assistance for control and prevention of saline 

 seep. See Part B, Objective 43 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: Often it is difficult for a farmer, 

 untrained in saline seep problems, to identify 

 recharge areas, and to prescribe prevention and 

 control methods for saline seep. 



C) To cost-share saline seep control prac- 

 tices, the CDD will vi/ork with Agricultural 

 Stabilization and Conservation Service on the Na- 

 tional Farm Program to allow implementation of 

 flexible-cropping systems without penalty to the 

 farmer. A cost-share program for well drilling and 



other field work necessary to develop a reclama- 

 tion plan for individual farmers will be considered. 

 See Part B, Objective 44 of the Work Plan. 



Rationale: Incentives are needed to en- 

 courage agricultural producers to control saline 

 seep. 



D) To support locally operated saline seep 

 control programs such as the Triangle Saline Seep 

 Program. See Part B, Objective 45 of the Work 

 Plan. 



Rationale: The Triangle program has been 

 very successful in identifying and controlling seeps 

 in the 9-county Triangle area. 



FLOODING 



Situation 



Flood damage presents serious health, environmen- 

 tal, economic, and safety problems. The Upper Missouri 

 River Basin Level B Study estimated flood damage in the 

 Montana portion of the basin for 1975, a flood year, at a 

 cost of over $7.5 million, affecting over 1 million acres of 

 land. Flood damages projected for 1990 and 2000 are 

 estimated to be $8.5 and $8.9 million, respectively. But 

 the Upper Missouri study estimated that, if accelerated 

 enforcement of flood-plain regulations is implemented, 

 flood damages are expected to be reduced by about 11 

 percent (from $8.5 million) in 1990 and 16 percent (from 

 $8.9 million) in 2000. 



Only one county in Montana has developed a con- 

 tingency plan for evacuation in the event of a flood; that 

 plan was prepared by the Carbon County Conservation 

 District. 



Several measures providing varying degrees of flood 

 control have been instituted throughout the state. Some 

 flood control protection is provided by several large-scale 

 projects built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 

 Bureau of Reclamation (Hungry Horse, Canyon Ferry, 

 Yellowtail), and by small watershed projects constructed 

 by the SCS under PL566. Montana owns 25 dams, as well; 

 most have agricultural water storage rather than flood 

 control as their chief function. Nonstructural approaches 

 to flood control, such as flood-plain regulation, limit the 

 types of developments on the flood plain or require flood 

 proofing of structures already in the flood plain. Federal 

 flood insurance has helped to reduce monetary damages 

 suffered by flood-plain residents but cannot reduce actual 

 damage. Under state law, flood-plain regulation provides 

 for local administration of standards. Local governments 



need to take the responsibility for regulating their flood 

 plains. 



Concerns 



The major concerns pointed out by the 

 districts for flooding are the negative environmen- 

 tal and economic impacts caused by flooding, and 

 the need to lessen these impacts. 



Objectives 



A) To increase watershed protection and 

 flood prevention by increasing funding for PL566 

 projects. The CDD will support efforts of Congress 

 and the Montana legislature to increase funding 

 for the PL566 program. See Part B, Objective 46 of 

 the Work Plan. 



Rationale: Incentives are needed to en- 

 courage the construction of small flood prevention 

 projects. 



B) To reduce damages caused by flooding, 

 the CDD will encourage CDs to work with their 

 local planning boards to enforce local floodplain 

 regulations. See Part B, Objective 47 of the Work 

 Plan. 



Rationale: Floodplain regulations are 

 necessary to reduce flood damages; CDs could be 

 instrumental in enforcing these laws. 



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