14 MISC. PUBLICATIOX 9 9, U. S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE 



supply or causing abnormal erosion of the soil. Results thus far show 

 that where the vegetation has been reduced to approximately 16 per 

 cent of a total cover, about 8 to 9 tons of soil per acre were carried 

 away by running water each year. The eroded soil left on the slopes 

 is incapable of producing a satisfactory forage crop. The soil re- 

 moved from the mountain slopes by erosion is deposited in reser- 

 voirs, in irrigation ditches, and on valuable farm land at the mouths 

 of the canyons where it becomes a detriment and liability. More- 

 over, surface run-off from torrential summer rains is very much 

 greater on the depleted lands, a condition that contributes materially 

 to the danger of floods from summer rains, and reduces the moisture 

 supply for plant growth on the mountain slopes. Better manage- 

 ment of the range to permit an increase in the plant cover to the 

 point where it occupied approximately 10 per cent of the surface 

 of the ground resulted in reducing the erosion so that only 41 per 

 cent as much sediment was being removed as formerly and there 

 was a corresponding amount of reduction in the torrential run-off 

 from heavy summer rains. 



The McSweeney-McNary Forest Research Act, approved in May, 

 1928, authorizes an enlarged forest and range-research program more 

 commensurate with the needs of solving the problems on forest and 

 range lands. Plans are now under way for the development of a 

 more adequate amount of research to cover all of the important 

 forest and range problems in the State of Utah, as well as through- 

 out the intermountain region. 



OTHER FOREST USES 



Many other minor uses of the forest resources are in effect under 

 the Government policy of fullest possible utilization and develop- 

 ment. Many special-use permits are issued on the forests every 

 year, some for which nominal charges are made and some entirely 

 free. They cover the construction of reservoirs, ditches, conduits, 

 private telephone lines, cabins, corrals, and pasture fences, the cut- 

 ting of wild hay, and a wide variety of other desirable uses. 



Water-power development is one of the most promising future 

 uses of the forest resources. The swift mountain streams offer suf- 

 ficient power to meet every need of the State's growing industrial 

 activities, and under recent legislation great progress in power de- 

 velopment is to be expected. "Where power is developed within the 

 forests, no charge is made for municipal purposes. Where power is 

 developed for sale b} 7 a commercial company a reasonable annual 

 charge is made. 



MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES 



The municipal water supply of 65 cities and towns in Utah, in- 

 cluding that of Salt Lake City, is taken directly from the protected 

 national-forest watersheds. These municipal water systems supply 

 a total population of nearly 2-25.000, using approximately 80,000,000 

 gallons of water daily. Approximately $16,000,000 has been in- 

 vested by these Utah communities to provide their citizens with an 



