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HANE of the Missouri River. The March floods result from melting snow in the plains area above Sioux City and the break-up of river ice. These floods are usually accompanied by only a small amount of precipitation. June floods result from snow thaws in the headwater mountains accompanied by heavier rainfall. In addition flash floods of local origin cause heavy damages nearly every year. Severe floods between Sioux City and the mouth occurred in 1844, 1881, 1903, 1908, 1909, 1915, 1927, 1935, 1942, and 1943. Flood flows from the Missouri River contribute substantially to flood stages and damages along the Mississippi River. Between Sioux City and the mouth of the Missouri about 1,800,000 acres of land, largely cultivated and highly productive, are subject to inundation at extreme river states. Important areas in Sioux City, Omaha, Council Bluffs, and the Kansas Citys, and parts or all of over 50 smaller municipalities, are included in the flood plain. In March, May, and June of 1943 very severe floods occurred which overtopped or caused failure of nearly all the levees on the Missouri River below Sioux City. The division engineer estimates the damages of these three floods along the main stem below Sioux City at $35,000,000. Under general provisions of the Flood Control Act of 1941 and the act for emergency flood control work approved July 12, 1943, the Department spent $800,000 for rescue and emergency work and is now assisting local interests in restoring their levees to afford the original degree of protection which is estimated to cost $1,800,000.

5. Improvements constructed by local interests to secure relief from floods along the Missouri River between Sioux City and the mouth consist of levees and drainage works at many localities. These improvements, which are reported to have cost $20,000,000, generally afford only minor protection to the areas included. By the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, Congress authorized the construction of levees and walls to afford protection from floods at the Kansas Citys in accordance with plans approved by the Chief of Engineers on recommendation of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors and as amended by further surveys and studies. This work has been partially completed. In a survey report of June 27, 1942, submitted to the Chief of Engineers, the division engineer recommends modification of the plan to include a cut-off near the Kansas Citys and various changes in the protective works. He estimates the total cost of the works under his modified plan at $15,200,000. The Flood Control Act of August 18, 1941, authorized bank erosion prevention works in the vicinity of Sioux City and levees for protection between Sioux City and Kansas City and authorized 187 $1,000,000 for initiation of construction. These levees would afford protection from a flood similar to that of 1938. No construction has yet been undertaken. By the Flood Control Act of June 28, 1938, Congress approved a general comprehensive plan for flood control and other purposes in the Missouri River Basin and, for its initiation and partial accomplishment, authorized $9,000,000 for reservoirs to be selected and approved by the Chief of Engineers. The Flood Control Act of August 18, 1941, authorized the appropriation of $7,000,000 additional for prosecution of the plan, including the Harlan County Reservoir on Republican River and such other supplemental flood control works on the Republican River as the Secretary of War

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and Chief of Engineers may find advisable. Construction of reser
voirs under this plan has not been commenced except for Kanopolis
Reservoir in the Kansas River Basin. Work on this partially com-
pleted reservoir has been deferred to conserve critical materials and
labor during the war. A plan for reservoir storage of flood waters on
Cherry Creek, Colo., an extreme headwater of Platte River, now un
estimated to cost $11,000,000, was also approved by the Flood Control Chic
Act of 1941 and $3,000,000 authorized for partial accomplishment.
The estimated total cost of the reservoirs and the protection works
for the Kansas Citys is $171,000,000.

MISSOURI RIVER BASIN

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6. Local interests desire the undertaking of such works as may be
found appropriate for securing relief from floods for the farm lands ar
cities, and smaller urban communities along the Missouri River be a
tween Sioux City and the mouth. In view of the magnitude of the
problem and the number of separate interests involved, they believes, le
that this should be accomplished as a Federal project. Had the leveese C
authorized by the act of 1941 for the section between Sioux City and have
Kansas City been constructed, they would not have afforded prote
tion during the flood period of the current year. In view thereof
local interests urge a reconsideration of flood protection measures for
the entire 760 miles of river and the formulation and execution of
coordinated comprehensive plan of adequate works.

