MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                                      1693

AND DEATH; IMPOVERISHMENT OF FAMILIES ATTEMPTING TO
FARM ERODING AND ERODED LANDS; DAMAGE TO ROADS,
HIGHWAYS, RAILWAYS, FARM BUILDINGS, AND OTHER PROPERTY
FROM FLOODS AND FROM DUST STORMS; AND LOSSES IN
NAVIGATION, HYDROELECTRIC POWER, MUNICIPAL WATER
SUPPLY, IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENTS, FARMING, AND GRAZING.

(C)   THE APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE METHOD.

TO CONSERVE SOIL RESOURCES AND CONTROL AND PREVENT
SOIL EROSION, IT IS NECESSARY THAT LAND-USE PRACTICES
CONTRIBUTING TO SOIL WASTAGE AND SOIL EROSION BE
DISCOURAGED AND DISCONTINUED, AND APPROPRIATE SOIL
CONSERVING LAND-USE PRACTICES BE ADOPTED AND CARRIED
OUT. AMONG THE PROCEDURES NECESSARY FOR WIDESPREAD
ADOPTION ARE THE CARRYING ON OF ENGINEERING OPERATIONS
SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF TERRACES, TERRACE OUTLETS,
CHECKDAMS, DIKES, PONDS, DITCHES, AND SIMILAR
STRUCTURES; THE UTILIZATION OF STRIP CROPPING, LISTER
FURROWING, CONTOUR CULTIVATING, AND CONTOUR FURROWING;
LAND IRRIGATION; SEEDING AND PLANTING OF WASTE,
SLOPING, ABANDONED, OR ERODED LANDS WITH WATER
CONSERVING AND EROSION PREVENTING PLANTS, TREES, AND
GRASSES; FORESTATION AND REFORESTATION; ROTATION OF
CROPS; SOIL STABILIZATION WITH TREES, GRASSES,
LEGUMES, AND OTHER THICK-GROWING, SOIL-HOLDING CROPS;
RETARDATION OF RUNOFF BY INCREASING ABSORPTION OF
RAINFALL; AND RETIREMENT FROM CULTIVATION OF STEEP,
HIGHLY EROSIVE AREAS, AND AREAS BADLY GULLIED OR
OTHERWISE ERODED.

(D)   DECLARATION OF POLICY.

IT IS THE POLICY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO
PROVIDE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE SOIL AND SOIL
RESOURCES OF THE STATE AND FOR THE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION OF SOIL EROSION IN ORDER TO PRESERVE
NATURAL RESOURCES, CONTROL FLOODS, PREVENT IMPAIRMENT
OF DAMS AND RESERVOIRS, ASSIST IN MAINTAINING THE
NAVIGABILITY OF FIVERS AND HARBORS, PRESERVE WILDLIFE,
PROTECT THE TAX BASE, PROTECT THE PUBLIC LANDS, AND
PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND GENERAL
WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section presently appears as
Art. 66C, §89 of the Code. The only changes
made are in style.

SUBTITLE 2. STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.
SEC. 8-201. STATE SOIL CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.