CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 113 



STREAM IMPROVEMENT 



By A. E. BURGHDUFF 



Stream improvement is a phase of conservation that is receiving 

 much attention at the present time. In a general way, the subject 

 may be divided into two classes of endeavor : first, retardation of 

 stream flow by the construction of weirs or erosion dams; second, stor- 

 age of water near the source of streams, to be released in a continuous 

 quantity sufficient to maintain stream flow during that portion of the 

 year when streams would normally be very low or dry. 



The first type of improvement is particularly adaptable to spring- 

 fed meadow streams and undoubtedly the carrying capacity of such 

 streams can be greatly increased by this method of improvement. It is 

 this type of construction which makes possible effective stream improve- 

 ment in the Eastern States. Improvements of this kind do not fit 

 conditions existing in most of our western streams, where precipitous 

 rock-bound streams fall thousands of feet in a score of miles. What 

 the western type of stream needs is an equalizer to insure constant 

 flow and this can be accomplished by the second class of improvement. 



In many instances, and at moderate cost, water can be stored 

 near the source of streams in sufficient quantities to insure ample flow 

 during that part of the year when streams are dangerously low or 

 entirely dry. Climatic conditions in California which cause streams 

 to go dry during the late summer, entails the loss of millions of young 

 trout, possibly more than our total hatchery output. If these annual 

 losses are added to those brought about through agricultural add 

 hydro-development, it indicates that every effort must be made to 

 counteract these conditions wherever possible. 



The Cherry Creek project in Tuolumne County demonstrates the 

 possibilities of this method of stream improvement in this State. Th^s 

 is a typical granite area in the High Sierra, differing only in locatio'n 

 from scores of similar areas where like results may be obtained. This 

 area was originally barren of fish life. Many years ago settlers and 

 stockmen carried trout from Laurel Lake, now included in Yosemite 

 National Park, and placed them in some of the streams and lakes in 

 tliis area. These fish throve and increased until excellent fishing was 

 to be had in several of the lakes and streams in the early season. 

 There are no springs in the high granite country and when the surface 

 water runs off, the streams dry up and the lakes recede. As long as 

 seasons of normal rainfall continued, conditions were favorable and 

 the fish needed no assistance to maintain their abundance. When the 

 prevailing dry cycle of years started in the early twenties, the normal 

 run-off was gone long before the first fall rains commenced, with the 

 result that fish in the streams were lost and the carrying capacity of the 

 lakes greatly reduced. 



Two sportsmen, F. W. Leighton and W. E. Burnliam of Sonora, 

 had a summer cabin near a small lake at the base of Mt. Gillett. They 

 stocked this lake with fish carried there in old oil cans. Their problem 



2—10775 



