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er ASU Di Be OcNe eB Usa oe 
Many species of fish are adversely affected by the 
increased water temperatures caused by removal of 
bank vegetation. 
increased stream velocities are often detrimental to 
native fish and bottom fauna populations. 
Siltation is increased dramatically via runoff from 
construction work and the spoil bank. 
A study of 23 North Carolina streams dredged 40 
years ago showed a 90 percent reduction in the fish pop- 
ulation. Another North Carolina study revealed that the 
average poundage of game fish per surface acre was over 
400 per cent greater in the natural streams than in the 
channelized streams. 
Another vital factor proved in this investigation was 
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. 
Recently the Missouri Department of Conservation studied 
the fish populations on three sections of the Blackwater 
River: 565 lbs./acre (primarily channel catfish) were found 
in the unchannelized section, 449 lbs./acre (mostly carp) 
in the lightly channelized section, and 131 Ibs./acre in the 
completely channelized section. The Tippah River in Missis- 
sippi contained 240 lbs. of game fish per acre prior to 
channelization, compared to 5 |bs./acre after channelization. 
Undisturbed stream channels in Idaho were found to pro- 
duce from 1.5 to 112 times more pounds/acre of game 
fish than disturbed streams. The list of examples could go 
on and on but perhaps the above will suffice to document 
the pronounced adverse effects that channelization and 
stream alteration projects have upon the aquatic community. 
@ Losses of wildlife habitat: 
Stream alterations result in reduced vegetation and 
subsequent reductions of wildlife as well. Wildlife losses 
due to channelization occur in the form of small game, 
waterfowl, and fur-bearing mammals. Some stream altera- 
tions, such as large impoundments, result in the wholesale 
decimation of ENTIRE populations of mammals (raccoon, 
opossum, bobcat, cottontail, rabbit, deer) and birds (quail, 
pheasant, wood duck, owls, numerous song birds). Forms 
of stream alterations such as channelization are nothing 
more than straight sewer wildlife management. 
@ Destruction of valuable hardwood trees: 
Channel projects result in clearing of stream side veg- 
etation while dams permanently flood entire river valleys. 
