194 Fish and Game Warden. '"Bull. No. 1. 



WATER-STORAGE POSSIBILITIES AND SOIL 

 FERTILITY. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



During the past few years the Department of Fish and Game hab given 

 considerable time and study to the water supply and to the water condi- 

 tions of the state of Kansas, having in view primarily the idea of inci-eas- 

 ing and improving the water acreage of the state, and of stocking the 

 ponds, lakes and streams with food and game fishes. This finally led to 

 the publication of the present bulletin on "Ponds," "Pond Fish," and 

 "Pond Fish Culture." 



While collecting information and getting material together for the 

 bulletin, a number of things had to be considered and investigated. One 

 of the principal ones was the water-storage possibilities of the state. This 

 involved a study of the rainfall, the run-off water, the streams, the leach- 

 ing of the soil, erosion, and soil fertility. 



The article that follows was prepared for and read before the fortieth 

 annual meeting of the Kansas Board of Agriculture, by the author of this 

 bulletin. The article is published here because its contents are closely 

 allied to the subject matter of the bulletin, and because we have had 

 many requests for this special article. We hope it may be of some value 

 to its readers. 



NATURAL RESOURCES. 



Water is a natural resource and, in Kansas, as essential to 

 life as the light and heat of the sun. The general need of 

 water for agriculture and domestic purposes is universally 

 recognized; this need gradually increases with the growth and 

 development of a country. While the land area and natural 

 water supply of any country or locality remain practically con- 

 stant, yet it is a proposition easy to demonstrate that the de- 

 mands made upon both constantly increase with the growth 

 and development of civilized ideas in any community. While 

 it is true that the stock of water received directly from rain 

 and snow, for any given country or locality, remains constant 

 for given periods of time, it is also true that man, in his devel- 

 opment of the country, makes many special uses of water, de- 

 creasing or augmenting the local supply, and making it solve 

 or help solve many problems in the interest of mankind. 



Good sunshine, good air, good soil and good water may be 

 considered four of the most important things in the world, and 

 they may also be considered the four primary natural resources 

 that constitute the only foundation upon which a good country, 

 with good institutions, controlled by good citizens, living in 

 good homes, can be founded. 



In a known acreage of fertile land, with a definite supply of 

 water, a vast heritage has come to us from nature ; do not the 

 laws of nature and humanity make it incumbent upon us to 

 determine its possibilities by intelligent forethought and scien- 

 tific investigation? In taking charge of this heritage, should 



