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<br />12 <br /> <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 />Thi s is a water conservat i on method that wa rrants addi- <br />tional research, field testing and demonstration of poten- <br />tial benefits. It has been used for relatively small <br />scale, individual property applications with good results. <br />Large scale implementation of these noncultivated land <br />treatments would be necessary to produce any significant <br />change in aquifer recharge. <br /> <br />2) Nonproductive soil moisture loss reductions - a variety of <br />methods are available for managing noncultivated areas to <br />reduce nonproductive soil moisture losses. Maintenance of <br />good rangeland condition (effective ground cover) of native <br />climax forage species through proper grazing management is <br />the best and most dependabl e method for reduci ng runoff <br />losses, increasing deep percolation, and improving the pro- <br />ductivity of available soil moisture. Well established <br />nati ve grasses al so improve i nfil trat i on and deep per- <br />colation, and help minimize the invasion of nonproductive <br />weeds and brush. Removal or control of noxious, nonproduc- <br />tive weeds or deep-rooted brush is another effective mois- <br />ture cO!1servation practice. Such noxious vegetation is <br />estimated to account for well over one-half of soil mois- <br />ture losses to transpi ration throughout the High Plains <br />Region. Reestablishment of native grass species on over- <br />grazed or otherwise damaged rangelands is still another <br />effective water conservation practice. <br /> <br />3) The Soil Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, <br />Forest Service and other public and private land management <br />and conservation agencies all provide technical assistance <br />and other incentive programs to promote water conservation <br />and best management practices for noncultivated areas. To <br />make effective use of the water conserved on noncultivated <br />land by the techniques described under 1) and 2) above, it <br />