Many matters of great Importance to Soil and Water Conservation 

 Districts were discussed at the recent Montana Rural Areas Develop- 

 ment Committee Meeting at Bozeman. Among these was the proposed 

 Reichle Dam on the Big Hole River. 



Since Resolution #6 of the Watershed Committee at the Havre Con- 

 vention of Soil and Water Conservation Districts asks that a study 

 be made of the Reichle Dam by the Headwaters Association and that a 

 report be made at a future date, this report will deal with the 

 writer's impressions of what appears to be the prevailing opinion In 

 regard to the project. 



In a nutshell, Reichle Dam, an earth and rockflll structure, will 

 (according to the best estimates of the Bureau of Reclamation) store 

 530,000 acre feet of water on the Big Hole River, 15 miles upstream 

 ART CHRISTENSEN, Chairman of from Twin Bridges. The town of Glen and 8,500 acres of land would 

 Public Lands & Watersheds be Inundated. 10 miles of Blue Ribbon Trout stream would be lost. 

 Committee, MASWCD Water from the reservoir would be carried 135 miles to supply needs 



along the way from Whitehall to a point near Canyon Ferry Dam. Some 

 of the water would be stored In MI I I Igan Reservoir near Three Tor ks. 



64,000 acres of land In the Whitehall, Toston, and Townsend area would receive a full supply of 

 Irrigation water under the Jefferson-Whitehall Project. The economy of the area would be 

 strengthened and stabilized. Reichle and MI I I Igan reservoirs would provide recreational benefits. 

 The project would also provide flood control. $77,771,000.00 would be the cost and the cost 

 benefit ratio would be about 1.5 to I. 



After attending the RAD meeting and sampling the opinion of the people from the Area, 

 conclude that the majority favor the project. 



I would 



Most, but not all, residents of the area to be Inundated are In strong opposition. The Montana 

 Fish and Game Department, along with trout fishermen from all over the United States, are In 

 opposition. Many people from all walks of life feel that as long as our government must expend 

 huge amounts of money to support farm prices and to curtail production. It Is premature to build 

 the project at this time. 



The majority, however, feel that downstream Interests are eyeing Montana water and unless we 

 develop this resource, we may lose It. Farm surpluses are dwindling and may be a thing of the 

 past by the time the project can be completed. Almost no one denies that the project will be 

 needed someday. Some tax base will be lost In Beaverhead and Madison Counties, but this will 

 be offset many times by the economic growth in the downstream area. The project has widespread 

 support in the Townsend, Toston, and Whitehall area. It has been endorsed by the Governor and 

 the State Water Board. 



Since the construction of this project is almost a foregone conclusion, the major concern of 

 districts ought to be on overall longtime planning. Shortcomings of other projects should not 

 be repeated here. The years ahead will serve as a real challenge to Soil and Water Conservation 

 District.. 



Standing in a line at the ticket of- 

 fice of a movie theater, an old gen- 

 tleman whispered to the person be- 

 hind him, 'Take a look at the little 

 character in front of me with the 

 poodle cut and the blue jeans. Is 

 it a boy or a girl ?" 



"It's a girl," came the angry re- 

 ply. "I ought to know. It's my 

 daughter." 



"Forgive me, sir!" apologized the 

 old fellow. "I never dreamed you 

 were her father." 



"I'm not," said the slacks-clad 

 parent. "I'm her mother." 



"I used my head to get him to 

 propose. I just put it on his 

 shoulder." 



