SMALL RECLAMATION 

 PROJECTS ACT 



As outlined elsewhere in this issue, 

 the need for more water storage projects 

 is becoming increasingly obvious. Mon- 

 tanans should explore every means to 

 satisfy this need, but at least one 

 possible avenue, the Small Reclamation 

 Projects Act of 1956, has been thus far 

 overlooked in our state. 



Administered by the Bureau of Recla- 

 mation, the Act established a program 

 under which certain western organiza- 

 tions, including conservation districts, 

 irrigation districts and water users' 

 associations, may obtain federal loans 

 and grants for water projects of speci- 

 fied purposes and valuation. Construc- 

 tion or rehabilitation of projects 

 for the single purpose of irrigation 

 or drainage of irrigated lands will 

 qualify, as will multi-purpose water 

 resources projects. However, the 

 total cost must not exceed $15 million. 



Interest free loans are available 

 for projects intended to irrigate up 

 to 160 acres per single ownership or 

 320 acres held jointly by husband and 

 wife. For that portion of irriated 

 acreage over 160 acres per person, or 

 for purposes other than irrigation, 

 interest is charged at a low rate 

 (currently 3 5/8%). Grants may be 

 obtained for multi-purpose projects 

 providing flood control, outdoor 

 recreation, and fish and wildlife 

 benefits to the general public, even 

 if no loan is requested, but the 

 maximum federal contribution, whe- 

 ther in the form of a loan, a grant, 

 or a combination of the two, is 

 limited to $10 million per project. 



Responsibilities of the applying 

 organization are similar to those 

 requirements under P.L. 566, the 

 Watershed Protection and Flood Pre- 

 vention Act. P.L. 566 does offer 50% 

 cost-sharing, but the no-interest pro- 

 vision of the Small Reclamation Pro- 

 jects Act may make the total expense 

 to the organization comparable, even 

 considering the $1,000 non-refundable 

 filing fee required under the latter. 



Many neighboring states have used 

 the Act extensively and apparently 

 with satisfactory results. Your 

 group should become familiar with 

 the Act, for it may provide an attrac- 

 tive means to put more of Montana's 

 water to bpneficial uses. 

 #### 



DROUTH - HIGH PRICES - Bring on 

 Demand for New Water Developments. 



Of great concern to all water users, 

 farmers and ranchers, wildlife man- 

 agers, municipalities and industry, 

 conservationists and the general pub- 

 lic, is the drouth which has brought 

 on a critical water shortage in all 

 of western and certain other areas of 

 Montana. 



Current world trade demand for agri- 

 cultural products, coupled with the 

 need to overcome drouth here and in 

 other areas of the world, is reflected 

 in high prices for agricultural pro- 

 ducts. This puts a severe strain on 

 soil and water conservation land use 

 practices. The demand for technical 

 help to design irrigation and stock 

 water systems has been great this 

 past summer. Many individual systems 

 are being installed and improved. 

 Many operators, in the pressure to 

 expand production, will be confronted 

 with considering changes in land use 

 from grazing to tillable crops, dry- 

 land to irrigation, etc. Some of 

 these may be marginal. Critical eval- 

 uation and wise decisions need to be 

 made. It has become evident that in- 

 vestments in water projects will be 

 more and more worthwhile and in the 

 public interest. 



Water development programs such as 

 P.L. 566 of USDA, the Small Projects 

 Act of the Bureau of Reclamation, 

 the Resource Conservation and Devel- 

 opment Program (RC&D) and Rural En- 

 vironmental Conservation Program (RECP) 

 of USDA, together with state and local 

 assistance, are currently available. 

 Local people with local initiative 

 can use these programs to bring about 

 great economic and environmental 

 benefits. 



