Mr. MOOMAW. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That is below this dam? Mr. MOOMAW. Way below it; yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Well, go ahead from Lynchburg. Mr. MOOMAW. Some half dozen little villages. The CHAIRMAN. How far is Charlottesville? Mr. MOOMAw. Off this route some 20 miles over the river. Mr. MOOMAW. It is in the basin but not on the river. It is on a tributary. The CHAIRMAN. On what tributary? Mr. MOOMAW. The Ravanna. The CHAIRMAN. Are there any other cities of any size between the mouth of that river and the city of Richmond? Mr. MOOMAW. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What generally is the type of land in the valley of the Jackson River below the dams to its mouth, and how wide is the valley? Mr. MOOMAW. It varies in width from half a mile to a mile and a half and has some very excellent river bottoms. The river bottoms are very fertile-varying in width from a few hundred feet to perhaps a quarter of a mile. The CHAIRMAN. Your name is what? Mr. MOOMAW. D. C. Moomaw, Jr. I am secretary of the Chamber of Commerce at Covington. The CHAIRMAN. I will get back to you in just a moment. Pardon me, Mr. Almond. Where is Waynesboro in connection with this Jackson River? Mr. MOOMAW. It is entirely out of the basin and some 50 miles. away from the river at the nearest point. The CHAIRMAN. What river basin? Mr. MOOMAW. Potomac. The CHAIRMAN. And it is located on a tributary of the Potomac? Mr. MOOMAW. It is on the south branch. I beg your pardon, it is on the south branch of the Shenandoah. The CHAIRMAN. Now, Representative Willis Robertson was here when those projects were under consideration, and the committee advised him that we had no reports submitted to us at the time and that there would be no hearings on the projects on the James River. At that time this project was set for hearing at the date stipulated, which was on about the 10th of April, and we hadn't had a report and Mr. M. R. Seabrook, of the Electric Cooperative, at Millsborough, Va., said he would like to have an opportunity to be heard, and, as I understand it, he favors the proposal. We advised him that it would not be heard; and Mr. Julian A. Hickman, of Harrisburg, Va., wanted to know about the Gathright Dam on Jackson River. Is Harrisburg in the headwater area? Mr. MOOмAW. He represented private property owner on the river. The CHAIRMAN. And the dam proper is located in your district, as I understand, Mr. Almond? Mr. ALMOND. That is right. The CHAIRMAN. And about 80 percent of the reservoir area is located in Mr. Robertson's area, Mr. Almond? Mr. ALMOND. That is right. The CHAIRMAN. Now, Mr. W. H. Brown, of Bolling Green, Va., wrote in and we advised him that we wouldn't consider the project. Mr. Almond, you have a witness here you would like to present to us at this time and we will be glad to have the witness heard. Mr. ALMOND. Mr. Moomaw. The CHAIRMAN. Your name and your place of residence, your business, and profession-and your qualification to testify as to the economical and engineering features of the proposed project involving the dam on the Jackson River, a tributary of the James. Mr. MOOMAW. B. G. Moomaw, Jr., secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, at Covington, Va. STATEMENT BY B. G. MOOMAW, JR., SECRETARY OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT COVINGTON, VA. Mr. MOOMAW. The great values of the proposed Gathright Dam to Covington and to this general section of Virginia will be in its control and regulation of the flow of Jackson River. These values will be realized in three important ways: 1, the low water stream flow would be increased to such a point as would provide Covington with all the water it would need for its domestic use and its industries for any future which can now be foreseen; 2, the pollution of Jackson River would be abated to the point that we would have a reasonably clean river at all times; 3, we would have control of flood waters to such an extent as would eliminate serious damage from floods as large as any we have had in the past. In order to get a clear picture of the advantage of increased flow in Jackson River during low-water periods, it is necessary to take a good look at our present situation. The drainage area of Jackson River above Covington is approximately 440 square miles. The flow of the river varies from a maximum of 67,000 cubic feet per second to a minimum of about 60 cubic feet per second. The first figure is a huge flood; the second figure is a severe drought. The first figure represents enormous waste of our water resources; the second figure is a drastic water shortage. The town of Covington and its industries get their supply of water from Jackson River. Each summer during the dry season there are periods when these users take all the water in the river. These periods may last from several weeks to 2 or 3 months, according to the season. This occurs when the low-water flow reaches what may be called a "normal low" of about 80 cubic feet per