IHD Bulletin

Abstract

A year ago, the program for U. S. participation in the International Hydrological Decade was being prepared for presentation to Congress. At this time we are in the same situation; however, we are now wiser and more hopeful. By the time this report is in print we shall know to what extent the program will be able to move ahead, but at the time this report is being written, we are waiting for the release of the President's budgetary message and for action by Congress.Last spring, Congress disallowed a request for a $2,000,000 increase for the U.S./IHD program. The request was carried by the U. S. Geological Survey, which has had a small budgetary item for IHD activity ($168,000 in fiscal year 1967) since 1965. The Geological Survey was allowed to continue its IHD activity at the $168,000 level in fiscal year 1968, thereby indicating that Congress did not object to the IHD program per se, but no increase was allowed. As a result of this legislative experience, the U. S. National Committee decided that, although it preferred to see its program presented and operated as a unit, it would consider dividing the program into separate components and asking ‘lead agencies’ to take administrative and operational responsibility for individual components, if such action seemed the best way to get the program moving. At its July 1967 meeting, the Committee revised the existing program and set priorities; as a contingency measure it also provided the guidelines for division of the program and recommended lead agencies.