for permits from the Division of Water Resources to 

 construct dams and 35 reports were received on pro- 

 posed water development plans by state and federal 

 agencies. All of these were reviewed and their prob- 

 able effects on fish, wildlife and recreational resources 

 analyzed. In most cases recommendations for protec- 

 tion of these resources were compiled and submitted 

 to the construction agencies. 



A total of 167 separate field investigations of water 

 applications were made and 92 were protested by the 

 department. Efforts to obtain data on angler use on 

 streams involved in proposed use projects were in- 

 tensified by conducting creel checks, ground and 

 aerial car counts and by use of written questionnaires. 



Throughout the biennium, close cooperation has 

 prevailed with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 

 U. S. Forest Service on water projects work. Depart- 

 ment efforts have been coordinated \\ith these con- 

 servation agencies in a mutually beneficial manner. 



The following were the water hearings and projects 

 in which department personnel were involved during 

 the biennium. 



MOKELUMNE RIVER 



This water rights hearing was conducted by the 

 Division of Water Resources for the purpose of ruling 

 on applications of water from the IMokelumne River 

 by the East Bay iMunicipal Utilities District, North 

 San Joaquin Irrigation District, and the Calaveras 

 Count) Water District. The hearings started in Octo- 

 ber, 1955, and terminated iMay 2, 1956, with several 

 recesses during the period. 



The extensive and valuable salmon spawning beds of 

 the iNlokelumne River, as well as several good trout 

 streams, were at stake in the proceedings. The plans 

 of E. B. M. U. D. and N. S. J. I. D. included dams 

 which would inundate and make inaccessible 80 per- 

 cent of the salmon spawning beds. Department per- 

 sonnel presented oral testimony and written evidence 

 at the hearing in support of its protests to the water 

 applications as filed. 



A comprehensive report analyzing the applicants' 

 proposed projects and their effects on the fisheries was 

 compiled and two supplementary written statements 

 were prepared with the aid of the Attorney General's 

 office. 



Re/eases Required 

 The decision on the water applications rendered by 

 the State Engineer granted water permits to the East 

 Bay Municipal Utility District. These permits con- 

 tained clauses requiring releases of water for fish from 

 one point of diversion and called for the district and 

 the department to reach agreement on measures to 

 protect the salmon and steelhead resources prior to 

 construction of any dams. The clauses further provide 

 for future determination if agreement cannot be 

 reached. 



Experimental stream improvement structure constructed on the South Forfc 

 Mokelumne River, 



(Fish and Game Photo by John Westgate) 



Sportsmen and commercial fishing interests made 

 presentations in support of the department at the 

 hearing. 



WASHOE PROJECT 



Reviewing changing plans for this Bureau of Recla- 

 mation project on the Truckee River and Carson 

 River drainages in California has been a continuing 

 activity' since 1949. 



Authorizing legislation was submitted in both the 

 House and Senate in 1955. Senate and House subcom- 

 mittee hearings on the bills were held in Reno. De- 

 partment personnel prepared, or participated in prep- 

 aration of, statements presented at both hearings. Nu- 

 merous meetings were held with representatives of the 

 bureau, Nevada Fish and Game Commission, U. S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service and water use agencies in 

 Nevada in the department's efforts to achieve protec- 

 tion and, wherever possible, improvement of the fish- 

 eries resources. 



As a result of the combined efforts of the conserva- 

 tion agencies, sportsmen's groups and interested civic 

 groups, the authorizing legislation for the Washoe 

 Project included provisions for $1,200,000 expressly 

 for the enhancement of fisheries resources through 

 construction of a dam on Prosser Creek (to facilitate 

 constant and increased flow releases from the Lake 

 Tahoe Dam into the Truckee River) and also for the 

 construction of a fish hatchery to supply additional 

 fish to the project area. 



AMERICAN RIVER 



Following several meetings, review of Sacramento 

 Municipal Utility District project plans and field work, 

 substantial agreement was reached with S. M. U. D. on 

 provisions for protection of fish and wildlife resources 

 in connection with the district's Upper American 

 River Project. 



Recommendations submitted to the Federal Power 

 Commission by both the department and U. S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service were subsequently accepted by 

 S. M. U. D. for inclusion in any permit issued to them 

 bv the Federal Power Commission. 



Throughout the negotiations, S. M. U. D. repre- 

 sentatives were very cooperative and the resulting 

 agreement is a big step toward assuring future fish 

 populations and recreation in the project area. 