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7. The division engineer finds that a proper solution of the flood
problems along the main stem of the Missouri River requires the
formulation of a comprehensive plan for works to supplement those
heretofore approved. He presents such a plan which provides for the Flo
construction of 12 additional multiple-purpose reservoirs, 5 on the
Missouri River with dams located above Sioux City between Yanktonces
S. Dak., and Garrison, N. Dak., 2 in the Yellowstone River Basin, and
5 on tributaries of the Republican River; such works as required torpo
convey a feasible amount of water from the proposed Garrison Repre
ervoir on the upper Missouri River across the Divide to the Devils and is
Lake area and to the headwaters of James River; and levees along
both banks of the Missouri River between Sioux City and the mouths
to protect all areas practicable, with flood walls as necessary in costs
gested areas including pumping plants and drainage outlets. With ultr
the reservoirs the levees are planned to afford protection against floods The
equal to the largest of record. The division engineer estimates thefts
Federal cost at $410,000,000 for reservoirs and related works and oxim
interests at $8,400,000 for levee rights-of-way and relocations; making ca
$71,600,000 for levees and their appurtenances; and the cost to losing th
a total cost of $490,000,000. By these proposed improvements, no

Sour City

And that

only would large flood damages be prevented along the Missouri Rivers of th
would be retained for their best uses for all purposes including irrigid ca
and its tributaries and the Mississippi River, but also floodwaters perience
tion, navigation, power, domestic and sanitary purposes, wildlife, and foo
recreation. Considering the large benefits of tangible nature and such are
intangibles as the saving of human lives, the alleviation of suffering this
stabilization of the economic life of the valley, and encouragement of
industrial and civic developments, the division engineer concluders w
improvement to be undertaken by steps as conditions warrant and thee to r
that the plan is thoroughly justified. He proposes it as a progressi

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availability of funds permits.

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ostrv 8. The division engineer recommends: (a) That the general com-
repprehensive plan for flood control and other purposes in the Missouri
the River Basin approved by the act of June 28, 1938, as modified by
te subsequent acts, be expanded to include the plans presented herein
ze of and as expanded be approved for prosecution by the War Depart-
Pament under the direction of the Secretary of War and supervision of
or the the Chief of Engineers with such modifications thereof and changes
al therein as in the discretion of the Secretary of War and the Chief of
he Engineers may become advisable; (b) that all reservoirs constructed
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under the approved plan shall be constructed, operated, and main-
hetained by the War Department under the direction of the Secretary
for the of War and the supervision of the Chief of Engineers; (c) that no
Mis money appropriated for the prosecution of the works herein recom-
mended shall be expended on the construction of any levee until
ored States, levee districts, or local interests have furnished without cost
to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way for levees
and have agreed that they will maintain the levees after their com-
Tepletion; (d) that in addition to previous authorizations for the Mis-
souri River Basin there be authorized to be appropriated a sum ade-
quate to provide for the initiation and prosecution of the expanded
and general comprehensive plan in a logical step-by-step manner.

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VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR
RIVERS AND HARBORS

9. Flood control and the conservation of water resources are urgently needed in the Missouri River Basin. The water that now produces floods should be stored and put to beneficial use in the interest of navigation, power development, irrigation, and other useful purposes. To accomplish this, the division engineer has presented a comprehensive plan for improvement which in the opinion of the Board is sound and adequate. Such an extensive program would necessarily be carried out step by step with the details formulated progressively in cooperation with other Federal agencies and local interests so as to take into account future trends in precipitation and agricultural and industrial developments.

10. The division engineer has largely confined his discussion of benefits of the plan to the Missouri River Basin, which embraces approximately one-sixth of the total area of the United States. During the current year, floods along the main stem of the Missouri River caused an estimated damage of $35,000,000 for the section below Sioux City alone, or an amount nearly one-half as large as the estimated cost of the proposed levees. Considerably higher stages have been experienced in the past whose recurrence under present conditions would cause damages many times greater than those caused by the 1943 flood. Recurrence of these and the occurrence of still larger floods are to be anticipated unless preventive measures are undertaken. From this the Board concludes that the flood problem is a serious one and that large expenditures to remedy it are justified. The Board concurs with the division engineer that by retention for the various uses enumerated, the surplus waters which cause these floods can be made to return very large benefits. The plan presented to serve these multiple purposes would provide the flood-plain lands included below Sioux City with complete protection from all floods of past magnitude.

MISSOURI RIVER BASIN

11. In addition the plan would effect important reductions in flood stages along the Mississippi River below the mouth of the Missouri.

Thus, the proposed Missouri River Basin reservoirs, operated in
coordination with the authorized reservoirs in the Ohio, Arkansas, and ro
other basins would become an important and beneficial part of the
flood-control system of the lower Mississippi River. Use of the stored
water for multiple purposes would also improve low-water flows in the
Mississippi River thereby saving considerable dredging costs for the r
9-foot navigation channel. Improvement of the low water flow would
assist in providing a 12-foot depth in the Mississippi River, study of
which has been requested by the Committee on Rivers and Harbers
of the House of Representatives.

