Amended Work Plan Kiowa Creek Watershed

Home Browse Search

MM 2. More In tensive Land Use Present use of flood plain lands will be mapped by the Soil Conservation Service and tables prepared showing acreages devoted to dry pasture, irri- gated pastures, dry crops, irrigated crops, native hay, and urban property. Annual records will be kept by work unit personnel of land use changes brought about by the protection provided through project measures. Every five years new maps and tables will be prepared. A comparison of these maps and tables will show the extent of land use changes. 3. Conservation Benefits and Econ Analysis ?records will be kept by work unit personnel of the quantities of 'B" measures installed, the initial cost and, on a sample basis, the increase in net returns resulting from them. A complete farm and ranch survey will be made by the Production Economic Research Branch, ARS, of current cropping systems, and crop and pasture yields under present conditions. This agency will advise local Service personnel and assist in annually determining changes that have taken place. At the end of each five year period the ARS will assemble all the economic data and analyze it to determine changes in economic condition and the effect of the watershed protection program on these changes. The improvement in range conditions expected to result from the program recommended for this watershed will produce an important part of the anti- cipated benefits. To measure this improvement at least 10 small observation plots will be staked in typical pastures and referenced so that they can be relocated readily. Two of these 10 plots, one of which will be a fenced exclosure, will be located in the sub - watershed above each of the five de- tention dams in which the volumes of run -off and sediment are to be measured. Other observation plots may be established throughout the project area if deemed desirable and practical. Annually, preferably at the same time each fall, the range condition in these plots will be observed by Area and V ork Unit personnel and permanently recorded. The usable forage will be clipped and weighed as a measure of production and total vegetative cover and for correlation with observed changes in storm run -off and sediment movement. G PROVISIONS The Soil Conservation Service will have access to and receive copies of all records collected by assisting agencies. Records maintained by the SCS will be made available to fact finding agencies upon request. Publi- cation of these data is permissible in the same manner as these agencies publish original data. However, no interpretations are to be published without the approval of the Soil Conservation Service. All data on the effectiveness of this watershed project will be analyzed and interpreted by the State Conservationist. This analysis will be trans- mitted periodically to the Washington office. The State Conservationist will release information regarding the effectiveness of this project when he considers it advisable in the public interest.