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Show 88 concentrate its efforts on soil and water conservation. This separation of development and conservation mirrored the separation of these duties at the national level. The committee also functioned as the representative of the local soil conservation districts, which were authorized in 1937.10 These grassroots organizations were a source of support for the committee's work throughout the state. In turn, the committee insured that the interests of the soil conservation districts were adequately presented to the federal Soil Conservation Service and other federal and state committees and agencies. The water management organization of the state was not substantially changed with the addition of the Soil Conservation Committee. Rather, the committee allowed the state to better deal with soil/ water problems which had existed for many decades, principally summer flooding and watershed protection. 11 In 1923 summer " mudrock" flooding caused serious damage in many northern Utah communities. Similar damage was inflicted again throughout communities in northern Utah in 1930, 1936, and 1937.12 In addition to flooding problems, water quality was becoming an issue for Utah's growing cities. As populations increased, overgrazed or abused watersheds compromised the provision of adequate amounts of clean water. The establishment of the Soil Conservation Committee was a recognition that water resources could not be utilized effectively unless the sources for the water resources ( the watersheds) were protected. Acting on this premise, the Soil Conservation Committee worked to increase the number of water and land resource conservation projects being built In this endeavor, it worked closely with the Forest Service, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the United States Soil Conservation Service, the State Engineer's Office, city governments, and local water users organized into conservation districts. The Publicity and Industrial Development Board As stated earlier, the Utah Water Storage Commission was replaced by the Publicity and Industrial Development Board in 1941.13 This was largely a reaction to extensive economic and industrial development planning throughout the entire United States in connection with the war effort; the Utah Legislature felt the need for a water development institution with the ability to represent a broad spectrum of water development interests. Although the Utah Water Storage Commission had functioned as a state- wide water planning agency and had recognized that there were many legitimate uses for water, the agricultural land reclamation drive had been the focus of the majority of its energies and projects. The Publicity and Industrial Development Board provided a more diversified water development institution. Through it the growing needs for usable water resources were made known as the Utah economy expanded. The industrial enterprises which were being located along the Wasatch Front needed vast quantities of water. Utah's population in the growing Wasatch Front cities needed additional water resources. Traditional agricultural needs also continued to be critical as wartime demands touched both 10State of Utah, Laws of the State of Utah ( 1937), Chapter 166, pp 213- 214. uIbid. See also State of Utah, " Biennial Report of the Soil Conservation Committee for the Years 1937 and 1938," Public Documents, and State of Utah, " Biennial Report of the Soil Conservation Committee for the Years 1939 and 1940," Public Documents. 12Charles S. Peterson and Linda E. Speth, " A History of the Wasatch- Cache National Forest," pp 224- 240. " State of Utah, Laws of the State of Utah ( 1941), Chapter 40, p 67. |