We recognize that the full productivity of all forest lands is needed to meet the Nation's future wood requirements. Recent surveys show that much of the potential production is on the woodlands in the Mississippi Valley. We urge that these lands receive scientific forest management at an accelerated rate. We endorse the principle of Federal-State cooperation in providing educational and technical assistance to the woodland owner. We encourage pirate ownership of forest and range land rather than subtantial increases Federal ownership. Forestry research by State agricultural colleges and the U.S. Forest Service should be expanded.

We urge the full development of our national forests by implementing with pate appropriations, the program for the national forests as presented to Congress by the Secretary of Agriculture in 1959.

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

is recognized that in a comprehensive plan for the development of our ers to provide for flood control, navigation and irrigation, dams of the alled multiple-purpose type can be constructed in many localities without simpairment of the primary purposes for which the dams are conted. It is urged that wherever such conditions exist and multiple-purpose can be economically justified, Congress proceed with the authorizaand appropriations for the construction of such multiple purpose dams. De to the nature of the stream flow in the Mississippi Valley, power and ergy generated from any such multiple-purpose dam in the area will vary terially with rainfall. Therefore, the production of power must be purely idental to the primary purposes for which the dams are designed. For reason, and in order to protect the primary purposes of the dams, it is urged: (1) That the incidental power and energy produced at such multiple-purpose ms be sold at the bus bar or from high voltage lines constructed by Governent agencies to existing agencies, both public and private, engaged in producon and distribution of electric power and energy in the contiguous area, resale by them to their customers without discrimination or preference.

We recommend and will support legislative amendments to the statutes (Public Lands law, United States Code title 43, paragraph so as to make possible a fair and equitable distribution of publicly hydroelectric power, so that the benefits shall be available to all comm citizens and taxpayers without discrimination.

(2) That wholesale rates for such sales be set by the Federal Commission.

(3) That sale and accounting for such incidental power and energy and carried by the existing agencies of the Federal Government de building and operating such multiple purpose dams, i.e., the Corps of E or the Bureau of Reclamation.

(4) That purchasers of wholesale power pay to the Government, as mum, the actual cost thereof, including, in addition to ordinary of expenses, interest at average rate on governmental borrowings and a tion of the cost of the project allocated to the power production over a not to exceed 50 years.

(5) That any and all savings or profits accruing to the purchaser at sale rates, under what similar quantities of electrical power and would have cost the purchaser to produce by the best and cheapest alte method, be passed on to its retail customers in the area, in the a and in the manner prescribed by proper regulatory authorities.

(6) That Congress favor the continued development of hydroelectric facilities by private enterprise wherever private enterprise is ready an ing to undertake such development without impairment of other be uses of water. Such development can provide annual tax revenues portance to Federal, State, and local governments and can relieve the n Treasury of part of the cost of necessary national development of power resources.

INLAND AND INTRACOASTAL WATERWAYS

The full development of our inland and intracoastal waterways is es to the maintenance and growth of the Nation's commerce and defense. W renewed national interest in modern, standardized waterways as an es ingredient to an integrated domestic transportation network. This pr should include:

(1) The improvement of our waterways to carry such tonnages as be required by a national war effort.

(2) The improvement of the interconnections between the inland s and the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico.

(3) The improvement of the physical condition of the locks and da the Nation's inland systems.

We urge Congress to appropriate sufficient funds to complete and ma the inland waterways so that authorized channel depths are contin available during the navigation season.

LOW FLOW

We strongly urge Congress to enact augmentation legislation autho the provision at Federal expense, without reimbursement, of storage in tiple-purpose reservoirs for low flow augmentation where the benefits such augmentation are widespread, general and nonexclusive.

NEW STARTS, SURVEYS AND PLANS

It is a vital precept of sound national policy that there be an orderly graming of planning and construction of water resource projects autho by Congress. Such a program requires adequate advance study and engi ing design. The orderly progress of projects from one phase to the next ca be accomplished without adequate funds for surveys and planning. The struction program necessitates starting construction of new projects enough to insure their completion, under an orderly and economical ra construction, in time to meet the need for the facility.

The President's budget, now under consideration by Congress, is inadeq in certain areas for the accomplishment of these purposes.

To implement this program in keeping with good business management to protect our economy, nothing short of a national emergency should re or delay the development and conservation of our valuable water resou

We therefore urge Congress to insist upon a reasonable number of new starts at year, both in planning and construction. In this connection, we believe

planning is not sufficiently ahead of construction to provide adequate obility in carrying out a broad program and we urge that the number of ning starts be increased rather than diminished.

de planning and construction of water resource projects which are comat units of comprehensive programs already under construction, should be delayed by defining such projects as "new starts." Such an erroneous gretation destroys the integrated function of other elements in the comfensive program, diminishes their benefits, is wasteful of funds and is not the public interest. Neither should the term be applied to restudies or aluations of programs on which there has been a previous favorable report.

