ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 11 
kinds, and size of fishes decline precipitously in channelized streams. 
Several years ago the Missouri Department of Conservation studied the fish 
populations on three sections of the Blackwater River: 565 Ibs./acre (pri- 
marily channel catfish) were found in the unchannelized section; 449 
lbs./acres (mostly carp) in the lightly channelized section; and 131 Ibs./acres 
in the completely channelized section. Standing crop of fish 12 inches or 
larger was 403, 298, and 12 lbs./acre respectively. The Tippah River in 
Mississippi contained 240 pounds of game fish per acre prior to chan- 
nelization compared to 5 Ibs./acre after channelization. Undisturbed stream 
channels in Idaho were found to produce from 1.5 to 112 times more 
pounds per acre of game fish than disturbed streams. A study of 23 North 
Carolina streams dredged 40 years prior to the investigation showed a 90 
percent reduction in the fish population. Another North Carolina study 
revealed that the average poundage of game fish per surface acre was over 
400 percent greater in the natural streams than in the channelized streams. 
This investigation also revealed that the removal of forest canopy and stream 
cover for purposes of channelization can warm stream temperatures higher 
than that permitted by North Carolina state law. 
Although not discussed here, one should recognize that channelization 
is equally devastating to wildlife, forestry and aesthetic resources. 
FORTHCOMING ISSUES OF THE BULLETIN 
Members of the Society are encouraged to submit quality original 
material for regular use in the Bulletin. 
We would appreciate receiving short items such as: 
Poems about wildlife or conservation 
Photographs about wildlife or conservation (black-&-white) 
Wildlife silhouettes (black-&-white) 
Wildlife art (black-&-white) 
The Fall Issue will feature some wildlife silhouettes; all copies should 
be sent to the Editor. 
