70 Forestry Quarterly. 



In treating of the past floods the writer emphasizes the fact that 

 no serious floods occurred prior to 1888 and draws attention to 

 the point that sheep grazing had been under way for about six or 

 seven years at that time. The following are the dates of the 

 serious floods: 1888, 1889, 1893, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1908, 1909, 

 and 1910. 



In August, 1909, it is worthy of note that a severe flood 

 occurred in Ephraim and Six Mile Canyons, while Manti Canyon, 

 which has been protected from grazing since 1903, was not 

 flooded, although its previous record before exclusion of grazing 

 was a bad one. Some space is given to the explanations oftered 

 for the absence of flood in this particular canyon and the author 

 concludes that it can be ascribed alone to the improved condition 

 of the forest cover, as a direct result of a period of protection. 

 Rain guages have since been set up at the heads of these three 

 canyons which are expected to show in the future whether the 

 rainfall is distributed equally throughout the three watersheds 

 and that the figures obtained will show to what extent the con- 

 dition of the forest cover reduces the severity or eliminates en- 

 tirely floods in the canyons. 



It is surprising to note the amount and variety of damage and 

 the large area over which it is distributed. The total loss caused 

 by the floods during the last twenty years from this region is 

 estimated at $225,000. It is stated that the town of Manti alone 

 has suffered damage variously estimated at from $75,000 to $125,- 

 000. Other towns in the San Pete Valley and a number on the 

 east side have also had heavy losses. In 1909, Emery County 

 found it necessary to make a bond issue of $35,000 to be used for 

 the sole purpose of reconstructing and repairing damages done 

 to roads and bridges. The damage to irrigation ditches and 

 reservoirs has been equally great, though not so readily apparent. 

 On account of the heavy expenses for repairing irrigation ditches 

 entailed by the floods, many ranches in Castle Valley have been 

 abandoned. It is also stated that these streams were formerly 

 stocked with trout but since the floods have caused the flow to be 

 so muddy the fish have disappeared. 



The conditions affecting the floods are described in considerable 

 detail, such as topography, soil, ground cover, rainfall, and tor- 

 rential run-off. The influence of limestone and sandstone for- 



