aptly summarizes the general situation in the State of Florida. Thus, it is our desire at this time to focus attention only on certain facets peculiar to the interest of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. As you may already know, our commission came into being on January 1, 1943, as the result of a public referendum and at that time we were given the responsibility of preserving Florida's fish and wildlife resource and its habitat while simultaneously providing for public enjoyment of these natural assets through proper management and provision of usage facilities. We feel that this responsibility has been successfully assumed and that our program of conservation is sound and progressive. At the same time, we are continually being made more aware of certain trends which give rise to acute alarm. We make reference to the situation in which higher individual income, additional leisure time through shorter workweeks, and booming populations (particularly here in Florida) have resulted in accelerated demands for outdoor recreation while conversely the affected natural resources are dwindling under the impact of urban and industrial expansion. And, unfortunately, water is quite often the focal point of both the recreation seeker and the industrial user. Your committee is obviously aware of these implications, yet it is extremely difficult not to mention this situation over and over again. Game and fish agencies the country over have various problems pertaining to their own backyards, yet, universally, they have water problems. The International Association of Game, Fish, and Conservation Commissioners is acutely aware of this, and as recent president of this organization I can say that we appreciate the understanding shown and the actions taken at your 85th and 86th Congresses to bring about certain new and corrective legislation. After all, it is only through the enactment of needed legislation that water conservation and its dependent fish and wildlife resources can be properly and adequately considered and administered. In view of this unvarnished statement, permit me to but briefly mention some of your legislation which we in Florida find to offer great promise for outdoor-minded taxpayers. First, let me make reference to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. This fine piece of legislation is of inestimable value to us in Florida, particularly in view of the large number of civil works projects proposed by the Department of the Army for application to the countless lakes, streams, and watersheds of this State. Under this amended act, fish and wildlife values can now be planned into these water development and control projects and we fully plan to utilize this opportunity. Secondly, we are pleased that the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act was amended to provide for Federal cost sharing on fish and wildlife developments built into such projects. Thirdly, we are pleased with the new Federal Boating Act which is now stimulating uniform State legislative action in the field of water safety. And, fourthly, we are happy to note that measures are now being taken to increase the municipal sewage treatment works construction grants program under provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1956. We believe that conscientious adherence to these four programs will give wildlife and recreation interests a fair stake. The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act provides legal and administrative consideration of our interests in the primary lakes, streams, and waterways affected by Federal civil works and private projects. The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act will carry these considerations into the secondary watershed construction features. The Pollution Control Act will help keep our water clean, sanitary, and productive. And the Federal Boating Act will regulate and promote safety in the usage of our waterways. Gentlemen, if these four programs can be carried out in the spirit and in the manner by which they were sponsored, endorsed, and intended, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission will be most pleased. I thank you. Senator HOLLAND. Senator Young, do you have questions? Senator HOLLAND. Thank you, Mr. Aldrich. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF A. D. ALDRICH, DIRECTOR, FLORIDA GAME AND FRESH WATER FISH COMMISSION AN EVALUATION OF RECREATIONAL USAGE OF SURFACE WATER IN FLORIDA Webster's description of Florida is geographic in nature. However, in actuality, there are many synonyms, i.e., vacation, recreation, fishing, and hunting. The value of surface water to Florida in terms of these synonyms is almost beyond comprehension. A quick look at some population statistics for a 10-year period from 1940 to 1950 will help one envision the outstanding growth Florida has experienced, and consequently, the utilization of our surface waters. The population of Florida in 1940 was 1,897,414;1 in 1950 the population was 2,771,305,' an increase of 46.1 percent. In 1955, the unofficial count was more than 3 million, and if the "move to Florida" trend continues at the same rate, the 1960 population will be approximately 4 million, and over 5 million by 1970. Tourists swelled the permanent population by 5,460,000 persons in 1955, and they spent $1,080 million. This is an increase of 260,000 people and $20 million over 1954 and an increase of 360,000 people and $150 million over the 1953 figures. Without question, recreation is big business in Florida. The number of people in Florida is not the only factor that has increased. For instance, the economic situation was making tremendous strides in the period from 1940 to 1950. The median income for men in metropolitan areas in 1940 was $662,1 whereas in 1950 the income was $2,0251 per man. We are accustomed to think in terms of a 40-hour workweek, but large segments of industry have already reduced or are contemplating a reduction of the workweek to 35 hours. There is no question that if present trends of greater population, more money per capita, and more leisure continues, much heavier pressure will be placed on recreation facilities by permanent residents as well as the ever-increasing number of tourists. The potential utilization of surface water is almost beyond comprehension. For example, sport fishing alone is calculated to increase at a rate of 3.4 million per year, i.e., by 1960 the calculated value will be $165 million and by 1970 the value will be an astronomical $236 million. Fish and game utilization values of surface water compare very favorably with agriculture values in 1955. For example, the value of agricultural produc tion for field crops was $447,910,000 and the total livestock and poultry production was valued at $135,389,000 for 1955. 