University of Idaho School of Forestry - Forester Yearbook (Moscow, ID)

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The State House, Boise, Idaho

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THE RELATION OF TI-IE FOREST TO IRRIGATION HONORABLE H. C. BALDRIDGE Governor of Idaho 1927 to 1930 THE relation of the forest to irrigation is a close one and without the coverage incident to the growth of the forest our irrigation would be materially reduced. That we may get the value of this relationship I shall first dis- cuss the irrigation development of our state. I shall then endeavor to show what the forest means and has meant to this vast irrigation development of Idaho. Idaho is blessed with the largest supply of water of any irrigated state on account of hav- ing within her boundary a very large percent- age of the Snake River and its tributaries. Idaho also has a large body of land which on account of the character of the soil is well adapted to irrigation. Having the water and this fine areaof land, coupled with ideal cli- matic conditions, a progressive and enterpris- ing citizenship has placed Idaho in the front rank among the irrigated states. FARMING PRIOR T0 CIVIL WAR Irrigation development began in Idaho about the middle of the nineteenth century in the southeast section of the state near the present town of Franklin, the first project being de- veloped in that section by a group of Mormon pioneers. It is estimated that in 1860 the total amount of irrigated land in the State was less than 1,000 acres. Irrigation now extends en- tirely across the southern portion of the State, following generally the Snake River with sec- tions here and there along the way still in sagebrush. In the northern end of the State there are some irrigated tracts also, among the largest being the Rathdrum prairie and the Lewiston tract. The Boise River Valley and the so- called upper Snake River Valley began irriga- tion development about the same time as those in northern Idaho. In southwest Idaho, some irrigated tracts are found in the Bear River Valley while others are in the Snake River Valley and its tributaries. TWIN FALLS PROJECTS IMPORTANT The development since 1900 has included two of the largest tracts in the State, the Twin Falls and South Side, and the Boise projects. The completion of the great American Falls reservoir in 1927 was an outstanding event in irrigation accomplishment both in the State and in the Nation. It is the largest reservoir in the State, having a capacity of 1,700,000 acre feet. At the time of the dedication of the Ameri- can Falls dam Dr. Work, then Secretary of the Interior, made the statement that in its con- struction xve had the most outstanding evi- dence of co-operative efort between the Gov- ernment and private interests that had ever been undertaken by the Government up to that time. The latest development in irrigation enter- prises is the Gooding division of the Minidoka project which was completed in 1931. This project includes new lands, but the greatest urge for its construction was to give a full water supply to lands with a partial water right and which were urgently in need of ad- ditional water. More than 2,500,000 acres of land are now under irrigation in Idaho. It is estimated that these 2,500,000 acres comprise some 30,000 farms, which should have, and will have under normal conditions, a value of S375,000,000. In normal times these irrigated acres will pro- duce annually approximately S75,000,000 of wealth. IDAHO HAS POTENTIALITIES A large percentage of our population finds employment in the cultivation of our irrigated farms, without which our agriculture would be of little consequence as a State. The major portion of our people have employment for which our irrigated farms are dir-ectly or in- directly responsible. Idaho still has thousands upon thousands of acres of land from the standpoint of soil, to- pography and climate which are well suited to irrigation. Great quantities of water running away each year unused doing no one any good save and except possibly developing electrical energy of which We have a potential develop- ment of at least 5,000,000 horse power. When the time comes, as it will, when we need more land in cultivation, Idaho can furnish the land and the water which will continue to produce food and give employment to other thousands yet to come to our fair State. PROTECTION OF VVATERSHEDS VITAL We shall now give our attention to the dis- cussion of our Watersheds which hold the source of the water which annually comes down to make our thirsty lands produce and which, after all, is the thing which makes our deserts blossom as the rose. These wat-ersheds, for the most part, are covered with forests, brush, and other vegeta- tion. Much of the watershed area lies within or adjacent to national forests. In times past much discussion has been pro- voked because of the manner in which our forest areas have been handled, with regard to cutting of timber, grazing, fire protection, and all factors which in turn have more or less adected the plant cover. This plant coverage

