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<br /> <br />... <br /> <br /> <br />studies of effects of works of man On )lVa.ter s\1pplies and sediment move~ <br />ment, investigation of causes and proceS811S of ind\1ced and natural <br />erosion, and measurements of rates of erosipn and sedimentation. <br />Because of limited funds the program has been confined to investigations <br />made on urgent request from action agencies[of the Department of the <br />Interior for information and advice withres~eet to lands under their <br />jurisdiction. We have proposed in budget estimates for next fiscal year. <br />a broader approach, to obtain data .of widest application. Included are <br />8 projects in the Colorado River Basin. The objective of a typical project, <br />in the Navajo and Papago Indian Reservations, iSI' I <br /> <br />"To determine probable ra.tes of runoff and peak <br />flows at numerous localities in! the reservations for <br />use in design of land tl:'eatnienti IiItructures; tQ study <br />erosion and its relation to soils, geology, lanc1- forms, <br />land use and other factors; to ~tudy the performance of <br />installed treatment programs for the purPQse of <br />determining the disposition cif local runQff including <br />th.e amounts made available for forage production, <br />recharge to ground water and other beneficial uses <br />as well as the amounts lost thr;ough evapo-transpira~ <br />tion; to study the value of local1runoff when. applied <br />on the range as compared to tl:j.e value of lIuchportion <br />of the runoff that might;reach ~he main streams and <br />be available for irrigation; ga~hering of information <br />on the vitally important question of the maximum <br />amount of .sediment a st:ream ~ight carry before such <br />water ceases to be of value and instead becomes a <br />liability when allowed to enter. main .stream storage <br />reservoir s." <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />The Survey realizes that its present program in water rellources <br />investigations is not adequate. It has, how:ever, increased steadily and <br />will continue to increase in scope and utiUt,y. We have ideas on more <br />comprehensive collection of baSic hydrologic data needed for planning. <br />the most effective utilization of our water*esources. Problems of <br />financing and operating such a program are not simple. The instigation <br />and financing must stem from local interel\ts, working through state <br />and other. organizations. <br /> <br />, <br />* * * * * * * * * <br /> <br />CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPAIl,TMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br />Harold B. Elmendorf ~ Chief, Water Conservation bivision, SCS <br />Small Watershed Demonst~ation Projects <br />. <br /> <br />Last July the Congress appropriate~ $5, ODD, ODD to the 'Department <br />to assist in improvement of 65 small wat~rsheds throughout the country, <br />where local problems can be solved or aUeviated by treatment for flood <br />prevention. The wo:rk.is to be done within five years, at an estimated <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~8~ <br />