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..-11,, ... h .. Soc.C\7• l,.Q'(/Tv, ,U,U,... ···-',c·. ,or m,ormation .111 s. ;:ludan~ lcl(is• Clllff :1c,1vuy. March 1978 ACTION ALERTPRESIDENT CARTER IS SOON TO MAKE MAJOR DECISIONS ON FEDERAL V/ ATER DE'VELOPMENT POLICY - DECISIONS WHICI-: WliL
'
DETERMINE
.
THE FUTURE OF MANY OF THE
NATION'S Ri.."'VE"."S,STREAMS, AND WETLANDS •. THE PRESIDENT IS KNOWN TO FAVOn
CEl'..NGES WEICH Wil.L REDUCE TIIB DESTRUCTION NOW VIS:;:T::.1D ON
OUR WATERS BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, Tflli EUREAU, O::?
MCL.AN"l.ATION, AND TliE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE. isUT
::.>OW~~-FOL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, SO.ME WESTERN GOVERNOTS, A.1 DA
FZVI J.:.Dr~STaA':ZION' OF12IC'...ALS ARE URGING illlv.t TO GlV:!: UP
Or,
WATER POLiCY REFOR.i.'VI AJTD RETURN TO OLD FASHiONl~D PORX
DA.ii.(;."IBL
POLITICS.
....
President Carter promised. during his campaign to take tb.e Corps om: of foe darn
building business and to make other major reforms in the Federal water development
program long sought by conservationists. The time has now come for a strong
showing by the conservation community asking the President to stick to foose promises.
CALL THE WHITE HOUSE COMMENTS OFFICE AT (202) 456-1414, ber-ween 9 am and S pm Eastern Standard Time on Weekdays. In your call, deliver a
clear, succinct message asking the President to stick to his reform prom~ses.
· You could also write the President at greater length on this issue, focusing on elements of water policy of particulat concern to you. Send copies of your lettl!r to Vice-President Mondale, Secretary of the Interior Andrus, and your Congressional delegation. Here are some of the reforrns tong advocated by the conservation com-munity which the water policy should include: .
- Emphasis on water conservation and water management, rather than dam
building, to insure adequate water supplies, and on nonstructural solutions i~1 t1ood
hazard situations.
- Maintenance of adequate instream flows in rivers and streams.
- Honest accounting of benefits and costs of water development projects. eliminating infalted recreation and flood control benefits, and accurately projecting construction costs. Noneconomic values, such as the natural beauty of undammed rivers and unchannelized streams, should also receive full consideration.
- A requirement that beneficiaries of water projects, such as land developers and barge operators, pay their full share of project costs.
- Complete reevaluation of the 828 water projects now authorized by
Congress. These projects, if constructed, will cost at least $34 billion dolljlrs, and wreck incalculable damage on our rivers, streams, and wetlands. A large number of these projects should be deauthorized.
