A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 383 



The causes of this increase in flood frequency, insofar as they arise 

 from human activities, are subject to modification and correction. 

 A solution of the flood problem demands a full recognition of all 

 factors concerned, a determination of methods and objectives, and 

 application of those methods. 



WATER SUPPLY 43 



Only in years of drought, as 1925 and particularly 1930, do the 

 water problems appear in their true and full importance. Rains 

 are usually so well distributed throughout the growing season that 

 precautions or preparations against exceptional droughts are not 

 usually made. The drought of 1925 was severe, but the great 1930 

 drought caught many communities quite unprepared for the reduced 

 water supplies on which they had to depend. Both in towns and 

 country the pinch of want of water was severe. 



A thorough study of ground waters and wells showed that the 

 water table was declining. Dr. W J McGee of the Bureau of Soils 

 found that, over a period of 22 years, records of 9,507 weUs (a great 

 many of which are within the Ohio Valley) revealed a lowering of 

 the water table at a minimum mean rate of 1.315 feet per decade, 

 corresponding to an aggregate of 13.8 feet for the 80 years since 

 settlement began. The experience of communities, which have 

 found it necessary to deepen their wells periodically, fuUy corrobo- 

 rates this trend and indicates that the water table and deep ground 

 supplies are still shrinking. 



Water supplies are drawn from ponds, cisterns, surface wells, deep 

 wells, and from open reservoirs. For many cities, water is drawn 

 directly from rivers. For example, Columbus, Ohio, has two reser- 

 voirs to supply the city, both located on the Scioto River, one above 

 the other. Nashville, Tenn., draws its supply from the Cumberland 

 River; Cincinnati, Ohio, has a municipally owned plant with water 

 taken from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River; Pittsburgh, Pa., 

 takes its water from the Allegheny River. Other cities in the Ohio 

 Valley also use river water. 



The 1930 drought emphasized the inadequacy and shrinking of 

 water supplies in the Ohio River Basin. Stream flow ceased in many 

 cases and only the larger streams continued to flow. Within the 

 Wabash Valley, water supplies were frequently so very low that 

 Bloomington, Batesville, Bloomfield, and a number of other towns in 

 southern Indiana had periods of shortage of varying length during 

 which residents had to haul or ship water from outside points. In 

 rural districts, water, both for livestock and domestic use, had to be 

 hauled over considerable areas at various times beginning in midsum- 

 mer of 1930. It was estimated in February 1931, that in some south- 

 ern Indiana counties a fourth of the farmers were hauling water. 

 Not until March 1931, was the shortage in municipal and domestic 

 water supplies relieved. In the Miami, Scioto, and Muskingum 

 Valleys, conditions were likewise severe. In the Muskingum River 

 Valley the normally dependable springs went diy. Within the 



43 Data on water supplies in the Ohio River basin, and the effect upon them of recent droughts have 

 een obtained in large part from H. E. Grosbach, U.S.Qeol. Survey district engineer, Indianapolis, 

 Ind.jfrom Roy L. Morton, State sanitary engineer, Nashville, Tenn.; from Effect of the 1930 Drought 



. 



upon Ohio Public Water Supplies, by F. H. Waring and F. D. Stewart (Ohio State Univ. Eng. Exp. 

 Sta. News, 3 (3), Suppl. 1931); and from Principles of Water Power Development by Dr. W J McGee 

 (Science, N.S. vol. 34 (885)): 813-825. Dec. 15, 1911. 



