The purpose of this appendix is to assemble available water resources data in a summarized form to provide information, not only for the agencies dealing with the management of the water resources of the region, but also for those planning the economic development which is dependent upon those resources. Much information about the water resources of the Columbia-North Pacific Region is available but it differs widely in character, scope, and geographic coverage and must be obtained from many sources. Information also is available on various water laws, technological developments, and economic and population trends that will influence the availability of and requirements for water in the future. The goal of water conservation is the management of this renewable natural resource to provide the optimum benefits from use of the water, now and in the future. To achieve this goal, intelligent planning and orderly development are needed. Proper planning and development require adequate information about the water resource and how man's activities have affected and are likely to affect it.

The purpose of Appendix II, The Region, is to give an overall view of the history of the Columbia-North Pacific Region and describe its geology, climate, natural resources, and population characteristics. A description is also provided for each of the twelve subregions into which the region has been divided for study purposes. This description covers two types of information: general information that could be fitted into any one of several appendices, and additional detail needed to more fully describe the region. The coverage in this appendix is not intended to be an all inclusive regional description. Details concerning the functional aspects of water use, as well as detailed inventory information, have been fully and adequately covered in the several appendices listed inside the front cover of this volume. (Author).