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Show Land Management and Wildlife Healthy wildlife and healthy land go together. Programs which slow down the runoff of water and hold the soil and organic matter on the land will make the earth more productive of life of all kinds. In terms of fish and wildlife values, there are many beneficial aspects of a river basin water and soil conservation program. Farm ponds in conservation districts in January 1950 totaled 161,000. Many thousands more have been sponsored by States on private farms. These ponds, if fenced and protected from sedimenta- tion, stocked with fish and planted with aquatic food plants, will long provide a stable supply of wildfowl, fur animals, and fish. Such ponds, when built in part with Federal money, should be made available for public use wherever pos- sible. Most such ponds suffer from underfilling, and can well stand fairly extensive fishing. Reforestation, shelter belts, border plantings, living fences, and grassland improvement will also greatly strengthen the stand of wildlife. No matter how rich the land may be, if there are no food plants or cover, it will not be productive of wildlife. Fencing, fire prevention, and improvement of forests are generally helpful, but it often happens that limited grazing and firing are beneficial to certain species of wildlife, while removal of dead snags and wolf trees from woodland reduces den and nest trees. Straightening of streams and drainage of wet places are objectionable from a wildlife point of view. Programs which make indiscriminate use of chemical methods of weed and insect con- trol over extensive areas may have very serious repercussions. Most of the benefits of a good land use pro- gram are such that they develop slowly over a period of years. As soil fertility increases, how- ever, plants offer increased cover and increased food. As creek flow is stabilized and springs de- velop from well-protected watersheds, wildlife should benefit. Each year the rapid progress of our economy necessitates a further reduction in the limited supply of fish and wildlife habitat throughout our Nation. At the same time this reduction in habitat is occurring, interest in hunting and fish- ing is increasing. If the demands for these sports are to be met, it is essential that sport fish and game be encouraged wherever possible in the national pattern. Development programs proposed for river ba- sins offer great opportunities for wildlife, but only if the Fish and Wildlife Service and the States are given opportunity to recommend, for inclusion in projects, facilities beyond those needed for mere mitigation or prevention of damage. Most river basin developments can be designed to fulfill this need at only slight addi- tional cost. RECOMMENDATIONS On the basis of a careful analysis of this phase of water resources policy the Commission recom- mends that: 1. To gain maximum benefit from a multiple- purpose river basin plan, commercial fishery, sports fishery, and wildlife conservation should be considered as objectives from the earliest stages of water resources project planning. Fish and wild- life protection and improvement should be included in every comprehensive river basin program. 2. True multiple-purpose river basin planning^ should permit some allotment of project funds for the enhancement of fishery and wildlife re- sources where this is recommended by the Fish, and Wildlife Service in consultation with the States. Reduction or prevention of fish and wildlife losses should continue to be an impor- tant responsibility. 3. An affirmative declaration must be made by Congress that will provide for the fuller participa- tion of fish and wildlife planning in all multiple- purpose development. Present efforts are aimed too exclusively to preventing damage, or to diminution of the existing wildlife supply- Given proper time and appropriations, a more positive approach to all multiple-purpose river 265 |