i8gg. AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 183 



Nature's Storage Reservoirs. 



Being a Paper Read at Los Angeles by the Executive Chairman of the 



National Irrigation Congress. 



(number three of the series.) 



Nearly every one now recognizes the which in so many places line our hill- 

 need and importance, all through the sides and the precipitous slopes of our 

 arid region of America, of great storage mountain canons. And he has showed 

 reservoirs to save the waters that now, you how, when this natural sponge is 

 in the seasons of high water, run away once destroyed by fire or grazing, the 

 to the ocean, not only wasting the wealth waters will rush down in torrential floods, 

 that the use of the water would produce, carrying away the scant remaining soil, 

 but oftentimes carrying destruction in and making it difficult and often im- 

 their pathway, as the floods sweep down possible to restore the growth on the 

 the mountain sides and through the slopes that are left barren, 

 valleys. Mr. Olmstead, the City Engineer of 



There are not so many who realize Los Angeles, also portrayed to you most 



the equally important fact that Nature vividly what a wonderful natural reser- 



has already made for us great storage voir existed to enlarge the water supply 



reservoirs which must be preserved if of the city of Los Angeles from the Los 



we are to maintain the water supplies Angeles River, by filling with water in 



that we are now using. These natural times of flood the great gravel bed lying 



storage reservoirs are absolutely essen- between that river and the mountains, 



tial to the very life of many communities leaving it to gradually percolate out into 



in the arid region, and yet, in many the river in the later months of the year, 

 places, we are allowing them to be reck- In this suggestion there are great possi- 



lessly and ruthlessly destroyed. bilitiesforwater storage in probably every 



Much that I would have said to you arid State, where the water can be ied 



on this subject has already been better out in time of floods onto the high mesa 



said by others. In his address to-day lands and the porous sandy and gravelly 



Mr. Schuyler strongly brought out the soils on the higher levels can be satu- 



close relation between forests and reser- rated with water in seasons when it is 



voirs, and showed how essential it is, if abundant, leaving it to gradually find its 



we are to utilize the opportunities which way out into the canals and natural chan- 



Nature has created for building storage nels on lower levels in seasons when it 



reservoirs in the mountain canons, that is needed. 



we should preserve the forests and the Mr. Olmstead has given us another 



foliage that covers the mountain sides, illustration to prove the fact, now so 



so that the winter storms will not bring generally recognized, that water stored 



down masses of detritus which will on the headwaters of navigable rivers, 



rapidly fill up and destroy the storage and first taken out on the bench lands 



capacity of the reservoirs. for irrigation, will find its way back into 



He has showed, too, how imperative the river in the low water season when 

 it is, if we would preserve our sources it is most needed for navigation. The 

 of water supply, that we should preserve use of the water for irrigation is merely 

 the reservoirs which Nature has pro- another illustration of water storage in 

 vided for holding back the water in the one of " Nature's storage reservoirs " un- 

 natural sponges, made by the network til it is needed for navigation, and shows 

 of undergrowth and roots and decaying how superficial is the objection some- 

 leaves, and shrubs and brush and trees times made to the use of water for irri- 



