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C"j, o tn .-l U 0 S oD oA 0 WA:I:ER ,AND L.AND RESOURCE PROGRAMS '-' The Department of Agriculture administers a number of programs which are directly concerned with the use and development of water and related land resources. These programs are assisting in development of the Gunnison River Basin. A brief sunnnary of these activities follows, together with the departmental agency responsible for thei.r administration. The Colorado Cooperative Extension Service has primary responsibility for leadership in USDA educational programs and coordinates all educa- tional acti vi ties of the, Department. County agricultural agents disseminate to farmers and ranchers in the Basin research and other scientific, pract.ical and useful. informat.ion on subjec,ts related to wat.er and land. County agricultural agents serving farmers in the Basin are locat.ed in Delta, Montrose, Gunnison and Grand Junction. County and Stat.e Corrnnittees of the Agricultural Stabi.lization and Conservation Service (ASCS) administer the Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP). This program provides a means of sharing the cost of carrying out. certain soil and water practices. Participation may be by individual farmers and ranchers or by groups. Among the practices included are those which provide for control and more effective use of agricultural water. Thi,s program i,s active :i.n all counties in the Gunnison River Basin. Farm credit for family-type farms and rural areas is furnished by t.he Farmers Home Administration. Farm ownership, farm operating, farm housing, water development and soil conservati,cn-type loans are all available to local land owners and operators. Watershed loans are available also from FHA to assist eligible organizations in meeting their share of costs of works of improvement in connection with P. L. 566 watershed protection projects. FHA maintains offices in Grand Junction and Montrose to serve farmers and ranchers in the Gunnison River Basin. The Forest Service is charged with the responsibility for promoting the conservation and wise use of the country's forest and related range, water and other wild land natural resources. To meet this responsibility, the Forest Service engages i,n three main lines of work: 1. Management of the national forests and national grasslands -- these Federal lands are managed under the princi.ples of "Multiple Use and Sustained Yield." 2. Cooperati.on with the State and private forest land owners -- authorized by several Acts of Congress, the Forest Service furnishes technical guidance and financial assi.stance through the State Forester's office f(}r tree planting, fire control and watershed improvement work on State and pri.vately-owned lands. - 102 -