Major River Valleys Research Articles

Man as an Instrument of Landscape Change: Fires, Floods, and National Parks in the Bow Valley, Alberta

ITTLE is known of the early landscape history of the Canadian National Parks, and hence of the effects of park policy and park development on hydrologic and other physical processes. Recent studies of changes in the landscape of BanffNational Park, Alberta, are therefore worth discussing, for they suggest that the vegetational changes introduced under park policy have played some part in flood reduction in the Bow River valley. In addition, these studies illustrate man's short memory where his own effects on landscape are concerned. In Banff National Park the Bow Valley cuts across massive mountain terrain, composed chiefly of folded and faulted limestones, dolomites, and quartzites. The mountains nowhere exceed 12,000 feet, though many of the peaks reach 9ooo-10,000 feet. Major river valleys, such as the Bow, generally lie about 4000-5000 feet below the surrounding summits. The heavy effects of glaciation are evident in the cirques and aretes of the upper slopes and in the broad terraces and other drift deposits nearer the valley floors. As in other mountainous areas, the climate is highly variable. Although climatic data are relatively few,' the higher ranges probably receive more than fifty inches of precipitation a year, and possibly more than a hundred inches, most of which falls as snow. Lower intermontane valleys in the east probably receive less than twenty-five inches a year, much of which falls in spring and summer as rain. Of the three main vegetative divisions-coniferous forest, grassland, and tundra-forest is the most widespread. Engelmann spruce, white spruce, and alpine fir are common, as are lodgepole pine and aspen. The last two are pioneer species and generally follow fires. Large stands of lodgepole pines, usually of the same age, occur throughout the Bow Valley and provided a strong part of the motivation for the research reported in this paper.

Hydropower Developments in India

India is quite rich in her hydroelectric resources but little of it was exploited till 1950. There is an urgent need of power for rapid industrialization and economic development. The Ministry of Irrigation and Power was created in 1952 to formulate a national policy on river valley development schemes. The total hydro-power potential of the country has been evaluated to be in the region of 41,000,000 kw. The growth of hydroelectric power from a mere 74,441 kw in 1920 to an estimated 5,100,000 kw in 1965-1966 is outlined. The interesting aspects of four major river valley development projects—Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley, Hirakud and Rihand—are described. The plans for present and future hydro power developments are examined.

Politics and organization in water resource administration: A comparative study of decisions

Organizational arrangements for the exercise of controls over surface water flows have taken a wide variety of forms. Political considerations have largely determined the choices between alternatives of private versus public development, state or local versus federal development, and the selection among alternative federal development agencies. Because of variations in the effectiveness of political forces through time and space, the development pattern in almost every major river valley is distinctive to itself. An analysis of control arrangements in a sample of 145 reservoirs indicates that public enterprise has almost entirely replaced private in current developments but that both state and federal water agencies show continuing vitality. The distinctions among levels of governmental control are closely related to the functions performed, with local governments most active in the provision of water supplies; special districts in reimbursable functions; state agencies in nonreimbursable functions; and the federal government in projects including flood‐control (and navigation) benefits.

Soil Development in Relation to Loessial Deposition in Southeastern Minnesota

AbstractThe soils of southeastern Minnesota and adjacent areas are found to be developed mainly on loessial parent material of Wisconsin age. The origin, distribution, and some properties of the loess were studied. Loess deposition in southeastern Minnesota was found to have a general relationship to distribution of the major river valleys of the area. Measurements of loess thickness, determination of particle size analysis, and of calcium carbonate distribution provided evidence for this conclusion.The characteristics of two loess‐derived profiles developed under forest cover were studied. The profiles were selected to represent a range in degree of horizon development. The differences in profile development appear to be largely the result of weathering time.

How Cultivation. Increases Crop Production

The maximisation of crop production is an all-important problem throughout the world. The prosperity and well-being of people depends on how we solve this problem. The production from land is conditioned by the operation of a number of limiting factors. As those limiting factors are overcome one after the other production goes up gradually. Agricultural scientists met in New Delhi from 6th to 9th April 1949 and tried to assess the depression caused by various limiting factors. It was then held that production could be increased (1) by 0.6% by reclaiming new lands for cultivation, (2) by 10% by using improved strains of seeds all over, (3) by about 20% when the major river valley projects reach completion, (4) by about 10% by controlling pests and diseases in the field and by another 10% by controlling pests of stored produce and (5) by 30% by resorting to timely and adequate cultivation of land and crops. That there are possibilities of increasing production is indeed heartening. The existing overall shortage of food is only 10% and given the will this shortage could be made up by a proper approach. It should also serve as a signpost for the cultivators. Increases in production at various levels have been shown to be possible in different directions. The most outstanding and substantial increase can be brought about by appropriate cultivation at the proper time and this also happens to be the easiest to adopt by the cultivators without assistance from others.