1 U.S. Department of Commerce. "Census of Population, 1950." pt. 10. 2 Florida Development Commission. a U.S. Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Marketing Service and Florida Marketing Service. The overall value of recreational uses of water in Florida has been documented in the consolidated statement to your committee by the Florida Department of Water Resources so needs not be reiterated here. We believe however, that a discussion of just one facet or one set of these figures would provide an interesting insight of the values involved and have taken the outboard boating industry as an example, as follows: OUTBOARD BOATING INDUSTRY The importance of Florida surface water to the outboard boating industry is profound and its importance to the economy of Florida through many small businessmen is astonishing. Through statistics furnished by the Outboard Boating Club of America it has been found that of all the outboard motors and boats sold in America approximately 10 percent of the sales were in Florida. The percentage figure varies from year to year; and the 10-percent figure used in this report is an average. Table 1 shows the comparison of Florida sales to the national figure in 1955. 1 This is a total of the outboard motors sold from 1947 to 1955. The OBA apparently has taken into consideration the outboard motors discarded or traded-in on newer models, Le.. in 1953 there were 3,419,000 motors in use; there were 430,000 motors sold in 1954 which through straight addition would be 3,849,000 motors in use in 1954. However, the OBA lists 3,740,000 motors in use in 1954, a difference of 109,000 outboard motors. REASONS FOR BUYING OUTBOARD BOATING EQUIPMENT IN FLORIDA The Outdoor Boating Club of America breaks the various phases of recreational utilization of surface water down in the following manner: It is interesting to note that in 2 years cruising, which is usually a family enterprise, has increased 4.2 percent. This is significant also in that this sport usually requires or is done in cruiser-type boats powered by large outboard motors. For instance, in 1953, 22.4 percent of the outboard motors sold in Florida were above 12 horsepower in size. In 1955, 43.2 percent of the motors sold in Florida were above 12 horsepower. From table 1, there were 421,000 outboard motors in use in Florida in 1955. Using this figure, and applying the percentage of use for various phases from above, the number of outboard motors and boats used in each sport is as follows for 1955: These are total figures and include both fresh- and salt-water usage. Although there is no feasible manner by which fresh-water figures can be presented individually, certainly a large majority of the outboard motors and boats are used primarily in fresh water. Small outboard boats are not generally suitable for salt-water fishing except in protected areas; also, fresh-water fish camps, of which there are 879 in number, have a large majority of outboard motors available for rental along with their 8,771 rental boats. The ever-increasing popularity of boat-a-cades is limited almost exclusively to fresh water. Likewise, with water skiing, unless a salt-water area is well protected and calm, it is not a desirable location for water skiing. Thus, it is apparent that surface water utilization by recreational and commercial interests is one of Florida's most important businesses. In a geographic and climatic location such as we have where the State name and recreation are synonymous words one can only conclude that if these values are properly administered the future potential is unlimited. Therefore, we are delighted that your committee is now taking the initial steps toward establishing a longrange water resources policy to perpetuate and enhance these great values. Senator HOLLAND. The next State witness, Mr. David B. Lee, director of the Bureau of Sanitary Engineering of the Florida State Board of Health. STATEMENT OF DAVID B. LEE, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF SANITARY ENGINEERING, FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH Mr. LEE. Mr. Chairman, Senator Holland, Senator Young, Congressman Bennett, before I give my testimony may I enter for the record two statements by Mr. Arthur N. Beck, technical secretary for the State of Alabama Water Improvement Commission at the meeting, also another statement by Mr. Beck as chairman of the Congress of State Sanitary Engineers. He could not be here and he asked with your permission if they may be entered in the record. The CHAIRMAN. They will be included in the record. (The prepared statements follow :) STATEMENT OF ARTHUR N. BECK, TECHNICAL SECRETARY, STATE OF ALABAMA WATER IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am Arthur N. Beck, technical secretary, State of Alabama Water Improvement Commission. I am also chief engineer and director, Bureau of Sanitation, State of Alabama Department of Public Health. I wish to express my appreciation for the privilege of presenting the views of the water improvement commission and State department of health on the problems of water resources in this Nation. The water improvement commission and State department of health have as their