WL IS s land values in Galax indicate that if flood protection is provided pproximately 100 acres of land now undeveloped or poorly developed because of flooding would become suitable for industrial developmat and, as a result, increase an average of approximately 60 percent in value providing continued industrial expansion in Galax would permit uti their utilization. The total increase in value of this land, assuming does 1 100 percent utilization for industrial sites, is estimated at appro- upan mately $40,000. Reduced to an annual basis by annuity compra-an the tions (assuming 4 percent interest rates and a 50-year period) this 5. T amounts to an $1,800 annual value. In view of the past continums hestnu industrial expansion in Galax, and the insistence of responsible loal e only interests that continued expansion is logically to be expected if the cation & flood problem is eliminated, it appears reasonable to credit the projet fetalled with at least $1,000 of the computed $1,800 annual value, in addition hannel-i to the annual benefit for flood-damage prevention. The estimated bo pro total annual flood-control benefits for the project are therefore $15,40. tion to an reaso Would robler onside wer pro ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT 55. The estimated total annual cost of the proposed local protection foject is project is $13,060, and the estimated total annual benefits are $15,40. The ratio of annual costs to annual benefits is therefore 1 to 1.2. Tution ges. Th be total nstructi salto FLOOD CHANNEL DELINEATIONS 56. Conditions along Chestnut Creek below Galax are such that resent tim encroachment on the channel area, such as now seriously augment de 59. The flood problem, might seriously affect the efficiency of the proposed fork Pro project during extreme floods. For this reason it appears advisabe, al, and as a condition of local cooperation in operation and maintenance of the e same a local protection project, that local interests be required to protect the oct of flood carrying capacity of Chestnut Creek downstream from Galxojects Ar from any future encroachments or obstructions which might adversayase of affect the degree of protection afforded by the Galax project as propost be able in this report. Pears des DISCUSSION 57. Excessive rainfall and rugged basin topography conducive to or Proje high rates and extremely rapid concentration of run-off result in fary. In vie frequen: minor floods and periodical major floods on Chestnut Creek. ate that mages du Floods on the stream are characterized by their extremely flashy Fements, a future obs nature, with shaip rates of rise, extremely high uni: peak dischargs, becaus developments on the flood-plain area (the only area in the town suited ace and c Galax, the growth of the town and increasingly intensive industrial War Dep to industrial development) have given rise to an increasingly severe ald operat flood problem. The depth and frequency of flooding in Galax is - Partment - highway bridge and railway bridge at the lower limits of the community. st as spon stification problem in Galax will still remain unsolved. This flood problem is onsidered so severe that local interests fear, apparently well-founddly, that unless protection is provided future industrial growth of the own is precluded, and that, indeed, the severity of flood losses may esult in withdrawal of industries from the town. Outside of Galax, t does not appear that flooding has had any material effect on valley ccupancy, nor that flood protection would result in anything more han the prevention of damages which now occur. 58. The investigations of possible measures for flood control in the Chestnut Creek Basin described in this report clearly established that he only improvement which could possibly approach economic justiication at the present time would be a local protection project at Galax. Detailed investigations led to the adoption of a combined levee and hannel-improvement project as the most practicable means of local food protection. The project is designed to provide complete proection to the town from the greatest floods on Chestnut Creek which an reasonably be expected during its economic life. As designed would have no appreciable effect on areas downstream from the ower project limits. The total estimated cost of the proposed Galax roject is $322,000, of which $280,000 is the estimated cost of contruction and $42,000 the estimated cost of rights-of-way and damges. The estimated annual costs of the Galax project are $13,060. The total estimated annual benefits which would result from the onstruction of the project are $15,400 and the ratio of costs to beneits is 1 to 1.2. The project is therefore economically justifiable at the resent time. 59. The town of Galax is now engaged in an attempt to secure a Work Projects Administration project for local flood protection at alax, and expects to forward an application for a project generally he same as that proposed in this report at an early date. While a roject of this nature is well suited for construction by the Work rojects Administration, local interests have expressed the belief that ecause of the present financial condition of the town of Galax it will ot be able to furnish the presently required 25 percent of total project ost as sponsor's contribution to the project. In view of the economic ustification of the project, its construction by the War Department ppears desirable in the event that the town is unable to sponsor a Work Projects Administration project. 