Mansfield, Mike, 1903-2001

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University of Montana

University of MontanaScholarWorks at University of MontanaMike Mansfield Speeches Mike Mansfield Papers10-9-1959National Water Resources HearingMike Mansfield 1903-2001Let us know how access to this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mansfield_speechesThis Speech is brought to you for free and open access by the Mike Mansfield Papers at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been acceptedfor inclusion in Mike Mansfield Speeches by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, pleasecontact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu.Recommended CitationMansfield, Mike 1903-2001, "National Water Resources Hearing" (1959). Mike Mansfield Speeches. 373.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mansfield_speeches/373., STATEMENT OF SE NATOR MIKE MANSFIFLD (D. MONTANA) NATIONAL WATER RESOURCES HEARING October 9, 1959 Billings, Montana At the time my distinguished colleague, the senior Senator from Montana, James E. Murray and I introduced Senate .Resolution 48, I had hoped that ita purpose and organization would be put into opeTation at an early date, and this in fact has happened more rapidly than expected. We were indeed delighted by the tremendous response with which it was received by our colleagues in the Senate and I am especially pleased at the active leadership taken by the very able Chairman of the Select Committee on National Water Resources, the senior Senator from Oklahoma, Mr. Kerr, in putting his Committee to work at an early date on what we consider to be one of the most serious problems facing this Nation, the status and Gharacter of our water resources. The hearings that have been scheduled throughout the country should provide an abundance of field testimony upon which this Committee can proceed to evaluate our supplies and uses of water. I am sure that the excellent group of witnesses who will be heard here in Billings and in Miuoula will make fine contributions. In the instance of Montana's two very able Congressmen, Lee Metcalf and LeRoy Anderson, I know that they can give the Select Committee some very valuable testimony before its work is concluded. The water problems in Montana's two Congressional Districts are similar in some respects, but also there are some rather striking contrasts . As you know. in Mr. Metcalf's District the terrain is generally rugged and mountainous and is the source of . . many of the Northwest's finest rivers and streams such as the Col~a~v~I think it would be safe to say that the Western District has an abundance of water resources awaiting development. However, in Congressman Anderson's District conditions are more arid and there is a serious need for water conser-vation, flood control, and irrigation. The American Continent has been a land of plenty in the eyes of most of us since the early days of colonization, but in recent years we are being awakened to the fact that this is no longer so. America is no longer self sufficient, we must depend on foreign sources for certain products as well as markets for our finished goods. In the early days the American people just assumed that there was plenty of water to be found everywhere and it was generally a true assumption. However, in recent years it has become quite apparent that we can no longer afford to take our water supply for granted • Constantly growing urban areas are placing tremendous burdens on city water supplies. Industrialization is requiring increased amounts of water with Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 40, Folder 49, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Z-each new procee1. Industrial use of wat e r is of vital consideration in attrac-ting new indu1try, aa aeveral Montana communitie• have dilcovered. Pollution ha e become a very aerious problem in urban area• as w dl aa in newly developed areal auch aa Montana. Recreation demand• on our lakea and streama become greater with each aea•on. More and more Americana are seeking the relaxation and plea1uree of the outdoora. Deealinazation ia becoming extremely important. Flood control and irrigation are atill among the more eerioua of • tur conaervatlon problema. Hydroelectric power projectl continue to be the key to the development of our more apar1ely populated areas. The few remaining natural dam eitee are at a premiLPn and both private and public power concerns are giving more atten-tion to coordinated uae of rivera and atreame 10 that the ultimate benefit can be realized. Numerou1 1tudies have been made in the palt on the variou1 aepecta of water reeourcee. Some have been very extenaive and other• have been more limited. Some of the l"ecom.mendationl have been put into operation but unfor-tunately far too many of these reports and reviewa a;re collecting dult in aome storeroom. 1 firat diecuaaed my viewe on our National water resource• with folka . here in Montana. I thought perbape the eatabliahment of a Water Department in W a abington would be the 1olution. Such a Department would take over the variou1 activitiet in pertaining to water retourcee which are now tcattered throughout the many Agenciel and Departmenta of the Federal Government. I continue to feel that our water re1ource.!..tproblem ie eerioue enough to demand such far reaching recommendations, bow~, it doe• require considerable atudy and thought. It wae for thie reason that I decided the e1tabliebment af a Select Committee to 1tudy the problem would be the beet way and would devise the beat means of coordinating our effort• in thia area. It ie my sincere hope that the Select Committee on National Water Re-sources will leave no atone unturned in probling the diverse problem• of water. The Select Committee baa at its disposal many exhting atudiee and reports, the talents of many experta in private induetry, from our colleges and univer-sities, and from the variou• agenciea and departments of the Federal Govern-ment. Above all the Select Committee ie composed of Senator• who have a genuine interest in the water problema of the United State•. Thil i1 indeed a fine and repreaentative committee of the United States Senate. I have a great deal of confidence in both of my senior colleague•, Senators Murray and Kerr. They both have enviable records in water l"esource development. 1 am confident that under their guidance the Select Committee will finilb ita work expeditioualy and will bring to the Senate recommendation• which will tie together the many aegmenU of the water resource problem, eo Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 40, Folder 49, Mansfield Library, University of Montana... -3-that we may have a unified and integrated program for the continued development of the nation's water resources. The State of Montana has an abundance of water, in fact we probably are more fortunate than most, but certain areas of the State are almost arid and suffer from the lack of adequate moisture. Many of our streams and rivers are becoming polluted from inadequate protection from sewage and industrial wastes. The Treasure State has an abundance of natural resources but to da te they have been extracted for processing outside of the State. Montana provides excellent opportunities for developing new industries, but this requires the harnessing of our waters for the generation of hydroelectric power. There are a number of excellent power sites in Montana which are awaiting develop-ment. Only after generators are established at these dam sites can we offer the necessary inducement for new industry. '"""~ Pollution is a problem which has ri:iten its ugly head in Montana in the past several years. Our State is largely a rural State, but many of our cities a re experiencing rapid growth and at the same time they are confronted with eome very serious pollution problems because of inadequate sewage disposal . In certain areas of the State uncontrolled industrial wastes have contributed to the pollution of the rivers and streams. Pollution is something that should not be tolerated, it may not be pleasant but it is something that has gotten too far out of hand. Pollution of our rivers contribute to disease and most of all it destroys the productivity of our rivers and streams. This last consideration is vital in a State such as Montana because one .,... of its major attractions is its excellent fishing streams and lakes and recreation areas. The rivers along the densely populated East Coast give ampl'e evidence of what can happen. These rivers have become unproductive, unsightly and contaminated because of inadequate pollution control. I do not want this to ha ppen in Montana. If properly treated the waters of our State can serve multiple uses, power generation, recreation, processing and for human consumption, but this takes planning and cooperation. Jn areas where water has become a scarcity or where demands have outgrown the supplies, we must l earn how to conserve the existing supplies. The F ederal Government is active in many area s of water resource development and we have many different programs and agencies. What I hope can be done in the not too distant future is to have these various programs coordinated under a unified operation. Water has become too precious an item to allow its use and conservation to extend in every direction without a single purpose. In the past year I ha ve discussed the magnitude, the complexity, and the Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 40, Folder 49, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-4- .. urgency of the water -resource problem with my colleagues in the Senate; I have given testimony before Committees of Congress, a1iri I have diacussed the issue at length on the Floor of the United States Senate. I believe that I can safely say that there is a great and serious need for a broad guage legisla-tive program as the basis for comprehensive water-resources development by Federal, State and private agencies. This legislative program should furnish the impetus for coordinated development at a rate that will provide the quantity and quality of water that will be required in coming year1. It should encourage the adoption of new technical discoveries and improvements. It was for these reasons that I was prompted to introduce Senate Resolution 48 which created the Select Committee. The Federal Government and its agents have an extremely important role to play in water resource development and conservation, but it is not Unde Sam's responsibility alone. The individual States, the local Governments and in fact every citizen has an important role to play. If we are to be successful in reaching the goals that are established it must be a cooperative effort. It is up to each and everyone of us to participate in deciding what we want in the way of fully developed water resource,& and how we should go about doing it. The purpose of these field hearings he're in Montana and elsewhere throughout the country is to bring together this valuable testimony. In conclusion, I wish to say only that the United States is blessed with an abundance of water fully enough to meet all national requirements, but this is dependent on its wise use and full development. The Select Committee on National Water Resources of the United States Senate can provide the means to this ~nd. Mike Mansfield Papers, Series 21, Box 40, Folder 49, Mansfield Library, University of Montana

National Water Resources Hearing

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National Water Resources Hearing

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