DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1962 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1961 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to recess, in room 1222, New Senate Office Building, Hon. Carl Hayden (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present Chairman Hayden. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUPPORT FOR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET REQUESTS STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK E. MOSS, A. U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF UTAH GENERAL STATEMENT Chairman HAYDEN. The committee will be in order. Senator Moss. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a prepared statement and I will read it as quickly as possible. Mr. Chairman, I have asked for time to appear personally before the subcommittee, and to make this appearance early in the hearings, since I am supporting items and programs in the budget requests of the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. I also wish to discuss several programs for which funds have not been requested, and try to make a case for them in the hope that the subcommittee will write funds for them into the bill. To this end, I have prepared a list of questions which I will leave with the chairman and which I would appreciate having asked of the appropriate departmental witnesses when they testify before the subcommittee so that all of the necessary facts can be brought out and a complete record made. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE May I first discuss the appropriation requests for the Fish and Wildlife Service. I support the requests which have been made, and make two others. 68806-61-15 The first is for funds to purchase land to enable relocation of the Flaming Gorge area deer herd before the reservoir behind the dam is filled. I note from the House report on the Interior appropriation bill, H.R. 6345, that the House committee believed all appropriations relating to the Colorado River storage project should be considered in the Public Works Subcommittee. Since I do not know what will be the attitude of this subcommittee in this respect, I am losing no opportunity to make my case, and if it becomes necessary, I will also go before the Public Works Subcommittee on this matter when those hearings are held. RELOCATION OF DEER HERDS I bring up the matter of the relocation of the Flaming Gorge deer herds because the Utah State Fish and Game Department is very much concerned about the limited funds that have been requested so far by the Department of the Interior to carry out the fish and wildlife protection program made necessary by the construction of the Flaming Gorge Dam. The program which Utah feels should be implemented was developed cooperatively by the fish and game departments of my State and those of Wyoming and Colorado, in consultation with the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. I understand that it was originally planned that funds for the entire program would be requested for the fiscal year 1962, and that this program would consist primarily of a rough fish eradication operation, together with the development of fishing access areas, and relocation of the Flaming Gorge area deer, elk, antelope, and big horn sheep. I am advised, however, that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has now decided there will be time to clean out the rough fish in the summer of 1962 before the reservoir is filled in November, if funds are included in the fiscal year 1963 budget, but that it would be helpful to include funds in this year's budget to at least begin the big-game relocation planning since land acquisition takes time. The amount necessary for the full game-herd relocation program has been set at $320,000. I realize this is a substantial sum, but I am told that an appropriation in that amount will be necessary sooner or later, since with the impoundment of the Green River, thousands of acres of big-game range will be inundated, and other range must be provided. PREPARED STATEMENT Senator Moss. I have a full statement of this problem which was prepared at my request by the Fish and Wildlife Service and which I would like to make a part of the record at this time. Chairman HAYDEN. That will be incorporated into the record. (The statement referred to follows:) BIG-GAME RANGE ACQUISITION-FLAMING GORGE UNIT The formation of Flaming Gorge Reservoir will have a profound effect upon the important mule deer herd in the project area and will also alter conditions for the less abundant but important populations of elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep. With the impoundment of the Green River, thousands of acres of biggame range will be inundated, and unobstructed passage across the valley will no longer be possible. Mule deer herds along the north face of the Uinta Mountains customarily begin an eastward migration to winter range during the fall months. During the course of this annual migration, thousands of deer cross the Green River and congregate in an area north of the river in Daggett County. The winter food supply is the critical factor in the survival of these deer, and since they normally must remain for about 6 months in concentrations in an area already overgrazed, further restrictions on their winter food supply will spell disaster for a large portion of the herd. Because of the precipitous nature of the canyon in Daggett County, deer crossings in the reservoir area are very restricted. One main crossing is east of lower Sheep Creek in the vicinity of Flaming Gorge and another at Hideout Flat. Downstream from the dam the river is entrenched in a sheer canyon extending to Little Hole, a distance of 9 river miles below the damsite. Deer can cross at Little Hole and at several other places between Little Hole and the Utah-Colorado State line. After the reservoir fills to a point where the main crossing sites are inundated, a large percentage of the deer during the fall migration undoubtedly will concentrate in the area south and west of the lake in the vicinity of Sheep Creek Mountain and Dowd Mountain, an area already overgrazed, rather than attempt a crossing of the reservoir. Deer have been known to swim across expanses of water as wide as those at the reservoir but the consensus of opinion is that few animals will attempt it. Continuing deer mortality can be expected each year after impoundment if deer attempt to cross the reservoir on thin or glare ice. The only feasible means of compensating for deer winter range losses in the project area is through the acquisition of the remaining big-game winter range lying east of the damsite in Daggett County, for the purpose of developing and managing the area primarily for game purposes. The Utah Department of Fish and Game will administer this management area. The withdrawal of grazing permits within the above area is considered to be particularly important in order to eliminate the competition for browse. Even though the deer herd which normally crossed from the north face of the Uintas will be completely shut off from its winter range, another herd which moves from the south face will form the nucleus for a new start. If the range immediately north of the Green River in eastern Daggett County, known as Browns Park, is rehabilitated, this herd will thrive and eventually may compensate, at least in part, for the expected loss of the former herd. Antelope also will be affected adversely by the project since about 4,560 acres of antelope habitat in the Spring Creek-Antelope Flat area near the UtahWyoming State line will be inundated. In addition, human activity, recreational development, and construction work in the Manila-Dutch John area will further reduce antelope habitat or discourage the use of 20,275 acres of summer range. With the loss of this habitat, antelope will be