The programs of the Authority since its inception could be divided into five main parts
(a) Programs between 1977 - 1987
(b) Programs between 1988 - 1999
(c) Programs between 1999 - 2005
(d) Programs between 2005 - 2007
(e) Programs between 2008 - date

1977 - 1987
As at 26th May 1977 when the authority was officially launched, its activities extended beyond the then Cross River's state into parts of old Imo, old Anambra and Benue States. By 1979 the authority was fully on ground with a temporary office for the headquarters in Calabar and area office in Benue, Imo and Anambra. That same year feasibility studies and engineering designs, aerial photographing and mapping of 10 proposed projects were completed.
Decree No. 87 of 1979 defined geographical area of the authority restricting it only to the whole of the then Cross River's State. Whatever the authority had achieved before then were lost to sister River Basin Authorities. Quite unlike other basin authorities, the Cross River Basin Development Authority inherited no project from any agency of the state, regional or federal government.

HOUSING
The permanent headquarter complex of the authority was established with mainly residential houses on about 199 ha of land. Some of the units of these houses were initially used as offices. It was not until June 1995 that the present headquarters building was completed and commissioned by the then Hon. Minister of Water Resources Alhaji Aliyu Yelwa.
At the headquarters of the authority along Km 12, Murtala Muhammed Highway is located the staff quarters consisting of buildings for the junior, intermediate and senior staff. It is called 'Basin Town'. Located in the Basin Town is a standard and tastefully furnished guest house, football field for recreational activities, a staff clinic, a canteen and staff children school.

DEVELOPMENT OF RAINFED PROJECTS
As at 1990 a total of 50 small scale rainfed projects in the catchment area were developed, then focus was on casava, maize, pineapples and vegetable production. A number of these projects could not be developed into irrigation projects because of lack of water resources for irrigation and difficult terrains. As a result of these problems, the technical committee on privatisation and commercialisation disposed most of them as non-water projects.

Decree No. 35 of 1987 amended the previous decree by restricting the function of Basin Authorities to water resources development for multi-purpose, which includes flood and erosion control and the provision of infrastructure to farmers without the direct involvement in food production. The restriction imposed by the decree necessitated the re-organisation of the authority, thus giving way to the engagement of the needed caliber of engineering and other tecnical staff.

FLOOD AND EROSION CONTROL
Due to heavy rainfall in most part of the year and rapid urban and agricultural development, the Cross River catchment is subject to severe environment degradation.
Gully erosion, flooding and oil pullution seriously threaten the catcment.

EROSION PROJECTS
The authority's mandate in the area of water engineering also extends to erosion control and flood management.

The authority has completed a number of erosion projects. Below are some of the most prominent.
(a) Construction of erosion control drainage works for Basin Town, Ikot Effanga/Ikot Eneobong/Ikot Omin flood and erosion control works.
(b) St. Luke's Hospital Anua. This very important medical center was almost wiped away by gully erosion not for the effort of the authority. The project was completed in 1991.
(c) Govvernment House Uyo same as in the case of the general hospital anua. This all important edifice was threatened by gully erosion. Again this was brought under permanent control by the Authority's engineering crew.
(d) The Nung Udoe Erosion Project. The main road leading to Nung Udoe was seriously threatened by erosion and flood until the authority in 1991 stepped in, the project was completed a year later. Today both human and material resources are transported through this route without much stress.
(e) Calvenply Industry located in Calabar,Cross River State. The existence of this industry was threatened by gully erosion which almost chopped into the Calabar highway. Contract for the project was awarded in 1990 and by 1991 through the supervision of the authority's engineers; job on the project was completed and commissioned.

WATER SUPPLY
From 2000 to 2005, the Authority executed about 131 water schemes most of which were completed and handed over to the benefiting communities. The status of these projects are as indicated in the table below

S/N	LOCATION	LGA	STATE	STATUS
1	Ward 4, Calabar	Calabar Municipality	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
2	Bacoco	Calabar Municipality	Cross River	Commissioned
3	Ikot Ene	Akpabuyo	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
4	Lishekwel, Bendi	Obaniku	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
5	Igodor	Ogoja	Cross River	Completed
6	Ekim Kae (Bendeghe)	Etung	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
7	Ntamante	Boki	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
8	Okuni	Ikom	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
9	Imabana	Abi	Cross River	Handed Over
10	Abia	Etung	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
11	Abuochiche	Bekwara	Cross River	Handed Over
12	Idomi	Yakurr	Cross River	Work In Progress (90%)
13	Mkpani	Yakurr	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
14	Ekukunela	Ikom	Cross River	Work In Progress(90%)
15	Wula	Boki	Cross River	Handed Over
16	Ababene	Obub	Cross River	Work In Progress
17	Ogada	Obubra	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
18	Omi	Etung	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
19	Akparabong	Ikom	Cross River	Completed and Handed Over
20	Adadama I	Abi	Cross River	Work In Progress (90%)
21	Ikot Okpora	Biase	Cross River	Work In Progress

 

Flood and Erosion Control has continued to receive the Authority's attention. Apart from the fact that this falls under its mandate, the intervention has saved the underlisted communities from erosion menace during this period.

1. Federal Inland Revenue Office, Calabar, Cross River State.

2. Ikot Effanga, Ikot Omni and Basin Town, Calabar, Cross River State.

3. Ikot Mbiet Ukpom Ikono Soil Erosion and Flood Control Works, Akwa Ibom State

4. Ikot Edor Flood and Erosion Control Works, Onna, Akwa Ibom State