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<br />, <br /> <br />Or. '. ') " " <br />01.... 'J_ <br /> <br />average April-July runoff from snowfed streams is app:cximately <br />14.5 million acre-feet. \oJe are trying to use this supply more <br /> <br />effectively in two ways. First, through our cooperative snow <br /> <br />surveys, we measure the snowpack and predict the runoffs in <br /> <br />order that all users may plan for optimum utilization. Second, <br /> <br />through research conducted by the U. S. Forest Service, we hope <br /> <br />to reduce evapotranspiration losses and possibly snow evaporation <br />losses, although the magnitude of the latter is relatively minor <br /> <br />and remedial measures may not be economically justified. <br /> <br />In cooperation with the U. S. Forest Service and the <br /> <br />Soil Conservation Service, our State is very actively engaged in <br /> <br />promoting better watershed management. Although most of the <br /> <br />work done in this area is still in the research stage, results <br /> <br />show that improvement in water utilization can be achieved on our <br /> <br />forest and range lands. <br />Some 250 ground water basins having valley floor areas <br />of 5 square miles or larger have been identified in California. <br /> <br />For those of you who may be interested, I have several copies of <br /> <br />a map entitled "Valley Fill Areas", which shows the general <br /> <br />distribution of these basins. Although more than half of the water <br /> <br />consumptively used in the State comes from these basins, it should <br /> <br />not be assumed that this rate can be continued indefinitely. <br /> <br />Many of our basins have been overdrawn dangerously, even to <br /> <br />the extent that sea water or other water of poor quality is <br /> <br />intruding into the aquifers. Where in the past our water users <br /> <br />viewed these basins as a source of water, we appreciate now that <br /> <br />-6- <br />