THIRTY-NINTH BIENNIAL REPORT 45 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ENGINEERING 



During the biennium, activities of the bureau were greatly restricted 

 due to the war and the restrictions immediately following the end of 

 hostilities. The bureau was particularly under-staffed in the field which 

 only permitted a minimum of maintenance work on the many fish screens 

 installed previous to the war. Lack of materials and the difficulties of 

 obtaining such material as was available further slowed this important 

 work; New installations were entirely out of the question and were not 

 attempted. 



Because private individuals and companies as well as public agencies 

 were experiencing the same difficulties, maintenance and repairs to fish- 

 ,ways on privately owned and operated dams were only demanded in 

 essential instances. Fortunately, it may be stated that the important runs 

 of fish were not handicapped by lack of properly conditioned fishways 

 as only in a few instances was the bureau unable to take necessary 

 remedial steps. The general condition of field structures was continually 

 observed, however, and records were kept of needed improvements and 

 new installations for the time when construction work would be feasible. 



The staff of the bureau was able to complete a considerable number 

 of field surveys for other bureaus of the division and to complete the 

 desired plans for these projects. 



For the Bureau of Fish Conservation, the Crystal Lake Fish 

 Hatchery on Crystal Lake and Hot Creek in Shasta County were 

 important projects. Complete topographic surveys and other studies were 

 made from which a preliminar}^ plan of the proposed development was 

 prepared in accordance with the desires of that bureau. Topographic 

 surveys were made of other fish hatchery sites as requested and studies 

 and water measurements were made at existing fish hatcheries. 



Two topographic and property survej^s were made for the Bureau 

 of Game Farms, one upon property acquired by that bureau at Chico, 

 and the other at the Game Farm at Eedding. Plans also were prepared 

 for a residence at the latter place. 



Early in the biennium the bureau was able to start a two-man survey 

 party at the Fleming Ranch on Honey Lake in Lassen County. This 

 property was acquired by the Bureau of Game Conservation pursuant 

 to the provisions of the federal aid Pittman-Robertson Act and which 

 that bureau proposed to develop under federal aid for a portion of their 

 Honey Lake Waterfowl Management Area. At a considerable disadvan- 

 tage through lack of personnel, sufficient field data was obtained so that 

 a preliminary layout was prepared of the full development of this 2,100- 

 acre site in accordance with the desires of the Bureau of Game Conserva- 

 tion. So that construction could start under contract at an early date, 

 designs of all structures were made in order that full advantage could be 

 taken of nonpriority construction. 



Surveys were also started on other units of the Honey Lake Water- 

 fowl Development but had to be discontinued due to shortage of per- 

 sonnel. As previously stated, construction work was difficult and usually 

 subject to government priorities. Earth moving and grading, however, 



