Water conservation in Keyline and High Contour dams obviously can only be employed on farms of suitable land formations. These farms embrace huge areas of the most important land from a national point of view. While Keyline dams and the High Contour dams of the Keyline plan are limited to properties with their own Keylines, the principle of locating some dams high on the farm is almost universally applicable and profitable. This would ensure additional water storage. Surplus rainfall runs off slowly along the natural flow lines of the land.
Water is transferred for storage only and never to another valley for disposal.
Rapid run-off and consequent erosion are fought or offset by the rapid development of fertile absorbent soils. In many places damages from present water runoff are accelerating. The Keyline plan operating on farms in an area of regional planning is complete in itself. General land development is always vitally concerned with water. A good contour map of the area is of great value in this planning.