The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1950-05-04
Flood Control For
County Explained
by c. w. COMFORT
u. S. Forest Service
J. n. GOA
Soil Conservation Service

Many Holmes County residents
probably would guess, but few
would risk a bet and offer to
prove it. All, however, would
agree that the tonnage over the
years has been tremendous. The
evidence is conclusive : abandoned
farms, huge g~ullies, choked
streams, eroded roads, silted bot
tomlands, annual floods-all tell
of wasted fertility.
Now, however, there is a new
determination that this waste be
stopped. The county residents,
with the help of agricultural
workers, are doing something
about it. Impetus was given such
action when the Yazoo Flood Con-
troll project was authorized by
Public Law 534. This project COW
ers the northern counties of Mis-
sissippi whose streams are tribu-
tary to the Yazoo River. Holmes
County was one Of the first in the
Watershed to receive federal aid
under this program, the work
being initiated in l948.
No new agencies were set up to
administer this program. The Soil
Conservation Service and the
United States Forest Service were
given the responsibility to admin
lister funds and provide technical
and material assistance. Other
agencies of state and federal gov
eminent that are cooperating in
the work are the Production and
Marketing Administration, State
Extension Service, State Forest
and Park Commission, and the
State Game and Fish Commission
The two responsible agencies of
the Department of Agriculture
work under a memorandum of
understanding with the local adj
ministrative body of Soil Conser-
walton District Commissioners.
These commissioners n Henry
p. Watson, Sr. Chairman, G. L.
Downer, c. v. Maxwell, Shelby
Parker and Maury HUMPHREYS.
1t is the purpose of the flood
control program to lessen the
number and severity of floods.
This will be accomplished by re-
ducing the rainfall runoff and pre-
venting erosion within the water
shed limits. Land cover will be
improved, active gullies will be
stabilized, road and stream bank
erosion will be remedied.
In order to accomplish these
objectives it Is proposed to wori
with landowners and, operators
lin the watershed through the Dis
trict. This will be done on the
basis Of complete flood control
conservation farm plans settling
up with the farmer the best and
most practical land use based on
land capability, the economic
requirements and desires Of the
farmer, and the requirements for
achieving adequate reduction of
soil loss and water runOff.
Erosion, outlying, and rapid
runoff of rainfall on hill farms
cause damage to farms down.
stream. Good land use concerns
more people than just the land
owners themselves. It calls for
a definite coordinated effort.
On these farms that contribute
heavily to floods federal funds
are available to remedy the prob
lem. Perennial vegetation such as
kudzu, pine trees, and sericea
lespedeza may be planted with
these funds in accordance with in
dividual flood control conserva-
ton farm plans previously writ
ten by the farmer and flood con-
troll technician.
These floods control farm plans
call for gully control by the use
of brush dams, desilting basins,
and the planting of either kudzu
or pine trees, depending on the
planned use of that area. The ero-
sion or caving of ditch and stream
banks is a considerable source of
stream sedimentation and loss Of
fertile land. This condition is
remedied by the use of structures
along the stream or by means of
vegetation on the banks or by a
combination of both methods.
Clean titled crops such as cot
ton permit more than AZ per cent
of the rainfall to run off the land.
Farmers are therefore encouraged
to use better crop rotations and
more cover crops in order that a
greater percentage of the rainfall
may penetrate to the deeper soil
layers rather than run off quickly
into the streams.
Improved pastures in Holmes
County constitute an important
part of a healthy watershed. Ber-
muda sod permits only four per
cent of the rainfall to escape
over the surface of the land. I'm
proved pastures add much to the
economic health in the county.
Supplementary pastures Of sericea
lespedeza are being established on
the poorer, more severely eroded
hills. Sericea is a perennial le-
gume with a deep root system