WATER SUPPLY (HYDRAULIC IMPROVEMENTS)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000400240009-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: March 29, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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� 1,0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR
DATE DISTR. V-`7 Niar 1954
-"J
SUBJECT Water Supply (Hydraulic Improvements) NO. OF PAGES
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PLACE
NO. OF ENCLS. 9
ACQUIRED
(LISTED BELOW)
(A, By Cy D, E)
DATE
SUPPLEMENT TO
ACQU I RED
REPORT NO.
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DATE OF INFORMATION:
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTIN4 THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
50X1
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE IS, SECTIONS 793
AND 394, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVS.
CATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT Dr AN UNAUTHORISED PERSON IS
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
PROHISITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIRITED.
l. The water supply for agriculture and for the rural population in Imperial
(Tsarist) Russia was very unsatisfactory. In the southern and south-
eastern areas it was so bad that there were frequent crop failures and
epidemics of sickness among the population. Sometimes conflagrations
destroyed entire villages because there was no water for fire fighting.
2. The USSR authorities actually gave some attention to the water supply
for the agricultural population, but for a long time this attention wax
limited to good wishes and general projects in the Gosplan state Planning
Commissiog.
3. A series of publications and other material issued by the agricultural section
of the Gosplan provides the possibility of understanding all the funda-
mentals which formed the basis for the plans for improvements, as well
as their basic principles. The following main considerations were to be
observed in all plans for agricultural improvements;
A. Systematic computation of the needs of agricultural improvements
in the various zones and the possibilities - natural, technical and economic
for their achievipment.
4.4A scheme for consistent realization of the first systematic plan.
G E FOR. ARE'::,
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
DISTRIBUTION
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4.. In order to work out such a plan it was necessary to establish first the
basic principles to guide the creators of the plan. Such principles were:
An Greater productivity of agriculture in the USSR. This principle 50X1
must determine the character of improvements and their need by individual
zones.
B. The creation of an organization to assist agricultural economy
on the territories of the USSR, based on considerations of a strategic
character. This principle means consistency and intensiveness in the
carrying out of improvements in individual zonea.
. The need for improvements and their feasibility were determined by three
groups of leading factors:
A. Natural: climate, hydrological conditions and chaiacter of soil;
B. General economic: land, rural economy and economic conditions;
C. Strategic considerations.
6. In the territory of European USSR these factors were divided unequally,
varying according to the separate zones. These differences, especially
those pertaining to nature, follow definite laws. The changes in nature
follow the direction from the northwest to the southeast of the USSR. The
factors of agricultural economy and economics change in the direction from
the southwest to the northeast. And, finally, strategic factors change from
north to south.
7. On the basis of the characteristics noted above, all the territory of the
European USSR fell into definite meliorative zones. The improvements needed
in each zone varied in kind and form, intensity of technics, and economics.
The state plan for meliorations in the agricultural economy were to be drawn
up according to zones. (See Enclosure A). The basic principles of plans for
improvements on the one hand, aad the natural and economic conditions of the
margin areas on the other, were to determine the main types of improvements
in various zones, and the outlines (See Enc3osures C, DI. and E) of various
zones serve as a guide. The facts shown thereon give a picture of the
distribution of waste lands in European USSR, and prove its conformity with
the directions of the climatic factors.
8. The main reason for the existence of waste lands lies in the absence of
regular natural increases and decreases in moisture in the soil, as needed
by agriculture. The regulation of moisture in the soiL must be taken as
the basic factor in the irrigation improvements on the territroy of Europeaa
USSR. The need of soils and vegetation for moisture is tied to the intensity
of evaporation caused by climatic conditions in each zone and, consequently,
by a proportionate shortage of limpidity in the air and by the temperature of
the air.
9. If the rate of evaporation in the upper soils an vegetation is represented
by the symbol E, the increase of moisture by p, and the average coefficient
of drainage for a zone by "el!, the average coefficient of natural increases
and decreases of moisture is indicated by the formula e:,4:7P . On the basis
of the above formula, Professor A. rallalm. (Director crf the Research Institute
of Plelioratization.and author of many technical books) figured out the average
coefficients and classified them in a table (See Enclosure B).
10. The entire territory of European USSR can be divided into the following zones
on the basis of the formula:
x P
An The zone where the ratio e i
--E--- s nlways over 1.0 which indicates
this zone has the necessary amount of moisture;
B.The zone where the ratio E" e x P
' is between 0.5 and 1,25, according
--"
to season and location, which is a zone of inconstant moisture.
e x P
C. The zone where the ratio -Es� ia always under 1.0, which indicates
this zone is one of insufficient moisture, or arid.
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11.
