'2/ 29/ 32 
 
 
 
 
 
 
           Conference with Mr. R. Dieffenbach of the 
                   U. S. Biological Survey re 
 
 
                        Green Bay Project 
 
 
 
        On February 26 I discussed this project with Mr. Dieffenbach. 
 
He showed me the excellent map prepared by W. T. Krimmers, and told 
 
me the gist of his report. 
 
        It appears that the Survey has no definite thought of con- 
 
fining the proposed federal refuge to the river channel, i.e. the 
 
area between the levees. They are thinking of the whole are of low- 
 
land and water, including the Green Bay Bottoms, as a unit. 
 
        There is no immediate possibility of their doing anything, 
 
because their appropriation for the coming year covers only the 
 
$200,000 in commitments which they were authorized to make, and have 
 
made, during the past year. 
 
        They think highly of the merits of the project, but I doubt 
 
if they fully realize the outstanding quality and strategic location 
 
of it. I made the statement that it was the only big piece of duck 
 
water between the Minnesota lakes and Reelfort Lake which could com- 
 
pare with the Illinois River. The Upper Mississippi Refuge is in 
 
my opinion decidedly inferior, acre for acre, to this project. 
 
        We talked land values, and found our ideas in close agreement. 
 
 It is clearer to me than ever, though, that the land situation is so 
 
 complex that neither the state nor the federal government is liable 
 
 to do anything, even if they had the money, without local leadership. 
 
 Possibly joint condemnation proceedings, with the friendly assistance