ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS JAMES LABOUNTY Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë STATUS OF INTERVIEWS: OPEN FOR RESEARCH Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Interviews Conducted and Edited by: Brit Allan Storey Senior Historian Bureau of Reclamation Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Interviews conducted–2000 Interview edited and published–2016 Oral History Program Bureau of Reclamation Denver, Colorado SUGGESTED CITATION: LABOUNTY, JAMES. ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW. Transcript of tape-recorded Bureau of Reclamation Oral History Interviews conducted by Brit Allan Storey, Senior Historian, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, in 2000. Edited by Brit Allan Storey, further edited and desktop published by Andrew H. Gahan. Repository for the record copy of the interview transcript is the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland. Record copies of this transcript are printed on 20 lb., 100% cotton, archival quality paper. All other copies are printed on normal duplicating paper. i Table of Contents Table of Contents.. i Statement of Donation. v Editorial Conventions. vii Introduction. viii Oral History Interview. 1 Early Life. 1 Interest in Zoology. 1 Desert Pup Fish. 2 Naming a Fish Specie. 3 Growing Up in Las Vegas. 4 Cab Driver Experience.. 6 Family Life.. 7 Optometry School. 8 Student Field Research. 9 Studies in Mexico. 11 Coming to Work for Reclamation. 12 Work Along the Lower Colorado River. 14 Transfers to Phoenix Development Office.. 15 CAP Environmental Impact Statement. 16 Establishing Environmental Shops. 18 Coming to Denver. 20 Environmental Studies in Arizona.. 22 Environmental Assessments. 23 CAP Dam Site Studies.. 25 Reclamation's Reaction to the Environmental Movement.. 27 Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.. 28 Reactions to Environmental Officers.. 30 Thunderbird Reservoir.. 33 Arbuckle Reservoir. 35 Colorado Front Work and Levee System.. 36 Biological Studies along the Lower Colorado River. 39 Yuma Clapper Rails.. 40 Ecological Damage. 40 Habitat Restoration. 41 Oral History of James F. LaBounty ii Willow Flycatcher. 42 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Striped Bass. 42 Lake Mead Fisheries. 45 Lake Mead Fish Hatchery. 46 Introducing Striped Bass into Lake Mead. 47 Introducing New Species. 49 Reclamation Not Involved in Specie Introduction.. 51 Mysis Shrimp. 52 "Animal and plant populations are very hard to understand". 53 Competition Among Species. 55 Effects on Reclamation Operations. 57 Reclamation Dealing with Different Groups. 60 Why Reclamation Needs Biological Research. 62 Fish Hatchery for Sterile Grass Carp. 63 Hoover Sample Station. 64 Monitoring Water Quality in Lake Mead.. 66 Drainage Basins Feeding Lake Mead.. 67 Las Vegas Wash.. 68 Studying Las Vegas Water Quality. 69 Reclamation's Role in Ensuring Water Quality. 70 "A river within a river". 71 Reclamation Publication Restraints. 74 Pure Science Publications. 76 Speaking Engagement in China. 77 Drowned Towns.. 79 Riaño Reservoir. 79 Perceptions on Reclamation Offices. 83 Perceptions of the Washington Office. 86 Biological Systems and Fisheries Introductions. 87 Danjiangkou Reservoir in China. 89 Carp as a Food Source. 91 Grand Canyon Dams. 92 Biological Effects of Hydro Projects. 94 Studying Nitrogen Saturation at Yellowtail Dam. 95 Fish Problems at Grand Coulee Dam.. ..