Dams, reservoirs, and withdrawals for water supply; historic trends
January 1, 1982
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) from time to time has published an inventory of major reservoirs and controlled natural lakes. The latest available USGS report indicated that as of 1963, usable capacity in major reservoirs (those having 5 ,000 acre-ft of usable capacity) totaled 359 million acre-ft. The growth rate for total capacity averaged about 80%/decade until the early 1960's. Since then, reservoir capacity has increased at a markedly slower rate, the effects of approaching an asymptotic limit on capacity in some areas, compounded, by increasing public aversion toward reservoir construction. The trend toward non-structural measures places greater dependence on management skill and on better forecasts. At some point, the potentials of conservation and better management will become less effective than reservoirs and there will again be an upward trend in reservoir capacity. (Lantz-PTT)
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1982 |
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Title | Dams, reservoirs, and withdrawals for water supply; historic trends |
DOI | 10.3133/ofr82256 |
Authors | W. B. Langbein |
Publication Type | Report |
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Series Title | Open-File Report |
Series Number | 82-256 |
Index ID | ofr82256 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |