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Show serve and protect the productivity of the basin's soil resources. Fortunately, watershed lands of the Connecticut Basin are relatively well protected from serious ero- sion. Most of the land has some form of protective vegetation, either grass or forests. However, watershed management and land treat- ment cannot be overlooked. Timber stands gen- erally need rehabilitation to restore them to full pro- ductivity and to improve their watershed functions. Some privately owned forest areas, by overcutting and bad lodging practices, are contributing unneces- sarily to local flood and sediment problems and damaging recreational values. Some of the steep pasture lands need to be planted to trees and excluded from grazing. Most pasture lands need improvement by the use of better pas- ture mixtures, fertilization, and rotation grazing. Such management measures would not only pro- vide better watershed protection but would improve soil productivity. The present acreage of cultivated land should be reduced about 10 percent by converting some slope lands to grass or forests. These lands are too steep, or are other-wise unsuited for cultivation. In addi- tion, much of the land suited for cultivation needs soil conservation practices if its productivity is to be maintained. Some of -the cultivated and pasture lands need drainage. Xhere is also a growing interest in sup- plemental Irrigation during the occasional dry summer months. Both drainage and supplemental irrigation have an important bearing, at least lo- cally, on waiter use. Farm ponds are becoming increasingly impor- tant, both as a source of farm water supply and for their recreational values. They also contribute to reduced flood flows downstream. Under authority of the Flood Control Act of 1936, as amended,12 the Department of Agriculture has completed the field work of a land survey of the Connecticut River Basin. The final report, when completed, will recommend feasible "runoff and water-flow retardation and soil erosion prevention" measures. Conclusions Land treatment practices contributing to a more stable stream flow, minimizing sediment damage, and protecting the soil resources should be an inte- * Act of June 22, 1936, § 6, 49 Stat. 1570, as amended and supplemented. gral part of a comprehensive program. Although details must be planned for each tract, the land treatment program generally should include: (1) An increase in the area of forest land. (2) An improved management and rehabilita- tion of timber stands as well as fire protection on all forest lands. (3) Enlarged public ownership of critical water- shed lands. (4) Increasing permeability of pasture lands by improved pasture seedings and fertilization. (5) Soil conservation practices on croplands. (6) Drainage and use of supplemental irrigation where feasible. (7) A program of small structures to provide farm ponds, stabilize small water courses, and pre- vent stream bank erosion. (8) Research on the effects of measures on flow. 6. Planning for Future Public and Industrial Water Supplies The Problem Quantity and quality requirements of water for future industrial and public water supply. The Situation Water resources use in the basin for industrial and public water supply is relatively more import- ant than in most other river basins. The high per- centage of urban population and the predominance of manufacturing emphasize the present place of these uses in water development. They are likely to continue dominant within the foreseeable fu- ture, since agriculture has achieved a near maxi- mum development in the valley. Recreation, al- though important, does not offer as many oppor- tunities for employment as manufacturing. The future industrial and public water supply needs may be influenced by the growth or decline of industry, growth or decline of total population, changes in the local distribution of industry or population, and demands for Connecticut water from communities or industries outside the basin. On the other hand, it is likely that future manufac- turing growth will be influenced by quantities and quality of water in the basin, and probable com- petition with other beneficial uses of water. Growth or decline of industry.-Industry is the economic core of the lower Connecticut. Its pres- ent outlook is for a continuing slow growth. The great industrial expansion of New England occurred 506 |