forced to move on to badly depleted range to the eastward. As in the case of the deer problem, the best solution lies in the acquisition of private and State-owned land to the east of Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the removal of livestock from public lands, and the development of a management program designed primarily for the benefit of antelope. The lands recommended for acquisition for antelope range management lie within a block extending along the Utah-Wyoming border due north of the damsite from the national forest boundary on the west to Red Creek on the east. In order to rehabilitate the remaining range in time to accommodate the displaced big game, the lands must be acquired as much in advance of the completion of the project as possible. Several years may elapse after acquisition before the present overgrazed condition on these lands can be reversed to the point that forage can support the displaced big-game animals in sizable numbers. A large portion of the lands scheduled for purchase consists of badly needed areas owned by individuals who hold extensive grazing permits. It is essential that livestock be removed from these lands so that a program of browse reseeding may be adopted as soon as possible. A total of 114,067 acres is required for big-game management; 95,360 acres are federally owned and administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The cost of acquiring 18,707 acres is estimated at $320,000. The area would be managed and administered by the Utah Department of Fish and Game. FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION Senator Moss. I hope that Fish and Wildlife officials can be questioned about this program, and the amount of money which should be appropriated in fiscal year 1962 to assure protection of the deer, elk, antelope, and big horn sheep who are threatened. Before completing this section of my testimony on the Colorado River Storage Act items, I do want to mention my support of the $200,000 item included in the budget for the construction of fish and wildlife facilities in the fiscal year 1962. Of this total, $8,000 is for the installation of a pump to supply water to the Stewart Lake Waterfowl Refugee of the Utah Department of Fish and Game and $2,000 is for the acquisition and development of land adjacent to the Stanaker Draw Reservoir of the Vernal unit of the central Utah project for management by the Utah Department of Fish and Game as a wildlife management area to compensate for upland-game habitat which will be inundated by the resorvoir. The remainder of the amount requested is for rough fish eradication at the Navaho Dam in New Mexico and acquisition of land for big-game habitat. Since both Stanaker and Navajo will be filled in the fiscal year 1962, this budget request is obviously necessary. COOPERATIVE SPORT FISHERY UNIT The other item which I would like to see written into the Fish and Wildlife Service appropriations for the fiscal year 1962 is $30,000 for a cooperative sport fishery unit at the Utah State University at Logan, Utah. As the subcommittee is aware, I am sure, no funds have been appropriated to carry out the provisions of Public Law 86-686, which provided for the establishment of cooperative sport fishery and wildlife units. I feel this is regrettable, and I hope the subcommittee will agree. Since the Utah State University at Logan has had a cooperative wildlife research unit in operation since the early thirties, this school would be an admirable location for a sport fishery unit, because the work of the two units could be coordinated. President Chase of the university has pledged the cooperation of the campus, facilities, and staff in the establishment of a fisheries unit. A new natural resources building is going up at the university, and there will be ample room for a sport fishery unit. The Utah State University campus would be therefore an admirable place for the location of the first of the authorized sport fisheries units. I would like to see Utah pioneer the way. I have a letter from Acting Director A. V. Tunison of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife which explains in some detail the benefits which would accrue from the location of a sport fisheries unit at USU which I would like to have entered into the record at this point. I will not take the time of the committee to read it. Chairman HAYDEN. That may be done. (The letter referred to follows:) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, Hon. FRANK E. Moss, DEAR SENATOR Moss: We are pleased to have your inquiry of January 18, 1961, describing your interest in the establishment of a cooperative fishery unit at Utah State University, Logan, Utah. You are correct in stating that although the Congress authorized the program in passing Public Law 86-686, funds have not been provided for this purpose and were not included in the budget submitted to the Congress on January 16, 1961. To establish a cooperative fishery unit so that it can function effectively, an annual appropriation of $30,000 will be required. This will provide the salary of a unit leader, an assistant leader, technical and automotive equipment, funds for travel, general expenses, and limited financial assistance to graduate students assigned to special fishery projects. In addition to this amount, it is expected the the university and the State fish and game department cooperating will provide suitable office and laboratory space, utilities, and stenographic services. Cooperators may also support special projects employing graduate students. It is our plan that the cooperative fishery units be an integral part of our program in sport fishery research and management. We would expect the unit leaders to be actively engaged in suitable projects, which might include the following subjects: (1) Surveys of fishery resources on national parks and other extensive Federal holdings. (2) Participation in an appropriate phase or segment of an approved long-range project. An example would be participation in studies related to a better understanding and management of fish resources in reservoirs. (3) Studies looking toward the better use of fish produced at the national fish hatcheries in terms of survival and return to the angler. (4) Participation in fishery research and management projects of joint interest to the State in which the unit is located and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. We believe that the units can make their greatest contribution by actively participating in the training of graduate students looking toward employment by State and Federal fishery agencies. Without assistance, the universities have been unable to meet the demands for well-trained personnel in the fishery field. Because of the excellent cooperation which has existed in connection with the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, we are confident that Utah State University would be a choice location for a cooperative fishery unit. The university is well located geographically and has established a high level of competence in training fishery personnel. We would be pleased to have an opportunity of working with you, officials of the university, and the State department of fish and game in this new and important programs. Sincerely yours, A. V. TUNISON, Acting Director. FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Senator Moss. I would like to speak briefly on the variety of functions carried out by the Forest Service. The Service has a broad land-management program, but in Utah the major emphasis is on water development, recreation, and grazing use. I, of course, support the entire program even though I have a special interest in the phases most important to my State. AMENDED BUDGET The amended budget is a great improvement over that originally transmitted to the Congress by the outgoing administration. Unfor |