SWCD's ACTIVE IN POLLUTION REDUCTION 



by A. B. Linford 



State Conservationist, SCS 



There seems to be a public awakening 

 to the need to do something about air, wat- 

 er and land pollution. At no time in the 

 hi^^ry of our country have citizens been 

 so^^roused about their environment. The 

 concern has suddenly become a matter of 

 life for all living things. This has 

 been an important concern of Soil & 

 Water Conservation Districts for over 

 30 years. 



Our President, in his recent message 

 on environment, said "Clean air, clean 

 water, open spaces — these should once 

 again be the birthright of Americans I 

 The answer is not to abandon growth but 

 to redirect it." 



Resource planning, development and con- 

 servation programs of Districts supported 

 by the Soil Conservation Service will con- 

 tinue to help provide a healthy, product- 

 ive and usable environment. 



Sediment is the most serious pollutant 

 of agriculture. Road construction, urban 

 and industrial development also cause ser- 

 ious movement of sediment. Many chemicals, 

 pesticides and fertilizers moving Into the 

 sti^^s generally are transported on soil 

 sartlcles. Any program that reduces 

 arosion and movement of sediment is effect- 

 ive in reducing agriculturally related 



pollution. Sediment reduction will go a 

 long way toward remedying the undesirable 

 environmental effects coming from agri- 

 cultural operations. 



The efforts in conservation and devel- 

 opment of soil, water, forest, and relat- 

 ed resources have done considerable to 

 improve the quality of the environment. 

 This action program is and will continue 

 to be effective. 



Last year a 13-milllon dollar in- 

 vestment was made by the agricultural pro- 

 ducers of Montana for conservation pro- 

 grams. Let's take a look at what Montana 

 farmers and ranchers have done to reduce 

 sedimentation with the SWCD programs. 

 The following practices applied to the 

 land are effective in reducing and con- 

 trolling pollution. They have been ap- 

 plied in impressive amounts. 



24,000,000 acres proper grazing 

 use to improve soil cover 



2,070,000 acres range and pasture 

 seeding to improve soil cover 



2,000 grade stabilization structures 

 to eliminate gulleys 



6,900,000 acres conservation crop- 

 ping systems to reduce wind and wat- 

 er erosion. 



400,000 acres critical area plant- 

 ings to prevent soil loss 



12,000 acres grassed waterways to pro- 

 tect natural waterways 



16,000 acres windbreaks to protect 

 land from wind erosion 



104,000 water control structures to 

 prevent sediment movement 



300,000 acres irrigated land level- 

 ing to better use water 



1,300,000 feet irrigation canal lin- 

 ing to prevent erosion and water loss 



33,000 farm ponds to reduce flood- 

 water runoff, 

 (cont'd, on page 4) 



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