Agenda - 03-19-1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT March 19, 1985 U.S. Legislative Delegation Members Dear Orange County is concerned about the proposed reduction in federal funding for the Soil Conservation Service and about the proposed shutdown of SCS offices in our County and across the Country. We consider SCS to be one of the most needed of all farm programs. Locally, it helps our farmers in providing onsite assistance to plan and implement sediment retention struc- tures and in modifying farm practices to save our valuable top soil. It helps our urban dwellers through these same conservation Treasures SCS has a major part to play in County, regional and State objectives to improve the water quality of the Reuse River as a means to protect the drinking water supply of Orange County, Durham and Raleigh. The SCS has been helpful in other ways by providing soil data for land use value taxation and surveys for water reservoirs. It has assisted in protecting Lake Orange, our principal water supply reservoir, and B. Everett Jordan Lake which is expected to be used for public water supply in the future if cleanup efforts are successful. We realize the federal deficit must be reduced. Scale back or elimination of federal agencies would no doubt help towards this goal. We in government, however, must weigh the long range costs. To lose the SCS would take away the key staff expertise needed in the war to conserve vital soils. Present and future generations would pay a far greater cost in lost farmland productivity and food support than the $409.5 million savings projected from the SCS cutback.