Show NATIONAL FLOOD PREVENTION PItE WEEK PROCLAIMED BY DY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT nOOSE Pursuant to a Ii resolution adopted Oy uy Congress last year ear Pre President Roosevelt has proclaimed the week beginning May as National Flood Prevention Week according to word received by Forest Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Super Super- visor Blaine Betenson The Presidents President's proclamation calls cala upon the people of the United States to cooperate and ants aid In the work of flood prevention and to give serious consideration to such measure as may prevent pre disastrous floods and aid in the of our natural resources During recent years there has been a n steady awakening of our people to the need for scientific watershed management as related to water conservation and flood control the Forest Supervisor said in commenting upon the Presidents President's proclamation In the past when floods have come down from the watersheds to the communities and valleys be below below below be- be low Investigation usually reveals that Improper use of steep mountain mountain moun moun- tain lands was the Uie principal contributing contributing con con- cause Today we see where vast amounts of work must bo ho done to bring watershed lands back to a stable and productive state and thus prevent recurring floods and further damage Since the Uie major flood disasters the Forest Service through re research research research re- re search and administrative organizations organizations organizations organ organ- has ha made extensive studies of the causes of these damaging floods and the Investigations conclusively conclusively conclusively con con- indicate that of all the factors facto a affecting a 1 fd ed Uil- Uil ance the plant cover is the most Important one Where that cover has been distributed or destroyed serious accelerated erosion and floods usually promptly follow tollow Mr Betenson said To bring back once abundant vegetation on the more lnore valuable watersheds I and where soil soli fertility has been materially depleted by erosion a special technique in mountain land management has been devised Betenson points l out In Davit Davis county where accumulated ed Cd flood damage has passed the Ute million dollar mark extensive terrace terrace terrace ter ter- ter- ter race systems designed to hold snow and rain water have been con con- constructed constructed strutted on critical areas This treatment plus tree and shrubbery planting proper fire tire control and regulation of grazing use is speeding the land to recovery recovery recovery ery so that rapid run-off run and floods should no longer endanger the valley lands and valuable property pro pro- perty The Davis county work has been so successful that It R has been widely studied and used as a model In many places Such specialized treatment on some critical watershed areas is needed in Southern Utah where oil all erosion Is a menace to the economic security of the dependent depend depend- ent communities Because in the southern Utah re re gion glop flood and erosion control are Inseparably linked with water con and proper land manage went ment the Uie National Flood Prevention Prevention Prevention tion Week Is doubly significant the Dixie Forest Supervisor said Under our conditions mountain floods Hoods usually mean impaired Unpaired watersheds watersheds wat wat- and subsequently Interrupted Interrupted interrupted Inter inter- or diminishing water supply supply supply sup sup- ply which is so vital to our cities farms and industries |