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acres and 850 acres of wooded and waste lands. Between area B and the Southern Railway track to the south, is area C containing 116 acres of cultivated lands in small parcels and 1,554 acres of wooded area. Area D, south of the Southern Railway, contains 234 acres on which brick manufacturing companies are operating, 80 acres of cultivated lands and 1,218 acres of woods. Most of the cultivated farm land is devoted to the raising of corn although garden truck crops occupy a small acreage. There is no Federal project for flood control. Local interests have constructed a levee, known as the city levee, on the west bank of the river commencing about 1,100 feet below Fifth Street and extending about 4.25 miles downstream. Levee cross sections are inadequate and during past floods foundation failures have occurred.

4. The floods on Ocmulgee River result from the run-off from heavy rainfall storms which occur during all seasons of the year. Areas C and D begin to be inundated when floods reach a stage of 18 feet at Fifth Street. Flooding of area B and lands on the east side of the river commences at a stage of 20 feet. Stages of about 25 feet cause flood damages in the industrial area. Sixty-five floods since 1894 have reached stages of 18 feet or more, two with discharges of 70,000 cubic feet per second have resulted in stages of 26.1 feet and a stage of 25 feet or more is to be expected with an average annual frequency of once in about 10 years. Flood losses in areas C and D, and in the east bank flood plain are small. The district engineer estimates the average annual flood damage in the industrialized area A at $16,200. He considers it practicable to protect most of area B by a levee and for the portion which would be protected estimates the average annual flood damages, which are agricultural in nature at $1,515.

5. Local interests desire improvements to afford flood protection for the industrial area at Macon and the farm lands to the south on the west bank of the river. Landowners on the east side of the river request that if the westbank lands are protected by a levee, the east bank flood plain be equally protected. Local interests have indicated their willingness to furnish the lands required for construction of an adequate protective levee on the west bank, to assume responsibility for damages resulting from the provision of such a levee and to maintain the improvement after its completion.

6. The district engineer finds that the east bank flood plain and areas C and D on the west bank cannot be protected from floods at justified cost. Also his investigations indicate that levee construction affords the most suitable means of providing protection for areas A and B and that the whole of area B cannot be so protected without constriction of the floodway to such extent as to raise flood stages with resulting increased damages to unprotected areas. His preferred plan, plan D, is designed to protect area A and most of area B without appreciably increasing flood heights. It consists of a sheet-pile wall extending from Fifth Street south, 1,160 feet to the upper end of the city levee, enlargement of the city levee thence to a point about 13,600 feet south of Fifth Street, construction of a levee thence southward along a new alinement for about 7.000 feet and thence west 7,900 feet to the tracks of the Southern Railway and the provision of gravity drainage outlets through the levee. The proposed levee grade is designed to provide a 3-foot freeboard along the river front, and 2-foot freeboard thence to the railroad tracks, above a flood profile for a discharge of 105,000 cubic feet per second and stage of 30 feet at Fifth Street. The district engineer estimates that such a flood would have an average frequency of occurrences of once in 400 years. The estimated cost to the United States for construction is $251,500 and to local interests for furnishing the necessary lands and rights-of-way, $39,500, total of $291,000. Total average annual costs are estimated at $12,200 and average annual benefits at $21,000. The latter includes $15,800 for the prevention of flood damages and $5.200 for enhancement in the value of the protected lands. These estimates indicate a ratio of costs to benefits for the improvement of 1 to 1.72. The district and division engineers recomment the work provided local interests furnish the necessary lands and agree to save the United States free from any claims for damages resulting from the work and to maintain the levee system satisfactorily after its completion.

7. The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, after affording local interests an opportunity to present additional information and carefully considering the communications received, concludes that plan D of the district engineer is a generally suitable one. However the Board estimates the Federal cost for construction at $349,000 to provide for protective works of increased strength. On that basis it computes the total average annual cost at $16.200 and the ratio of annual costs to benefits at 1 to 1.3. The Board recommends the work at the estimated increased cost subject to conditions of local cooperation.

8. After due consideration I concur in the views of the Board and accordingly recommend the provision of flood protection for Macon, Ga., and adjoining lands to the south on Ocmulgee River, by the construction of a levee and appurtenant works in general accordance with plan D of the district engineer as shown on accompanying drawings, with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers may be advisable, at an estimated cost to the United States of $349,000, subject to the condition that responsible local agencies give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will (a) provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary for construction of the improvements, (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 in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. R. A. WHEELER,

Lieutenant General, Chief of Engineers.

