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Show PART IV MEANS FOR MEETING NEEDS Opportunities Available for Application of Measures This section outlines existing water and related land resource programs according to the opportunities they furnish and their signi- ficance in meeting projected needs on private, State, and federal lands. Private and corporate effort Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program assists local organizations in planning and installing projects for watershed protection, flood prevention, irrigation, and drainage. A local organization must apply for assistance under this program in order to initiate a project. The application must be approved by the State in which the project is prepared and be approved by the Administrator of the Soil Conservation Service before federal technical and financial assistance can be furnished. Overall responsibility for administration of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program rests with the Soil Conservation Service. The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal agencies have responsibility for planning and installation of practices on federal land. Soil Conservation District Program Soil Conservation Districts within the region have progressive action programs to provide conservation practices through cooperative agreements with farm and ranch operators. Through these agreements, private landowners are furnished technical assistance by the Soil Conservation Service for applying conservation practices. Additional assistance is furnished to irrigation and drainage districts, recre- ation groups, and rural communities. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management also cooperate with the districts when public land is involved. State Programs Divisions of Water Resources and Conservation, under authority of various state codes, make studies, investigations, and plans for the development of water and land resources to assist the local people and meet state objectives. They have provided significant contributions through financial and technical assistance to many water conservation projects. They also develop state water plans. |