PHYSICAL DATA Floodwalls: Length: 3,200 feet. Average height: 9 feet. Railroad bridge (raise): 1. Ponding areas: 1. Drainage structures: 4. Pumping stations: 1. Status (January 1, 1964).—Entire project, 64 percent completed. JUSTIFICATION The project will provide protection of highly developed residential, commercial and industrial areas of South Amsterdam from flooding along the Mohawk River and South Chuctanunda Creek. The maximum flood of record occurred in February 1938 as a result of an ice jam below Amsterdam when the river stage rose 20 feet above normal. About 86 residences, 23 commercial establishments and 12 industrial and manufacturing plants were affected. In addition, appreciable damages were sustained by utilities, railroads, and streets and highways. A recurrence of the February 1938 flood would result in losses to the community estimated at more than $1,300,000. Another serious flood occurred in March 1936 and numerous residential and business establishments were inundated to depths of 1 to 4 feet with damages estimated at over $700,000 based on current price levels. Other floods which caused significant damage in the area occurred in 1913, 1914, 1935, September 1938 and October 1955. The authorized project will provide complete protection from a flood equivalent to the maximum flood of record. Fiscal year 1965.—The requested amount of $378,000 will be applied as follows: Complete relocation (raising of railroad bridge, and facilities) $35, 200 Complete construction of floodwalls-- Complete construction of pumping station_ Engineering and design_. Supervision and administration_ 270, 100 42, 700 2,000 28,000 Total. 378,000 Funds requested for fiscal year 1965 will complete the project. Non-Federal costs.-The investment required of local interests in construction of the authorized project is estimated at $260,000 broken down as follows: Lands Relocations of roads, utilities, and interior drainage. $55,000 205, 000 Total_____. 260, 000 Prior to authorization of the project, local interests expended approximately $75,000 for construction of a concrete floodwall to protect a large knitting mill from inundation by the Mohawk River. Local interests are required to maintain and operate the project upon completion. The average annual expenditure for maintenance is estimated at $4,200. Status of local cooperation.—The agency responsible for local cooperation is the State of New York. Formal assurances were executed on September 19, 1962, by the superintendent of public works, State of New York and were accepted by the district engineer on September 24, 1962. Local interests have progressively furnished lands, easements and rights-of-way as required by construction operations. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.—The current Federal cost estimate of $1.560,000 reflects a reduction of $200,000 from the latest estimate ($1.760,000) submitted to Congress. The decrease is based on savings due to favorable bids received ($68,000) and reduction of contingency allowances based on contract award ($132,000). Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 Item Location and description.-The project is located on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River about 2.6 miles upstream from Curwensville, Clearfield County, Pa. The project consists of an earthfill dam, 2,850 feet long, rising 131 feet above the streambed, with a spillway and gate-controlled outlet works. The reservoir will provide 119,300 acre-feet of flood control storage. Authorization.-1954 Flood Control Act. Benefit-cost ratio.-3.1 to 1. 1 None required. Local interests expended $12,240,000 for construction of the George B. Stevenson Dam, which was included in the authorized comprehensive flood control plan. The State has scheduled $344,000 for construction of recreational facilities with an annual maintenance cost of $24,000. Dam: Type: Earthfill. PHYSICAL DATA Height: 131 feet. Length: 2,850 feet. Spillway: Type: Open cut with concrete control sill, 1,750 feet from left abutment. Capacity: (Maximum pool) 164 cubic feet per second. Reservoir capacity: Flood control_ Operation and recreational_. Sediment_ Total_____ Acre-feet 119, 300 4, 730 170 124, 200 Outlet works: Type: Circular conduit, gate-controlled. Capacity: 10,000 cubic feet per second (pool at spillway crest). Exclusive of a 34-mile section of U.S. Route 219 which is scheduled for relocation in the upper reaches of the reservoir during fiscal year 1965 and fiscal year 1966. JUSTIFICATION The project is a unit of the comprehensive plan for flood control on the West Branch, Susquehanna River, and appropriately fits into the comprehensive plan of water resources development for the entire Susquehanna River Basin. Curwensville Dam together with the completed George B. Stevenson Dam (first fork), Alvin R. Bush Dam (Kettle Creek) now operationally complete and the authorized Blanchard Reservoir will provide substantial flood protection to urban and rural areas in the West Branch Basin including Clearfield, Renovo, Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, and communities downstream from Williamsport, Pa. The basin plan would reduce damages from a recurrence of the 1936 flood by more than $29.5 billion along the West Branch, and by more than $9.8 million along the main stem; a total reduction of more than $39.3 million. The Curwensville Reservoir would account for 36 percent of the total reduction. Its construction is essential for protection of the important community of Clearfield and other downstream areas. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $3 million will be applied as follows: Continue land acquisition for the reservoir_. Supervision and administration___. Total___ $100,000 100,000 2, 605, 000 40,000 155,000 3, 000, 000 Funds requested for fiscal year 1965 are required to meet continuing contract commitments for construction of the main dam. The work on the dam foundation and embankment, together with the outlet tunnel and appurtenant structures, must proceed at a rate which assures readiness for stream diversion in June 1965. Non-Federal costs.-None. Status of local cooperation.-In accordance with the Flood Control Act of 1954, the Water and Power Resources Board, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, adopted a resolution on May 9, 1956, furnishing assurances to the Federal Government that operation of George B. Stevenson Reservoir will be coordinated with operation of Curwensville, Alvin R. Bush, and Blanchard Reservoirs in order to secure optimum flood control benefits. George B. Stevenson Reservoir on First Fork, Sinnemahoning Creek, in Cameron and Potter Counties, Pa., was constructed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at a first cost of $12,240,000 and an estimated $30,000 annual cost for operation and maintenance. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $19,600,000 is a decrease of $1,500,000 from the latest estimate submitted to Congress. This change reflects a decrease of $700,000 in the costs of lands and decrease totaling $800,000 in relocation and construction items based on contract costs after minor internal adjustments. Project cost estimate Summary construction program (PB−1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 Item Location and description.-Elkland is located on the left bank of the Cowanesque River about 12 miles upstream from its confluence with the Tioga River, a tributary of the Chemung River. The plan of improvement provides for construction of levees along the left bank of the Cowanesque River, channel relocation, channel improvement, raising two bridges and provisions for interior drainage. 1 In addition the State spent $38,500 in 1946 for channel improvement work. $1,670,000 228,000 1 228,000 1,898,000 91,000 200,000 291,000 800,000 112 17 65 Levees: Length: 15,500 feet. Maximum height: 15 feet. PHYSICAL DATA Channels: Cowanesque River: 3,400 feet (1,400 feet relocation and 2,000 feet widening). Bridges: Raise Buffalo and Route 49 highway bridges. JUSTIFICATION The project for protection of the Borough of Elkland is an integral part of the comprehensive plan for flood control on the North Branch Susquehanna River and tributaries. This community has suffered extensive damage in the past from flooding of the Cowanesque River. The area subject to inundation comprises about 128 acres and includes 365 residences, 12 public buildings, 47 commercial establishments, and 2 industrial plants. Recurrence of the maximum flood of record (May 1946) would cause estimated damages of $1,110,000 under current conditions. Recurrence of the flood of March 1940 would cause damages amounting to $900,000 at current price levels. The project would eliminate all damages from flood even greater than the maximum of record. The project is located in Tioga County, Pa., which has been designated category 5(b) by the Area Redevelopment Administration and classified as an area of substantial and persistent unemployment. Fiscal year 1965.—The requested amount of $800,000 will be applied to Non-Federal costs.-The investment required of local interests in construction of the authorized project is estimated at $228,000, broken down as follows: Lands--- Bridge approaches_ Utility relocations__ Total----- $102, 000 64, 000 62,000 228, 000 Local interests are required to maintain and operate the project upon completion at an average annual expenditure of $5,000. Status of local cooperation.-Assurances of local cooperation contained in the resolution of the Elkland Borough Council of September 11, 1962, and supported by commitments from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on December 10, 1962, and by the department of highways on December 11, 1962, to share in the project costs, were approved and accepted on February 20, 1963. The borough of Elkland is proceeding with negotiations for land acquisition. By letter of December 12, 1963, the Department of Forests and Waters, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, offered assistance to the borough of Elkland to expedite acquisition of necessary lands. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-There is no change in the current Federal cost estimate of $1,670,000 from the latest estimate submitted to Congress. Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 |