Water Conservation; Water Erosion; Flooding and Prevention

Photograph of a meadow outlet channel as developed from a gully which was being used to carry excess terrace water to the meadow at the foot of the slope. The entire area is fully utilized for the production of hay without loss of ground while the terrace channels gullying back into the field on both sides was also eliminated. The area has been sloped and sodded and a good vegetative cover has stabilized erosion. The entire area is now fully utilized for hay production and the former unprotected terrace outlets which were cutting back into the cultivated field have been eliminated by proper shaping and sodding. AR-D10-17-B.
Date: December 10, 1940
Creator: Rosborough, Craig
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of a control plot, Red Plains Experiment station. Average annual soil loss from the Bermuda grass plot, bare hard fallow plot and de-surfaced plot. About 10 inches of the surface soilwas removed from the de-surfaced area in 1929 when the experiment was started. This area has been planted to continuous cotton with rows up an down the slope. OK-3348.
Date: December 1940
Creator: Elwell, H. M.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Gully Control in Natural Drain

Photograph of gully control in a natural drain, formerly 15 foot to 20 foot deep. Soil Conservation sloped banks, made fills and solid sodded to Bermuda grass. Approx. 700 acres drain through this outlet and erosion is almost 100% stabilized. May to August 1940 this outlet safely carried run-off from a total of 25 inches of rainfall.
Date: November 16, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

County Highway Erosion Control

Photograph of roadside erosion control project. Fill has been made in road and drop inlet and old bridge and severe gully formerly filled the center area of this intersection. Lateral roadways were impassable before erosion control work was started.
Date: November 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

County Highway Erosion Control

Photograph of roadside erosion control project. Fill has been made in road and drop inlet and old bridge and severe gully formerly filled the center area of this intersection. Lateral roadways were impassable before erosion control work was started.
Date: November 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Erosion Control

Photograph of erosion control project. Lateral roads were formerly unassessable due to huge gully across roadbed. Area has been resectioned and sloped, a drop inlet and two culverts constructed by WPA. Safer roadways and safer waterways result.
Date: November 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Erosion Control

Photograph of erosion control project. Lateral roads were formerly unassessable due to huge gully across roadbed. Area has been resectioned and sloped, a drop inlet and two culverts constructed by WPA. Safer roadways and safer waterways result.
Date: November 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Gully Control

Photograph of gully control by diverting wter, sloping banks and planting trees. This area was formerly a huge gully caused by unprotected diversion ditch. An area has been fenced out of pasture. Gully banks sloped, diversion terrace constructed and cottonwood and black locust trees planted. Erosion is 100% stabilized and trees show good growth. Geary, Okla. CCC Camp
Date: November 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Gully Control by Fencing

Photograph of gully control by fencing, sloping tree planting and protection from grazing in fall of 1937. Gully banks were sloped and trees planted. Trees have made some growth and other vegetation is becoming well established due to protection from grazing.
Date: November 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Erosion Control

Photograph of erosion control on cultivated field. This field was formerly farmed with straight down hill rows and the soil suffered badly from silting. Terraces and grassed channels have been constructed and contour cultivation is now practiced. A volunteer ceop of wheat serves as winter cover and supplemental pasture for livestock.
Date: November 13, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Erosion Control on Cultivated Field

Photograph of erosion control measures on a cultivated field. This field was formerly farmed with straight down hill rows and the soil suffered badly from silting. Terraces and grassed channels have been constructed and contour cultivation is now practiced. A volunteer crop of wheat serves as winter cover and supplemental pasture for livestock.
Date: November 13, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, E. W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Harmon County Class II Land

Photograph of "Class II land. Level ridge-type terraces constructed on gently sloping heavy textured soils to conserve moisture and soil." A barn or house is in the distant background.
Date: August 23, 1940
Creator: Bond, Ralph H.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Soils, Soil Erosion, Soil Conservation & Crop Management

Photograph of Vernon clay with wind erosion in the foreground and rough, broken land (Vernon soil material) is in the background, consisting of exposures of “red Buds” shale and are of low value as pasture land. OK-8402
Date: August 23, 1940
Creator: Bond, Ralph H.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

V-type Gully

Photograph of a v-type gully.
Date: August 23, 1940
Creator: Bond, Ralph H.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Class VII Land

Photograph of class VII land consisting of rough broken land. The river channel in the background is class VIII land consists of river wash.
Date: August 22, 1940
Creator: Bond, Ralph H.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Class VII Land

Photograph of class VII land consisting of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum.
Date: August 22, 1940
Creator: Bond, Ralph H.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Land Clearance, Cultivation & Brush and Weed Control

Photograph of a pasture on Vernon clay infested with mesquite. Eradication of the mesquite would aid in improving the native stand of buffalo and grama grasses.
Date: August 22, 1940
Creator: Bond, Ralph H.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of old vegetation at the Red Plains Experiment Station. The old vegetation, after moving mature grass plants, provided a mulch which reduces erosion. This mulch creates a silt deposit and attention is called to the young grss seedlings which are emerging. This is important on badly eroded abandoned areas which are being revegetated. OK-8349.
Date: July 23, 1940
Creator: Elwell, H. M.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Redwing Blackbird Nest

Photograph of a Redwing Blackbird nest and young in cattails along edge of fish rearing pond. The Elk City reservoir grounds are under agreement with SCS and are being developed as a wildlife habitat.
Date: July 12, 1940
Creator: unknown
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Gully Erosion

Photograph of severe gully erosion.
Date: May 15, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Water Conservation; Water Erosion; Flooding and Prevention

Photograph of erosion caused by unprotected farmer terrace outlets and road ditch run-off. Field on the left has been terraced for 8 to 10 years. Terraces had too much fall. Roadside ditch will be sloped and added with Bermuda grass. Road graded and field on left will be terraced to conform with standard grade and land slope as recommended by SCS. OK-8087
Date: May 15, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Mowing Weeds In Native Bluestem Meadow to Promote Growth of Grasses

Photograph of an UNIDENTIFED man with horse drawn equipment mowing weeds in a native bluestem meadow to promote of grasses. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Mowing Weeds In Native Bluestem Meadow to promote growth of grasses. Area is protected from fire and grazing and is mowed regularly for weed control. Coop. has good demand for hay because meadow is kept free of weeds, and says "I have a steady demand for clipped hay at 35₵ but demand is light. My mowed meadows produces ¾ T. more per A. than my unmowed fields." San Saba soil 2 1/3% slope."
Date: May 14, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

African Lovegrass in Rows on Land Retired to Pasture

Photograph of African lovegrass sown in March 1940 and planted in rows on land retired to pasture. A house and windmill sit dead center in the background of the photograph. The back of the photograph proclaims, "African Love Grass in rows on land retired to pasture. Very sandy land. Sown in March 1940 at rate of 5# per acre Stevensville soil, 2% slope."
Date: May 13, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Chinese Elm and Catalpa Trees Windbreak and Post Lot

Photograph of a "Windbreak and post lot consisting of Chinese elm and catalpa trees. Trees were set out about 1937." A building and car sit just to the right of the windbreak and post lot.
Date: May 13, 1940
Creator: Jenkins, Elvin W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History