| Show SMOKEY SAYS By Ranger KARL H. H HAASER get most of their water from the mountains that hold ice and snow in cold storage until the time of need Water Yater has always been scarce The first settlers claimed water as property knowing that without without without with with- out it their land was worthless Never has there been enough water to match mans' mans dreams Here on the Manti-LaSal Manti National Nation Nation- al Forest various projects protects are being planned in search of new ideas to improve natures nature's water storage methods Presently winter moisture lays layson on the mountain in cold storage with little tittle flow until spring Then it comes off in a rush Three-fourth Three of a years year's flow may leave in 30 days If efficient ways can be found to increase snow storage in deep drifts on the mountain tops late season stream flows can be improved Tests have begun to show more about and terrain in relation to snow melt mett Various kinds heights and arrangements arrangements arrangements ar ar- ar- ar of snow fences are being considered to increase snow drift depths Another approach which shows promise is the use of surface coatings and chemicals to slow slowdown slowdown slowdown down melting Research trials have indicated indicated indicated indica indica- ted that there are indeed Melt rates have been cut cutin cutin cutin in half by a coating of sawdust and were increased by thin layers of lampblack More effective effective effective tive kinds of substances remain to be tried Clear cut blocks in timber harvest can be designed to Increase increase increase In in- crease snow holding capacities Wind break plantings have possibilities possibilities pos pas for increasing drifts in ina a manner similar to snow fences A great deal has been discovered discovered discovered ered but much remains to be learned The projects planned on the Manti-LaSal Manti National Forest are aimed at developing methods for rehabilitating damaged damaged damaged dam dam- aged watersheds protecting soil and water while white the land is also being used for timber production production production tion grazing wildlife and recreation recreation recreation rec rec- and increasing water yields and improving seasonal distribution of This coordinated effort is required required required re re- re- re if our watersheds watersheds watersheds water water- sheds are to meet the growing demands for their resources I |