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12. Because of the many interests involved and uncertainty as to e
the manner in which this important section of the United States may
develop in the future, the Board considers it impracticable at this
time to make a detailed monetary estimate of the benefits which
will accrue from the comprehensive plan. Considering the potential
ities of the Missouri River Basin, the Board expects a continued
expansion of its economic activities and considers the proposed plane
as an advisable aid in that connection. It is certain that the benefits al in
from the work will be very great and widespread. After thorough
consideration the Board concludes that the United States will profit
by undertaking the improvements as recommended by the division be
engineer on a step-by-step basis.

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13. Accordingly, the Board recommends modification of the ap proved general comprehensive plan for flood control and other pur poses in the Missouri River Basin to include 12 additional multiple purpose reservoirs, works to divert water to the Devils Lake and James River Basin regions, and a system of levees and similar inprovements along the Missouri River between Sioux City and the mouth, in general accordance with the plan of the division engineer as shown on the accompanying map with such modifications thereof and changes therein as the Secretary of War and Chief of Engineers may find advisable, at an estimated cost to the United States of $481,600,000 for these additional works, the improvements to be constructed and, except for the levees and appurtenances, operated and maintained by the War Department under the direction of the to the condition that no expenditures shall be made for the construe The C Secretary of War and supervision of the Chief of Engineers; subject: R tion of any levee unit and appurtenant works recommended herein until local interests (a) provide without cost to the United States all land, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for construction of Isaid levee unit and appurtenant works; and (b) agree to hold and Autho the levees and appurtenant works; and (c) agree to maintain and ase of R save the United States free from damages due to the construction of the f

operate the levees and appurtenant works after completion, such maintenance to include cutting grass, removal of weeds, local drainage. and minor repairs. The Board further recommends that in addition to previous authorizations of funds there be authorized for appropr ation, funds sufficient to provide for initiation and prosecution of the expanded general comprehensive plan in logical steps.

For the Board:

JOHN J. KINGMAN,
Brigadier General, United States Army,

Senior Member.

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REVIEW OF REPORTS ON THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN

SYLLABUS

Approximately 1,800,000 acres of land along the Missouri River between Sioux City and the mouth are subject to destructive floods. This area is predominately agricultural; however, portions of Sioux City, Iowa; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Omaha, Nebr.; the Kansas Citys in Kansas and Missouri, and many smaller municipalities are also subject to flooding in some degree.

Several major floods have occurred during the past 100 years. These include the floods of 1844, 1881, 1903, and three severe floods so far during 1943. The damages caused so far during 1943 are estimated to be about $35,000,000.

Between Sioux City and the mouth, the river is being improved for navigation. Prior to the construction of river-improvement works, the river meandered from bluff to bluff, and caused serious damage to farm property by bank erosion and channel cut-offs. The river-improvement works have now stabilized the banks and provided a fixed channel in the flood plain, thus eliminating the previous hazards due to bank erosion and cut-offs. However, the flood hazard remains. In an attempt to provide flood protection for their lands, local interests have constructed levees and drainage works throughout the reach from Sioux City to the mouth. It is estimated that the total amount expended on these works to date is in excess of $20,000,000. However, the levees are generally inadequate to protect against any except the minor floods, and have not been constructed in accordance with any unified, correlated plan.

Local interests are anxious to secure a much greater degree of protection than they now have, but consider that the problem is of such magnitude that the burden must be assumed by the Federal Government. There is no question but that the additional flood protection is needed and justified. Although a considerable increase in the amount of protection now afforded can be provided by levees, it is impracticable to provide complete protection against all past floods by levees alone. However, complete protection against all past floods can and should be provided by a system of levees supplemented by reservoirs.

The plan proposed herein would provide for a series of levees and appurtenant works along both sides of the Missouri River from Sioux City to the mouth, supplemented by the presently authorized reservoirs in Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri and additional multiple-purpose reservoirs. The estimated cost of the levee project is $80,000,000 and of the additional multiple-purpose reservoirs is $410,000,000.

It is recommended that the general comprehensive plan for flood control and other purposes in the Missouri River Basin be expanded to include the plan as proposed in this report.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE DIVISION ENGINEER,
MISSOURI RIVER DIVISION,
Omaha, Nebr., August 10, 1943.
Subject: Report on review of the reports on the Missouri River Basin.
To: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army, Washington, D. C.

I. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION

1. Authority for report. This report is submitted in compliance. with the following resolution of the Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives, adopted May 13, 1943.

That the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, created under section 3 of the River and Harbor Act approved June 13, 1902. be and is hereby requested to review the reports on the Missouri River contained in House Document No. 238, Seventy-third Congress, second session, and House Document 821, Seventy-sixth Congress, third session, with a view to determining whether any modification should be made therein at this time with respect to flood control along the main stem of the Missouri River from Sioux City, Iowa, to its mouth.