FORTY-THIRD BIENNIAL REPORT 



13 



balanced its budget, or additional operating funds were 

 made available. 



During this biennium the last $2,000,000 appropri- 

 ated b\' the Legislature became available for expendi- 

 ture, making a total of $12,000,000 in capital invest- 

 ment for fish and game from the State's share of the 

 pari-mutuel Horse Racing Fund. 



Eleven new projects were approved and allocations 

 made. Of these two were projects previously ap- 

 proved, from which funds allotted had been with- 

 drawn. In addition funds were allocated for improve- 

 ment, development, or expansion of six existing fish- 

 eries projects and two waterfowl developments. Ten 

 projects were completed during the biennium. 



A second policy change was the decision to acquire 

 property through negotiation, without condemnation, 

 by the Department of Fish and Game. This decision 

 was made after the Attorney General advised that such 

 action was within the scope of the Wildlife Conserva- 

 tion Act. 



Changes of Board Membership 



Vacancies on the Wildlife Conservation Board Joint 

 Legislative Advisory Committee caused by the deaths 

 of Assemblyman Lester T. Davis and Senator George 

 J. Hatfield were filled by appointment of Assembly- 

 man Frank P. Belotti and Senator Ed. C. Johnson. 

 Other members of the joint committee were Senators 

 Ben Hulse and Charles Brown, and Assemblymen 

 Thomas M. Erwin and Lloyd W. Lowrey. Department 

 of Finance Director John M. Peirce replaced James S. 

 Dean, retired, on the board, and Wm. J. Silva, Presi- 

 dent of the Fish and Game Commission, served as 

 chairman of the board during the biennium. 



Fish Hatchery and Stocking Projects 



Darrah Springs Hatchery, among the largest in the 

 United States, was completed and placed in operation. 

 Mt. Shasta, Crystal Lake, Moccasin Creek, Fish Springs, 

 Hot Creek, and Mojave Hatcheries were in full pro- 

 duction. Hot Creek Hatchery and Black Rock Rear- 

 ing Ponds were being further expanded to increase 

 production with but small increase in operating costs. 



An allocation of $40,000 was made for land acquisi- 

 tion for a proposed hatchery on the American River 

 below Nimbus Dam. Land is to be provided by the 

 Federal Government and $10,000 of the |40,006 was 

 authorized to enlarge the outlet pipe from Nimbus 

 Dam to the federal salmon hatchery, to permit carry- 

 ing adequate water for an adjacent state trout hatch- 

 er)', if and when it becomes desirable. There were no 

 immediate plans laid to construct this trout hatchery 

 until the actual need for an additional hatchery in 

 this section of the State is fully demonstrated. 



Tahoe Hatchery expansion was held in abeyance 

 pending the outcome of the present catchable trout 

 program. Possibly the needs of this area can be served 



better and more economically by the American River 

 Hatchery. 



San Joaquin Hatchery on the San Joaquin River 

 below Friant Dam and Cedar Creek Experimental 

 Hatchery in northern Mendocino County were being 

 constructed. 



After intensive search for an alternate site for the 

 San Gabriel Hatchery, the board decided to wait 

 until contemplated and existing hatcheries were in full 

 operation before further action would be taken. 



Stream Flow Maintenance and Improvement 



While only two projects are recorded as completed 

 during the biennium, good progress has been made on 

 others and work is still proceeding. Initial allocations 

 of funds for such work in Fish and Game Regions II, 

 1\', and Y were nearl\- exhausted and requests for ad- 

 ditional funds were to be made based upon recent 

 surveys. 



Waterfowl Projects 



The Wildlife Board revamped its waterfowl man- 

 agement area development program. Because of an 

 excessive value placed upon San Luis Island by the 

 court, this project was dropped. Of the seven key 

 waterfowl management areas originally to the board 

 proposed, Butte Sink, Lower and Upper San Joaquin 

 \^alley, and Madera Waterfowl areas were canceled 

 and the balance of unexpended funds transferred to 

 one authorized project in the Central San Joaquin 

 Valley. 



One new unit of the Imperial Valley Waterfowl 

 area, to replace lands inundated by the continued rise 

 of Salton Sea, was authorized and funds for its acqui- 

 sition allocated. Acquisition of the land is progressing. 



This reduced the key waterfowl management areas 

 proposed for purchase by the board to four. 



See Appendix for status of Wildlife Conservation 

 Board Funds. 



Rearing ponds ai Darrah Springs Hatchery, largest trout installation in 

 the Stale. 





