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G()1535 REGIONAL STOCK POND HYDROLOGY Pres ent and Ultimate Water Needs Pres ent and lIltimate water needs for stock ponds in the Western, United States have been estimated and reported in Committee Print NQ.13 of the Select Committee on National Water Resources, U. 'S. Senate (1959). This report gives eetimates of numbers, capacities, and average sllr{ace areas of stock ponds for the years 1959, 1980, and 2000, as shown in table 5. The committe estimates that stock-pond numbers, capacities, and surface areas will about double by the year 1980 and triple by the year 2000. The estimate of existing ponds given in the foregoing report is based on the best information available and is believed'tob:econsistent with obser- vations in the areas. 'However, the estimates offuture ponds appear to be excessive due to the limited grazing resources in, large parts of the area. As an example, the number of existing ponds in the Colorado River BasIn is estimated at 17,100; by 1980 the estimates are that the number will increase to 35,000, and by 2000 to 51,000. If the stock ponds were equally spaced throughout the basin, there is at present one pond for each 14.2 squaremlles; by 1980 there would be one pond for each 7. l,square miles, and by 2000 one for each 4. 7 square miles. Assuming that the ponds have a circlIlar service area, the average radius of the circle at present is 2.2 miles. With the estimated ponds t9 be built by 1980 this radius will be reduced to 1.5 miles and by 2000 to 1. 2 miles. The new ponds will be in addition to .other types of water facilities in the basin, including streams, springs and wells. Most of the forested areas in the Colorado River Basin already contain adequate range water and few, if any, additional facilities, partic- 1I1arly ponds, will be needed. There are als 0 within the bas in large areas of nonproductive desert, rocky terrain and badlands which probably will never be grazed and therefore will not require stock ponds. Excluding these waste areas; spacing of the additional number of ponds estimated would be considerably closer than is computed above. With the low for- age productivity of many grazing lands in the Colorado Basin, construction of ponds at this computed spacing is not warranted and wIll not be under- taken without a substantial subsidy. Moreover, construction of ponds on this spacing may meet with vigorous opposition from other users on the grollnds that, this number of ponds would constitute an improper and wasteful use of water. 45 -!-"....'~;>(s - _i~"-;"