[2] The original intent of the Desert Land Act was to instigate growth in the West by incentivizing people to move out West in the late 19th century and develop irrigation systems that would transform the land into usable space.
[5] Well known areas that began as land patented under the Desert Land Act include the Salt River in Arizona, the Imperial Valley in California, the Snake River in Idaho, Gallatin, Montana, and Yakima, Washington.
[6] The first decade after the Desert Land Act was passed was well known for fraudulent activity, especially by cattle producers.
The settlers were then required to submit maps and plans of irrigation to prevent violation of the act.
[6] The last era of the Desert Land Act began as the interest in irrigation and migration increased following the prosperity after the Depression of 1893.