basic theme of this conference. reply, Mr. Hunter. I will be glad to put in a complete (The material referred to is as follows:) The Purdue meeting referred to was the annual work conference of the National Committee on Policies in Conservation Education. This committee is composed of educators, conservationists, and laymen and its sole objective is to stimulate the teaching of conservation in our schools and colleges. Three Forest Service people attended the meeting. Mr. Mattison, of the Washington office, is a director of the national committee and was codirector of the conference along with Dr. Carl S. Johnson of the Ohio State University. They were appointed as conference directors by Dr. R. H. Eckelberry, chairman of the national committee. With Dr. Eckelberry, they planned and conducted the conference. Mrs. Ruth Jones, of the Forest Service, regional office in Albuquerque, N. Mex., was asked to participate in the conference and to discuss the successful conservation teacher-training activities of Arizona and New Mexico colleges, in which the Forest Service has been one of the major cooperators. Charles E. Fox is in charge of Forest Service cooperative school work in the Lake States region. He is a member of the national committee. Mr. ANDERSEN. We appreciate your having been with us today, Mr. McArdle, and I am sure the committee has benefited from your testimony. Mr. MCARDLE. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, thank you for your attention and very fair-minded attitude. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1953. SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE WITNESSES DR. ROBERT M. SALTER, CHIEF J. C. DYKES, DEPUTY CHIEF DR. CHARLES E. KELLOGG, CHIEF OF RESEARCH F. J. HOPKINS, ACTING CHIEF OF OPERATIONS C. H. DORNY, CHIEF, BUDGET AND FINANCE DIVISION RALPH S. ROBERTS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND BUDGET OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE JOSEPH C. WHEELER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF BUDGET AND FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Mr. ANDERSEN. Gentlemen, the committee will come to order. We have before us this morning the Soil Conservation Service. We will insert in the record at this point pages 26 through 28 and 70 through 76 of the justifications. (The data requested is as follows:) PURPOSE STATEMENT The Soil Conservation Service was established by the act of April 27, 1935 (16 U. S. C. 590a-590f) and is the agency of the Department which provides technical aid in bringing about physical adjustments in land use that will conserve soil and water resources, establish a permanent and balanced agriculture, and reduce the hazards of floods and sedimentation. The Service carries on the following activities: 1. Makes research investigations which include (a) studies of the effects of land-use and conservation treatment upon watershed hydrology and sedimentation of stream channels and reservoirs and methods of water and sediment control, (b) the design and hydraulics of structures, (c) the engineering phases of irrigation and drainage, (d) the organizational aspects of water projects, and (e) the economics of conservation. The work is conducted in cooperation with the respective State agricultural experiment stations and other governmental agencies. 2. Provides technical and other assistance to locally organized and locally controlled soil conservation districts and other cooperators in the 48 States and the Territorial possessions, in developing conservation plans and applying planned practices. (As of June 30, 1952, 2,467 conservation districts had been organized. It is estimated that an additional 175 will be organized in 1953, and another 100 in 1954.) This assistance includes: (a) The making of soil surveys to determine the capabilities and conservation treatment needs of each acre of farm and ranch land, (b) technical assistance in developing and applying conservation farm and ranch plans which allow for the best possible use by the farmer or rancher of his land, labor, equipment, and financial resources, (c) the loan of some special types of equipment not readily available to the farmer but needed to establish certain conservation practices, (d) the grant of limited quantities of trees, new or improved strains of grass and legume seed, and other conservation plant materials, and (e) stream flow forecasts in the Western States (based on snow surveys) to provide for efficient seasonal utilization of water available. 3. Under the authority of title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U. S. C. 1011-1012), carries on a development and management program on 70 land-utilization projects which cover areas of submarginal land that were acquired by the Department. Revegetation and other development work is being done on these lands in accordance with their use-capability and needs, in order to prevent further damage, achieve proper land use, and improve the agricultural economy of the communities affected. After development, the project lands and facilities are made available to local farmers and ranchers at equitable rates under specific use conditions. Of the revenue received from use of the land, 75 percent is returned to the Federal Treasury and 25 percent is paid to the counties in which the lands are located, to be used for school and road purposes The Service is also responsible for settlement of boundary-dispute claims on the Sebastian Martin grant lands in New Mexico [act of Aug. 11, 1945 (7 U. S. C. 1011 note)]. 4. Conducts soil surveys to classify and map soils in a national system under standard nomenclature and publishes soil maps and reports These surveys and reports are for use in recommending soil, water, and crop management practices on individual farms and ranches and in the development of land-use programs of the various Federal and State agencies. A complete land inventory of all the agricultural lands in the Nation is the goal. This work is conducted in cooperation with the respective State agricultural experiment stations and other State and Federal agencies. 5. Flood-prevention activities.-(a) In cooperation with soil-conservation districts, flood-control organizations, watershed-improvement associations, etc., provides technical and other assistance to farmers and ranchers in selected watersheds in planning and establishing an accelerated program of conservation-land treatment contributing to flood prevention. This work includes assistance in preparation of subwatershed-work plans which integrate the plans for establishing these measures with those for installation of flood-prevention works of improve ment (measures primarily for flood prevention; see (b), below); making soil surveys and land-capability maps; and providing assistance in preparing conservation farm, and ranch plans, and installing conservation measures. (b) Carries out flood-prevention activities in areas assigned by the Secretary of Agriculture, under funds allotted from the appropriation "Flood prevention, Agriculture.' These activities consist of surveys of watershed conditions and preparation of reports recommending action to be taken, preparation of detailed subwatershed work plans, and installation of works of improvement such as floodwater-retarding structures, stream-channel improvement, stabilizing and sediment-control measures, diversions, floodways, etc. The improvement measures (measures primarily for flood prevention) are installed in cooperation with local soil-conservation districts, flood control, and other organizations. The Service also assists in the preparation of comprehensive plans for the agricultural development of river-basin areas. 