[Third endorsement]

THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS,
Washington, D. C., May 28, 1945.

To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,

United States Army:

1. Local interests were advised of the nature of the report of the division engineer and invited to present additional information to the Board. Careful consideration has been given to the communications received.

2. In the opinion of the Board, plan D of the district engineer is a generally suitable one. However, the Board estimates the Federal cost for construction at $349,000 to provide for a levee of increased strength. On this basis, it computes the average annual cost at $16,200. With annual benefits estimated by the district engineer at $21,000, this indicates a ratio of cost to benefits of 1 to 1.3.

3. Accordingly the Board recommends the provision of flood protection for Macon, Ga., and adjoining lands to the south on Ocmulgee River, by the construction of a levee and appurtenant works in general accordance with plan D of the district engineer as shown on accompanying drawings, with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers may be advisable, at an estimated cost to the United States of $349,000, subject to the condition that responsible local agencies gives assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will (a) provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for construction of the improvements, (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 in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War.

For the Board:

JOHN J. KINGMAN,

Brigadier General, United States Army, Senior Member. The CHAIRMAN. Any other remarks from opponents or proponents? If not, the hearings for today are completed and we will adjourn until 10 in the morning.

(Thereupon, at 12: 30 p. m., the committee adjourned until Wednesday, April 10, 1946, at 10 a. m.)

(April 18, 1946)

JAMES RIVER, VA.

The CHAIRMAN. We now have for consideration the project on the James River in Virginia.

I should like to say in this connection we have had previously inquiries from a great many witnesses who are interested in the James River project; and the committee has advised them that when we reached the James River in the schedule of the hearings announced, the report had not been submitted, and that there would be no hearings-and that is true. There were no hearings at that time.

We have responded to a great many telegrams and we have responded to letters by saying that the James River project had not been presented to the committee and was not in shape to be presented and would not be considered. It has now been presented to the Budget and we are glad to at this time have our friend and valiant colleage, Representative Almond, here and before he makes his statement with his witness, I will be glad to have your analysis and report on this project, Colonel Herb.

Colonel HERB. The James River report is made under the authority contained in the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, and also in accordance with authority contained in the River and Harbor Act approved August 30, 1935.

The James River is formed by the junction of the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers about 4 miles east of Clifton Forge, Va. It flows 340 miles across the State and empties into the Hampton Roads, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. This river drains an area of about 10,000 square miles. The population of the basin in 1940 was 729,000. The largest city in the basin is Richmond, Va., with a population of about 200,000. About 58 percent of the watershed is agricultural land. About 40 percent of the basin consists of woodlands. Stream pollution is particularly heavy in the vicinity of Covington, Lynchburg, and Richmond.

The CHAIRMAN. The what is?

Colonel HERB. Pollution of the river, sir.

There are no existing Federal flood-control projects. On this river there is a navigation project which provides for a depth of 25 feet for a distance of about 86 miles from the mouth of the James River to the Richmond deep-water terminal, via the river and certain cut-offs.

Local improvements have been made at Richmond and Petersburg for the protection of these cities from floods. In 1927 the city of Richmond expended $3, 150,000 for local flood-protection works. Also, the United States Navy at a cost of $115,000 constructed a levee on the right bank at Richmond to protect the naval training school. James River and tributaries are subject to frequent destructive floods which occur during various seasons, and are the result of heavy rainfall run-off. The average annual flood damage in the basin is estimated at $577,100, of which $153,000 pertains to the Richmond urban area. Five lives were lost as a result of the floods of 1936 and 1944. The plan of improvement provides for the construction of the Gathright Reservoir and Falling Springs reregulating dam on the Jackson River at river miles 43.4 and 35.1, respectively. The plan for the Gathright Reservoir provides for a rock-fill dam 248 feet high to form a reservoir with 417,000 acre-feet of storage, of which 110,000 acrefeet would be reserved for flood control and 264,000 acre-feet would be usable power storage. The Falling Spring Dam is planned as a concrete and earth-filled structure solely to reregulate flows.

The first cost of this project consisting of both dams is estimated at $11,000,000. The ratio of cost to benefits is 1.0:1.66. I think that gives the general picture.

The CHAIRMAN. What provision is made for power?

