Engineer Memoirs
which go from the dam to the headwaters of each of the six reservoirs between Gavins
Point and Fort Peck. Initially, this seemed to make good sense. But, in fact, this
solution has left relatively short stretches below the dams which are subject to
extensive erosion problems and, unfortunately, benefits from the projects have already
been allocated. The value of the land eroded cannot offset the extremely high cost of
bank protection.
What all of this adds up to is my belief that with the environmental objectives and
the conservation objectives, economic analysis is only one part instead of the
whole...and, I believe, a less important part than we have allowed it to appear.
Having developed our water resources to the extent that we have, I strongly
advocate an approach which resolves problems based on national need rather than on
pure economics.
Had this approach been used on the Missouri River, we would have one project
from Gavins Point to the headwaters at Fort Peck. Thus the erosion problems, which
must now be addressed as individual problems, would have been part of the total
project and properly charged against total major project benefits.
Of immediate importance is the ongoing National Navigation Study. My hope is
that that study will identify the best water transportation system which the natural
features of this country can support. It should be a total system, and we should not
require that each and every segment, addition or improvement meet some arbitrary,
economic test. We need the entire system to be that which best serves the total national
interest.
Similarly, in the hydropower study, we should never repeat the serious errors of
the 1960s by failing to provide power because of an economic evaluation predicated
on such volatile data as the cost of alternative sources of fuel. This Nation needs all the
energy which can be reasonably obtained through competent engineering and design,
and we should provide that energy in the national interest. We need not be constrained
by economic evaluations other than to identify the least expensive investment to meet
the Nation's needs.
In summary, I definitely believe and sense that there is an emerging national
attitude which, in due course, will lead us to another period of development of natural
resources and particularly water. However, before this attitude bears fruit, we must
wring out all of the water to be gained by a well thought out and mature national
conservation program. And equally important, we must get our act together on
identifying projects which will be developed. These projects will be of a character
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