6. Under the authority of the acts of May 10, 1939 (53 Stat. 685, 719) October 14, 1940 (U. S. C. 590y-z-10), as amended and supplemented, June 28, 1949 (Public Law 132) and September 6, 1950 (Public Law 760), carries on a waterconservation and utilization program. The Service develops irrigated and irrigable land (both Government and privately owned) for efficient use of irrigation water, provides settlement opportunities for veterans and needy farm families through the sale of developed farm units, and during the development and early settlement period assists settlers within the authorized project areas with their soil- and water-conservation and land-use problems. This work is being conducted on the 5 remaining active project areas in 4 Western States. The Soil Conservation Service maintains its central office in the District of Columbia, with majority of its activities highly decentralized to 7 regional offices, 48 States and 4 Territorial offices, 33 research locations, 25 nurseries, 5 waterconservation and utilization projects, and more than 3,200 area and work unit offices which carry on the technical programs in conservation districts, landutilization projects, and watershed flood-prevention areas. As of November 30, 1952, the Soil Conservation Service had 11,525 full-time employees (185 in Washington and the balance in the field) and 2,206 part-time employees who are generally employed in the field during the seasonal periods when there is need for additional assistance in applying conservation practices. Includes $5,766,930 available from prior year balances for emergency channel restorarion in flood-stricken In ludes $31,752 available in 1953 from prior year balances. areas. Statement of obligations under allotments and other funds NOTE.-Includes only those amounts which, by Nov. 30, 1952, were actually received or programed for 1953 or 1954. Since work for other agencies is performed on a service basis, at the request of those agencies and for their benefit, it is not practicable to estimate in advance the amounts to be received in most cases] Statment of obligations under allotments and other funds-Continued [NOTE. Includes only those amounts which, by Nov. 30, 1952, were actually received or programed for 199 or 1954. Since work for other agencies is performed on a service basis, at the request of those agy nos and for their benefit, it is not practicable to estimate in advance the amounts to be received in most cases] Operation and maintenance, water distribution systems, water conservation and utilization projects (trust fund): For receipts for operation and maintenance expenses of the Wyoming Rural Rehabilitation Corp.'s water distribution system in the Eden Valley, Wyo., water conservation and utilization project (40 U. S. C. 431-434) . . Payments in lieu of taxes, and operation and maintenance costs, water conservation and utilization projects (trust fund): For receipts from land leases for payments in lieu of taxes to States, political subdivisions thereof, and local taxing units, and for operation and maintenance expenses of the resettlement features of certain water conservation and utilization projects (40 U. S. C. 431-434).. Technical services and other assistance, agricultural conservation program, Soil Conservation Service (trust fund): For providing technical and other assistance to farmers and ranchers in participating counties pursuant to agreements with individual Production and Marketing Administration State and county committees.. Miscellaneous contributed funds, Department of Agriculture (Soil Conservation Service) trust funds deposited by cooperating agencies, as follows: 1. For flood-control works of improvement on the Los Angeles watershed. 2. For making land-capability surveys and preparing land-capability maps of McCracken County, Ky.. 3. For cooperation with the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District on water control in the Everglades area. 4. For cooperation with the San Antonio River Canal and Conservancy District on a survey of the San Antonio River watershed. 5. For carrying out a program of investigation and research covering eradication or control of noxious brush and trees in cooperation with the Flying Farmers Foundation, Inc. 6. For cooperation with the Hickahala Creek Drainage 7. For cooperation with the Weber Basin Water Con- Statement of obligations under allotments and other funds-Continued [NOTE.--Includes only those amounts which, by Nov. 30, 1952, were actually received or programed for 1953 or 1954. Since work for other agencies is performed on a service basis, at the request of those agencies and for their benefit, it is not practicable to estimate in advance the amounts to be received in most cases? ] Mutual security (allocation to agriculture) (Soil Sonservation Service): For administrative expenses in connection with comprehensive training of foreign technicians in the principles and practices of soil and water conservation and proper land use Obligations under reimbursements from governmental and other sources: Salaries and expenses, Scil Conservation Service: Sale of Mutual security (allocation to agriculture). $215,000 $461, 114 460, 332 $215, 890 130,000 420,000 550,000 Total. Tota! obligations under allotments and other funds.. 6, 993, 769 10,395, 536 17,552, 035 Mr. ANDERSEN. Dr. Salter, we would appreciate a short general statement from you, sir. Dr. SALTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. GENERAL STATEMENT Last year, when I appeared before your committee for the first time as Chief of the Soil Conservation Service, my comments were devoted primarily to the job of the Service as I saw it. I discussed the soil- and water-conservation problems in this country and outlined my concept of Service responsibilities in helping to solve those problems on the farms and ranches of America. I told you that as Chief of the Service I intended to devote most of my efforts to two jobs. One was speeding up the application of conservation on the land and the other was improving the working relationships with other agencies concerned with other phases of the conservation movement. I would at this time like to report progress on both of these efforts. 80505-53-pt. 3- -34 |