12 MISCELLANEOUS CIRCULAR 94, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



water-supply projects for growing towns and irrigation districts. 

 In 1848 there was no irrigated land in the State. Agriculture suc- 

 ceeded grazing on the most valuable lands, and vast areas were used 

 for wheat and grain raising without irrigation in the eighties and 

 nineties. In time the orange groves of the mission padres were ex- 

 tended by irrigation and other fruits were introduced, until to-day 

 the value of the fruit crop is over $200,000,000, or an amount nearly 

 equal to the combined value of the hay, grain, and vegetables pro- 

 duced in the State. California stands first among States in amount 

 of irrigated and irrigable areas, and of the total acreage under irriga- 

 tion at the present time it is estimated that more than one-half is 

 watered by gravity from streams and lakes in the national forests. 



IRRIGATED FARMS AND ORCHARDS 



Of the 4,700.000 acres of agricultural land under irrigation in California more than 

 one-half is watered from streams and lakes in the national forests 



Of equal importance with power development and irrigation is the 

 use of the waters from the national forests for domestic and munici- 

 pal water supply. Many of the cities, towns, settlements, and farms 

 of California are more or less dependent upon these forests for their 

 water. Outstanding examples are Los Angeles, San Diego, Pasadena, 

 Santa Barbara, and Sacramento. San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, 

 and other east bay cities are also planning extensive development of 

 national forest water resources for their domestic and municipal 

 supply. 



Considering all these important uses of water, it would be difficult 

 to say what is the total value of the national forests of the State in 

 terms of good health and prosperity. 



