wy) BULLETIN 1358, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
range have now become urgent considerations over an immense 
area. 
This bulletin presents the results of over three years’ study and 
observation, under varying conditions, of more than 200 reservoirs, 
50 wells, and numerous water developments of other types in Ari- 
———————— 
zona and New Mexico. Although the methods and practices outlined — 
may require modification to meet local conditions, the conclusions | 
will apply generally. The conservation of storm water in reser- 
—" 
voirs, or “tanks” as they are known in the Southwest, and the | 
spacing of range watering places are emphasized as being of par- | 
ticular importance. 
IMPORTANCE OF WATER DEVELOPMENT TO THE LIVE- | 
STOCK INDUSTRY 
Some water development work was done by southwestern stock- | 
men in the eighties, or possibly even earlier. This usually took the » 
form of shallow dug wells or plowed furrows to divert more water | 
to natural depressions or temporary lakes, followed by crudely 
improved springs or seeps and small earthen reservoirs. With the 
expansion of the livestock industry drilled wells, larger reservoirs, 
and more expensive improvements appeared. (PI. IL.) 
Almost $750,000 has been invested in livestock water develop- 
ments on Government grazing lands on the 14 national forests of 
Arizona and New Mexico. Heavy investments of a similar nature | 
have also been made on private ranch lands used with the forest — 
range. Detailed figures from 7 national forests show that on 85 _ 
fairly representative range-cattle units or allotments there has been 
spent in usable intact water developments an average of $3.15 a head 
on the basis of the carrying capacity. Expenditures range from — 
1 cent to $51.61 a head. ‘Similar figures for sheep ranges, based on - 
33 grazing units, show an average water investment of $1.52 a sheep, - 
with extremes of 1 cent and $7 48 (Ales 
These figures indicate the importance of range water to the live- 
stock industry of the Southwest. From the standpoints of main- ' 
tained range and watershed conditions and of livestock production 
there is still a decided need, however, for more water on the ranges | 
wherever economically possible. In some cases the economic limit 
has already been approached and in others it has been passed; but 
over large areas many additional projects will pay. 
Poorly watered ranges are characterized either by overgrazing | 
near water or unutilized feed far from water. or both. The value 
of any unused forage can be closely estimated from the prevailing 
rental values of shanellene grazing lands. The financial loss from 
poorer condition of the animals and from death losses through 
forcing them to travel long distances between feed and water is not 
so easy to estimate, but is a very serious matter. Damage to the 
range is also difficult to fix in terms of money, because future as well 
as present grazing values are reduced, and because range damage 
itself is a product. ot complex causes. All of these values should in 
each case be weighed against the expense of additional watering — 
places before concluding that development will not be profitable. 
? Numbers in italics in parentheses refer to “ Literature Cited,” page 42. 
