The Federal Water Pollution Control Act and its 

 amendments established an interim national goal of 

 ensuring waters of a quality sufficient to support 

 water-related recreation, fish, and wildlife. The initial 

 concentration of control efforts on point source pol- 

 lution was successful to the point that non-point 

 source pollution (primarily in the form of chemicals 

 and sediment carried by surface runoff from agricul- 

 tural lands, urban developments, and sites disturbed 

 by logging operations and road construction) is now 

 the major concern. 



In 1940, surface mining accounted for less than 10 

 percent of domestic coal production. Currently, 

 about half of our coal is produced in this manner, 

 with disturbances distributed over 4 to 5 million 

 acres. Strip mining is now expected to increase sub- 

 stantially in the East and in the northern Great Plains 

 and Rocky Mountains with attending increases in 

 erosion and sediment loads downstream. The ecology 

 of streams might be changed through changes in 

 runoff patterns, changes in sediment loads, changes 

 in temperature regimes, or by chemical enrichment or 

 toxic pollution. 



The effects of sediments on aquatic organisms in- 

 clude direct fish kills, covering of spawning beds of 

 trout and salmon, reductions in populations of a var- 

 iety of aquatic organisms, reduction in light transmit- 

 tance, and alteration of streamflow patterns. Desira- 

 ble species can be seriously reduced in number. At the 

 same time, conditions may become favorable for less 

 desired species. 



The presence of toxic waste materials in runoff 

 waters can affect organisms by eliminating certain 

 species if concentrations are great. Lesser concentra- 

 tions can suppress stream productivity and the 

 growth rate or reproduction of many aquatic species. 

 The duration of toxic water pollution can be long 

 term. In Appalachia, it is estimated that the time 

 required to completely leach out toxic materials from 

 spoil piles can be as long as 3,000 years. 



Other Problems in Management 



In addition to habitat conditions, there are other 

 kinds of problems facing wildlife and fish managers. 



Harvest regulation. — For most species, regula- 

 tions on harvesting are set by individual States. The 

 intent is to adjust these regulations as required to 

 insure continuing healthy populations while they are 

 used for man's benefit. 



Illegal taking of game species is a continuing prob- 

 lem to some degree across the Nation. In a few places, 

 poaching of deer and other big game occasionally 

 disrupts management programs for particular species. 



Regulating the harvest of animals that migrate over 

 considerable distances, particularly those that are 

 international resources, is always a technically and 

 politically difficult task. The harvests of both salmon 

 and waterfowl are regulated under international 

 agreements. That such agreements are difficult was 

 illustrated by the "fish war" off the northeastern coast 

 between Canada and the United States in the summer 

 of 1978. 



The ownership of harvest rights by Native Ameri- 

 cans is a major issue in the Northwest and Alaska. 

 Future court decisions will have a major influence on 

 salmon fishing rights, rights to subsistence harvest- 

 ing, and perhaps on the management obligations of 

 agencies that are responsible for the habitats of sal- 

 mon and other animals. 



Competition of nonnative species. — Domestic cat- 

 tle and sheep have had major impacts on wildlife and 

 fish. In some areas, wild horses and burros now pose 

 a significant problem in maintaining critical habitat 

 for many species and frequently have the same kinds 

 of impacts on riparian zones as those resulting from 

 overgrazing by cattle. Introduced birds occasionally 

 compete directly with native birds. In the Caribbean 

 and Pacific Islands, nonnative animals have had dev- 

 astating impacts on native fauna and flora. 



Health of wild populations. — Although knowledge 

 about the health of wild populations is still rudimen- 

 tary, it is known that diseases and parasites are 

 locally severe in many species. Hatchery-raised fish 

 are particularly susceptible, as are some native popu- 

 lations of sockeye salmon. In the past, some parasites 

 have been transferred from domestic sheep to big- 

 horn sheep. Fowl cholera enteritis and botulism have 

 also had severe impacts on waterfowl populations. It 

 is likely that diseases are more important in limiting 

 populations than is now generally recognized. 



Problems Perceived by States 



State agencies responsible for wildlife and fish 

 management have defined a number of problems that 

 are barriers to improving the condition of those 

 resources.^* 



Western States particularly feel that shortages of 

 dollars and skilled biologists are major barriers. 



Absolute shortages of suitable habitat and frequent 

 poor quality habitat are major problem areas. The 

 management of private lands in the East and on the 

 West Coast and inadequate cooperation of Federal 

 land-managing agencies with State fish and wildlife 

 agencies in the West are frequently cited problems. 



3* Schweitzer, Cushwa and Hoekstra. 1978. op. cit. 



139 