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If the coefficients for each guberniya obtained from the formula are
traced on a chart, the entire territory of European USSR can be divided
into three large zones:
A. The north northwest none, having sufficient moisture, including
the following provinces: Arkhangel'skaya, Vologodskyal Olentskayal
Leningradskayal Novgorodskaya� Pskovskaya� Minskayal Mbgilevskaya, Smolen-
skaya, Tverskaya� Yaroslavskaya, Kbstromskaya, and parts of Kaluzhskaya and
Vladimir skaya.
B. The central zonelhaving inconsistent moisture, includes the
following provinces: Volynskayal Podoliskaya, Klevskaya, Chernigovskaya,
Poltavakaya� Orlovskaya, Kurskaya, Kharkovskaya, Tul'skaya, Ryatanskaya,
Nizhegorodskaya, Tambovskaya� Penzenskaya, Kazanskaya, Vyatskaya, Permskayal
Ugimskayal and pa,-t of Nbskovskaya, Vladimirskaya and Orenburgskaya.
C. The south southeastern zone, having insufficient moisture, includes
the following provinces: Saratovskaya, Astrakhanskaya, Donskaya oblast,
Ekaterinoslavakaya, Tavricheskaya, Khersonskayal Bessarabskaya, Ural'skaya,
and Samarskaya.
Enclosures:
(A)
(B)
(c)
(D)
(E)
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-end-
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Outline of meliorative zones.
Average coefficient of natural increases and decreases of
moisture.
Approximate Area of unproductive lands by separate proviaces
in thousand desyatinas (2.70 acres).
Approximate Areas of sands in thousand desyatinas (2.70 acres).
Exact lengths of waterways in versts per 1,000 square versts
of area by separate provinces.
LIERARY SUiJELr ASZEA C;;:. DES
CONFIDENTIAL
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ENCLOSURE A
Meliorative zone
Northern
Northwestern.
Western
Southwestern
Central agricultural
Central industrial
Northeastern
Southeastern
Southern
CONFIDENTIAL
Outline of Meliorative hones
The zones comprise of
ap provinces below:
Arkhangel'skaya
Vologodskaya
Olonetskaya
Leningradskaya
Novgorodskaya
Pskovkskaya
Tverskaya
Moglievskaya
Minskaya
Vitelskaya
Klevskaya
Podoliskaya
Poltavskaya
Chernigovskaya
Volynskaya
Kurskaya
Kharkovskaya
Orlovskaya
Tambovskaya
Voronezhskaya
Moskovskaya
Tverskaya
Viadimirskaya
Byazanskaya
Tul'skaya
Khluzhskaya
Nizhegorodskaya
Kostronskaya
Permskaya
Vyatskaya
Ufimskaya
Kazanskaya
Orenburgskaya
Ultyanovskaya
Simbirskaya
Saratovskaya
Samarskaya
Astrakhanskaya
Uraltskaya
Orenburgskaya
Khersoaskaya
Ekaterinoslavakaya
Tavricheskaya
Donskaya �blast
Stavropol'skaya
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Main forms of improvements
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Extensive drainage of fields
and forests. Regulation and
channelling of rivers.
Partial drainage of forests and
fields. Drainage of fields for
Intensive crops.
More extensive drainage of
fields and forests by open
ditches. Drainage of meadows and
fields prepared for intensive
crops.
Intensive drainage of fields and
meadows, using water-lifting
machinery for irrigation of
fields and gardens.
Irrigation of fields by canals.
Irrigation of meadows by
flooding. Reinforcement of
banks of gullies.
Drainage of forests. Intensive
drainage of meadows. Rein-
forcement of banks of gullies.
Extensive drainage of meadows
and forests. Flooding.
Various types of drainage and
reinforcement of banks of gullies.
Various types of drainage and
reinforcement of banks of
gullies.
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ENCLOSURE B 50X1
Average coefficient of natural increases and decreases of moisture.
Province
Coefficient
Province
Coefficient
Arkhangel'skaya
1.68
Tavricheskaya
0.65
Vologodskaya
1.51
Khersonskaya
0.50
Olonetskaya
1.60
Beasarabskaya
0.60
Leningradskaya
1.67
Urallskaya
0.27
Novgorodskaya
2.00
Kurskaya
0.80
Pskovskaya
1.77
Kharkovskaya
0.82
Tverakaya
1.62
Voronezhskaya
0.85
Vitebskaya
1.81
Tul'skaya
1.05
Minskaya
1.55
Mbskovskaya
1.35
Mogilevskaya
1.45
Vladimirskaya
1.40
Smolenskaya
1.55
Ryazanskaya
1.01
Volynskaya
1.23
Kostromskaya
1.55
Podol'skaya
0.90
Nizhegorodskaya
1.10
Kievakaya
0.88
Tambovskaya
0.93
Chernigovskaya
1.35
Penzenskaya
0.93
PoltaAskaya
0.80
Kazanskaya
0.96
Orlovskaya
1.20
Vyatskaya
1.10
Saratovskaya.