Colonel HERB. There is power being installed at the Gathright Dam. I think I mentioned that about 264,000 acre-feet would be usable power

storage. A hydroelectric plant with installed capacity of 34,000 kilowatts served by a tunnel will be provided.

The CHAIRMAN. And where is that reservoir located? Will you dicate that on the map?

in

Mr. BOUSQUET. On the Jackson River, sir; at this point [indicating].

The CHAIRMAN. How far is it from the mouth of the Jackson River? Colonel HERB. About 43 miles, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. And what communities are there below the dam that will be directly protected?

Colonel HERB. There are the communities of Covington, Clifton Forge, Lick Run, Buchanan, Glasgow, Lynchburg, and downstream points which will receive flood control as well as pollution abatement benefits. Richmond, of course, will also receive some flood-control benefit.

The CHAIRMAN. How far is it above Richmond?
Colonel HERB. It is about 140 miles, as I recall.

The CHAIRMAN. I would imagine so from the map.

Now, is Clifton Forge in that area?

Colonel HERB. Clifton Forge is about 12 miles below the dam site. The CHAIRMAN. Is it below the dam?

Colonel HERB. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the name of this dam?

Colonel HERB. This dam is known as the Gathright Dam.

The CHAIRMAN. And in what county is it located?

Colonel HERB. In Alleghany and Bath Counties, I believe; I will verify that.

Mr. ALMOND. Alleghany and Bath Counties, Va.

The CHAIRMAN. Clifton Forge, you say, is below that dam? How far below the dam?

Colonel HERB. About 12 miles.

The CHAIRMAN. What would you say the primary purpose of this dam was?

Colonel HERB. There is a serious flood problem in the basin, sir. The most practical solution of that problem is a multiple-purpose reservoir. The flood-control benefits are estimated at $90,000 annually. The CHAIRMAN. To protect what areas generally?

Colonel HERB. Communities along the Jackson River below the dam and the James River Basin generally.

The CHAIRMAN. How much will be the reduction of flood heights at the mouth of the Jackson River, and what cities are there located along that river between the mouth of the Jackson River and Richmond, Va.? What cities are there that will be protected?

Colonel HERB. I will have to supply that information for the record. I do not have the specific answer. It provides flood protection as far downstream as Scottsville, which is 185 miles above the mouth of the James River.

The CHAIRMAN. How far is that from Richmond?

Colonel HERB. It will be about 80 miles from Richmond, approximately.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you got in the record as to what the reduction and the given flood height will be at that point?

Colonel HERB. No, sir; I will supply that for the record.

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James River is formed by the confluence of Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers near Lick Run, Va. The Gathright Reservoir would have reduced the 1936 flood stage at this point by 4.3 feet and March 1913 flood stage by 7.7 feet.

The average annual benefits from flood control would amount to about $90,000. Of this amount, $63,000 would accrue to the areas along the Jackson River in the vicinity of Covington and Clifton Forge; $12,000 along the James River between the mouths of the Cowpasture River and the North River, including Lick Run, Eagle Rock, Buchanan, and Glasgow; $11,000 in the vicinity of Lynchburg; and $4,000 along the James River downstream to Scottsville. Benefits would accrue to urban and agricultural areas, including railroad, highway, utility, and communication facilities.

The CHAIRMAN. What is the storage capacity of this dam?
Colonel HERB. A little over 400,000 acre-feet-417,000 acre-feet.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of it is it reserved for power?
Colonel HERB. Two hundred and sixty-four thousand acre-feet.
The CHAIRMAN. How much is there for flood control?
Colonel HERB. One hundred and ten thousand.

The CHAIRMAN. So it is self-liquidating as a power project?
Colonel HERB. Yes sir.

The report of the Chief of Engineers together with the comments of the Governor of Virginia are as follows:

Subject: James River, Va.

To: The Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, April 18, 1946.

1. I submit for transmission to Congress my report with accompanying papers on preliminary examination and survey of James River, Va., authorized by the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936. It is also a report on investigation in accordance with section 6 of the River and Harbor Act approved August 30, 1935, to supplement the previous survey report on James River, Va., made under the provisions of House Document 308, Sixty-ninth Congress, first session.

2. James River is formed by the junction of Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers about 4 miles east of Clifton Forge, Va., flows easterly 340 miles across the State, draining 10,060 square miles and at Newport News. Va., empties into Hampton Roads, an arm of Chesapeake Bay. Along its upper 60 miles, the topography con

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