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<br />19 <br /> <br /> <br />002319 <br /> <br />.,~. . Significance ofman&gement pra~ti~e Ii and use s of p~lic land <br /> <br />1. Present water problem s and needs. Settlement in the area has been <br /> <br />cl.irectly related tQ water availability. In many instances, efforteto obtain <br /> <br />additional water for. the expansion of cities and towns, or_ for agricultural <br /> <br />use, have been in vain, or curtailed by prior appropriative rights. In <br /> <br />. areas having high potential for agricultural development, laws based on <br /> <br />the doctrine of beneficial use have often inhibited other development. Agri-' <br /> <br />cultural developme~ts have, in some instances, resulted in the dep~etl.on of <br /> <br />underground water upon which urban settlements were dependent. Public <br /> <br />'lands,_ on which the highest and best use is for the development of resi- <br /> <br />dlmtial, commercial, or industrial uses, are subject to this risk. Many <br /> <br />arells with potential for development are limited becaus,e good quality <br /> <br />wllter is unavailable. <br /> <br />The lack of adequate water developments for livestock and wildlife <br /> <br />on public lands results in improper distribution of grazing animals. Addi- <br /> <br />tional welle, spring developments, stockponds, and reservoirs are needed <br /> <br />.' in order to diminish overgra2<ing around existing waterholes, thereby mini- <br /> <br />mizingproblems with respect to erosion, runoff, and sediment damages. <br /> <br />A4ditional detention dams would also provide water for livestock and wild- <br /> <br />life, as well as alleviate erosion, These practices, together with comple- <br /> <br />. tion of the adjudication of range privilege s, would promote more efficient <br /> <br />utilization of existing range forage ilnd improve watershed conditions. <br />