WATER PROJECTS 



Arfisi's conception of Oroville Dam, key unit in the California Water Plan. 



(Department of Water Resources Photo from drawing by Warren S. Ludlow of the Division of Highways) 



Unprecedented demands for water throughout the 

 State has kept the department hustling during the bi- 

 ennium to preserve and protect streams for fishing 

 while simultaneously exploring the fish production 

 possibilities of existing impoundments and future man- 

 made lakes for recreation. 



Activities ranged from investigations of applications 

 for water use permits, of which there were more than 

 one per day during the period, to construction of 

 small dams to insure maintenance of stream flow. 



The vital need for legislation to reserve water for 

 fish, wildlife and recreation, in accordance with the 

 policy adopted by the Fish and Game Commission, 

 was stressed by the department whenever the occasion 

 presented itself. 



The Department of Water Resources supported this 

 position in early 1956 when it announced it would ask 

 the Legislature to enact measures "for the full imple- 

 mentation of the California Water Plan," including 

 "provisions authorizing the maintenance of live stream 

 flow in the interest of fish, wildlife and recreation as 

 a beneficial use of water." 



RECREATIONAL WATERS 



The opening of domestic water supply reservoirs 

 for recreational use is another subject which received 

 a great deal of attention. 



The department has encouraged fishing on water 

 supply reservoirs under the regulations of the State 

 Department of Public Health which insure that the 

 sanitary quality of the water is not adversely affected. 

 The Wildlife Conservation Board has done much to 



encourage the opening of previously closed reservoirs 

 by allocating funds for recreation development. 



An attempt was made by the 1955 Legislature to 

 pave the way toward making public fishing on res- 

 ervoirs possible, but it failed to become law. 



Nevertheless, substantial advances were made in this 

 phase of the water program. At the end of the bien- 

 nium it was apparent that directors of many water 

 districts were no longer turning deaf ears on proposals 

 to open their impoundments to fishing; in fact, many 

 were looking on such proposals with considerable in- 

 terest. And the Department of Public Health was de- 

 veloping a new policy and criteria for recreational 

 use of water supply reservoirs. 



UPPER FEATHER RIVER 



In April, 1955, the Department of Fish and Game 

 completed its portion of the Division (now Depart- 

 ment) of Water Resources' report on the development 

 of the upper Feather River service area. 



In the report, the construction of five small res- 

 ervoirs in the upper watershed was recommended as 

 a part of the Feather River project. These reservoirs 

 would be built to develop the recreation and fishing 

 potential of this area. They would be operated for 

 stream flow maintenance in the north and middle 

 forks and would be used specifically for recreational 

 purposes. 



The 1956 Legislature appropriated funds for acquir- 

 ing the dam sites and for detailed planning of these 

 reservoirs. This was the first time the State had recom- 

 mended the construction of upstream dams for recrea- 

 tional purposes. 



[2.] 



