The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-12-30
Water Shortages g
By JEROME C. OCKE

water shortages Newspapers magazines and a. adio
have joined in To varying degrees critical conditions
coming sharply and suddenly general public attention
almost nationwide. New York City, Newark and all
New jersey much of New England Cincinnati Memphis
PEORIA Chicago suburbs Diego Angeles, Phade
pha Atlantic City and other densey populated areas
have begun the gallons still available for domestic and
industrial use
n all Plains Bismark, North Dakota
Arizona underground tables have been lower
ing and wells gradually drying for almost half century
This has reached the sharply acute stage in the great
Valley of California basins
Colorado, Arkansas and Missouri perhaps all of them
the Columbia have become battle grounds division
of their flowing waters of these will there be enough
supply to satisfy final needs and demands
U.s. News and World Report quotes unnamed (pre
sumaby U.S. Geological engneer) that since
1880 water has increased from 400 $780, gallons
per per capita Elsewhere other ascrbe
the growing shortage to destructive logging denuded water
Sheds grazing land clearing road building airport
sucon and other factors that create erosion increased silt
loads in streams and fast flood discharges There undoub
eddy merit in all these generalites but of them puts
finger particular of the situation point out
much the supply affected by how. Undoub
edy there multiple and the extent of responsibility
of each will only be determined by long and pains taking study
Until there specific knowledge along these lines eff
forts relieve the situation apt to be in part
least.
am only sagebrush engineer and pose water sup
ply expert However, partially by accident have lately made
what important discovery At least have
of by other reference
to it scientific journals reports Yet to long,
long toward explaining constantly decreasing volume
the flowing streams the arid west This the
story of my discovery-if it be discovery
Missouri River Valley old stream gaging
ords available for the decade 88189O These cover four
points along the main stream namely Fort Benton Sioux City,
ST. Charles the mouth only Iowa
had complete weather reporting facilities dur
the whole decade Several other states have weather
ports covering parts of All the precipitation data avail
able indicates period within
per cent of the for all time up to 1916.
have compared the annual runof in feet
stations with the
period 193O46 this been adjusted to the
of precipitation for all time of record This the
showing Between the 1890 period the 93O46 period
the annual flow of the decreased follows
Fort Benton 29000 feet (33 cent? Sioux City 49,
$4,000 $50 cent? Kansas City 20380000 go cent?
and ST. Charles 20,210000 GO per cent?
There may be and probably is naccuracy in the old
particularly the for St. Charles which de-
stanty increasing depletion flow by consumptiv
the valley first began populate with settlers
After making what than allow
consumption by domestic industrazation
rgaion including lawns and parks we'll farm land for
losses all artificial ponds and reservoirs
than about half the decrease
annual flow. t
think explanations very simple 1t W
constitute item that has been overlooked by the
PickSloan planners although constitutes consumptve
that apt to increase for to This
non-rrigated strip cultivation h
blowing stubbe mulchng teracing,
and other practices all of which
soil left flow
These practices have increased yields and have been
expanded and improved Each water N
gone the ground later transpre through
plants has into the flowing streams This kind
farming evidently will therefore, continue to
perfect itself for several there will be OF
still less flow in the Missouri Valley in the to o.
Possibly Congress and the boys who still want flowing
hnfo 1OO1 Oh