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As early as 1867, bills were introduced in Congress to encourage irrigation and reclamation of unproductive land and, in 1877, the Desert Land Act linked irrigation to grants of public land. Congress also authorized studies of the Westâs geology and water supply, which culminated in comprehensive reports.
The provisions of the Dawes Severalty Act were not upheld by the United States governmentâthe amount of land allotted to the natives depleted from roughly 150 million acres to 78 million acres in 1900.The 50% depletion was regarded as a surplus and usurped by the government.he provisions of the Dawes Severalty Act were not upheld by the United States governmentâthe amount of land allotted to the natives depleted from roughly 150 million acres to 78 million acres in 1900.