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Show cause of lack of funds. Many heavily used camp- grounds are not maintained in an attractive con- dition, with a protected environment and satis- factory sanitation. Lack of sanitation in some areas is creating a hazard and making it increasingly dangerous to use the raw surface waters of moun- tain streams for domestic purposes. Facilities for health and safety are not sufficient to provide for the increasing popularity of winter sports. At present 22 winter sports areas are in operation in the basin. Many of the more formal recreation spots in the basin are currently being damaged or prevented from providing desirable recreation for all who come. Within some of our national parks and monuments and other public scenic or recreation areas are many lands not owned or controlled by the Federal Government. Some of these privately owned lands are used as headquarters for dude ranches or as resorts. Others are used for grazing, ranching, or other purposes. Ponding areas and diversions have also been built to take water for irrigation outside the parks. Such activities inter- fere with or detract from the recreation values in- herent in these public areas. The great recreation pressure upon water re- sources is illustrated by the Lake of the Ozarks created by Bagnell Dam, in Missouri. Originally seldom visited, the area is now heavily used. The shore line of this great man-made lake is now almost completely occupied. Hundreds of cabins and several communities line the shore. Thou- sands of people spend week ends or vacations at this lake, many of them from Kansas City, Memphis, and St. Louis. The rapid and almost complete occupancy of the area surrounding the lake and its heavy use after only 15 years demon- strate the public urge for this type of recreation. Some areas adjacent to the glacial lakes at the head of the Big and Little Sioux Rivers in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa experience compara- ble pressure, though farther from congested urban areas. Such heavy use will probably not take place on some proposed major reservoirs in the basin because of their less desirable locations and draw- downs, but it is unlikely that any will lack strong recreational appeal. Within the valley, the Rockies, the Black Hills, and the Ozarks can meet only part of the growing demand for rest and change. Travel time and cost prevent many in the low-income groups from taking advantage of special facilities, which are often so crowded as to be unable to cater satisfac- 266 torily to the throngs. Additional opportunities are needed, closer to the heavier populated portion of the basin. These will be created by the numerous dams being built or proposed. Under the plans of various construction agencies, some 150 reser- voirs will be formed. Most of these-particularly the larger ones-will be in tlie plains area where they will provide water recreation of a type not now locally available. Furthermore, their distribution is such that the benefits will be widespread through- out the region. Legislation does not make possible the inclusion of recreation facilities in the 100-odd reservoirs be- ing created by dams built under reclamation law. The flood control acts, on the other hand, grant authority for such facilities. This conflict should be resolved by granting authority to provide recrea- tion facilities in connection with all reservoir con- struction. Most basin States lack well-organized or func- tioning units which could inaugurate recreation policies or programs to be coordinated with and applied in public works planning. Difficulties have also been encountered in efforts to obtain local participation in administering, operating, and maintaining recreation facilities in Federal reser- voirs, as local bodies have not wished to underwrite administrative and maintenance costs. As suitable recreational improvements cannot be provided or maintained without close cooperation between Fed- eral, State, and local agencies, this situation is hampering development. Fish and wildlife.-Formation of a chain of lakes in the river courses should improve fishing. The present muddy and polluted waters of the lower half of the basin are not particularly inviting, but the large clear reservoir waters should enhance sport fishing. Many of the farm ponds will be stocked with warm-water fish. As none of the native fishes is migratory in the manner of salmon on the Columbia or shad on the Connecticut, no provision for passing fish at the dams will be necessary. The heavy draw-downs and the large amount of hold-over storage in some large main stem structures may adversely affect the fish. The lack of a stable shore line will interfere with spawning; exposed mud flats will reduce food production; and hold- over water will lack oxygen. However, fish popula- tions should be adequate to meet anticipated demands. In view of human population increases, more in- tensive water use, and increased farm pond con- |
