A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 403 



than 8 percent of the farm land in eastern Nebraska is seriously 

 eroded. 



Altogether there are about 10 million acres of once fine agricultural 

 land in the lower Missouri drainage which now are of doubtful agri- 

 cultural value. Because of their relationship to the flood problem of 

 the Mississippi, they are of national significance. Early action should 

 be taken to place this land under some form of management that will 

 prevent further erosion and greater flood losses. For some of the 

 abandoned land that is at least of doubtful value for agriculture, 

 forestry offers a solution. On these lands, it should be possible within 

 a few years to control surface run-off and erosion through planting 

 and other forestry practices. 



Conditions are now so serious that it seems scarcely possible for 

 private initiative to correct them. Public ownership of a large area 

 appears to be the only real solution. 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 



It has been pointed out that where forest lands in the upper Mis- 

 souri Basin are given management, satisfactory conditions of stream 

 flow obtain, and that on most lands not administered or managed, 

 watershed conditions are not satisfactory. Public lands under close 

 supervision are in the best shape, and some private lands in the worst. 

 The unreserved public domain approaches very closely the worst of 

 the private lands. This is especially marked in the Badlands where 

 grazing is principally at fault. Here in addition to range management, 

 forest planting, reseeding, and the use of erosion control devices are 

 needed to prevent further soil and water losses. Investigations are 

 particularly essential to determine how far these need to be applied 

 and their proper place. 



In the lower Missouri, conditions on the commercial forest lands are 

 very unsatisfactory, especially in view of the far-reaching effect of the 

 run-off from the Ozark highlands. Fires are widespread and there is 

 no organized protection against them. Cutting is done without re- 

 gard to the watershed conditions. Overgrazing in pastures hastens 

 run-off and increases the flood troubles of the Mississippi. Land 

 clearing on steep slopes has gone too far. Private ownership has given 

 little thought to stream-flow conditions. Whether private enterprise 

 will take any specific action is doubtful. Public acquisition appears 

 necessary on about 7.6 million acres. In this area, the National Gov- 

 ernment is primarily concerned because of the contribution this area 

 makes to the Mississippi River floods. 



On the agricultural silt loam uplands within the prairie region, 

 erosion has reached a stage where land is rapidly going out of agri- 

 culture. About 10 million acres of these lands are so eroded and im- 

 poverished as to be of doubtful agricultural value. Some of them could 

 support a forest of a land if planted. Public ownership of a large part 

 of these lands is apparently necessary, but the question of ownership 

 as well as that of future use is one that cannot be determined in the 

 light of present knowledge. If erosion is to be controlled and better 

 conditions of stream flow developed, some combination of forestry 

 with other use is necessary. Thorough investigations of conditions 

 and of the measure needed to restore watershed conditions are 

 necessary. 



