MITCHELL ACT [Chapter 193, Approved May 11, 1938, 52 Stat. 345] [Amended through chapter 882, Aug. 8, 1946] AN ACT To provide for the conservation of the fishery resources of the Columbia River, establishment, operation, and maintenance of one or more stations in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and for the conduct of necessary investigations, surveys, stream improvements, and stocking operations for these purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, [16 U.S.C. 755] That the Secretary of Commerce is authorized and directed to establish one or more salmon-cultural stations in the Columbia River Basin in each of the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Any sums appropriated for the purpose of establishing such stations may be expended, and such stations shall be established, operated, and maintained, in accordance with the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for a five-year construction and maintenance program for the United States Bureau of Fisheries", approved May 21, 1930, insofar as the provisions of such Act are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. SEC. 2. [16 U.S.C. 756] The Secretary of Commerce is further authorized and directed (1) to conduct such investigations, and such engineering and biological surveys and experiments, as may be necessary to direct and facilitate conservation of the fishery resources of the Columbia River and its tributaries; (2) to construct and install devices in the Columbia River Basin for the improvement of feeding and spawning conditions for fish, for the protection of migratory fish from irrigation projects, and for facilitating free migration of fish over obstructions; and (3) to perform all other activities necessary for the conservation of fish in the Columbia River Basin in accordance with law. SEC. 3. [16 U.S.C. 757] In carrying out the authorizations and duties imposed by section 2 of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to utilize the facilities and services of the agencies of the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho responsible for the conservation of the fish and wildlife resources in such States, under the terms of agreements entered into between the United States and these States, without regard to the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes, and funds appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act may be expended for the construction of facilities on and the improvement of lands not owned or controlled by the United States: Provided, That the appropriate agency of the State wherein such construction or improvement is to be carried on first shall have obtained without cost to the United States the necessary title to, interest therein, rights-of-way over, or licenses covering the use of such lands. |