in time of flood, and they should last for a considerable 

 period. Such simple barriers, made by windfalls and by 

 beavers, were common in the early period of settlement and 

 were durable. In some instances baffle dams and wing dams 

 more formally constructed of staggered sections of fence, 

 reinforced by rocks, logs, staves, wire, hay, and straw, may 

 be desirable; they leave openings for the stream flow, yet 

 retard the flow and maintain pools. Where the terrain is 

 rugged and streams more torrential, substantial check dams 

 of rock and concrete are necessary. The kinds of retarding 

 devices suitable for a particular stream can be determined 

 by specialists of the neighboring experiment station. 



In some communities the lay of the land and the streams 

 may be such that the community may undertake as a 

 collective enterprise the construction of a masonry dam and 

 the creation of a relatively permanent reservoir which would 

 impound water for various community uses. Such dams 

 should be constructed only in accordance with the designs 

 and under the supervision of a competent engineer. 



The benefits of such reservoirs may be of several kinds, 

 one benefit being dominant in one community, some other 

 in another community. In all instances they should provide 

 an abundant supply of fish, the waters being clear because of 

 control measures on feeder streams from individual farms. 

 They should offer local recreational facilities. A natural 

 picnic ground with water is a distinct community asset. 

 Families will drive many miles to find such a site. Such 

 waters should attract some wild fowl and other game. They 

 could be used to improve the fire protection and sanitation 

 of hamlets. More closely related to the productive activities 

 of communities, they may with favorable conditions of 

 topography provide water for supplementary irrigation of 

 the crops of the community. 



The extension of cheap electric power into the rural com- 

 munity would provide flexible pumping facilities, and the 

 irrigation requirements would create a market for the power. 

 In some instances the impounded water might become a 

 source of electric energy on a small scale, not only for farm 

 pumping but also for small community industries natural 