60. In view of the local nature of the benefits, it appears approriate that local cooperation to the extent of furnishing all lands, asements, and rights-of-way, holding the United States free from lamages due to construction of the works, and maintaining and perating all the project works when completed, including prohibition I future obstructions or encroachments of the channel downstream tom Galax which might reduce the protection afforded by the roject, should be required if construction is to be undertaken by he War Department. Local policing of the project area and mainenance and operation of the project works seem imperative. Otherise, because of the distance from the nearest regular Engineer Department office and the extreme rapidity with which floods conentrate, it would be necessary to permanently station a caretaker t the town, at an expense far greater than the cost to the town if it hould operate and maintain the project. Local interests have been ! contacted relative to local cooperation, and the town has furnished indicate satisfactory preliminary assurances that it will furnish all lans,ime as easements, and rights-of-way, hold the United States free frm damages, and operate and maintain the project when completed. It appears from the statements of responsible local interests that he town will be able to furnish this cooperation, and that if the projet is authorized for construction by the War Department and funds allocated for its construction there will be no delay because of failre be to provide the local cooperation outlined above. Although be comme town's ability to raise $42,000, the estimated costs of rights-of-mys propos presented in paragraph 51 of this report appears almost as doublelenses as its ability to raise the sponsor's share of 25 percent of total projet Construct costs that would be required for a Work Projects Administraints at project, local interests have indicated that the actual costs of rightsbut that. of-way to the town would be much less than the estimated $42,00, extended and within the town's financial means. It is indicated that most of until the War that the lands required, having an estimated total value of $17,000, would be donated to the town, and that expenditure by the town for acgisition would be much less than the $15,000 estimated in this reprt. Some savings in relocation costs through the cooperation of local property owners are also indicated as a possibility. ve to the Toks afte capacity o Encroachm fforded b 62. In local floo ands, eas the projec CONCLUSIONS the Secrets 61. From the foregoing it is concluded that: 3. The (a) The occurrence of major floods on Chestnut Creek at relativdy frequent intervals creates a flood problem along the entire stream, but 2,000, because of the status of valley occupancy the problem is especially remmer severe only at the town of Galax. the estima (b) The only flood-control improvement of Chestnut Creek whitheaded to even approaches economic justification at the present time is a local comical flood-protection project at the town of Galax. Such a plan, consistager surveys of levees along both banks in combination with channel alinement adtions is enlargement as described in detail in this report, would provide con-gle allotn plete protection to the town from the greatest flood which can reasnomic co ably be expected. (c) The total costs of the Galax local protection project as proped in this report is estimated to be $322,000, including a $280,000 enstruction cost and $42,000 for the cost of rights-of-way and damages The total estimated annual project costs, including an estimated 800 annual cost for operation and maintenance, are $13,060. The est mated annual benefits which would result from construction of the Galax project are $15,400, and the cost benefit ratio is favorable in the relation of 1 to 1.2. struction should be undertaken by the War Department if the town. The hei (d) In view of the economic justification for the project, its con- the CHIE fails in its attempt to secure its construction by the Work Projects has been ram-flow r Administration. should (e) Because of the local nature of the benefits, no money as tary of War that it will meet the requirements of local cooperationete strea herein proposed. The town has furnished satisfactory preliminary not convinc tal records e in this ro e recommen height of indicated that satisfactory final assurances may be expected at such time as funds may be allotted for construction of the project. RECOMMENDATION 62. In view of the favorable economic ratio, the severity of the local flood problem, and the probability that complete protection cannot be provided unless constructed by the Federal Government, I recommend the construction of the Galax, Va., local protection project as proposed in this report at the earliest date that the current national defense activities and national economic conditions permit, and that construction be undertaken by the War Department if the town fails in its attempt to sponsor a Work Projects Administration project; but that, because of the local nature of the benefits, no money be expended on construction of the project by the War Department until the town has given assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that it will: (a) Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction of the project; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (c) maintain and operate all the works after completion, including the protection of the flood-carrying capacity of Chestnut Creek downstream from Galax from any future encroachments or obstructions which might reduce the protection fforded by the project, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. 63. The total estimated costs of the recommended Galax project is $322,000, of which $280,000 is the estimated cost to the Federal Government for construction features of the project and $42,000 is the estimated cost of lands, easements, and rights-of-way recommended to be furnished by local interests. For advantageous and economical prosecution of the project, an initial allotment of $25,000 for surveys, design, and the preparation of contract plans and specifications is recommended to be made at this time with a subsequent single allotment of $255,000 for construction at such time as national economic conditions will permit. F. H. FALKNER, [First Endorsement] OFFICE, DIVISION ENGINEER, To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 1. The height of the levees proposed for the protection of Galax, Va., has been fixed by the district engineer on the basis of the meager tream-flow records available at the locality; but the division engineer s not convinced that the freeboard is entirely adequate in view of the ctual records of maximum discharges from stream basins of similar ize in this region. Prior to the construction of this project, more omplete stream-flow data will be available. Hence it is believed that he recommendation made should be so drawn as to permit a selection f a height of levee at the time of construction as much as 3 feet higher |