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Show ment of additional sums to assist with such facilities as schools, roads, and utilities. Various studies have been made of this financial situation. In 1943 the Federal Real Estate Board reported upon its comprehensive study. The entire subject is currently under consideration by the Bu- reau of th.e Budget. Various bills on the subject have been presented to Congress. Under the 1944 Flood Control Act, counties are to receive 1 percent of the purchase price, or if not acquired by pur- chase, 1 percent of the value of lands at the time of their acquisition for watershed purposes in certain drainage areas.31 Until this problem of local contribution is solved, a complete program of watershed management in the Colorado River Basin will be handicapped. State and local lands.-The States in the basin, like the Federal Government, have not clarified their land policy. Practically speaking, they have not developed any policy toward these lands. Lands are "administered" by State land agencies whose efforts are largely to sell the land as rapidly as buyers are found or to obtain as much revenue as possible from unsold land. In most of the basin States, some consolidation of land has been effected, but this resulted chiefly from activities of interested individuals or agencies rather than as a result of specific State land policy. For the most part the consolidated tracts in the basin get no more real management than do the scattered tracts. Rather the resource on the land is sold or the land leased to the highest bidder with few if any restrictions whatever as to the kind or type of use. Often these leases are for a number of years. As a result these public lands are being de- pleted. In a few cases, consolidated State lands have been taken over by the local fish and game commission, for game purposes. Some of these lands have had their vegetation re- stored, have been protected, and provided with water, and grazing use by domestic animals has been stopped. In Arizona and New Mexico partic- ularly, some State timber sales are cooperatively handled by the Forest Service under the same cutting practices as are used on the national forests on a cost reimbursement basis. The revenue-seeking attitude of the States toward their lands has its roots in immediate local needs for revenue. This need also contributes to a lack of a management policy or the lack of effort to effect g;eneral consolidation. A continuation 31 Act of December 22, 1944, § 13, 58 Stat. 887, 905. of a laissez faire attitude can result finally in a near-complete lack of any resources on the land, in damage to the water resources which the States themselves are guarding, and in damage to the de- velopments encouraged at Federal expense. It is evident, therefore, that the States need a construc- tive land policy. Counties in the basin, like the States, generally do not consider the lands that revert to them as resources worth managing. The only interest shown in these tax-delinquent lands is one of quick sale to obtain back taxes, and to get the land again on the tax rolls promptly. Tax-delinquent lands are given little administration of consequence or protection from trespass. As a result they usually have badly deteriorated cover. Lands with obvious and immediate resources value do not go tax delinquent. Municipalities are somewhat more forward look- ing. Bisbee, Ariz., and Silver City, N. Mex., have been cited as municipalities whose interest in city water supply and local flood control has resulted in measures to insure rehabilitation and care. Other communities such as Saff ord, Globe, Miami, Grand Junction, and Prescott have taken similar steps. Many of the water source areas of these communities are chiefly national forest lands within which the cities have acquired private lands. Most of these watersheds are closed to all use under speci- fied agreements so as to maintain the quality and quantity of the water supply. These arrange- ments, however, do not prevent mineral locations under mining law in the drainage even though they may be detrimental to water values. Mining.-Mining claims are a problem of con- siderable significance in the basin. These claims invade recreational and other park areas, municipal watershed areas, and small local power sites, and adversely affect management of the timber and range resources. Prior to about 1910 most mining claims were located and patented by bona fide miners. In those days, the purchase (patent) price of $5 per acre usually exceeded the value of the land for any purpose other than mining. Thus the incentive for fraud existed in only a limited degree. However, it is known that many patents, perhaps 40 per- cent, were obtained for speculative purposes with- out a clear showing of mineral values. Inexpensive, rapid transportation and the mod- ern road system have provided ready access to min- eralized districts in the basin, and the incentive 410 |