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<br />. <br /> <br />l'! ,r>; 0:)'" 1 <br />i) : . .;) ..-l .... " <br /> <br />-9- <br /> <br />It has long been recognized that adequate vegetative cover on a <br /> <br />watershed materially reduces sedimentation in stream channels, lakes and <br /> <br />reservoirs and has a beneficial effect upon reducing peak flows on flash <br />floods. In the future more consideration must be paid to this important <br /> <br />phase in planning for the storage requirements of the basin. These <br /> <br />facilities are far too expensive to have their maximum life impaired by <br />excessive sedimentation. Careful consideration should be given to the use <br /> <br />of such instrumentalities as the Small Projects Act as administered by the <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation, and Public Law 566 as administered by the Department <br />of Agriculture for the reduction of flood damage and sedimentation wherever <br />possible. <br />Use of land according to its capabilities and its treatment according <br /> <br />to its needs is an extremely important segment of wise watershed management. <br /> <br />Local subdivisions of State government, such as soil conservation districts, <br /> <br />should plan for the future application of these principles. <br /> <br />Another important phase of water management is the reduction of <br /> <br />evaporative, seepage and consumptive losses. The future water needs of <br />the South Platte Basin make it imperative that every consideration be given <br /> <br />to the ways and means of reducing evaporative losses. At the present time <br /> <br />the Bureau of Reclamation is experimenting with hexa-decanol monomolecular <br /> <br />film on Carter and Rattlesnake Lakes in the Big Thompson diversion. Present <br /> <br />data indicate that this is not injurious to either human or aquatic life, <br /> <br />that it does not impair recreational activities nor affect the quality of the <br /> <br />water for irrigation. Additional basic research is needed in order that in <br /> <br />the future all storage reservoirs may be similarly protected. <br /> <br />In planning large or small impoundment structures care must be <br /> <br />exercised to provide for maximum depths with minimum surface area to reduce <br /> <br />~: ,. <br /> <br />