Milford chronicle., 1962-08-24

has spoiled many important Win
termg marshes. The destruction of
marshland along the Atlantic coast
has produced not only a critical
situation for waterfowl but has de-
strOyed the natural conditions
needed for the food chains which
are SO important for our fisheries,
both sport fisheries and CONNER
cial fisheries.
The situation calls for balanced
land use. Every citizen, whether he
lives close to natural surroundings
or inhabits the concrete and steel
jungles of the city, has a stake in
harmonious land planning. People
need highways, airports, industrial
facilities near the tide water S
well as opportunity for residential
expansion, but present and future
needs of people also include open
spaces, green belts and outdoor
recreational opportunities, and wa
terfowl unquestionably must have
wetlands in order to survive
Competent surveys reveal that in
iOoOs oO llllllIOn VI IllC LOU llllllIOu
people in this nation over II years
old, went fishing, hunting or both
and spent a total of billion dol
lars on these pastimes More lei
sure time better transportation
facilities, increased wages and a
definite upward trend of outdoor
recreation activities have been de
scribed by two surveys, the Nation
al Survey of Hunting and Fishing
and the recently published survey
of the Outdoor Recreation Resourc-
es Review Commission. These find
ings point to the very real need
for considering both wildlife
people in planning for land and
water use.
The Federal Government is par
ticularly interested i'm preserving
wetlands because of its responsible
lity for protecting migratory birds
The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp
Act of 1884 provided a source of
funds from the sale of I'D k
Stamps" to hunters. With t h o S e
funds wetlands are acquired for
the protection of waterfowl.
The widespread concern for the
skrinkage of the Nations wetland
areas was reflected in the passage
last year of the Accelerated w e t.
lands Acquisition Act. The terms of
this bill provide 105 million dol
lars, an advance of funds from an
ticipated duck stamp sales, which
will be used for the purchase
carefully selected wetlands. Selec-
tion will place emphasis on h g h
quality and vulnerability, lie. lands
of greatest value to waterfowl and
in danger of being commercially
exploited and permanently lost to
wildlife.
The proposed Primehook Wild
life Refuge will be one of the first
fruits of this program. 1t will be
developed and managed along h e
same lines as the Bombay H o k
Refuge. Fresh water impoundments
will permit the manipulation o f
water levels for the best interests
of waterfowl. Supplementary food
crops will be grown on the agricul-
turai lands and browse conditions
for ducks and geese will be i'm
proved.
For the best interests of all citi-
zens, now and in the future, intel
ligent land-use planning includes a
careful consideration of wetland
spaces. Far from being wasteland,
waiting for the bulldozer and dred-
ger, our coastal marshes and open
wet meadows represent a valuable
asset to Delaware. To dredge, drain
and fill the last of our coastal wet
lands is to destroy am important
part of our most dependable and
durable natural assets w h i h
should be preserved for future gen.
erationS.