Art Klein, a Permits investigator in Buffalo's Regulatory Functions Branch, examines plant life in a Niagara
County, New York wetland.
of action for integrating conservation measures into
I don't think conservation will be enough. In my talk
five Civil Works program areas: planning, design and
down in New Orleans earlier this year I said that
construction, reservoir regulation, operation and
developing a water conservation plan is just a first
maintenance, and regulatory activities. We sent the
step. That done, we will find that our needs still
plan to our field offices in May of 1979 and this May
exceed our present supply. Therefore, well need to
we sent an updated version. Our water conservation
store excess water in time of plenty so that it will be
program is a solid one that addresses water
available for shortages. The question then becomes
conservation as part of our own use of water and of
"who's going to develop water supply?" Congress has
our planning for future water needs of the public. We
already selected the Corps of Engineers to study water
are drawing up contingency plans to make existing
supply in the northeast United States and I'm of the
Corps projects responsive to short-term water
view that the Corps is probably the best agency, but
shortages during droughts. We are also considering
not the only one, to do it nationwide. I've thought for
water conservation in our permit program's public
some years now that we should be given a charter by
interest review.
the congressional authorization committees to
undertake a national water supply study. I believe the
appropriations committees would be willing to provide
Up to the present time the role of the Corps has been
the money, but there is a preceding question which
limited primarily to water supply as a part of multiple
relates to authority to make the study. Water supply is
purpose Federal projects. In 1975 you talked about
certainly in somebody's future; I would hope it will be
planning for water supply. Will conservation be
the Corps'.
enough? Do you see our role in water supply
increasing in the 80s?
WATER SPECTRUM, FALL 1980
F-3
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