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Show C. Land Problems 1. Land Treatment Programs The Problem The place of watershed management in a compre- hensive multiple-purpose program for the Ohio River Basin. The Situation Land treatment problems and corrective meas- ures needed in the Ohio River Basin vary in accord- ance with the needs of three general areas: (1) The level or gently rolling glaciated lands in the north- west portion of the basin; (2) the level lands and swamp areas along the lower reaches of the Ohio, Kentucky, Cumberland, and Green Rivers; and (3) the rough unglaciated hilly lands extending through southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, east- ern Kentucky and into the mountainous headwaters along the eastern portion of the basin in North Car- olina, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The lands in the northwest portion of the basin vary in quality from poorly drained claypan types to the rich black soils of the fertile corn belt. Lands along the lower reaches of the Ohio, Kentucky, Cumberland, and Green Rivers vary from level fer- tile river valley soils to shallow rocky soils on the adjacent hills. In the rough hilly areas and moun- tainous headwater regions only the lands along the river valleys and the gentle uplands are cultivated. The river valley soils are generally fertile while the soils on the upland areas are either rocky or heavy clay types. Serious erosion problems exist in the rolling hilly upland areas of the watershed as a result of active sheet erosion, gully erosion, stream bank cutting, and flood plain scour. In southern Indiana and Ohio erosion and depletion have advanced to the extent that certain areas of once productive farm land have been abandoned. Sheet erosion through- out the basin is one of the more serious problems because the removal of large quantities of fertile topsoil gradually deteriorates irreplaceable soil re- sources and contributes substantially to the sediment load of flood waters. Long and continued use of these soils has depleted both the mineral elements and organic matter. This not only reduces the soil productivity but makes the soils more friable and subject to> erosion. Soil erosion is more far reaching than the damage to the land itself. Erosional debris must eventually come to rest. The soil moved may be deposited at the foot of slopes or on alluvial plains. Fertile ma- terial thus deposited may benefit the land; coarse sterile sands or subsoil materials have the reverse effect. Erosional debris may come to rest in farm ponds, stream channels, reservoirs, or ditches. Uncontrolled erosion has a definite effect on the farm and community economics. Sheet erosion permanently reduces the productive capacity of the soil. Gullies can change the size and shape of fields, hamper farm operations, and increase unit cost of production. Soils deficient in soil nutrients lost during the erosion process cannot supply these vital elements to plants. Continued consumption of foodstuffs produced on poor, eroded soils can impair the health of both man and farm animals. The effects of soil erosion are felt in lower net farm income which, in turn, reduces buying power, lowers levels of living, and decreases land values. If allowed to progress, it can eventually cause farm abandonment. The chain reaction continues be- cause reduced income or land abandonment in- fluences the economics of the entire community; schools and other public institutions degenerate and community spirit and progress die. The exploitation and improper treatment of the forest and woodland areas throughout the Ohio River Basin have depleted the protective forest cover to the extent that the natural forces which operate to regulate stream flow no longer function properly. Much of the precipitation that would normally go into ground water storage for later use now enters the streams immediately, often as damaging floods loaded with soil sediments. The land use adjustments and soil treatment and improvement practices needed in the Ohio Basin are discussed in chapter 3. There are, however, many problems that prevent rapid application of all needed land use adjustments, soil conservation prac- tices, and land treatment measures. Conservation and improvement of privately owned lands are the responsibility of their owners and operators. Pro- grams offered by the various agencies of the De- partment of Agriculture can and do encourage farmers to undertake these improvements. The methods of obtaining land treatment on privately owned lands must, of necessity, differ from other Federal construction projects. In an engi- neering program the Government, whether Federal, State, or local, acts directly with public funds to carry out a given project and performs work on sites where the Government has certain property rights. 684 |