8 TESA DeUcBlLOawN BULLETIN 
channelized reaches. Engineers confirm that this is an expected result of 
upstream channelization. 
We fail to see how the altering of streams to get the surplus waters 
off the land more quickly can increase water supplies to nearby commun- 
ities. If, in your deliberations, you are considering dams and reservoirs as 
a stream modification measure, then water supply benefits would obtain. 
Modification or channelization, in the absence of reservoirs, will not increase 
available community water supplies. 
The same can be said for recreational benefits. No such benefits accrue 
from the stream channelization in Illinois, since the stream is rendered 
virtually useless from the recreational standpoint. Again, if reservoirs are 
considered, it is frequently possible to increase recreational benefits, albeit 
they will reflect a change in the type of recreation. A natural stream with 
a good stream fishery which is canoeable would be changed to a lake type 
environment, providing recreation in the form of a lake fishery and water 
sports. This satisfies one type of recreationist while the stream fisherman or 
canoeist is most unhappy. 
In some instances more cropland acreage is provided. This is a ques- 
tionable benefit when viewed from the national standpoint. Department 
of Agriculture programs are aimed at reducing crop acreages through 
various cropland retirement programs. There is little logic, therefore, for 
another Federal agency to finance programs which bring more land into 
production. There is, of course, a benefit to the individual landowner pro- 
vided the frequency of flooding is reduced sufficiently so he can plant a 
crop with a reasonable chance of getting a return each year. Present 
policies of the Soil Conservation Service are not to provide services which 
will, either directly or indirectly, bring new land into crop production. The 
same policy should apply to the Corps of Engineers. 
Channel modifications as carried on in Illinois by the Corps of Engineers, 
the Soil Conservation Service, and by private interests do not improve fish 
and wildlife habitat. On the contrary, widening, deepening, and straight- 
ening streams and rivers completely destroys the existing aquatic habitat. 
On such streams as Upper Shoal Creek, Skillet Fork, and those in the 
Saline River System we now have straight shallow streams, exposed to 
full sunlight as opposed to the previously meandering, shaded streams with 
altering pools and riffles. Damages accrue to the total aquatic life including 
the fishes, crustacea, amphibians, vegetation, and smaller food organisms 
valuable to the larger forms of animal life in the stream. 
The removal of shade has a detrimental effect on the aquatic habitat. 
Even warm water fishes do best at temperatures which do not rise above 
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY CHANNELIZATION FOLD- 
ERS are now available in bulk quantities ($5.00 per 100 copies) 
from the Public Information Office, National Audubon Society, 
950 3rd Avenue, New York, New York 10022. It is important 
that these be included in newsletters, distributed at fairs and 
at lecture series and put in areas where this can be called to 
the attention of the public and other organizations. 
