beach. Prior to the Board's research in this field, it was the general practice to provide shore protection by the sole use of protective type structures (groins, bulkheads and seawalls). Many of these structures were ineffective and, in fact, some produced detrimental erosion effects on the downdrift shore line. The sandfill method frequently has the additional desirable benefit of providing a much needed recreational beach. 6. ADVANCE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN During the preliminary phase of preparing authorized projects for construction, features thereof are developed, firm estimates of costs are prepared, orderly construction schedules are worked out and necessary detailed information is readied for coordination with local interests, States, and other agencies. A backlog of projects ready for initiation of construction is in preparation to allow an expansion of the civil works construction program at such time as the national budgetary policy permits, at the same time assuring the development of a sound and well-balanced program consistent with the Nation's needs in the fields of navigation, flood control, and allied water uses, The sum of $2,603,000 was made available in fiscal year 1955 for advance engineering and design. With these funds and funds carried over from prior years, the Corps of Engineers prosecuted planning on 57 projects, consisting of 9 navigation, 40 flood control, and 8 multiplepurpose projects. Planning on 20 of these projects was advanced to the stage where construction could be readily initiated. Funds in the amount of $2,703,000, representing approximately 89 percent of the total available for this activity, were obligated during the fiscal year. In addition, $600,000 was made available by Supplemental Appropriation Act of 1955, for partnership studies on three projects: Markham Ferry Dam, Okla.; Cougar Dam, Oreg.; and Priest Rapids Dam, Wash. Partnership studies were prosecuted on each of these projects during the fiscal year with the funds appropriated. In addition to planning work on projects, the Corps of Engineers continued its program of investigating the means of improving design and construction procedures. The accomplishments and economies effected in this field of activity are set forth in the discussion of the Civil Works investigations program in chapter VII. 7. COLLECTION AND STUDY OF BASIC DATA The collection and study of basic data are indispensable to the planning, design and operation of the Corps' river-basin projects for the development of the Nation's water resources. This item includes those cooperative activities performed by other Federal agencies for which funds are provided by the Corps of Engineers for the basic programs of observing, compiling, reporting and publishing data on streamflow, rainfall and fish and wildlife resources. A description of these activities during the fiscal year is presented below: a. Cooperative programs with the United States Weather Bureau. (1) Operation of a network of rain gages, primarily of the continuous recorder type, known as the hydroclimatic network, was continued by the Weather Bureau at the request of the Corps of Engineers. Funds in the amount of $301,330 were transferred to the Weather Bureau for operation of the network during fiscal year 1955. A total of 2,879 stations (2,347 recording and 532 nonrecording), were in operation in the network on 30 June 1955. Data from these stations are published monthly by the United States Weather Bureau in "Hourly Precipitation Data." (2) The hydrometeorological section of the Weather Bureau was continued during the fiscal year at the request of the Corps of Engineers to review the meteorological aspects of the storm study program and to develop theoretical concepts and practical techniques for use in engineering design. Funds in the amount of $95,000 were made available to the Weather Bureau to finance the Section during fiscal year 1955. The primary accomplishments during the year were completion of an interim report on the meteorological aspects of the Lower Mississippi River project flood study; essential completion of reports on the seasonal variations of maximum possible precipitation and seasonal variations of the standard project storm rainfall; preliminary estimates of probable maximum possible precipitation of Virgin River, Nev., Kentucky River, Ky., Upper Wabash River, Ill. and Ind., Queens Creek, Ariz., Buck Creek, Ohio; review of several storm studies and other studies involving meteorological phases of engineering problems. (3) The river and rainfall reporting networks currently totaling 42 in number, were also continued at the request of the Corps in order that frequent reports of river and rainfall data would be available as required by the District Engineers for flood control operation and flood-forecasting purposes. Funds in the amount of $79,074 were transferred to the Weather Bureau for this program during fiscal year 1955. b. Stream gaging program of the Geological Survey. The Geological Survey was requested to continue the cooperative program of constructing, maintaining and operating stream gaging stations required in connection with Corps of Engineers' activities. A total of $859,286 was transferred to the Geological Survey for the operation of approximately 1,900 stations under this program during fiscal year 1955. c. Cooperative program with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. CHAPTER V FUNDING TRENDS Funds available for work. Fiscal year 1955 funds appropriated for all civil works activities of the Corps of Engineers amounted to $442,364,100. Individual appropriations are detailed in table 24. Status of the funds advanced by local interests for navigation and flood-control improvements is shown in table 25. Table 24. Appropriations, Fiscal Year 1955 The funds with which the works for the maintenance and improvement of rivers and harbors and flood control were prosecuted during the fiscal year were derived from unexpended balances of prior appropriations and from the following appropriation acts, and by transfer from other departments: Amount Special Fund (Credits to Accounts from Licenses under Federal 26 August 1955.. Payments to States, Flood Control Act, 28 June 1938 as SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACT, 1955. 28 June 1938. 436, 379, 100. 00 304, 333. 56 1,053, 144. 41 Public Law 663, 83d Congress.. Construction, General, Corps of Engineers, Civil... The following amounts have been advanced by local interest for river and harbor improvements under the provisions of section II, River and Harbor Act, 3 March 1925, and for flood-control works under the provisions of the Act of 15 October 1940, and are returnable to the same interests when necessary Government funds are available. 2. Annual appropriations. Chart V indicates the fluctuations in annual appropriations since 1946 for civil works functions and shows the downward trend since 1950, which, if continued, would increase the lag between water-resource development and the growing requirements to fulfill the expanding needs of the Nation. Chart VI shows actual appropriations adjusted to reflect rising construction costs since World War II. Although the actual appropriations for fiscal year 1955 represent a 65 percent increase over 1946, application of the Engineering News Record's cost-of-construction index to the 1955 appropriation shows a decrease of 18 percent in the amount of work which the appropriation could produce as compared to the materially |