INTRODUCTION 



Shifts In land use and changes in land treaCmenc call for a periodic 

 review and inventory of our soil and water resource and treatment needs 

 chat will maintain or improve these resources, which in turn will improve 

 the environment. 



The updating of the Soil and Water Conservation Needs Inventory for 

 Montana was developed as a part of the National Inventory of Soil and 

 Water Conservation Needs established by the Secretary of Agriculture 

 (Appendix A). Data for this 1967 report were developed in accordance 

 with Che objectives, policies and procedures and within guidelines and 

 assumptions established for the National Inventory. 



When comparing the data in this report with the 1958 conservation 

 needs inventory, there are several factors to be considered: 



1. Land area in the State was reduced slightly as a result of 

 water development. 



2. Inventoried acreages changed as a result of changes in Federal 

 ownership, urban development and water areas. 



3. Land use changes --namely cropland, range and woodland, are partly 

 due to change in definition of native grasses cut for hay. 



When making comparisons with the 1958 conservation needs inventory 

 data, be sure to consider these changes to avoid erroneous conclusions. 



OBJECTIVES 



Soil and water resources and their related uses are fundamental to 

 the economic welfare of all people. Agriculture is Montana's number one 

 industry. Land use planners and developers in the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture and other Federal and State agencies have a constant need for 

 current information relating to our soil and water resources and their 

 treatment needs to improve the quality of our environment. This inven- 

 tory provides a systematic collection of facts on privately owned lands 

 for each county in the State. An inventory of watershed project needs 

 was developed for all lands in the State. Experience has shown that 

 treatment needs of our soil and water resources for a given watershed 

 must include all lands if we are to develop, improve and protect these 

 resources . 



The data obtained in this report will be very useful in formulating 

 programs dealing with resource planning and development of our soil and 

 water resources both at the county and State level. District supervisors. 



