STATEMENT OF COL. E. G. HERB, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CIVIL WORKS DIVISION, OFFICE, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS

Colonel HERB. That is correct, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. They are tributaries of what?

Colonel HERB. They are all tributaries of the Sny. The Sny is a former bychannel of the Mississippi River. Since 1875 flows of the Mississippi have been diverted from the Sny at its upper end by what is now the main river levee of the Sny Island levee and drainage district.

The CHAIRMAN. They all enter the Sny?

Colonel HERB. That is right, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What area is involved?

Colonel HERB. It has a total area of about 195 square miles of Mississippi River bottom land, and about 547 square miles of up lands. It has a population of about 23,000 in that area.

The CHAIRMAN. And in these areas are the bottom lands cultivated? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir; they are cultivated.

The CHAIRMAN. And what, if anything, have the local interests done to protect themselves from floods?

Colonel HERB. The local interests have constructed and maintained auxiliary levees, straightened and maintained channels of the Sny and major tributaries below the bluff lines, and constructed sedimentation basins at the mouths of McCraney, Hadley, and Kiser Creeks all at a cost of $3,733,000.

The CHAIRMAN. With what results?

Colonel HERB. The results are not sufficient to give the desired protection. For example, in 1944 they had an unusually wet season, and for about 3 weeks, 75,000 acres were inundated. It took a total of about 2 months for this water to drain off the land.

The CHAIRMAN. There is definitely a flood problem then. What do you propose to do to solve it or to protect it, under the direction of Congress, in the report you have submitted?

Colonel HERB. Our plan of improvement provides for channel work, both straightening and channel clearing, and also levee construction. Each of these streams are handled separately. On Fall Creek, we propose to build a set-back levee and other appurtenant work.

The CHAIRMAN. Where is the map of it?

Mr. BOUSQUET. The map of that area is right here [indicating]. The CHAIRMAN. Where does it flow?

Mr. BOUSQUET. Fall Creek flows into the Sny.

The CHAIRMAN. Where is the Sny?

Mr. BOUSQUET. This is the Sny, sir [indicating].

The CHAIRMAN. What do you propose to do on that stream?

Colonel HERB. On Fall Creek we propose to build a set-back levee

and appurtenant works.

The CHAIRMAN. You mean on both sides of it, or not?

Colonel HERB. No, sir; just on one side. The side away from the bluff.

The CHAIRMAN. That is what I am trying to find out. All right. Then, what else can you do there?

Colonel HERB. That is all on that particular stream.

The CHAIRMAN. Is there a railroad involved, or not?

Colonel HERB. No, sir. On Pigeon Creek we plan to provide a leveed channel.

The CHAIRMAN. HOW?

Colonel HERB. Pigeon Creek would be routed through a retarding and desilting reservoir. The channel upstream would be improved by clearing and levees would be built on either side about 450 feet apart.

The CHAIRMAN. What else?

Colonnl HERB. That is all for Pigeon Creek.

The CHAIRMAN. You would call that basin a retarding or desilting basin, would you?

Colonel HERB. It is a retarding and desilting reservoir adjacent to the Sny. That is correct.

The CHAIRMAN. Of what does a retarding and desilting reservoir consist?

Colonel HERB. Retarding is just holding the water back.

The CHAIRMAN. What do you do to hold it back? What is the work that you call retarding?

Colonel HERB. The reservoir would have a fixed outlet which would slow up or retard the flood flows.

The CHAIRMAN. All right.

What happens to that water when it gets into the Sny?

Colonel HERB. The Sny drains into the Mississippi River.

The CHAIRMAN. What is proposed for McCraney, Hadley, and Kiser Creeks

Colonel HERB. We plan to divert the floodwater of those streams into the Mississippi by diversion channels; some railroad relocation work is involved in that particular improvement.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you do anything else except channel work? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir, we would build levees to provide a leveed diversion channel.

The CHAIRMAN. Who furnishes the rights-of-way for the diversion channels?

Colonel HERB. Local interests, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. How about the railway relocation? What about the cost of the railway relocation?

Colonel HERB. The railway relocation is a Federal cost.

The CHAIRMAN. The Horton and Dutch Creeks also, because the same rule would apply there as apply elsewhere-what do you do there? Colonel HERB. We divert the Horton and Dutch Creeks to the Mississippi River. The leveed Horton Creek and Dutch Creek channels would be improved and straightened. From the junction of the two diversion channels a leveed channel would extend to the Mississippi River.

The CHAIRMAN. How about the Six Mile Creek?

Colonel HERB. We relocate the existing channel of the Six Mile Creek from the bridge on State Highway 96 to the Alton Railroad bridge. From the railroad bridge the existing channel would be modified and form a junction with the diversion channel for Bay Creek. A new leveed channel would be provided for Bay Creek to its junction with Six Mile Creek diversion channel. From the junction a new levee channel would extend to the Mississippi River about one quarter of a mile below lock and dam No. 24.

