flood. The project would provide complete protection to approximately 2,700 acres of agricultural lands against floods from the Arkansas River and Blue Creek. Because of the relatively minor extent of flooding and resulting moderate damages in this bottom, the residents of the area are not particularly interested in protection from floods of the Arkansas River, and have expressed doubt as to the necessity for such protective works at this locality. It is therefore believed that the local interests would not meet the requirements of local cooperation as prescribed by law for authorized levee projects. The estimated cost of this project is $616,000, of which $518,000 is the Federal cost. The estimated annual charges and evaluated annual benefits are $30,680 and $4,290, respectively, resulting in a cost-tobenefit ratio of 1 to 0.14. The intangible benefits are negligible. Considering the attitude of local interests and the fact that this project. is not economically justified, it is concluded that construction of the improvement should not be undertaken. 316. Wybark Bottom, Okla.-Description of area. This area is in Wagoner and Muskogee Counties, Okla., is located on the left bank of the Arkansas River, and is immediately upstream from the confluence of the Verdigris River (mile 460.2) and the Arkansas River. The area which would be protected by the project considered contains 800 acres of rural land, of which 660 are under cultivation, 130 are in open pasture, and 10 are idle or waste land. The general location of the area is shown on plate VII. 317. Economic development.-The area under consideration is principally agricultural. The principal crops are corn, cotton, alfalfa, and truck. The average annual value of crops raised in the area is about $30,700, or an average of $46.52 per cultivated acre. Transportation facilities serving the area include the main line of the Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf Railway, the main line and a branch line of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, United States Highway No. 69, and semi-improved county roads. Included in the area is the small village of Wybark, Okla. The value of the land and improvements is estimated at about $332,400. 318. Floods and flood problems.-The area under consideration is subject to floods from the Verdigris and the Grand (Neosho) Rivers, as well as floods from the Arkansas River. Records of past floods show that flooding begins at a stage of about 22 feet on the United States Geological Survey gage at Muskogee, Okla. Studies indicate that floods of this magnitude may be expected about once each year. Levees appear to be the only type of local flood protection that would be practicable for the area. 319. Flood damages. The principal direct flood damages, based on a repetition of experienced flows under present conditions of development in the area, consist of crop losses and damages to residences, railroads, highways and bridges, churches, land and farm improvements, and schools. The indirect losses consist primarily of loss to property owners (loss of residential income), business interests, relief agencies, common carriers, and ginners. It is estimated that the average annual direct losses total about $7,640 and that the average annual indirect losses amount to about $290. In addition to these losses there are some intangible losses. 320. Existing flood-control improvements.-There are no existing flood-control improvements within the area. 321. Description of project. The improvement considered provides for a levee along the left bank of the Arkansas River between miles 463.6 and 460.6, and along the right bank of the Verdigris River from mile 0.4 to mile 2. The length of the levee would be about 4.6 miles and its average height about 8.5 feet. The levee on both the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers would have a 1%-foot freeboard above a confined flood profile, assuming 350,000 cubic feet per second on the Arkansas River above the mouth of the Verdigris River and a repetition of the 1943 flood on and downstream from the Verdigris River as modified by completed reservoirs and the proposed Fort Gibson Reservoir on the Grand (Neosho) River operated for flood control. Other authorized and approved reservoirs, when completed, would provide a desirable additional freeboard on the levee. The levee would consist of a compacted earth-fill embankment with a crown width of 10 feet and side slopes of 1 on 3. Two drainage structures would be provided for interior drainage. Local run-off would cause some interior flooding during periods when drainage structure floodgates would be closed. The levee project would protect 800 acres of rural land and the village of Wybark. Pertinent features of the plan are shown on sheet 5 of appendix No. I.1 322. Estimates of first cost and annual charges.