Soil Saver Notes

Soil Saver Notes

Br L. B. Henrvtty

The great damage resulting from the recent Kansas-Missouri flood has caused many to wonder Just how a re-occurrence can be {prevented. One plan is being sponsored to construct a aeries of large, extremely costly dams on the various streams and tributaries. Thereby, being able to store the (water in large reservoir back of each dam and release it at a rate so as not to cause flood damage to down stream areas. This, of course, is "a fhethod devised to take care of flood water after it once reaches the streams.

Apparently, this method of controlling floods has been proven satisfactory on most watersheds with one exception. The exception is, how to prevent the reservoir from filling up with soil and debris that is washed from the fields above. As the reservoir fills up the capacity to store water is reduced proportionately. It is interesting to note here that Dan River Reservoir at Sehoolfield, near Danville, filled completely with soil and formed an island eupportitig vegetation in less than 15 years. •

Only a portion of the soil stops in the reservoir, the remainder goes on down stream and out to the ocean. A lot of sound thinking citizens are beginning to wonder why more should not be done to keep the soil where it belongs. This (would then benefit agriculture aa well as prevent siltation of th© streams and reservoirs.

Slowing down the rate at which water runs off the land and keeping the soil on the hills goes a long way in preventing floods. This is mere common sense. Soil and water conservation is not the sole answer to flood control on large watersheds, but it is a step that should be taken prior to the construction of large expensive dams, if they are to be effective for a long period of years. Maybe we are getting the cart before, the horse.