ABSTRACT
The inherent relation of silting of reservoirs to problems of erosion control led the Soil Conservation Service to institute in July 1934 the first attempt at general Nation-wide survey of the condition of American reservoirs with respect to reduction of storage by silting. The economic values involved in present and proposed reservoir developments are very large. In general, reservoir storage is vitally important to irrigation and municipal water-supply projects. The rate of sediment accumulation and forms of its distribution in a reservoir are determined by volume and character of load carried below flow line by contributing streams. The rate of reservoir silting is also subject to progressive reduction by escape of increasing amounts of debris over or through discharge of dams as storage space is reduced by silting. Main reliance for material and permanent conservation of reservoir resources therefore resides in control of silt production at primary sources through more widespread and effective application of established methods of erosion control.