0.60
Permskaya
1.20
Astrakhanskaya
0.24
Ugimskaya
1.19
Donskaya �blast
0.51
Orenburgskaya
0.56
Ekaterinoslavskaya
0.68
Samarskaya
0.48
CONFIDENTIAL
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ENCLOSURE C
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Approximate Area of Unproductive Lands by Separate Provinces in Thousand
Desyatinas (2.70 Acres).
Area
Province
Absolute
Arkhangelfskaya 38,948
Vologodskaya 1,911
Olonetskaya 1,465
Leningradskaya 625
Pskovskaya 616
Novgorodskaya 1,944
Tverskaya 677
�Yaroslavakaya 245
Kostromskaya 596
Vladimirskaya 327
Mbskovskaya 5oscof 166
Kaluzhskayagalugej 117
Tultskaya ffuli7 80
Ryazanskaya 252
Orlovskaya fsreg 197
Kurskaya 145
Voronezhskaya 344
Tamboskaya 291
Penzenskaya en47 --
Saratovskaya 694
Simbirskaya 210
Nizhegorodskaya 336
Area
Percentage
Province
Absolute Percentage
54.3
5.3
Kazanskaya
Vyatskaya ffyatkg
302
450
5.3
3.0
12.2
Permskaya
2,077
7.0
15.5
Ufimskaya
855
8.0
16.7
Orenburgskaya
1,895
11.3
19.3
Samarskaya
1,515
11-0
12.1
Astrakhanskaya
2,923
25.0
7.8
Kharkovskaya
330
6.�,
7.9
Poltavskaya
162
3.6
7.9
Chernigovskaya
343
7.6
5.6
Kievskaya
268
5.9
4.2
Volynskaya
710
11.5
2.9
Podoliskaya
180
4..9
6.7
Bessarabskaya
162
4.8
Khersonskaya
279
4..3
3.5
Tavricheskaya
453
3.3
5.9
Ekaterinoslavakaya
351
6.1
4.9
Donskaya Oblast
1,433
10.0
10.0
Vitebskaya
680
17.6,
10.2
Smolenakaya
446
7.3
4.9
Mogilevskaya
656
15.(
7.4
Minakaya
1,690
21.9
Note: In reality the unproductive land areas were much larger because test
surveys (1938) of certain provinces such as Moscow prOved that the
approximate figures of unproductive lands were greatly underestimated.
CONFDENTIAL
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ENCLOSURE D
Approximate Areas of Sands in Thousand Desyatinas (2.70
Acres).
Province Area
Astrakhanskaya 41000
Donskaya oblast 631
Terskaya oblast 525
Kharkovskaya 114
Poltavskaya 83
Tavricheskaya 81
Chernigovskaya 70
Voronezhskaya 65
Stavropol'skaya 50
Ekaterinoslavakaya 42
Saratovskaya 39
Samarakaya 39
Kievskaya 33
Vladimirskaya 19
Minskaya 19
Volynskaya 17
Tambovskaya 16
Mogilevskaya 15
Khersonskaya x12
Kurskaya 12
Sitburskaya 12
Vitebskaya 7
Orlovskaya 6
Smolenskaya. 3
Ryazanskaya 3
Penzenskaya 2
110
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ENCLOSURE E
Exact Lengths of Waterways in Versts (1.067 KM) per 1,000 sclare verits of
area by separate provinces
Province
Length vents
Province
Length versts
Leningradskaya
136.4
Ullyanovskaya
28.0
Novgorodskaya
115.2
Vladimirskaya
27.8
Pskovskaya
102.1
Ryazanskaya
25.6
Olonetskaya
100.3
Orlovskaya
25.1
Minskaya
91.7
Kievskaya
23.5
Vitebskaya
91.3
Penzenskaya
21.3
Kaluzhskaya
82.0
Orenburgskaya
19.0
Tverskaya
82.0
Tambovskaya
18.3
Kostromskaya
80.0
Khersonskaya
15.9
Mogilevskaya
62.4
Voronezhskaya
15.0
Smolenskaya
59.9
Kurskaya
14.4
Yaroslavskaya
53.0
Saratovskaya
13.2
Vyatskaya
52.3
Donskaya �blast
12.6
Permskaya
42.2
Samarskaya
12.3
Moskovskaya
40.2
Podol'skaya
11.6
Ufimskaya
40.0
Ekaterinoslavskaya
10.6
Chernigovskaya
38.1
Astrakhanskaya
10.0
Nizhegorodskaya
37.4
Poltavskaya
8.7
Arkhangel'skaya
35.9
Kharkovskaya
5.3
Volynskaya
35.8
Tavricheskaya
3."
0
Kazanskaya
35.5
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