IRRIGATION IN MONTANA 



17 



The growth, area, location, and relative producing capacity of Montana's irrigated 

 lands are shown more in detail in the following tables and by the accompanying map. 



Drainage 



Practically all of Montana's lands, including the areas under irriga- 

 tion, are provided with excellent natural drainage, and very little 

 artificial drainage is or will be required. The Census report of 1920 shows that 

 164,439 acres of land in farms in Montana have or need drainage, which is less than 

 one per cent of the total area in farms. Drainage east of the mountains is almost 

 entirely needed to relieve water-logged or seeped land as a result of irrigation; while 

 west of the Divide most drainage is required to relieve or to protect lands which are 

 swampy or subject to overflow. 



On January 1, 1920, the Census Bureau found there were 17 drainage enterprises 

 in operation in Montana, which covered a gross area of 168,682 acres. Of this amount, 

 19,630 acres were reported as being swampy, subject to overflow, seeped, or alkali land. 

 The estimated cost per acre to complete the drainage under these enterprises was $5.02. 



Yellowstone, Stillwater and Big Horn counties have the largest areas included 

 within drainage enterprises east of the mountains, while Richland and Gallatin counties 

 have smaller areas in this class. In the western part of the state, Flathead, Lincoln, 

 Ravalli and Powell counties contain most of the areas within drainage enterprises. In 

 several other counties throughout the state there are small tracts which are provided 

 with artificial drainage, or where additional drainage is contemplated. 



CAPITAL INVESTED, COST PER ACRE, AND COST OF MAINTENANCE OF 



IRRIGATION WORKS. 

 (U. S. Bureau of the Census — 1920.) 



AREA AND PER CENT OF LAND IRRIGATED, AND CHARACTER OF 

 IRRIGATION enterprises;. 



1920 (1) 1 919 (2) 1909 (2) 



Total acreage actually irrigated (6) 2,136,974 1,681,729 1,679,084 



Character of Irrigation Enterprises: 



Individual and Partnership 976,645 



Cooperative 393,257 333,926 



Carey Act 100,000 54,771 9,648 



Irrigation District 51,698 35,153 412 



Commercial 34,115 62,544 



U. S. Reclamation Service 145,000 (3) . 88,291 14,077 



U. S. Indian Service 98,887 67,417 



Other 1,839,576 (4) 640 (5) 



Acreage enterprises were capable of irrigating 3,022,517 2,753,498 2,205,155 



Acreage included in enterprises 4,329,148 3,515,602 



Number of farms irrigated 10,807 8,970 



Per cent of farms irrigated 18.7 34.2 



Per cent of land in farms irrigated 4.8 12.4 



Per cent of improved land in farms irrigated 15.3 46.1 



(1): Figures for 1920 from report of Montana Irrigation Commission Surveys made in 1920. 



(2): Data from U. S. Bureau of the Census. Much land covered by irrigation ditches, and 

 ordinarily irrigated, was not irrigated in 1919, due to that year being the third succes- 

 sive year with sub-normal precipitation, which reduced the supply of water in streams, 

 especially those not originating in mountain distrcts, hence rather low acreage shown 

 for 1919. 



(3): Includes both 17. S. R. S. and Indian Service irrigation. 



(4): The Commission did not segregate into same classes as the Census Bureau, hence this 

 item composed chiefly of acreage under Individual Partnership and Cooperative. 



(5): These classifications not made in 1910 Census. 



(6): The U. S. Bureau of the Census shows that in Montana 951,154 acres were irrigated In 

 1900, and 350,582 acres were irrigated in 1890. 



