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EXAMPLES OF RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The national wildlife refuge system includes 304 refuges and game ranges totaling about 281⁄2 million acres. The refuge system, in addition to its value to migratory birds, provides a haven for over 600 of the 740 species of North American birds. More than 100 kinds of mammals are found on refuges. All North American big game species, totaling 100,500 animals, use refuges. Many rare and endangered species of birds and mammals find sanctuary on refuges. Public use of national wildlife refuges is growing at the rate of 13 percent per year (see the following graph). It is estimated that public use will increase to nearly 18 million visitor-days in 1966 and to over 20 million visitordays by 1967. Over 70 percent of the visitors to refuges are sightseers, birdwatchers, picnickers, and those using water areas for swimming and boating. Over 27 percent are fishermen, while only 3 percent are hunters.

The carefully planned management of refuge lands not only provides nesting and feeding areas for waterfowl and other wildlife, but also contributes much to the enjoyment of the Nation's people. Significant monetary returns accrue to both neighboring communities and to the Government. Through the ap

plication of sound conservation measures on refuge lands, crop, forage, and timber production has increased and in some cases has more than doubled. This has benefited wildlife and cooperating farmers, cattlemen, and lumbermen. Economic use of the refuge system in calendar year 1964 was:

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In addition, refuge personnel farm 48,076 acres, all of which is for wildlife. The 1967 estimate will provide funds to administer the national wildlife refuge system at the following percentage levels of present management needs:

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DEACTIVATION AND CURTAILMENT OF REFUGE OPERATIONS

Mr. DENTON. You have budgeted a decrease of $118,000 from deactivation and curtailment of operations at existing refuges. Insert in the record a listing of the locations where these decreases will be in effect and a general description of how this total decrease will be achieved.

(The information follows:)

STATEMENT CONCERNING WILDLIFE REFUGES SAVINGS, $118,000

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A reduction in acreage will reduce the cost of operations on the desert game range. Likewise, eliminating approximately 35,000 acres of low value uplands on the Bosque del Apache refuge will result in savings. At the Moosehorn refuge, savings will be achieved by reducing the level of maintenance on 100 miles of roads, reducing travel on some roads, and reducing needed improvements to impoundments. Killcohook has been phased out as a national wildlife refuge. Savings on the other areas will be achieved by reducing the level of management and maintenance.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE FUND

Mr. DENTON. You also have a program decrease of $1.6 million due to a shift in financing for 1967 to the national wildlife refuge fund. Please give the committee a complete description of what is involved in this decrease.

Mr. GOTTSCHALK. Would you like to have this for the record right now sir, or would you want it inserted?

Mr. DENTON. We would like to have it now if you could.

Mr. GOTTSCHALK. In that case I would like to call on Mr. Samuel Benjamin, our Assistant Director for Administration and Engineering to explain this particular arrangement.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Oil revenues, Mr. Chairman, which have been accruing to the refuge receipts fund were held in suspense for about 2 years.

These funds were held in suspense on account of a pending lawsuit. The suit was finally settled in the spring of last year, and the funds were released and credited to the appropriation account.

Mr. DENTON. How much were they?

Mr. BENJAMIN. Approximately $212 million. And these were credited to the refuge receipts account.

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