The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1930-08-07
Power Law Additions Proposed


To assure that there will be no
more unsightly skeleton-lined shore
lines, dry stream beds, or destruc-
ton of sport and commercial fisher
les resources, and most fundament-
al of all to safeguard values that
are vital to the future of America,
the people must give to the FEEDER
al Power Commission the power
they now lack but obviously need.
Last fall the Commission, follow
ing an inspection of the Cumber-
land Falls site, asked Attorney Cen
eral Mitchell for an opinion; and
on July l, 1880, in an official opin-
tion he replied that, there is moth
ing in Section Is of the Federal
Water Power Act or any other pro-
vision of the law that authorizes
the Commission to deny or grant a
license in q case like that under
consideration because of aesthetic,
recreational, science or like consid-
erations."
This consideration came as a
bombshell to the conservation forces
of America, even though it did adj
wise that if the State of Kentucky
shows evidence of proceeding under
Kentucky legislation to take over
the area for park purposes the Com
mission would not be justified in
acting upon application. But what
about other applications in which
such public values are a vital is
sue?
The Izaak Walton League has CIV
en- these matters close study for
several years. 1t anxiously await
ed the Attorney Generals decision.
That decision having been rendered,
its future course was at once clear
ly defined. The League met the is
sue squarely by deciding, in reso-
luton adopted by the Executive
Board on July %. to launch at once
a nationwide campaign for legis-
lation amending the power law so
that 1t will call upon the Federal
Power Commission:
1. To consider the effect upon
scenic, historic, recreational and all
other public values when passing
upon applications for power per-
mits.
- 9, To secura for oovarnn,a,,+
scientific bureaus expert opinion on
the effect of each proposed project
on wild life of all types and when
granting permit require the in
staliation of means approved by
such government BUREAUS for pre-
venting the destruction of migra-
tory fishes or other valuable wild
life.
8. To require that all licenses
cut clean and remove all timber and
tree growth from the entire flow.
age area to prevent unsightly con-
ditions, to minimize the breeding of
mosquitoes and other features that
endanger health and life, and to re-
move hazards to the users of such
impounded waters for recreational
purposes.
4 TO require all licenses to al
low sufficient flow of water in the
natural stream bed below all dams
70 maintain not less than the norm
al ten-year low water flow.
0. To require all licenses to open
-impounded waters to public fishing,
boating, bathing and other recrea-
honal unless.
The resolution further urges that
all states do enact similar legisla-
ton or regulations for the guidance
public utility boards, commits
sions and other like agencies when
upon water impounding ap-
olications coming within their jur-
sdiction, and invites all conserva-
ION and civic organizations to
DIN hands with the Izaak Walton
league of America in the accom-
,lishment of these worthy objec-
ives.