68 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF HYDRAULICS 



By John Spenceh, In Charge 



The Bureau of Hydraulics was formed by the Commission in June, 

 1926, and for the first seven months it was concerned with fishway and 

 fish screen installations. In the early part of 1927 pollution control, 

 or prevention of pollution, of public waters was added. Every instal- 

 lation of a fishway, screen or investigation of pollution is an individual 

 problem. If good results are to be obtained each case must be handled 

 as such. In fishway and screen installations, a field survey is made and 

 the owner consulted when possible. Plans and orders are then issued 

 covering the proposed work and, finally, an inspection is made to see 

 that the completed work is according to the plans. 



Proposed installations of fishways and fish screens are considered not 

 only with the view of complying with the law, but also to see that future 

 operation is considered together with the best interests of the owners 

 or divertors of water. This procedure has been productive of good 

 results. Legal action is resorted to only when other means of having 

 the desired equipment installed have failed. 



It was early thought that the most important work was to see that 

 the installations in place were functioning properly. Reports were 

 received from the deputies, and owners of installations not in order were 

 requested to make the proper repairs. This phase of the work requires 

 a constant follow-up. 



In this connection it is desired to express appreciation for the work 

 done by the patrol forces. The Bureau could not, with any degree of 

 efficiency, function without their support and cooperation. The depu- 

 ties are familiar with their respective territories and it is on them that 

 the Bureau depends primarily for data on needed installations of 

 screens and fishways and their effective operation. 



FISH SCREENS 



The State of California, as has many times been said, is dependent 

 for its growth and prosperity upon the utilization of its water. It is 

 fortunate, therefore, that properly designed and installed fish screens 

 offer no appreciable hindrance to the flow or use of water. When a 

 screen does interfere with the flow of water it is generally found that 

 the owner has not followed the plans in construction, made a poor 

 installation, or neglected to give it any attention whatsoever. 



Criticism is often made of the types of fish screens in use by the Com- 

 mission. In an effort to see if improvements could be made that would 

 be of advantage to the divertors of water and at the same time be an 

 effective fish stop, a conference of the irrigationists and power compa- 

 nies was held in April, 1926. Two committees were appointed, one rep- 

 resenting the power companies and one the irrigationists, to study the 

 fish screen problem with the view of assisting the Commission. The 

 director is informed that the power committee did some work, but to 

 date no report, recommendations or suggestions have been received 

 from either of the committees. It is felt that the types of screens now 

 used are, all factors considered, well suited to California conditions. 

 This does not, however, preclude further study on the matter and it is 



