FORESTS AND FLOODS 33 



berlands for water conservation and the regula- 

 tion of rain water run-off and stream flow. 



The National Forests aid greatly in con- 

 serving and making available for use the pre- 

 cious limited rainfall of the arid regions. That 

 is why settlers in irrigated districts are deeply 

 interested in the cutting of timber in the Federal 

 woodlands. Destructive lumbering is never 

 practiced in these forests. In its place has been 

 substituted a system of management that assures 

 the continued preservation of the forest-cover. 

 Uncle Sam is paying special attention to the 

 western water-sheds which supply reclamation 

 and irrigation projects. He understands that 

 the ability of the forest to regulate stream flow 

 is of great importance. The irrigation farmers 

 also desire a regular flow, evenly distributed, 

 throughout the growing season. 



One of the chief reasons for the establishment 

 of the National Forest was to preserve the natu- 

 ral conditions favorable to stream flow. In a 

 treeless country, the rise of the streams is a very 

 accurate measure of the rainfall. In the region 

 where forests are frequent, an ordinary rain is 

 scarcely noticed in its effect on the stream. In 

 a denuded district no natural obstacles impede 



