erosion, floodwater and sediment damages in watersheds 

 and to further "the conservation, development, utilization, 

 and disposal of water, and the conservation and utilization 

 of land." Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to assist 

 local organizations in preparing and carrying out certain 

 works of improvement. Section 12 of the Act, as added by 

 PublicLaw85-624,Augustl2, 1958 (16 U.S.C. 1008; 72Stat. 

 567), directs that the Secretary of the Interior be notified of 

 approval of assistance so that he "may make surveys and 

 investigations" and recommend measures for "conserva- 

 tion and development of wildlife resource." However, 

 inclusion of such measures in the project are discretionary 

 with the local organization and the Secretary of Agriculture. 

 The cost of such conservation surveys and reports must be 

 borne by the Secretary of the Interior. 



Wetlands Loan Act (16 U.S.C. 715k-3 - 715k-5; 75 Stat. 

 813), as amended.— Public Law 87-383, approved October 4, 

 1961, provided a means of accelerating the acquisition of 

 migratory waterfowl habitat. Amended December 15, 1969, 

 Public Law 90-205 (81 Stat. 612), and further amended 

 February 18, 1976, Public Law 94-215 (90 Stat. 189) to 

 increase the amount of funds authorized to be appropriated 

 from $105 million to $200 million and extend the loan for 

 seven years, from June 30, 1976, to September 30, 1983. 

 Advances are to be repaid to the Treasury using "duck 

 stamp" receipts upon appropriation of all funds authorized 

 or beginning in fiscal year 1984 whichever occurs first. 

 Funds appropriated are merged with "duck stamp" receipts 

 in the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund established by the 

 Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (16 

 U.S.C. 7i8-718h; 48 Stat. 452), as amended, and used for 

 acquisition of migratory bird refuges and waterfowl 

 production areas under provisions of the Migratory Bird 

 Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.\ 45 Stat. 1222), as 

 amended. As of fiscal year 1976, approximately $93.4 

 million had been appropriated under this authority. 



Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271-1287; 82 

 Stat. 906), as amended. — Public Law 90-542, approved 

 October 2, 1968, establishes a National Wild and Scenic 

 Rivers System, designates eight initial components of that 

 system and prescribes the methods and standards through 

 which additional rivers, including 27 listed as potential 

 components, may be identified and added to the system. 

 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 

 Agriculture to study areas and submit proposals to the 

 President and the Congress for addition to the system for 

 administration wholly or partially by an agency of the 

 Federal Government or by State governments. Describes 

 procedures and limitations for control of lands in Federally 

 administered components of the system and for dealing 

 with disposition of lands and minerals under Federal 

 ownership. Provides for classification of a river as wild, 

 scenic or recreational. Permits hunting and fishing in 

 components of the system under applicable Federal and 

 State laws. For a listing or rivers designated for inclusion in 

 the system which are either wholly or partially within the 



boundary of a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, 

 see entry in this leaflet under National Wild and Scenic 

 Rivers System Acts. 



Wild Horses and Burros Act (16 U.S.C. 1331-1340; 85 

 Stat. 649), as amended.— Public Law 92-195, approved 

 December 15, 1971 , and amended, provides for protection of 

 wild free-roaming horses and burros. Directs the Bureau of 

 Land Management of the Department of the Interior and 

 Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture to manage 

 such animals on public lands under their jurisdiction. 



Wilderness Act of 1964 (16 U.S.C. 1131-1136; 78 Stat. 

 890).— Public Law 88-577, approved September 3, 1964, 

 directs the Secretary of the Interior, within 10 years, to 

 review every roadless area of 5,000 or more acres and every 

 roadless island (regardless of size) within national wildlife 

 refuges and national parks and to recommend to the 

 President the suitability of each such area or island for 

 inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System 

 by later special Acts of Congress. The Secretary of 

 Agriculture is directed to study and recommend suitable 

 areas in the National Forest System. Provides criteria for 

 determining suitability and contains provisions related to 

 activities that can be undertaken on a designated area. 

 Authorizes the acceptance of gifts, bequests and contribu- 

 tions in furtherance of the purposes of the Act and requires 

 an annual report at the opening of each session of Congress 

 on the status of the wilderness system. Under authority of 

 this Act over 15 million acres of land and water in the 

 National Wildlife Refuge System were reviewed. Some 7 

 million acres in 86 units were found suitable for designation. 

 As of December 1976 over 700,000 acres in 52 refuge units 

 have been established as part of the National Wilderness 

 Preservation System by special Acts of Congress. For areas 

 designated, see entry in this leaflet underNational Wildner- 

 ness Preservation System Acts. 



Youth Conservation Corps Act (16 U.S.C. 1701-1706; 

 84 Stat. 794), as amended.— Public Law 91-378, approved 

 August 13, 1970, as amended, directs establishment and 

 administration of the YCC program by the Secretary of the 

 Interior and Agriculture on parks, forests and other public 

 lands, including refuges. There were 28 such camps on 

 refuge lands during the summer of 1974. 



' Act of February 9, 1871 ( 16 Stat. 593) created an independent Commissioner of 

 Fish and Fisheries to investigate the decline in food fish and to stock such fish. 

 Functions reconstituted in a Bureau of Fishenes, Department of Commerce by 

 Act of February 14. 1903, (32 Stat. 825). Act of March 3, 1885 (23 Stat. 353), 

 provides first reference to an Entomology Division m the Department of 

 Agriculture for investigations related to the interrelationships of birds and 

 agriculture. Functions increased andnamechanged. June30, 1886 (24 Stat. 100), 

 and April 25, 1896 (28 Stat. 99), first toDivision of Ornithology and Mammalogy 

 and then to Division of Biological Survey. Reorganization Plan No. II. July 1, 

 1939 (53 Stat. 1433). transferred Bureau of Biological Survey and Bureau of 

 Fisheries to the Department of the Interior. Reorganization Plan No. III. June 

 30. 1940 (54 Stat. 1232), consolidated the two bureaus into a Fish and Wildlife 

 Service in Interior under a Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife. 



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