The CHAIRMAN. In your report there, are there any other works to be done?

Colonel HERB. We recommend construction of a closing levee to eliminate Mississippi backwater from the lower reaches of bottom lands. It would extend from State Highway 96 on the right bank of Wildcat Hollow to Bay Creek, thence along the latter to mile 5.8, thence along the section line to close with the existing Mississippi River levee. Improvement is also proposed of several minor channels in the bottom lands, and construction of appurtenant works, including two pumping stations, to remove the flow from the Sny.

The CHAIRMAN. At whose cost will that be constructed?
Colonel HERB. That is a Federal cost, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Who operates them and pays the cost of operating them?

Colonel HERB. The operation and expense thereof is by local interests.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, what is the estimated cost of the project?

Colonel HERB. The estimated total first cost of this project is $5,217,203, of which the non-Federal cost is estimated to be about $362,259. The ratio of cost to benefits is 1 to 1.39.

The CHAIRMAN. Subject to the usual assurances on the part of the local interests?

Colonel HERB. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, these assurances provide for the furnishing of the easements and lands and rights-of-way and the necessary authority to abandon bridges-make all necessary alterations and relocations of highway bridges, roads, subsurface drains, and public utilities affected by improvement. Would that require the local interests to pay for the cost of relocating the railroads?

Colonel HERB. No, sir; it does not. Railroad changes are not included in the local cooperation.

The CHAIRMAN. Who pays the cost of relocating the railroads?
General CRAWFORD. That is a Federal charge, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. I have my question answered then, and local people maintain the works. Are there local interests there that are prepared to comply with the requirements of local cooperation and furnish satisfactory assurance?

Colonel HERB. Based on the information we have, there are, sir. (The report of the Chief of Engineers together with the comments of the Governor of Illinois are as follows:)

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, April 17, 1946.

Subject: McCraney Creek, Hadley Creek, Kiser Creek, Six Mile Creek, and Bay
Creek, and their tributaries in Pike County, Ill.
To: The Secretary of War.

1. I submit for transmission to Congress my report with accompanying papers and illustration on preliminary examination and survey of McCraney Creek, Hadley Creek, Kiser Creek, Six Mile Creek, and Bay Creek, and their tributaries in Pike County, Ill., authorized by the Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938. This is a comprehensive report covering the Mississippi River bottom lands affected by all creeks tributary to the Sny.

2. McCraney, Hadley, Kaiser (Kiser), Six Mile, and Bay Creeks are major tributaries of the Sny, a former bychannel of the Mississippi River, in westcentral Illinois. Minor tributaries include Fall, Pigeon, Horton, and Dutch Creeks. From its head 314 miles above the mouth of the Ohio River, the Sny

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meanders 60 miles generally southeast through the Mississippi bottoms to rejoin the main stream 261 miles above the mouth of the Ohio River. Mississippi River flows are diverted from the Sny at its upper end by the main river levee of the Sny Island levee drainage district. The Sny watershed comprises 195 square miles of Mississippi River bottom lands averaging 5 miles in width, and 547 square miles of uplands. Average annual precipitation is 34 inches. The watershed has a population of 22,780 engaged principally in farming and stock raising. Pittsfield and Barry, with populations of 2,884 and 1,545, respectively, are the principal towns.

3. No specific project for flood control in the area has been authorized by Congress. Between 1888 and 1913, the United States maintained as an aid to navigation on the Mississippi River, the main stem levee which was originally constructed by local interests. Since 1940, the United States raised and enlarged this levee which was turned over to local interests for maintenance, and has improved and enlarged other levees in the area. Total costs to the United States have been approximately $1,022,000. Local interests have constructed and maintained auxiliary levees, straightened and maintained channels of the Sny and major tributaries below the bluff lines, and constructed sedimentation basins at the mouths of McCraney, Hadley, and Kiser Creeks. Expenditures for this work have been reported to approximate $3,733,000.

4. Damaging floods occur at average intervals of about 2 years and inundate extensive areas of the most productive farm lands in the basin. Damage occurs chiefly to growing and stored crops, and to a less extent, to fences, roads, bridges, levees, railroads, and other property. An area of about 17,000 acres along the lower reaches of the Sny is subject to occasional overflow by backwater from Mississippi River floods. Silt carried from the uplands has depreciated the drainage systems and rendered 22,000 acres of land unproductive. The average annual flood damage is estimated at $450,200, of which $193,200 is to crops, $18,400 to property, $70,000 is annual cost of restoration of drainage systems, $3,000 is indirect damage, and $165,600 is loss of income from land rendered unproductive by silt depositions. The maximum flood of record occurred in the spring of 1944, inundated 75,000 acres of land for a period of about 3 weeks, and caused damage estimated at $670,931 of which $601,567 was to crops and $69,364 was to property exclusive of railroads.

