2.

Wildlife Refuges:

Fiscal year 1970, $16,046,134: fiscal vear 1971, $17,958,000; increase, $1,911,866. The increase consists of:

(1) One permanent position at an annual rate of $15,000; seasonal labor (one manyear), $6,000; contractual services, $15,000; offset by a reduction of $67,000 for materials and exhibit equipment.

(2) Two permanent positions at average annual rate of $8,000, $16,000: fuel and oil for heavy equipment and maintenance expenses, $10,000: dredge services, $74,000.

(3) Seven permanent positions at average annual rate of $13,000, $91,000; printing of brochures, $14,000; travel and transportation, $15,000; salary and expenses of hearing examiners, $30,000.

(4) Six permanent positions at average annual rate of $11,500, $69,000; seasonal labor (10 man-years), $60,000; equipment purchases and operations, $40,000: supplies, materials, utilities, $91,000.

(5) Nine new refuges 11 permanent positions at annual rate of $10,000, $110,000; seasonal labor (15 man-years), $90,000; nine motor vehicles, $1,500, $13,000; supplies, materials, utilitites, $123,277: Change in financing of one refuge; three permanent positions at average annual rate of $8,000, $24,000; seasonal labor (two man-years), $12,000; equipment, supplies, materials, and utilities, $19,000.

(6) Six permanent positions at average annual rate of $11,500, $69,000; seasonal labor (20 man-years), $120,000; purchase of eight pickups, $1,500, $12,000; supplies, materials, utilities, and services, $399,000.

(7) Payment of 15 to 25 percent differential for standby duty for permanent employees remaining in an official duty status beyond normal working hours, at 133 refuges at an average cost of $3,010, $400,000

(8)

Reimburse the Department of Labor, Bureau of Emplovees Compensation for payments made to Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife emplovees, $41,089.

Need for Increase: (1) Preservation of Steamboat Bertrand, $-31,000 and an increase of one position. In FY 1970 a supplemental appropriation of $105,000 was approved for the preservation of the Steamer Bertrand. This project is a joint project with this Bureau and the National Park Service. The level of the program

in FY 1971 is $74,000 or a reduction of $31,000 from the FY 1970 program level.

The $74,000 is needed to finance this special project at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska. On April 1, 1865, the "Bertrand" became one of more than 250 steamships to be lost to the Missouri River between 1819 and 1897. In the fall of 1967, two Omaha men requested and obtained a permit from the Government to search for and recover the "Bertrand" which they believed to he located on DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. A sunken steamboat was located on the refuge in March 1968, and its identity established as the "Bertrand" in November 1968. From that time through the fall of 1969, the ship's cargo was excavated and totals more than two million artifacts.

In April 1969, the Secretary of the Interior's Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings and Monuments recognized the boat as having National historical significance. With this recognition, every effort has been and is being expended to insure that the historical value of the boat and its cargo is preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of the American public. Facilities are now under construction at DeSoto Refuge for artifact care and preservation work. Included will be a temporary building which will house laboratory equipment and provide adequate storage space for the voluminous cargo. Arrangements will be made to permit public viewing of the artifacts and the preservation work. It is anticipated that this facility will be completed by May 1970.

Funds requested for the Bertrand are required to conduct a successful and orderly operational program to preserve the artifacts, and to accommodate the intense public interest in the boat. The needs for the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife are based on the premise that the National Park Service will provide the technical staff for the laboratory operations and the Bureau will largely provide the work facilities, operational costs, and interpretive programs and staff to accommodate the public interest.

In FY 1970, $110,000 was allocated from the National Wildlife Refuge Fund in addition to the $105,000 authorized as a supplemental appropriation from the Management and Investigation of Resources account.

(2) Canal rehabilitation, Mattamuskeet Refuge, $100,000 and two positions. This increase is needed to implement a major rehabilitation project of cleaning the canal system at Mattamuskeet Refuge. Management of this 50,000-acre refuge depends upon controlling water levels in Mattamuskeet Lake, an outstanding waterfowl area. Through the years, drainage canals have become clogged with sediment to the point that controlling water levels is no longer possible. This has retarded drainage of private lands adjacent to the refuge and jeopardized production of valuable crops. There are approximately 37 miles of canals servicing the area, with over 1,700,000 cu. yards of sediment to be removed. The amount requested herein will permit initiation of the project and dredging at least three miles of canals.

(3) Wilderness studies, $150,000 and seven positions. This increase is needed for seven additional employees necessary to staff the wilderness program. Wilderness studies on 30 refuges covering approximately one million acres were completed during the first 3-year period. Studies on 60 additional refuges covering 25 million acres remain to be completed by September 3, 1974, in compliance with Public Law 88-577.

Earlier projections indicated that $1,000,000 with 31 employees would be needed by