33 



13. Infiltration studies on high, poorly drained, recharge 

 areas indicate that over five inches of water per day can move downward 

 through the glacial till. These high infiltration rates greatly exceed 

 previous estimates. 



14. Saline- seep development is not just limited to high precipi- 

 tation areas. During the past two years large outbreaks of saline seeps 

 have been observed in areas where average annual precipitation is less 

 than 12 inches (Loma, Power-Dutton, and Columbus-Rapelje areas). 



15. At the present time saline- seep development is particularly 

 pronounced in areas where the glacial till is relatively thin (zero to 30 

 feet thick). Excess water is undoubtedly accumulating over large areas 

 where the glacial till is much thicker, but as yet has not expressed 

 itself at the surface. 



16. According to a survey conducted by the United States Soil 

 Conservation Service in 1971, more than 80,000 acres of non-irrigaged 

 cropland in Montana had been lost to saline seeps. Serious outbreaks 

 of saline seeps have now appeared in most of northcentral and north- 

 eastern Montana. At the present time, it is estimated that an additional 

 area of 100, 000 to 150, 000 acres of cropland has been lost, but no 

 recent survey has been conducted to prove or disprove this estimate. 

 Possibly such a survey should be conducted soon. Also, if the acreage of 

 saline farm, recreation, and stock ponds, as well as badly eroded 