5. Local interests desire flood protection and suggest small check dams, contour plowing, and similar improvements in the upper portions of the watershed, and further channel rectification and levee improvement in the bottom lands. They object to reservoirs on the grounds that they would needlessly destroy useful land.

6. The district engineer finds that the most practical and feasible plan of improvement would be the diversion of the major part of the run-off from the uplands drainage area directly to the Mississippi River while the run-off from the lowlands would be collected in the Sny. Accordingly, he proposes:

(a) On Fall Creek between the bluffs and the present Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, to set back the levee on the right bank 200 feet, straighten the remaining levees, and clean the channel.

(b) To route Pigeon Creek by an improved leveed channel through a retarding and desilting reservoir adjacent to the Sny and covering approximately 1.5 square miles.

(c) To divert McCraney, Hadley, and Kiser Creeks to the Mississippi River. McCraney Creek leveed diversion channel would leave the existing stream bed above the Wabash Railroad bridge and continue south to join Hadley Creek above the present Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Hadley Creek diversion channel would extend from State Highway 96 to its junction with McCraney Creek. The combined flow of the two creeks would be carried 5,500 feet in an improved channel to the junction with Kiser Creek diversion channel. Kiser Creek leveed diversion channel would . leave the existing stream near New Canton and extend west to join Hadley Creek in the vicinity of the Sny. From this junction a new leveed channel would extend to the Mississippi River at mile 296.5 above Cairo.

(d) To divert Horton and Dutch Creeks to the Mississippi River. The leveed Horton Creek Channel would be improved from a point approximately 1,500 feet upstream from State Highway 96 to its junction with Dutch Creek. Dutch Creek would be improved and straightened from a point 2,000 feet upstream from State Highway 96 to its junction with Horton Creek. From the junction of the two diversion channels, a leveed channel would extend to the Mississippi River at mile 288.3 above Cairo.

(e) To relocate the existing channel of Six Mile Creek from the State Highway 96 bridge to the Alton Railroad bridge. From the railroad bridge the existing channel would be modified and form a junction with the diversion channel for Bay Creek. A new leveed diversion channel would be provided for Bay Creek to its junction with Six Mile Creek diversion channel. From the junction a new leveed channel would extend to the Mississippi River one quarter mile below lock and dam No. 24.

(f) Construction of a closing levee to eliminate Mississippi River backwater from the lower reaches of the bottom lands. It would extend from State Highway 96 on the right bank of Wildcat Hollow to Bay Creek thence along the right bank of the latter to mile 5.8, thence along a section line to close with the existing Mississippi River levee.

(g) Improvement of several minor channels in the bottom lands.

(h) Construction of appurtenant works including 2 pumping stations to remove the flow from the Sny.

The first cost is estimated at $5,217,203 of which $4,854,944 is Federal for the construction and $362,259 is non-Federal for the lands and rights-of-way, access roads, drainage system, bridge, and utility alterations. The annual carrying charge is estimated at $281,061. The annual benefits are estimated at $391,574 of which $191,687 is elimination of crop damage, $70,000 is elimination of recurring expenditures on the drainage system, $18,262 is elimination of property damage, $3,000 is indirect benefits, and $108,625 is the anticipated increased income from land to be protected. The ratio of costs to benefits is 1.0 to 1.39. He finds that the improvement would reduce the frequency of flood damage to about once in 50 years and that it is economically justified. He recommends it subject to the provision that local interests furnish the lands and rights-of-way, hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works, make the necessary alterations to roads, bridges, subsurface drains and utilities, agree to abandon obstructive bridges, and maintain and operate the works after completion in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of War. The district engineer finds that flood damages in the upland portion of the Sny watershed are not important and that improvements there are not justified. The division engineer concurs in the views and recommendations of the district engineer.

7. The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors concurs generally with the reporting officers in the view that the improvement is economically justified. The Board recommends the improvement subject to the provisions of local cooperation stipulated by the reporting officers.

8. After due consideration of these reports I concur in the views and recommendations of the Board. I, therefore, recommend improvement for flood protection in the Sny bottoms to provide for diversion of floodwaters of the several tributary streams directly to the Mississippi River, for pumping run-off from the local areas, and for other appurtenant works, generally in accordance with the plan of the district engineer, at an estimated first cost to the United States of $4,854,944, subject to the provision that local interests give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will (a) furnish free of cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for construction of the project, and the necessary authority to abandon obstructive bridges; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; (c) make all necessary alterations and relocations of highway bridges, roads, subsurface drains, and public utilities affected by the improvement; and (d) maintain and operate all the works after completion in accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of War.

The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY,

R. A. WHEELER,
Lieutenant General,
Chief of Engineers.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,
Springfield, April 13, 1946.

Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: The report of preliminary examination and survey of McCraney Creek, Hadley Creek, Kaiser Creek, Six Mile Creek, and Bay Creek, and their tributaries in Pike County, Ill., which was forwarded to this office under date of March 29, 1946, has been partially reviewed by State agencies.