Post-war management of western forested watershed lands for water yield

The need for additional water supplies in the semi-arid western states is indicated in post war demands for expansion of industrial and agricultural facilities. Announcements of large sums for reclamation projects and power production together with flood control and navigation problems. The U. S. Forest Service controlled lands in the mountainous states of the West where 80% of the water supplies originate must be managed through improvements of logging operations, through select cutting to produce a maximum of timber products and water supply with a minimum of soil erosion, silt accumulation and also a prolonged snow melt season, to produce moderate runoff volumes. Proper management of forest lands will increase water yield and improve the forest lands for future production of forest products and water supplies.In discussion Joseph Kittridge emphasizes that watershed management is essential to the economic growth of the western states, through careful conservation planning of the natural resources.