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Show Water Conservator Gives j Advice on Drouth Fight; The situation with respect to ranges is critical, Professor Clyde reports. Water hos and springs have dried up and although in mo,t ca.es where feed is available, the ab-cnoe of water makes it impossible im-possible to utilize such feeds. Stockmen Stock-men are irnjed to examine their rang"s with the view of developing water supplies for stock purposes in order that the stock may utilize the feed. In many cases today, water is being hauled cn the ranges to provide for the stock. If watering water-ing holes are not provided and the weather conditions continue, cattle and sheep will probably have to be driven off the ranges by July 1, in many cases. There is little feed in the valleys for summer use and in many sections hay is being cut. Stockmen are urged to reduce their herds to conform to the pending pend-ing shortage of feed. Such reduction reduc-tion cf herd should be accomplished in an orderly manner. The dry farm sections of the tate will mature very little grain this year. The dry land alfalfa sections sec-tions will not prcduce a cutting of hay. This, of course, means an acute shortage of feed and livestock. In light of the pending shortage, it is suggested that consideration be given to the thought that the dry and irrigated farms that are now planted to grain which will not mature, ma-ture, bo pastured off for feed. Alfalfa, Alf-alfa, on the areas where no water supply has been available, will produce pro-duce more by being pastured off than by attempting to produce a crop. Culinary supplies should be watched very carefully, Professor Clyde advises. In many sections of the state culinary supplies are drawn from irrigation canals. Steps should be taken in communities thus supplied to watch the possibilities possibil-ities of developing either surface runs or springs to furnish additional addition-al culinary water supplies. "Cooperation among all users of water is essential and necessary if a sufficient amount of crop is to be produced this year to provide for livestock and to maintain the families fam-ilies in the rural communities," Professor Pro-fessor Clyde concludes. A .survey of the drouth situation in Utah which was recently completed com-pleted shows that there exi.sts a wator .sh.-fl-tiif.'e of culinary, irrigation irriga-tion and stock watering purposes, the like of which has never before been experienced in this state, reports re-ports Prof".ssor George D. Clyde, state water conservator. Instead of there being 25 to 30 per cent normal water supply as was indicated on April 1, the prospects pros-pects of water .supply is from 15 to 25 per cert of normal and in most cases the water supply for irrigation irriga-tion and culinary and water stock preservations is now exhausted, Professor Pro-fessor Clyde points out. The principle prin-ciple streams of the state with the exception of the Logan river are not discharging a normal late August Aug-ust flow. The extreme shortage of water, together with the long growing grow-ing season which has been brought about by the high temperatures, makes it impossible to produce more than 25 per cent of the normal nor-mal crop production. To combat this situation with which the state now faces itself, a program of water conservation and development has been inaugurated and is being rapidly rapid-ly put into effect. "There are many ways by which irrigation water may be conserved."1 says Professor Clyde. "Tremendous wastes have been permitted by trying try-ing to irrigate with small streams and running the water over long distance when applied to the fields. ! Much water is now being saved by i repairing stream construction ditch-1 es, headgates. shortening the lengths of runs and preventing surface runoff. run-off. Largo streams and short rims minimize the loss from percolation j and evaporation. It is recommend-; ed that the soil type on which the j water is being applied be studied, j ' Short runs and large streams are i advi.sed for sandy or gravelly soil 'and longer runs and small streams; for the heavier soils. ! "Considerable water may be saved i by repairing leaky headgates and j ditch banks. Water cress, grass, i and moss waste much water. Will-1 ows and other water vegetation j along ditches and canals consume considerable amounts of water. Clean ditches and canals to conserve con-serve water. ( Avoid spreading the water over marshy areas because marshy vegetation is a heavy consumer con-sumer of water." "Probably one of the largest sources of loss of irrigation water is clue to lack of attendance", Professor Pro-fessor Clyde observes. "Constant attendance is necessary to prevent waste. The streams should be maintained main-tained sufficiently large to make it necessary for the irrigator to stay with the water. Do not set your: ! turn at night, then go to bed be- j 'cause this results in considerable, ' waste. All surface runs cannot be prs-i vented; therefore, neighbors should; 'cooperate in utilizing' each others, run off. j. "Transfer of water from areas of low productive value to areas of , high productive value is urged wherever possible. Lands on which : the possibilities of producing a: crop are remote should be ab?.n-, doned for this season and the avail-j able water applied on lands which; all produce." |
