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Show project consisted of approximately 27,000 acres, of which a little over 4,000 acres are irrigated and 2,300 acres are in citrus groves. Conclusions An integrated watershed management program is urgently needed. It is needed not only to check deterioration of the watershed and the loss of the basic soil and related natural resources, but also to slow down the movement of sediment into the chan- nels and reservoirs and to reduce the damages caused by flash floods. Complete cessation of sedi- ment movement and complete control of floods by such means is not possible, but a land program can reduce both of these. Unless such a program is undertaken soon, the present proposed plans for flood control and irrigation works will be impaired, necessitating still further and even more expensive engineering works. Too little progress, basin-wide has been made in meeting land management needs. Delaying this program are such factors as the lack of clear-cut policies, lack of adequate legislative authority, and lack of funds. These deficiencies call for public attention and solution. Present policies and programs should be re- oriented. This includes more intensive manage- ment of all lands, public and private alike; the coordination of activities of all agencies into an accelerated comprehensive program; and greater participation: by all in meeting the costs of such a program. Greatly increased appropriations are needed for the rehabilitation and management of the extensive federally owned lands in the basin. Better administration of the State and local pub- lic lands is an outstanding need. Although land ownership in the upper basin is now largely public, there is great question as to whether or r*ot there should be an added increment to the Federal lands, especially those of submarginal character. Such additions would be accomplished by eliminating some of the intermingled lands which in many different ownerships greatly com- plicate administration and protection. Purchases and land exchanges should be effected to consoli- date both private and public lands so that they may be given better management. Special consideration should be given to depressed areas. This requires greater attention to needs of low income families, basic standards of resources use, provision of credit and aid to relieve distress, and increased technical assistance. Such a pro- gram would increase the ability of the land to meet human needs. More efficient local administration of water use would go far to help achieve stability, and to reduce erosion and misuse of water on irri- gated land. Management of public lands should be coordi- nated so that it is possible for operators using public land to move smoothly from one class to another, as from grazing districts to national forests. Where possible, present ararngements under which the pri- vate lands are integrated with the public lands into economic and workable management units should be extended. Policies of land management should be such as to protect the public resource against erosion, yet be so framed as to help the small owner particularly. In such integration, too, every effort possible should be made to integrate irrigated pas- ture lands with range use. Revenues from public lands should reflect the true values from use of these lands. Federal agencies such as the Atomic Energy Com- mission and the military establishment, which are acquiring lands in the basin, should recognize their obligation for proper management of public lands in their charge. The obligation to care for land is also one that every landowner should recognize as a citizen as well as one personally interested in the welfare of the locality. Finally, the water users of the basin, as the group having greatest personal interest in water condi- tions, should recognize their obligation to them- selves, to the public, and to future generations. They should themselves require that the watershed be properly managed. They should know the quality of the water and the reason for its saline content and its pollution. They should know why the streams are full of sediment and why main- tenance of ditches, canals, and reservoirs is so costly. They should know why there are shortages of water. The water users should demand the answer from all those public officials and agencies having land administering functions as well as from those who are abusing the wild lands of the basin without regard for the water users or other down- stream interests. 4. Effect of Existing Federal Policies Requiring Participation by Project Beneficiaries of Federal Irrigation and Related Drainage Works The Problem How do existing Federal policies for local partic- ipation in Federal irrigation and related drainage 330 |