second. There are seasons almost every year when the town authorities have to issue orders against sprinkling of lawns, washing cars, and other desirable uses of water. At such times, our needs already are past the factor of safety that we should have in our water supply. If any of these industries desired to make an expansion at Covington which would require the use of additional large volumes of water, they would be stopped by the fact that such water supplies are not available during our annual low-water period. Or, if the town of Covington desired large additional amounts of water to serve an increasing population and large commercial users, it could only take it, during low-water periods, at the expense of these industries. The growth and development of Covington are at present limited by the narrow limits of our water supply. It is true that we have unused water resources in Dunlap Creek and in the deep wells at the old tannery site Dunlap Creek's flow, in very dry times, gets down to 8 cubic feet per second. Now, 8 cubic feet is a lot of water and could go a long way toward relieving a municipal shortage and could afford a small relief to an industrial shortage. However, those who are looking forward for Covington have always considered Dunlap Creek as a source of water supply for some new water-using industry. It is an important factor in the possible future development of the town, and if possible, should be held for this purpose. The tannery wells are a source of water that might be used advantageously to increase the town's water supply. From the longrange standpoint, and looking forward to continued steady growth of the community, these sources would be temporary stopgap supplies at best. The town would not have sufficient water resources for substantial growth and development of its population and its industries. If, however, the waters of Jackson River were stored up in such a lake as would be formed by the Gathright Dam and let out in such a way as to serve the best purposes of our community, the situation would be very different. The average flow of the river when controlled, will vary between 300 and 800 cubic feet per second at Covington. This regulated flow would thus be from 5 to 10 times our present law-water flow. This flow would vary according to the needs of the situation. It would be more in the hot, dry season and less during cold weather, but would be at all times sufficient to supply the needs of Covington and its surrounding territory for both domestic and industrial uses. Our problem of water supply would be solved for as far as we can see into the future. Similarly, to understand the value of the Gathright Dam as a means of improving the pollution situation, it is necessary to review the present conditions. Industrial wastes and municipal sewage from Covington and its adjacent communities are emptied into the River for a stretch of about 5 miles through the town and below it. Municipal sewage also enters the river at Selma, Clifton Forge, and Iron Gate. During the winter months, and at all times of flush water, this pollution does not create seriously objectionable conditions. But during the periods when the river is 75 cubic feet or less, conditions do become serious. At such low water flow, stagnant pools are left along the edges of the river bed and the waters in eddies are slow-moving and sluggish. Under these conditions, the pollution is greatly concentrated. The conditions almost always occur during our hottest summer months. The high temperatures operating on the concentrated slow-moving water create very objectionable conditions. The controlled flow of the river by Gathright Dam would abate. this pollution in three ways. The first and most important of these would be by dilution. At all times, the flow of the river would be four or more times the present normal flow, but during the hot months of the summer, the flow would be approximately 500 cubic feet per second, or approximately six times the normal low flow of the river. According to plan, the river would carry more water during the hot months of July and August than at any other time of the year. Thus the pollution would be diluted some six to eight times during the worst months. Another beneficial effect would be that the 500 cubic feet per second would flow very much faster than the present low-water volume and would move the pollution on out of the stream. Another effect would be that the water from the lake would come out at a temperature of about 40°. The temperature of this water would be raised by the time it reached Covington, but it would probably be about 60°-65° instead of the present high temperature of 80°-85°. While these factors would not eliminate the pollution, they would dilute and abate it, and we would have a reasonably clean river at all times. The third benefit from a regulated flow of Jackson River is in flood control. Despite the damage and inconvenience we have had in the past, this would probably be the least valuable of the benefits to be