-The estimated costs, including engineering, overhead, and contingencies, and the estimated annual charges for the project are shown in table No. 53. The estimates of costs and, annual charges are shown in detail in Appendix No. IV.1 TABLE NO. 53. Estimated costs and annual charges, Wybark Bottom, Okla. Federal first cost: Levee Drainage structures. Total Federal first cost (estimated appropriation of public funds necessary for the execution of the project). Non-Federal first cost: Lands and rights-of-way, including damages- - Total cost of project-- Federal investment (construction period less than 1 year)_ Federal annual charges: 3 percent of Federal investment_ Amortization of Federal investment.. Total Federal annual chargesNon-Federal investment.- Non-Federal annual charges: 4 percent of non-Federal investment_ $119, 000 14, 000 Amortization of non-Federal investment... Maintenance of levee and maintenance and operation of drainage structures. 133, 000 20, 000 153, 000 133, 000 3, 990 1, 840 5, 830 20, 000 800 210 600 Total non-Federal annual charges--- 1, 610 Total annual charges... 7, 440 323. Estimates of average annual benefits.-The benefits that would result from the construction of the project consist of the direct and indirect flood losses prevented, a portion of the enhancement in land I Not printed. Total evanated ann lal benefits, 8,730 Of the total benefits shown in table No. 54. $4.830 and $3.900 are estimated as the benefits accruing to the levee project and reservoirs used in determining the design flood, respectively. The details of this allocation are shown in appendix No. IV.1 in th 324. Justification of project and allocation of costs.-The total annual charges amount to $7.440 and the total evaluated benefits. F accruing to this project amount to $4.830. The ratio of annual it charges to annual benefits is 1 to 0.65. The benefits which would result from the improvement would be largely local in character; therefore, if the project should be authorized for construction, local and y interests should be required to participate to the extent provided by law for similar projects. The estimated first cost of meeting thesed the requirements is $20,000. ver the area. 325. Discussion and conclusions.-The maximum flood of record in the area occurred in May 1943. There have been many major and minor floods prior to that time. The threat of damage to the area from floods from the Verdigris, Grand (Neosho), and Arkansas Rivers is ever present and has unquestionably curtailed development in the The project considered would provide protection for 800 acres of rural lands and the village of Wybark against floods from all three streams. Local interests in the community are in favor of the project and it is believed that they would form the necessary organization to meet the requirements of local cooperation as prescribed by law for other similar projects. The estimated cost of this project is $153,000, of which $133,000 is the Federal cost. The estimated annual charges and evaluated annual benefits are $7,440 and $4,830, respectively, resulting in a cost to benefit ratio of 1 to 0.65. Although the intangible benefits would serve to increase the desirability of the project, they leve are not of sufficient importance to justify the improvement. It is concluded that construction of the project should not be undertaken. 326. Verdigris-Grand Bottom, Okla.-Description of area. This ares is in Wagoner and Muskogee Counties, Okla., is located on the left bank of the Arkansas River between the Verdigris and Grand (Neosho) Rivers, and is about 1% miles west of Fort Gibson, Okla. The area which would be protected by the project considered contains 1,950 acres of land, of which 1,750 are under cultivation, 180 are in pasture. and 20 are idle or wasteland. The general location of the area is shown on plate VII. Not printed. loo ca ma lyt tion t E Cont D cont Is an 19 t. T Gib ture re 327. Economic development. The area under consideration is principally agricultural. The principal crops are corn, cotton, alfalfa, feeds, and truck. The average annual value of crops raised in the area is about $68,700, or an average of $39.26 per cultivated acre. Transportation facilities serving the area include the main line of the Missouri Pacific Railroad connecting Fort Gibson and Claremore, Okla.; a graveled county road connecting Fort Gibson and Okay, Okla.; and a system of semi-improved county roads. Telephone and power lines traverse the area. The value of land and improvements is estimated at about $209,400. 328. Floods and flood problems.