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Show struction^ additional hatchery features are necessary. The addrtional stock will also be of benefit in fishery management programs for main stem and tributary reservoirs- Sport fishing is an essential feature of the moun- tains in the basin. The 9,500 miles of fishing on 1,600 namned streams of the national forests and their 1,620 natural lakes, covering 30,000 acres, at- tract thousands of fishermen annually. The im- poundment and modification of the major portion of the mountain streams of the basin called for in present plans threaten the natural habitat of trout and othex" cold-water species. The addition of a considerable lake surface to the valley should greatly aid migratory waterfowl. Although the central part of the basin is west of the main fly^vay, it is probable that in time a great number of birds will use reservoirs and farm ponds during flight seasons. Whether the reservoirs will add mudi to nesting grounds is doubtful because of the fluctuating water levels. To increase this re- source, a series of wildlife refuges is contemplated, aggregating some 200,000 acres, of which about two- thirds will be water surface. On th.e other hand, water programs also may affect wildlife adversely. Under present policies, subsidies for drainage are granted under the agri- cultural conservation program of the Department of Agriculture. Some of this subsidy pays for drain- age of wet or swamp lands. This drainage, often poorly planned and often executed without techni- cal guidance, only partially accomplishes its pur- pose. Often it destroys the natural nesting and feeding areas of wild fowl. Reservoirs in the central portion of the basin will adversely affect much wildlife habitat. The inun- dation of over 300,000 acres of brush and timber along the Missouri and its tributaries will eliminate much big game and upland bird habitat in the plains region. Flooding of 107,000 acres of such land in the Garrison Reservoir will destroy 17 per- cent of the total habitat of this type in North Dakota. In partial replacement, and to provide for waterfowl needs, the Corps of Engineers is pres- ently spending about a million dollars on improving the wildlife situation in the immediate vicinity of dams now under construction. Other big-game haunts will not be affected by water projects. Most of the big game live in the rougher parts of the basin, mainly in the national forests. About 20 percent of the moose in the United States is found in the Wyoming and Mon- tana sections of the basin. This animal ranges chiefly near mountain meadows or shallow lakes, where it feeds on aquatic vegetation. Large num- bers of deer and elk, about 225,000 in all,47 are found in the national forests. (These numbers, greatly in excess of some local food supplies, over- graze the area, causing erosion and flash floods.) Especially serious are the winter ranges of the herds in Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Parks. In both areas, overuse of the forage is serious. In the Rocky Mountain Park area the winter range is on the Front Range Mountains just above the valley floor. Here trampling and excess grazing accentuate the land management problems on minor tributary watersheds of the South Platte. The Yellowstone elk herds migrate north, east, and south in the fall. The southern herd passes out of the basin into the headwaters of the Snake River. The other herds follow down the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin, and Shoshone Rivers, and are reported to be increasing erosion rates in these drainages. Beaver, many of which have been planted in headwater areas, are increasing. Their dams aid in providing swampy areas for moose and in catch- ing sediments. The retarding effects of their dams also assist in reducing local flood damage. Public interest in hunting and fishing is reflected in the sale of some 990,000 hunting licenses and 1,250,000 fishing licenses by the basin States in 1948. Conclusions (1) There is a growing need for all types of rec- reation in the Missouri River Basin. Consequently, the planning of all projects should take into account recreation opportunities, and where possible include operation of the reservoirs in such a way as to take account of recreation needs in the vacation season. Some of the need will be satisfied by the new lakes formed by the series of dams already authorized. Reclamation legislation, however, does not now provide adequately for recreation facilities in these man-made lakes. This oversight should be remedied. (2) The lack of suitable State and local agencies makes recreation planning difficult. An agency should be established in each State to assist the Fed- eral agencies in drafting recreation policy and plan- ning projects, in adopting stands to preserve public values, and assuming responsibility for administer- ing and operating recreational facilities at Federal projects where feasible. 47 85 percent deer, 15 percent elk. 911610-51- -19 267 |
