FORTY-THIRD BIENNIAL REPORT 



17 



WATER PROJECTS 



Alost people are gradually realizing the importanc-e of fish and game to the economy of California 

 but it is more difficult to realize that this tremendous asset is completely dependent upon an adequate 

 water supply. The future of these resources appears bleak unless their importance in future Cali- 

 fornia water development plans is realized. 



The Fish and Game Commission's water polic\' has 

 recognized that California's expanding population 

 must work and eat but that it is equally essential that 

 outdoor recreation be provided for the well-being of 

 this expanding population. There also is a tremendous 

 food resource involved which can be self-perpetuating 

 if fisheries are \\ isel\- managed. 



Alany old water developments were constructed 

 with no consideration for fish and wildlife and the 

 Department of Fish and Game is actively trying to 

 rehabilitate streams which have been dried up for 

 many years, by securing flow releases. 



California's waterfowl are suffering in a similar man- 

 ner and the millions of acres of natural marsh in the 

 Central \'alle\' have been reduced to perhaps 100,000 

 acres. As a result, serious crop depredation problems 

 have occurred as these birds use agricultural land. 



Establishment of Water Projects Coordinator 

 Early in 1953 a new function was undertaken by 

 the department with a staff section being made re- 

 sponsible for water problems relating to wildlife. 

 Work of this section is largely planning for the future 

 of fish and game in California. It is also attempting to 

 rehabilitate the many streams which have been affected 

 by diversions which were built many years ago when 

 no consideration was given to maintaining stream 

 flows for fishing and recreation. 



In 1953 the department was successful, for example, 

 in securing water release below Florence Lake Dam 

 on the South Fork of the San Joaquin River in Fresno 

 County in cooperation with the Southern California 

 Edison Company. Ever since this dam was built in the 

 earlv twenties summer stream flow has been inade- 

 quate to allow the development of a trout fisher\' for 

 the many thousands of people who now visit this area 

 yearly. Release of 10 cubic feet per second into this 

 stream will allow the Department of Fish and Game 

 to develop this easily accessible area to meet increas- 

 ing recreational need. 



Water problems are not confined to fisheries alone. 

 The future of waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway de- 

 pends to a large extent on securing land and water for 

 wintering areas. Concern of agricultural groups is well 

 appreciated and crop depredations pose a constant 

 threat. Land which has formerly been used by water- 

 fowl is being reclaimed for agriculture. This is an- 

 other case where a relatively small amount of water 

 can pay real dividends if it is available when needed on 

 waterfowl management areas and other natural habitat 

 areas. 



The Grasslands Problem 



In 1952, for example, a serious crop depredarion 

 problem developed in the lower San Joaquin \'alley. 

 No relief was afforded b\' herding because the birds 

 simply moved to another rice field and continued to 

 cause severe crop losses. In this case a small amount of 

 water was secured from the Bureau of Reclamation 

 for flooding in the grasslands area. 



State Economy Benefits 



As soon as these lands were flooded the department 

 was able to herd the waterfowl off agricultural lands 

 successfully into flooded areas. Cost of the water in 

 this case was very minor compared to value of the 

 crops which were saved. By using this water for ducks 

 the economy of the State received a much greater 

 benefit in agricultural production than the same 

 amount would have produced if used for irrigation. 

 A major victory toward obtaining water for water- 

 fowl \\as the passage of the Grasslands Bill. 



During the past two \ears the Department of Fish 

 and Game has begun to activel\' participate in the 

 planning of water developments in cooperation with 

 the public and private agencies \\ho are now making 

 the plans to meet the future water needs of California. 



Under the terms of Public Law 732 (the so-called 

 Wildlife Resources Act of 1946), the department may 

 submit recommendations to the Federal Power Com- 

 mission for protection of fish and wildlife resources 

 affected by the construction of federal projects or 

 projects under federal license. By working with the 

 public utilities it has been possible to have these rec- 

 ommendations included in all licenses for power de- 

 velopment which have been issued in the past two 

 years. These have included new power projects under 

 construction on the Feather, American, Stanislaus, 

 Kings, and San Joaquin River watersheds. 



Of even more importance are major developments 

 proposed in the past two years which are now under 

 active study by the Department of Fish and Game. 

 Major water projects have been proposed for nearly 

 every watershed in the State. 



The department also conducts active programs in 

 cooperation with the other conservation agencies 

 working in California. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service, for example, has an active program as do 

 many other federal agencies, such as the Bureau of 

 Reclamation, Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, and 

 the Soil Conservation Service. Nearly every land and 

 water development program has serious implications 