received. That is not to say it isn't important, however. Estimated average flood damage along the Jackson River to the mouth of Dunlap Creek is $52,800, and from Dunlap Creek to Cowpasture River, $21,300. This is damage to farmlands, crops, timber; to pulpwood and other wood products stored near the river, and damage to homes, railroads, businesses, and personal property along the river. The dam controls only the drainage areas above Kincaid Gorge. This is 344 square miles. The average annual precipitation in this area is 42 inches, and the average annual run-off is 39 percent, or 16.4 inches. But at times there are great rains, possibly augmented by melting snow, which have caused and will again cause severe flood conditions. It is against these conditions that the calculations of the Engineers are made. Although large floods have not recently been experienced at Covington, damage that may be expected from a recurrence of floods similar to those that occurred in 1913 and 1877 would be considerably greater than that which was caused by the March 1936 flood. The engineers have planned a "flood pool" 26 feet in depth over the entire surface of the lake. This pool, which is kept empty at all times, except when it is being used to catch and hold flood waters, will have a storage capacity of 110,000 acre-feet-an acrefoot is roughly 325,000 gallons of water. The size of a flood is determined in the first place by the amount of water that falls on the drainage area, and in the second place by the rate at which this downpour runs off. Hard frozen ground causes more run-off, open porous ground absorbs the water and causes less run-off. In all instances, pasture land, brushy fields and wooded areas absorb a large portion of any rain and reduce the run-off to a fraction of the total amount of water that falls. The actual storage space of the "flood pool" will contain a run-off of 6 inches over the entire area of the watershed above the dam. This, of course, would be a phenomenal run-off. The reserved storage capacity would be sufficient to control a flood about 21⁄2 times as large as the 1936 flood. During a flood, only a small amount of water would be released at such rate as to not cause damage at Covington and downstream points. This immediate release would make space again available to impound subsequent floods. The result of this measure of control can best be understood by considering its effect on the 1913 flood which was the highest of record since 1877 on the Jackson River above the mouth of Dunlap Creek would have been 9 feet lower than they were; and blow the mounth of Dunlap Creek, would have been 6 feet lower. These levels. would have caused little damage above the mouth of Dunlap Creek, and a much-reduced amount of damage below. Based on past experience, the Gathright Dam would give us a very practical measure of flood control at Covington. The CHAIRMAN. And how far is that below the dam-Covington? Mr. MOOMAW. Fifteen miles. The CHAIRMAN. It is on the Jackson River? Mr. MOOMAW. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What size place is Covington? The CHAIRMAN. 12,000 people? Mr. MOOMAW. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And that is below the dam? Mr. MOOMAW. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And what is the other municipality? Mr. MOOMAW. Clifton Forge, about 12 miles downstream. The CHAIRMAN. Before you get to the mouth of the Jackson River? Mr. MOOMAW. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. Is that right? Mr. MOOMAW. It is downstream from Covington and from the dam. The CHAIRMAN. Is is in the Jackson River? Mr. MOOMAW. Yes. The CHAIRMAN. What size is Clifton Forge? Mr. MOOMAW. With its suburb, some 12,000 people. The CHAIRMAN. Now, you may proceed, sir. You have heard the statement of the Corps of Engineers, and their report is before us with respect to this project, and we will be glad to have any supporting statements or data you may submit. Mr. MOOMAW. In addition to representing the chamber of commerce, which includes the membership of the business interests of my area there, I represent and I have the authority of the Town Council of the Town of Covington; the Postwar Planning Commission of the Town of Covington; the Allegheny Post, No. 4, American Legion; the Retail Merchants Association of Covington; the Board of Supervisors of Allegheny County; the Allegheny County Postwar Planning Commission; and the Board of Supervisors of Bath County. May I file these? The CHAIRMAN. You may pass those and file them with the reporter. (The letters are as follows:) At a called meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Bath County, Va., held at the courthouse thereof on Saturday, the 6th day of April 1946 (all members present): Be it Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of Bath County, Va., not being able to attend the proposed hearing of the Flood Control Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C., do go on record as heartily endorsing the construc 87116-46-11 |