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THE IDAHO FORESTER 7 in turn may and does innuence the water sup- ply and its usability. Until recent years little attention has been given to reforestation and the protection of our watersheds without the thought in mind of continuing and perpetuat- ing the coverage which is needed to conserve the water supply. The conservation of the plant coverage such as the forest tree and other vegetation is neces- sary that the snow be retained to prevent early runoff of which we have heard much com- plaint in recent years from our irrigation farmers. The Forest Service from its incep- tion has recognized the need for protection of these forest areas from the standpoint of the water supply and its use. GENERAL PUBLIC CONCERNED The writer, in 1929, as a member of the State Land Board, in company with represen- tatives of the Forest Service, Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association, and lumber operators, made a survey of the Boise and Payette Watersheds for the purpose of study- ing plans for protection of the forests and forest vegetation and the conservation of the water supply for irrigation. The same year a group of farmers and irrigators made similar investigations. This all indicates the interest of the public which is very great in the subject of the relation of the forest to irrigation. There is no doubt of the need for study of the use and handling of the forest and forage and other resources on the watershed in such a way that the handling of the same may be compatible with the welfare of irrigation development. These resources supply the basis for range livestock production and the lumber- ing industry, both of which are not only essen- tial to the State, but are also interrelated with irrigation farming in the interchange of commodities and all interested in the general upbuilding of the State. The U. S. Forest Service realizing the im- portance of protecting our watersheds started about 1929 an intensive and continued study of erosion. This is being done because Forest Service olificials recognize the menace of ero- sion to reservoir and canals, as well as the need for preservation of vegetation upon our watersheds. FUTURE GENERATIONS CONSIDERED Methods of cutting timber on our water- sheds, slash disposal and grazing are all being studied that we may preserve and perpetuate forest growth and all vegetation for the bene- fit of ourselves and posterity. Another factor in the relationship between the forest and irrigation is the development of electrical energy which is now being used by the farmers almost all over the irrigated sec- tion. Were it not for the conservation of water upon these forest-covered watersheds which results in stream flow in our rivers be- ing maintained throughout the year, power development could not have been promoted. This utility has come to be a valuable asset to our State and especially to our farmers. Elec- tric power for use in pumping plants for irri- gation and the use of electricity upon Idaho farms has become more or less common. Per- haps no single thing has done so much to re- move drudgery from the farm as the use of electricity. The annual flow of water from our forest- covered watersheds, the development of power upon our rivers, the use of water for our ir- rigated lands, has made Idaho a leader among the intermountain states. Our great diversity of crops, and our large acreage production are not excelled by any state and equalled by few if any. LUMBERING IDAHO'S SECOND INDUSTRY Again our large and extensive forest areas furnish summer range for vast herds of sheep and cattle which in turn, in winter, find feed upon our irrigated farms to the profit of both the farmer and livestock man. Our forests provide a large amount of lumbering which is the second largest industry in the State, agri- culture being the largest. The lumber industry employs a large number of men in normal times and thereby furnishes a market for no small amount of the products of the farm. Our irrigation farmers are interested, along with all our people, in the large State holdings of the largest stand of white pine to be found in the United States. The timber owned by the State was valued at 335,000,000 a few years ago. Though it is not worth that amount now the time will come when it will be worth even more. The writer has endeavored to outline some facts which show the relation existing between our forests and irrigation. The loss of either our forests or our irrigation would ruin our State. It is therefore necessary that we pre- serve both. So as a state we have sought in recent years to protect our forest by legisla- tion which we believe is proving beneficial to the public and to those who are interested pri- vately in the conservation of our forests for the benefit of posterity. Timber protective associations are func- tioning throughout the State, which organiza- tions co-operate with the Federal Government, the State, and private interests to the end that all may receive a maximum benefit in the pro- tection of our forests. The writer desires to express appreciation to Dean Francis Garner Miller for the very fine service he has rendered as Dean of the School of Forestry of University of Idaho and especially for services rendered during the period the writer was Governor of Idaho. The writer desires also to express his ap- preciation to former Commissioner of Recla- mation George N. Carter and Harry C. Shell- worth, President of the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association for data furnished in preparation of this article.