JOINT US-USSR PROPOSALS FOR COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: WATER RESOUR

Created: 9/26/1974

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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US-USSR Proposals for Cooperation in Science and Technology: Water Resources Cooperative Area

have reexamined the Joint US-USSRCooperation in Science and Technology: WaterArea. Our overall opinion of theis the same as stated

We feel the agreement has been and will continue to be beneficial to both countries and that tio loss of US strategictechnology will occur.

do not believe that any significant newbeen produced thus far. Most of the activity that

has taken place thus far has been the exchange of technical information, bibliographic materials, and planning of future exchanges of scientific delegations.

have seen no intelligence reporting thatdifferent Soviet attitude than that reflected in theof the Project Working Group. Virtually all ofon Soviet water resources comes fromperiodicals, newspaper accounts, and radiosourcestrong desire on the part of the

- Soviets to continue to cooperate and are optimistic on the benefits to the USSR.

Soviets are undertaking cooperativethe water resources area with countries in additionUS. Most notable are their agreements with Great Britain

Date Impossible to Betoraino

apppcve: i- pe: ease

CONRDCHTLAL

and France. The USSR and Great Britainive-year agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection on Areas Included are the protection of waters from pollution and comprehensive utilization of water resources. The hydrologlcal agreement with France includes topics such as irrigation, hydrometeorology, and the use of computers to forecast spring floods. Iran also has agreed to expand cooperation with the Soviets beyond the current joint project on the Araks river which borders the two countries.

believe the agreement will be beneficialUS even though the USrobably ahead of the Soviets

he majority of the areas In the agreement. The US Working Group on Planning, Utilization, and Management of Water Resources, which visited the Soviet Union inas impressed with the magnitude of the Soviet water resources development program. Areas where the US should benefit the most appear to be cold weather construction, the use of polymer films, explosives excavation, and groundwater research. The Soviets have more experience than the USorking with concrete thatre-cast rather thanlace, but concrete work and quality control is below that of the US. The US should benefit from the extensive Soviet work in drainage especially as It affects salinity of the soils. Another benefit will accrue to the US If the Soviets increase purchases of such Items as irrigation equipment and arrange to use US consultants to advise on water resource problems. The only disadvantage to the US could lie In the field of computer assistance in water resource management and control if the Soviets then utilize the automated techniques in more strategic areas,

additional areas exist that mightagreement of greater benefit to the US. In theexplosivesisit to theor the Nurek dam site, both in Soviet Centralbe of value. Extensive Soviet work onhas not been explored sufficiently at thisto learn more about Soviet drainagerecommended.

7. Soviet benefits will come from the acquistion of US hardware and technological capability. The Soviets are seeking an automated total water resource program similar to that in the US, Including the use of computers and mathematical models in the planning, design, and Implementation of the programs. The Soviets also hope to gain information on large river basin diversion.

Original document.

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