The Nations River

The Nation's River, by

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Title: The Nation's River The Department of the Interior Official
Report on the Potomac
Author: United States Department of the Interior
Commentator: Stewart L. Udall, Kenneth Holum and James J.
O'Donnell
Release Date: February 2, 2007 [EBook #20503]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE NATION'S RIVER

A report on the Potomac from the U.S. Department of the Interior, with
recommendations for action by the Federal Interdepartmental Task
Force on the Potomac.

LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
October 1, 1968
Dear Mr. President
The enclosed report, The Nation's River, is submitted in response to
your February 8, 1965, request that we prepare a program for your
consideration which would assure that the Potomac would serve as a
model of scenic and recreation values for the entire country.
This is the final report of your Potomac planning team. In my opinion,
the study contributes significantly to a more complete understanding of
both the opportunities and the problems of this magnificent river. The
proposed program of action, when implemented, will move the area a
long step forward toward the challenging goals identified in your
directive.
Your call for a broadly based conservation plan for the Potomac has
stimulated a wide range of useful actions by citizens' groups and by the
Federal, State and local governments during the course of our studies.
While these are too numerous to recite, the participation and
involvement of citizens in decisions affecting the future of the Basin
are most promising and deserve recognition and encouragement.
Our recommendations for action cover three broad aspects:
... those related to present and future water resource problems in the
Basin; ... those related to the protection and restoration of the Basin's

scenic and natural assets; ... those to ensure that future planning and
action will proceed in a wise and coordinated manner.
I call particular attention to the following recommendations:
... to protect the mainstem Potomac River and its banks from
Washington to Cumberland, Maryland, and to make it accessible to the
public, the report calls for prompt legislative authorization, funding and
establishment of a Potomac National River consisting of Federal, State
and local components. The proposed legislation to establish the
Potomac National River which you sent to the Congress on March 6,
1968, and which was introduced as S. 3157, is based on the new and
exciting concept that the urgent objectives of Potomac River
conservation can and should be accomplished through cooperative
action by all levels of government;
... to achieve the water-quality goals established as State standards, the
report recommends coordination of Federal, State and local powers to
achieve the waste treatment measures required, within five years, and
effective action toward meeting similar requirements in handling
wastes at all Federal establishments in the Basin. It calls, also, for
immediate reconvening of the 1957 Enforcement Conference on the
Potomac to focus attention on the timetables for controlling pollution in
the estuary;
... to provide a measure of drought insurance, the report calls for early
completion of Bloomington Dam and Reservoir;
... to meet growing needs for municipal and industrial water to achieve
anticipated economic growth in upstream areas, the report identified six
reservoirs which are consistent with other aspects of the report. The
river management afforded by operation of the reservoirs could also
meet the water supply needs of the Washington metropolitan area for at
least 20 years. The report urges continuing research and study of
alternative sources for the metropolitan area supply, including use of
the upper estuary to meet critical short-term demands;
... to assure continuity of comprehensive planning and management, the

report recognizes the need to mobilize the skills and authorities of all
levels of government and support therefore by alert and informed
citizens and citizen groups. The Governors of the Basin States and the
District of Columbia have proposed a Federal-Interstate Compact for
the Potomac and arranged to have a draft prepared by the Potomac
River Basin Advisory Committee. The Water Resources Council will
continue to work with the States in this effort--anticipating that
proposals will emerge which merit both State and Federal support.
Your assignment, Mr. President, has been exciting and challenging. We
hope that our effort has contributed to achieving your dreams for this
magnificent valley.
Respectfully yours,
[signature]
Secretary of