20 Miscellaneous Circular 71, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



The heavy snows of winter would accumulate on these mountains 

 even if they were not forested, and the summer rains would fall most 

 heavily there. When it comes to the run-off from these watersheds, 

 however, the character of the cover has a very 

 marked effect upon the usefulness of the water. 

 From forested mountains come clear streams having 

 far less violent fluctuations from time to time than 

 streams from unforested mountains and, in general, having a later 

 and more extended period of high water. The total amount of water 

 coming down out of the mountains is doubtless somewhat less here 

 than in regions where the mountains are deforested, but it counts for 

 much more. It has greater crop-producing power. 



Studies made at the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station show 

 that early water has much less effect in determining the size of crops 



Water from 

 Forested Moun- 

 tains Is Useful. 



Fig. 14.— The work of a Utah flood 



than later water. In the case of grain, for instance, water at the time 

 of the formation of the grain is essential to a large crop. With sugar 

 beets, carrots, and other root crops, water in July and August is of 

 exceptional value, and in the case of the all-important alfalfa, irri- 

 gation at the time of the second cutting is necessary to get a good 

 third crop. Adequate later water is contingent on watersheds pro- 

 tected by a vegetative cover. 



Denuded watersheds are subject to erosion, which brings about 

 high maintenance charges for ditches, canals, and similar improve- 

 ments, as they continually fill with silt and sand and require con- 

 stant attention. The maintenance of reservoirs in such streams 

 also becomes extremely difficult, and in some instances the accumu- 

 lation of silt renders the reservoirs entirely useless. 



