FORTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 41 



Owens River, Inyo and Mono Counties. The City of Los Angeles has completed the 

 so-called Gorge Power Project and the famed section of the Owens River through 

 the Gorge will be greatly affected by the reduced flows when the project is put 

 into full operation. 



Santa Ynez River, Santa Barbara County. The construction of Cachuma Dam by 

 the Bureau of Reclamation creates a barrier across this steelhead stream and the 

 storage of all the available water will prevent these fish from utilizing the lower 

 portions of the stream in most years. We are working out fish and game manage- 

 ment plans for the reservoir. 



Santa Maria River, Santa Barbara County. The construction of the Vaquero Dam 

 by the Bureau of Reclamation will also cut off the steelhead spawning areas of 

 this stream and in compensation the Department of Fish and Game is attempting 

 to secure a minimum recreational pool, as well as other wildlife benefits. 



Of smaller individual proportions than the above major projects, 

 but in the aggregate of considerable importance to fish life, are the numer- 

 ous small diversions from our streams and rivers. All new applications 

 to appropriate water are filed with the State Division of Water Resources 

 and are reviewed by the Department of Fish and Game. In cases in 

 which there is definite threat of injury to fish, the Department of Fish 

 and Game enters a protest, with a statement of the conditions under 

 which the protest may be dismissed. In most instances these conditions 

 consist of the release of a certain flow of water to the stream below 

 the diversion for the preservation of fish life. The disposition of protests 

 made by the Department of Fish and Game during the biennium and 

 during the preceding biennium is shown in Table 2. 



TABLE 2. DISPOSITION OF PROTESTS BY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 

 AGAINST APPLICATIONS TO APPROPRIATE WATER IN 1948-50 AND 1950-52 



Total number of applications to appropriate water 



Number of applications protested by Department of Fish and 



Game 



Disposition of protested applications: 



Protests upheld 



Applications canceled 



Protests withdrawn after further investigation 



Informal hearings — settlement by agreement 



Informal hearings — action pending 



Formal hearings — •■om promised 



1948-50 



1,248 

 71 



1950-52 



1,116 

 80 



POLLUTION CONTROL 



The water problems of the Department of Fish and Game apply to 

 the quality as well as to the quantity of our waters. The increasing pop- 

 ulation and industrialization of California have resulted in polluted 

 waters that are as useless to fish life as dry streams. It is essential that 

 these polluted waters be restored and that all sewage and industrial 

 wastes be adequately treated before discharge. 



In 1949 the State Legislature established the State Water Pollution 

 Control Board and nine regional boards for the purpose of coordinating 

 all pollution control activities. It is now mandatory that any person 

 desiring to discharge sewage or industrial waste file a report of proposed 

 waste discharge with a regional board. The board then establishes water 

 quality requirements that must be maintained in the receiving waters 



