Congress, in October 1970, created the King Range National Conservation Area, the first such area in the country, for the "purpose of conserving and developing? the lands and other resources therein under a program of multiple usage and sustained yield." Administration was assigned to the Bureau of Land Management, who was directed to develop a management program based upon the inventory of all available resources. The aquatic inventory was divided into two parts, freshwater and marine. Physical surveys and other studies were conducted in the area July to December 1972. The biologically productive marine areas are limited to a few inshore areas because of steep offshore slopes. Forty-five species of marine algae, 32 species of marine invertebrates, 15 species of marine fish, and 4 species of marine mammals have been identified. The freshwater inventory covered 21 coastal and inland streams. Anadromous salmonids are the most important users of these streams. Studies indicate that erosion, from both natural causes and logging damage, is the prime factor adversely affecting the streams. Future plans are aimed towards managing and improving all aspects of the aquatic environment within the framework of the King Range management plan.
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