Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service


Water Resources Development Act of 1976


Water Resources Development Act of 1976 [33 U.S.C. 59m; 426; 547a; 577; 579; 701e; 702a-12; 90 Stat. 2917 (Additional citations are found at 42 U.S.C. 1962d; 4321; and 4601.)] -- Public Law 94-587, enacted October 22, 1976, authorized additional water projects for development by the Army Corps of Engineers, modified certain features of previously authorized projects, and included specific conservation measures for some of the projects including but not limited to: (1) the Lower Snake River Fish and Wildlife Compensation Plan, (2) White River Basin, Beaver Dam trout production measures (fish hatchery), and (3) the Mississippi River "Great River Study."

Section 150 of the Act authorizes the Chief of Engineers to plan and establish wetland areas as part of water resources development projects. Wetland areas established under this authority must be primarily created from placement of dredged material, designed to produce beneficial functional values, and not exceed $400,000 in increased cost to the project.


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