-The area under consideration is subject to frequent floods by the Verdigris and Grand (Neosho) Rivers, as well as occasional floods of longer duration and of generally higher stages from the Arkansas River. Records of past floods show that flooding begins at a stage of about 22 feet on the United States Geological Survey gage at Muskogee, Okla. Studies indicate that floods may be expected about once each year. Levees appear to be the only type of local flood protection that would be practicable for the area. 329. Flood damages.-The principal direct flood damages, based on a repetition of experienced flows under present conditions of development in the area, consist of crop losses, and damage to rural land, farm improvements, railroads, highways, telephone and telegraph properties, and power lines. The indirect losses consist primarily of loss to canners, ginners, common carriers, and relief agencies. It is estimated that the average annual direct losses total about $6,180 and that the average annual indirect losses amount to about $560. In addition to these losses, there are some intangible losses. 330. Existing flood-control improvements.-There are no existing flood-control improvements within the area. 331. Description of project. The improvement considered provides for a continuous levee along the left bank of the Verdigris and Arkansas Rivers and the right bank of the Grand (Neosho) River, extending from mile 1.9 on the Verdigris River to mile 3.3 on the Grand (Neosho) River. The length of the levee would be about 4.7 miles and its average height 11.6 feet. The levee would have a 1%-foot freeboard above a confined flood profile, assuming a repetition of the 1943 flood as modified by reservoirs which have been completed and the proposed Fort Gibson Reservoir on the Grand (Neosho) River operated for flood control. Other authorized and approved reservoirs, when completed, would provide a desirable additional freeboard on the levee. The levee would consist of a compacted earth-fill embankment with a crown width of 10 feet and side slopes of 1 on 3. Three drainage structures would be provided for interior drainage. Local run-off would cause some interior flooding during periods when drainage structure floodgates would be closed. The levee project would protect 1,950 acres of rural land, of which 1,750 are cultivated. Pertinent features of the plan are shown on sheet 5 of appendix No. I.1 332. Estimates of first cost and annual charges.-The estimated costs, including engineering, overhead, and contingencies, and the estimated annual charges for the project are shown in table No. 55. The estimates of costs and annual charges are shown in detail in appendix No. IV.1 1Not printed. 95782-44 -9 TABLE NO. 55.-Estimated costs and annual charges, Verdigris-Grand Bottom, Okla. Federal first cost: Levee Drainage structures__ Total Federal first cost (estimated appropriation of public funds necessary for the execution of the project)... Non-Federal first cost: Lands and rights-of-way, including damages.. Total cost of project-- Federal investment (construction period less than 1 year). Federal annual charges: 3 percent of Federal investment.. Total Federal annual charges. - TABLE NO. 56.-Annual benefits, Verdigris-Grand Bottom, Okla. $185,000 Prevented direct losses, experienced flcods. 230,000 256,000 230,000 Non-Federal investment.. Non-Federal annual charges: 1,040 4 percent of non-Federal investment... 270 920 Total non-Federal annual charges. 2,230 Total annual charges...-- 12,430 333. Estimates of average annual benefits.-The benefits that would result from the construction of the project consist of the direct and indirect flood losses prevented, a portion of the enhancement in land values which would result from flood protection, and some intangible benefits. The project would provide protection from modified experienced floods, but it would not furnish protection against a larger flood; therefore, it is not considered proper to include as an additional benefit the prevention of direct and indirect losses from a larger flood as has been done for some of the other projects covered in this report. The estimated evaluated average annual benefits for complete protection are given in table No. 56. 6,900 3,300 10,200 26,000 $3,990 560 1,200 Total evaluated annual benefits. 5,750 Of the total benefits shown in table No. 56, $2,330 and $3,420 are estimated as the benefits accruing to the levee project and reservoirs used in determining the design flood, respectively. The details of this allocation are shown in appendix No. IV.1 334. Justification of project and allocation of costs.-The total annual charges amount to $12,430 and the total evaluated annual benefits accruing to this project amount to $2,330. The ratio of annual charges to annual benefits is 1 to 0.19. The benefits which would result from the improvement would be largely local in character; therefore, if the project should be authorized for construction, local interests 1 Not printed. Sprem es, an |