FORTY-SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT 105 



state-owned area. The Colusa and Merced areas are Federal Lea Act 

 lands under state control for hunting purposes. 



Development of the state-owned areas is carried on by bureau per- 

 sonnel and includes construction of roads, dams, levees, ponds and canals. 

 Water control structures have to be installed ; wells drilled where needed ; 

 and some land has to be leveled. Management practices on the areas vary 

 with the locality, but all are carried on to attract waterfowl. Regardless 

 of where the area is located, its crops and physical features will resemble 

 that of the adjacent crop lands. All of these crop lands will draw in 

 waterfowl, but the management area with its absence of revolving lights, 

 grenades and gun fire, offers an invitation that is readily accepted by 

 the birds. 



Portions of each of these areas are open to hunting. Hunters are offered 

 their choice of two types of shooting grounds as follows : 



1. Fully developed areas with blinds for a fee of $5 per shooter. 



2. Partially developed or natural areas with no blinds and no fee. 

 Hunting success varies with weather conditions and the waterfowl 



migration, but on the whole hunters expressed satisfaction with the plan. 

 The waterfowl management areas and the extent of their use by hunters 

 are listed in Table 2, Appendix D. 



WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD PROJECTS 



The Wildlife Conservation Act authorized by the 1947 State Legis- 

 lature provided for a recreation program, and for the acquisition of 

 lands and construction of facilities for the propagation and conserva- 

 tion of wildlife. The Legislature also provided for the creation of the 

 Wildlife Conservation Board to formulate a conservation program. 

 Once the plans for state-wide projects had been drafted, it became the 

 responsibility of the Department of Fish and Game to put the program 

 into effect by constructing, operating, managing and maintaining the 

 projects. All projects that entail game conservation activities are ad- 

 ministered by the Bureau of Game Conservation. 



Originally the Wildlife Conservation Board was to operate for a 

 period of three years, but operations have been extended so as to com- 

 plete the program. Listed below with their current status are the projects 

 being managed by the bureau. 



Game Farm Projects 



Project No. Name, location Status 



519-7 Chico Game Farm Project completed. Accounts closed with end 



(Butte County) of 1949-1950 Fiscal Tear. 



519-S Marysville Game Farm Project completed. Accounts closed with end 



(Yuba County) of 1949-1950 Fiscal Year. 



519-9 Porterville Game Farm Project completed. Accounts closed with end 



(Tulare County) of 1949-1950 Fiscal Year. 



519-10 Brawley Game Farm Project completed. Accounts closed with end 



(Imperial County) of 1949-1950 Fiscal Year. 