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PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Funds to plan, construct and maintain flood control, navigation and land and water conservation programs are now considered by Congress to be current cal expenditures whereas, in reality, they should be considered national capital investments in the security and welfare of the Nation.

We urge Congress to consider these great national programs on a capital investment basis and to set a schedule for their completion in a minimum der of years.

RECLAMATION

Next to the consumptive use of water for municipal and domestic purposes, Teensider the development of arid lands by irrigation to be the highest ecial use of water in the 17 Western States.

RECREATIONAL BENEFITS

There is need for a monetary evaluation of the recreational benefits created by the construction and operation of reservoir projects under programs of food control, navigation and reclamation. The evaluation of such benefits should be considered an integral part of the total benefits accruing to such projects. Since such benefits accrue to the people of the Nation and are available to all, they should be nonreimbursable. The inadequacy of present facilities to meet the demands of the vacationing public is apparent and must he supplemented by accelerated programs for recreational facilities. Such facilities on all reservoirs should be fully developed through the cooperation of Federal, State and local agencies.

SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES

The Mississippi Valley Association commends the U.S. Senate for the creation of the Senate Select Committee on National Water Resources as an agency of advice on water resources development to the Senate and the Nation to the nd that a national water policy may be formulated that will bring about ete water security for this Nation.

SMALL WATERSHEDS

We urge the several States to pass enabling legislation to create public cies with power to contract with local, State and Federal agencies to elop small watershed conservation programs. The small watershed program der Public Law 566 is doing an effective job of providing water retention a local basis with local organizations doing most of the work. We urge gress to provide adequate continuing appropriations for planning and surveys these projects.

SNAGGING AND CHANNEL CLEARING

We recommend that sufficient funds be appropriated to carry out the authorized program of snagging and channel clearing.

SOIL CONSERVATION

Recognizing the need for permanent conservation of America's agricultural land and water resources, we urge the consolidation of Federal activity in this field, including research, education, on-site technical assistance and finandial aid, within the soil conservation districts.

We commend the more than 2,800 soil conservation districts for the accomplishments.

We oppose any attempt to weaken these locally created and operated. by Federal legislation or Executive order.

We urge close coordination of upstream water retardation activities ▾ downstream programs of the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Recla

USE OF EXISTING AGENCIES

We endorse the excellent work of the existing Federal agencies respons the development of the land and water resources of the Mississippi Basi We oppose the creation of any public works agency which would con or interfere with those agencies long expert in their respective fields.

We insist that no reorganization plan shall adversely affect any civil í of the Corps of Engineers. Such a plan would eliminate a century's engi experience, scatter trained personnel, destroy the esprit de corps which h the corps' work outstanding throughout the world and withdraw from th a valuable peacetime training activity which has proved its worth in time

WATER RESOURCES

We urge Congress and the State legislatures to appropriate adequate f pursue continuing studies of all matters affecting water resources, in drainage, precipitation, evaporation, infiltration, surface runoff, under movements, quantity and quality of surface and underground waters an matters. Such studies should be made by the Corps of Engineers, tl Geological Survey, the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, and appropriate Federal and State agencies.

We recommend a concerted study of underground water supplies to t that our diminishing underground water be replenished and its benefic perpetuated.

We urge Congress to establish a formula which will assign an economi to all benefits, direct and indirect, resulting from water resource projects, ing domestic and industrial water supply, irrigation, pollution abat enhanced lands values, recreational advantages and economic benefits ass therewith, as well as those benefits presently recognized, and that such va used in computing the benefit-cost ratio of all such projects.

We urge that flood control and multiple-purpose reservoirs be of such si be operated in such manner as to provide protection from floods and to p maximum conservation storage to implement the provisions of the Water} Act of 1958.

DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TRANSPORTATION AND TRADE

BRIDGE CLEARANCES OVER NAVIGABLE STREAMS

We oppose the construction of bridges over navigable streams which are previously established minimums or which would hinder present or futu of these streams for water transportation or related activities.

CERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY

We urge Congress to enact legislation which would give the Interstate merce Commission authority, after hearing, to modify or revoke certi granted to common carriers by water for willful failure to operate in confo with the provisions therof.

FEES FOR SERVICES AND DOCUMENTS

We believe that the present law (Title V Public Law 137, 82d Cong directing Federal agencies to assess specific charges for work or service formed, should be repealed because it is arbitary, unworkable, and indefini

FILING OF TARIFFS BY TERMINAL OPERATORS

We believe that the proposal by the Federal Maritime Board of rul require terminal operators to file rates, terms and conditions is premature unnecessary, and we oppose any regulation of this type at this time.