FORTY-riRST BIENNIAL RF.PORT 91 



Fish and Game was directly alfeeted by the aiMition nf Sc-tion 4Sl.r) to 

 the Fish and C4ame Code, which provides that all e«)nliim"m«,' and c-hroiiic 

 cases of water pollution be turned over to the loi-al boards for action. Tin- 

 1949 laws also provide that any persons desirin-r to dischar^rc s('\va«_'(> or 

 industrial waste apply to the regional boards for re(|uin'ni.'nts that will 

 have to be maintained by the operator of the disposal system. The rcj^ional 

 boards establish these requirements aftei- consultation with the state and 

 local agencies interested in the problem. Tli.' Division of Fish and (lame 

 has the responsibility of furnishing any technical inforniatinii oi- investi- 

 gations on the fish and wildlife aspects of any case of pollution re(|uested 

 by the regional boards. The boards are now begimiing to n-ali/c the im- 

 portance of recreation, fish, and wildlife insofar as polluti(»n and water 

 use are concerned. The intention of the Legislature was fur these hdanls 

 to have small staffs and to utilize existing state departments and facilities. 

 Until now^ the various boards have processed oidy a|)])licat ions foi- new 

 waste discharges and very little has been done with the chronic cases of 

 stream pollution. Within a shoi-t time it is ant ii-ipated that the regional 

 boards will be in a position to begin to abate some of the i-onditioiis wliicli 

 are the source of complaints at the present time. 



The number of requests for investigations aiul surveys that come in 

 from both the regional boards and field personnel of the Division of l-'ish 

 and Game far exceed the load that can be can-ied by the available jierson- 

 iiel. The State Water I\)llution Control IJoartl recognizes that the interest 

 of the Department of Natural Resources in pollution control is as gi-eat 

 as that of any other state agenc}', ])iit this recognition is not wiilespi-eail. 

 The pollution control investigations cai'i'ied on by the tlii-ee state depart- 

 ments interested in the i)roblem have now been grouped and the entire 

 pollution investigation program of the State is administei-ed by a coordi- 

 nating committee composed of three representatives, one each fiom the 

 Department of Public Health, the De!)ai'tmeid n\' rnblic Works, and the 

 Division of Fish and Game. 



In the past, agencies dealing with water use have n<it recognized the 

 fish and game aspects or the magnitude of the industry they support, 

 partly because of the limited program of the Division of Fish and Came 

 as compared with those of the other state de])artments. This attitude is 

 unfortunate, particulai-ly insofar as pollution is concerned, becau.se of 

 the extreme interest of the sportsman in clean waters and the vital need 

 of using all waters possible for recreation in our existing society. It is 

 regrettable that any waters that could be used for fish. wiMlifc. and 

 recreation in this day of water shortages should be befouled by .scwnire 

 beyond the point of any possible use. 



The years 1948-50 have seen a great deal of construction for domestic 

 sew^age treatment, Tlie postwar building pro,i:rams of cities have linally 

 produced results and treatment plants are bein- completed and put into 

 operation. A good example is the eastern side of San l''rancis.-o_ I'.ay. 

 Plans were started before the war, the bond issne was passed in i:il7. and 

 construction will be completed in l!).")!. This will rcli.-ve the septi.- con- 

 ditions along the bay and estuary and also the odors along the East.shore 



Freeway. 



Much work needs to be done before the industrial waste pr..l)l.-ms ni 

 the State can be solved. The food processing industry has instalh-d a 

 number of screens and in eases where the city disposal plant aeeept.s the 



