USDA report on water and related land resources : Middle Willamette River Basin, Oregon

Abstract

This report presents information concerning the water and related land resources of the Middle Willamette River Basin and is the result of a cooperative study by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the State Water Resources Board of Oregon. The State Water Resources Board of Oregon is making a survey and investigation of the Middle Willamette River Basin to develop informa­tion needed for planning the coordinated development of the area's water resources. The information needed for its study includes the following: (1) the kind and location of desirable water resource de­velopments; (2) the amounts of water required; (3) the physical oppor­tunities for development to meet water needs; and (4) the broad economic aspects of possible development. The State will use this information to formulate and implement plans and programs to secure the most bene­ficial use and control of the area's water resources. The State's pro­grams are intended, by legislative decree, to be dynamic in nature with provision for changes as new information is available and as the physi­cal or economic situation changes. The current survey is only the beginning of the State's work in this area. Upon request of the State Water Resources Board, the U. S. Depart­ment of Agriculture cooperated in this survey under the provisions of section 6 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 566, 83rd Congress, as amended). The broad objectives of the cooperative survey were to gather basic information pertinent to the use and control of water for agriculture in the area, to highlight such major water related problems as erosion, flood prevention, and drainage, and to outline a general program for water and related land resource management to be used as a background for future detailed study and planning. No final solutions are intend­ed, for it is felt that watershed planning must be a dynamic, continuing process requiring further cooperative work by all groups concerned. This report should be of use to anyone interested in the area's land and water resources. It should be of value in appraisal of present and future use of water for agriculture in relation to other water uses for planning, evaluation, development, and operation of the various ag­ricultural programs of federal, state, and local agencies. The survey consisted partly of an accumulation and evaluation of previously recorded data, both published and unpublished, much of which was furnished by other cooperating groups. In addition, the USDA Field Party made limited surveys to gather basic information that was not otherwise available on physical characteristics of certain reservoir sites, land and water availability and use, problems and needs for many tributary watersheds, and forest land resources and ownership. These were not detailed surveys; much of the information was obtained through consultation with local, public, and private officials. The basic data used as a foundation for statistical information presented in this report are in the files of the USDA Field Party