paramount interest the preservation of water quality and the development of Alabama's water resources to the best interest of the general public. The Alabama Water Improvement Commission was created in 1947 by a legislative act for the express purpose of performing a comprehensive study of pollution in waters of the State. This study was completed in 1949, and a detailed report entitled "Studies of Pollution in Streams of Alabama" prepared for the State legislature and general distribution. This report includes data collected over a period of 2 years from 854 sampling points established on the waters of State. During this study a total of 57,034 laboratory determinations were made on 7,537 samples. This work and report established a baseline of conditions in the State's waters on which programs of water quality preservation could be based. In 1949, the State legislature, through an amendment to the law creating the water improvement commission, empowered this commission with authority to control all new sources of pollution created since August 25, 1949, and those sources of pollution existing prior to that date which create health hazards. It is also the duty of the commission to conduct surveys with respect to the pollu tion of any waters in the State, and it is empowered to establish standards for recognized limits of pollution. The commission may also establish standards for water quality as related to the reasonable and necessary use of the State's waters in the public interest. In establishing standards of quality, the commission shall recognize that because of varied factors and varied use of waters, no single standard of treatment and no single standard of quality are practical and that the degree of treatment of sewage and industrial wastes must take into account the present and future uses and general policies relating to existing or proposed future pollution which are necessary to accomplish the purposes of the act under which the commission operates. The commission issues permits after examining applications, plans, and specifications for the discharge of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes into waters of the State. Each permit specifies the conditions under which the discharge is permitted. New pollution or an increase in the quantity of pollution may not be discharged subsequent to August 25, 1949, without a permit from the commission. It is our opinion that the State of Alabama Water Improvement Commission has the necessary authority to control pollution of the State's waters. On the whole, the streams of Alabama are relatively clean. There are some instances of local pollution from sewage and industrial wastes resulting in adverse conditions of limited extent. The public's concern over water pollution and a desire to preserve and improve the quality of Alabama's waters has become a dominant factor in the correction and prevention of pollution problems. This interest, developing gradually over the years, has reached the point where it influences and motivates municipal officials and industrial management to take action in the improvement of sewage and industrial waste control. The programs authorized by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1956 provide a foundation for the solution of pollution problems. The Federal construction grant program for municipal sewerage improvements has greatly stimulated interest in the provision of adequate sewage-treatment facilities and has been responsible for considerable progress in this field. We recommend the continuation of appropriations for grants for construction of sewage-treatment works and increased assistance to municipalities as would be provided through passage of H.R. 3610. We also recommend that the Congress extend the provisions of section 5 of the Water Pollution Control Act, which authorizes grants to State water pollution control agencies to support State programs for the prevention and control of pollution. The provision for these grants will expire June 30, 1961, unless it is extended by the Congress. Grants to States have made possible the expansion of technical investigations and pollution-abatement services. With the assistance provided by Federal grants to Alabama, our commission has completed a cooperative study with the U.S. Geological Survey on low flows in Alabama streams. Our commission has also prepared a brochure on its activities for distribution. In the matter of river developments for the purposes of power and navigation, we feel that water quality should be given its rightful place and that the construction of these improvements should recognize the potential of the development and provide for its ultimate use in the best interests of the public. Developments are now in progress which will open up a vast water surface area on which recreational activities will be foremost in the minds of the local citizenry. These recreational potentials will be restricted in areas adjacent to the larger municipalities unless provisions are made to effectively treat sewage and other wastes discharged into the streams. We recommend that water quality be built into all impoundments, no matter what the original purpose. On the matter of domestic water supply and water supplies for industrial nsers, the assurance of an adequate supply of water for human consumption and for industries is of utmost importance. We must manage our water resources and develop plans for their use which will assure an adequate supply of usable water for all purposes. The U.S. Public Health Service has been active in the field of water quality control and has the authority to cooperate with the States on matters relating to research and investigations on water quality as it pertains to the public health. We recommend that the U.S. Public Health Service also be given the authority to cooperate with the States in the developmen and the use of water resources so that adequate quantities for domestic, industrial, and all other purposes will be available. |