Ltjate of       Crigina       Present      Lpss 
(O0pew Box to Frisco River) 
Aver. width          8 dhains 
Length           2800   11 
Area              2240 acres   220 acres 
% cultivable 
Amt.   ,         1792 acres -   112 acres = 1680 acres 
Value of ranch property now per acre 
Total Value-------------- -           $252,000 
(Bobcat R.S. to Frisco River) 
Total land loss 1800 acres '- 1680 acres = 3480 acres 
Total loss in value $270,000 4-'$252,000 =$522,000 
Vallev lands a "Key Resource".   W'hile the valley lands 
threatened by erosion are usually altenated, their loss is a loss 
to the Forest, because regardless of ov3ership they usually afford 
the cheapest route for the roads necessary to utilize forest re- 
sources, the best home sites 'or forest users, and best farmlands 
for producing grain and hay to feed saddle animals and wor. stock, 
and to carry weak range stock during erouth.   The loss of these 
farmlands increases the cost and difficulty Of livestock production 
on the adjacent Forest ranges and thus decreases the value of such 
ranges* 
For these reasons the Forest Service is directly concerned 
In the cnservation of alienated farmlands in or near the Forests, 
and expects Forest officers to exercise leadership in getting the 
ovners to preserve theme 
Biltage of Reservoirs*   It is Inevitable that eventually 
all of the waterflow of permanent or semi-perwnent streams and 
rivers of the Southwest will be stored and used.   Therefore every 
acre of Xatlonal Forest has a watershed value which must be con- 
served, whether or not it now drains into a reclamation project, 
Watershed value varies cly in degree.   It is never &bsent. 
The economic feasibility of vwater storage depends more on 
the prospective life of the project than on any other cne factor. 
A dam and reservoir might be a profitable investment uith a life 
of 100 years and be fInancially out of the question with a lire 
of 30 years.   Engineers have so far discovered no oracticable 
method for removing silt fzom reservoirs, and accordingly sitage 
limits the life of every reservoir in the Southwest.   Slowing up 
siltage by watershed conservalion is therefore vital to the fi'ture 
of reclamation, and constitutbs one of the most important fnctions 
of the Forest Service.