It is declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that to control and prevent soil erosion, to prevent floodwater and sediment damages, and to further the conservation, development, and utilization of soil and water resources and the disposal of water, it is necessary:
(1) That land-use practices contributing to soil wastage and soil erosion be discouraged and discontinued, and appropriate soil-conserving land-use practices and works of improvement for flood prevention or the conservation, development, and utilization of soil and water resources and the disposal of water be adopted and carried out;(2) That among the works of improvement and procedures needed are:(A) The carrying on of engineering operations such as the construction of terraces, terrace outlets, check dams, desilting basins, floodwater-retarding structures, channel improvements, floodways, dikes, ponds, ditches, and the like;(B) The utilization of strip cropping, lister furrowing, contour cultivating, and contour furrowing;(E) Seeding and planting of waste, sloping, abandoned, or eroded lands to water-conserving and erosion-preventing plants, trees, and grasses;(F) Forestation and reforestation;(H) Soil stabilization with trees, grasses, legumes, and other thick-growing, soil-holding crops;(I) Retardation of run-off of increasing absorption of rainfall;(J) Retirement from cultivation of steep, highly erosive areas and areas now badly gullied or otherwise eroded;(K) Fish and wildlife or recreational developments;(L) The storage, transportation, and sale of water for irrigation, municipal or industrial water supply purposes; and(M) Rural domestic water supply systems.Acts 1937, No. 197, § 2; Pope's Dig., § 11834; Acts 1965, No. 424, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 9-902.