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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />O'ons 4 4 <br /> <br />Watershed Protection <br /> <br />Three USDA agencies are primarily interested in watershed protection, <br />The Forest Service administers the national forests and national grasslands, <br />The Forest Service is actively engaged in the treatment and management of <br />these public lands on a multiple-use basis that provides for sustained timber <br />harvest, livestock grazing, wildlife, protection of land to reduce silting <br />and erosion, safeguarding water supplies, improving water yields, and a place <br />of beauty that offers many opportunities for recreation. The Multiple-Use <br />Act of 1960 recognized the relationship between these renewable resources. <br /> <br />The Forest Service administers programs and provides services and coopera- <br />tion for the states and private forest landowners to promote better watershed <br />protection and land treatment. The Forest Service cooperates with the state <br />foresters to provide protection against fire, insects and disease; promote <br />forest management practices; aid in tree distribution and planting for forests <br />and she1terbe1ts; and provides technical assistance in forestry phases of <br />watershed protection and flood prevention projects, <br /> <br />Watershed protection programs for the private lands are administered by <br />the Soil Conservation Service through cooperation with soil conservation or <br />natural resources districts. Financial assistance or cost-sharing for establish- <br />ment of practices is provided by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation <br />Service with the Rural Environmental Assistance Program. <br /> <br />Agricultural and Economic Aspects of Water and Related land Resources Research <br /> <br />The Agricultural Research Service conducts research aimed at finding better <br />ways of storing and saving water, better ways of getting it from one place to <br />another and better ways of using it, There is available, a listing of publica- <br />tions pertinent to water and related land resource research that can be obtained <br />by contacting the U,S, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, <br />Washington, D.C, <br /> <br />To improve management and treatment of forests and wildlands the Forest <br />Service does research in forest, range and watershed management and protection. <br />Various studies and research activities in water and related land resources <br />include: studies in evapotranspiration in forest and grasslands; snow management; <br />snow accumulation and snow runoff in the high mountains; she1terbe1ts; land <br />treatment for erosion control and soil stability; reproduction in forest stands; <br />cooperat10n with state foresters schools and state universities and agricultural <br />colleges; and maintain inventory of present and potential growth of the Nation's <br />forest resources, <br /> <br />The Economic Research Service makes studies and recommendations on the <br />economic aspects of resource conservation development and utilization. <br /> <br />ERS develops the agricultural economic framework required for basin studies <br />and program planning. This includes estimates on the projected needs for food <br />and fiber and the extent to which alternate programs will meet these needs, <br /> <br />Analyses are made on the cost and benefits of conservation and development <br />measures. These provide the basis for determining economic feasibility to guide <br />the planning of land treatment, flood control, irrigation, drainage, water supply, <br />etc. <br /> <br />-3- <br />