l-ct s Ril (oKcihtT or we'll all kick the buekc 



WATER EVERYWHERE, But . . . 



When we turn on the faucet at the kitchen sink 

 and wait for a minute for a cool drink, as much 

 as six gallons of water may run down the drain 

 in that minute. Water is one of the most common 

 substances on earth. Water forms vast oceans. 

 It is present in the air and even dissolved in soil 

 and rock. 



Man cannot be spear ated from water for long. 

 Cities have been built by the edge of rivers and 

 oceaiiSw Man has used water for transportation, 

 to grind his meal and to wash his clothes. 



Man has braved the mighty oceans in quest of 

 whales, fortunes and new lands. He has stood in 

 awe of it and yet, we are attracted to water like 

 a magnet. We find something relaxing and tran- 

 quil in a quiet pool, deep in a wilderness or we 

 find strength and vitality watching white caps 

 crash against rock and reef. 



We find a thousand forms of recreation in and 

 near water. We fish, swim, boat, water ski, 

 sail and just look. We also find wildlife need 

 and are found near it. We photograph, hunt 

 waterfowl, picnic and drive along our waterways. 



Agriculture and lumbering are dependent on 

 water. A few inches of rain a year mark the 

 difference between dwarf stunted trees and large 

 marketable timber. It makes the difference bet- 

 ween a few bushels per acre or a bumper crop. 

 All forms of animal life depend on vegetation and 

 moisture determines where the dominating veg- 

 etation will be yucca or blue grass and whether 

 we will have jack rabbits and horned toads or 

 deer or cattle. 



Water is everywhere but it is one of the major 

 problems of our nation today. Irrigation, ind- 

 ustry, recreation and domestic use all require an 

 ever -increasing amount of water. Getting water 



where we want it and the quality of the water add 

 to the problem. Industry needs pure water. We 

 don't like to fish and swim in a polluted stream 

 and, in some heavily used boating areas sanita- 

 tion is an ever -increasing problem. Over- 

 grazing and improper irrigation processes cause a 

 erosion and silt laden waterways. Relining irriga- 

 tion ditches, purifying plants for domestic sewage 

 and industrial pollution must be increased. Proper 

 conservation not only has immediate results but 

 more important are the long range results. 



If we can reduce the pollution of water by domes- 

 tic and industrial .wastes, stop erosion by holding 

 the water where it falls and provide more and better 

 opportimities for recreation on our waters^ Montana 

 will be well on its way to solving its water problems. 



Next time you turn on the faucet remember how 

 important water is to all of us - remember we 

 have water everywhere, but .... 



4>*4<4'4<>i'* by: Roger Fliger 



MORE DISTRICT DOINGS 



Supervisors of the Big Horn SWCD moved to enter 

 the Goodyear Award Contest at its last meeting. 



Box Elder District took steps at its last meeting to 

 procure exemption from filing income tax returns 

 with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. "Inas- 

 much as districts are gorernmental subdivisions of 

 the State of Montana, they are exempt from Federal 

 income tax and are not required to file returns of 

 income". However districts must procure this ex- 

 emption from the Internal Revenue. 



Blaine Coimty SWCD plans to have Frank Schledorn, 

 chief of Watershed Planning Party, to talk on water- 

 shed at its annual meeting. 



Flathead SWCD are planning an 8th Grade Conserva- 

 tion Tour. 



At its March 4 meeting, the Cascade SWCD discus- 

 sed and made some plans for the Montana Associa- 

 tion convention whidi will be held in Great Falls 

 this coming November 13-15. 



Bitterroot SWCD held a special meeting March 12 

 to outline a new work Program. 



The North Custer SWCD discussed approprations 

 for Conservation as outlined in the Tuesday News 

 Letter, and it was decided to contact their Business 

 Association and tell them to write their Congress- 

 men and protest any cut in fimds . 



North Custer Distrist also discussed and invited 

 the ASCS to go in with the SCS on a booth at the 

 Kinsey and Miles City fairs. 



