2. The Mississippi River rises in northwestern Minnesota and flows southeasterly to its junction with the Ohio River at Cairo, Ill., and thence continues southerly to the Gulf of Mexico. Coon Rapids Dam is 866 miles above Cairo. Prairie du Rocher Creek and Kaskaskia River enter the Mississippi River from the east at river miles 130 and 118, respectively, above Cairo. The low area under consideration comprises about 16,000 acres of agricultural land adjacent to the Mississippi River between Prairie du Rocher Creek and Kaskaskia River. The average annual precipitation is about 40 inches. The area has a population of 1,200 engaged primarily in agriculture, the principal crops being corn and wheat. Prairie du Rocher and Modoc with populations of 650 and 100, respectively, are the only towns in the area. 3. No. improvements for flood control in the area have been authorized by Congress. In 1939, the Works Progress Administration supplied some funds to aid in cleaning out the ditch from Prairie du Rocher to the Mississippi River. A drainage and levee district was organized in 1917 to protect about 2,000 acres of land. Improvements constructed consisted of one-half mile of levee and 5 miles of ditches. 4. Floods occur about once every 18 months and cause damage principally to crops and to a less extent to highways, railways, bridges, and farm property, all in the low area between Prairie du Rocher Creek and Kaskaskia River. The average annual flood damage is estimated at $120,900 of which $57,800 is to crops, $5,600 to rural property, $4,400 to urban property, $26,800 to railroads, and $26 300 is miscellaneous. The maximum floods of comparatively recent record occurred in May-June 1943, and April 1944, but the monetary losses are not reported. 5. Local interests request protection from floods in the Mississippi River, Prairie du Rocher Creek, and Kaskaskia River. They offer cooperation to the extent required by section 3 of the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936. 6. The district engineer finds that the only feasible plan of improvement would be the construction of a levee along the south bank of the present channel of Prairie du Rocher Creek from the bluffs near the town to the Mississippi River, thence following the high bank of the Mississippi River to Kaskaskia River, thence along the north bank of the latter stream to the bluffs near Root, Ill. The total length of levee proposed would be 16 miles. The first cost is estimated at $2,627,000 of which $2,575,000 is for construction and $52,000 is for the lands. easements, and rights-of-way. The annual carrying charge is estimated at $103,700. The improvement would provide protection against floods with a frequency of once in 50 years to approximately 11,400 acres of high quality agricultural land now subjected to frequent flooding, and to approximately 4,600 acres of other land much of which is susceptible for cultivation or higher land use after protection. The annual benefits are estimated at $225,700 of which $109,200 is a reduction in flood damage and $116,500 is improved land use. The ratio of costs to benefits is 1.0 to 2.18. The district engineer concludes that the improvement is economically justified and he recommends it subject to the provisions that local interests provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way, hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works, and maintain the works after completion in accordance with standard regulations. The division engineer concurs. 7. Local interests were advised of the favorable conclusions of the division engineer and were invited to submit additional data to the Board. Careful consideration has been given to the communications received. VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS 8. The Board concurs generally in the views and recommendations of the reporting officers. The improvement would provide protection to approximately 16,000 acres of agricultural land and produce sufficient benefits to warrant its construction. 9. Accordingly, the Board recommends adoption of a project for the protec tion of the area between Prairie du Rocher Creek and Kaskaskia River, Ill., consisting of levees and appurtenant works, generally in accordance with the plans of the district engineer and with such modifications as in the opinion of the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers may be deemed advisable, at an estimated first cost to the United States of $2,575,000 subject to the provision that local interests 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 project; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (c) maintain and operate the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. For the Board: R. C. CRAWFORD, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The review report of the report on the Mississippi River between Coon Rapids Dam and the mouth of the Ohio River, forwarded to this office under date of March 19, 1946, has been partially reviewed by State agencies. The conclusions and recommendations of the State agencies relative to the subject report have been considered by the State Water Resources and Flood Control Board. After consideration of the report as submitted and reviews of its content by State agencies, the State of Illinois concludes that the report is generally satisfactory to the State, provided that the State is not required to accept any contingent liability and has an opportunity to protect the interests of the State by review of the definite project plans prior to initiation of construction. Yours very truly, DWIGHT H. GREEN, Governor. The CHAIRMAN. Are there any advocates of the projects, except Representative Bishop, who stated that he favors it, and has been in contact with the committee? Anybody opposed to this? Mr. Bishop, we know of your interest along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. As I understand it, you favor that project? STATEMENT OF HON. C. W. BISHOP, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS Mr. BISHOP. Very much so. The CHAIRMAN. You may make any statement you desire. Mr. BISHOP. We today have received this signed statement from the Governor which you requested. The CHAIRMAN. That is in connection with the report? Mr. BISHOP. That is correct. I have a memorandum. I do not think it is necessary for me to read it. I will file it with the clerk. The CHAIRMAN. I will be glad for you to do that. We recall your former statement. You think there is a definite flood problem there? Mr. BISHOP. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. You favor the project? Mr. BISHOP. Yes, sir. This tells the story, and I appreciate very much having the opportunity to present it to you. FLOOD-CONTROL BILL OF 1946 MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1946 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN The committe met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment, Hon. Will M. Whittington (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. We have for consideration today the matter of additional authorizations for the approved plan for the Willamette River Basin. We have under consideration reports that have been submitted both to the Congress and to the Director of the Budget since the Flood Control Act of 1944 covering streams in the Great Basin, exclusive of California. I will have first a general statement from the Chief of Engineers, or Colonel Herb, with respect to the projects included in this general area, and, Colonel Herb, we will be glad to have your statement at this time. STATEMENT OF COL. E. G. HERB, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR OF CIVIL WORKS, OFFICE, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS The CHAIRMAN. Have we any other projects except the Willamette River Basin project in this area that is listed for the hearings this morning where authorizations have previously been made? Colonel HERB. No, sir. The Willamette River Basin is the only one where previous authorizations are available. The CHAIRMAN. In the Willamette River Basin, the approved plan contemplated construction of reservoirs and other improvements at an estimated cost of around $121,000,000, did it not? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Thus far there has been authorized sustantially $42,300,000; is that correct?. Colonel HERB. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And that amount would be required to complete the works that are under way? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. So at present there is no monetary authorization for the construction of any of the additional approved projects? Colonel HERB. That is correct, sir. 447 The CHAIRMAN. Now, then, for all other projects flowing into the Gulf of Mexico and into the Great Basin, which have been approved, there have been authorized sufficient moneys for their construction? Colonel HERB. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Is there any other general statement that you care to make with respect to the situation existing in this Great Basin and in the general area under consideration today? Colonel HERB. None, sir, except for the Willamette Basin. The CHAIRMAN. Is there any further statement you want to make with respect to the Willamette project? Colonel HERB. When you take that up, I would like to give the status of that project. The CHAIRMAN. You may give us that for the record. Colonel HERB. The Willamette River Basin comprehensive project was authorized by the Flood-Control Act of 1938, at which time $11,300,000 was authorized for the initiation and partial accomplishment of the plan. Flood-Control Act of 1941 authorized $11,000,000 in addition to the previous authorization for the prosecution of the plan approved in the 1938 act. The Flood-Control Act of 1944 authorized $20,000,000, making a total authorization of $12.300.000 for prosecution of the plan. The existing project consists of seven reservoirs, bank protection at numerous localities on the Willamette and its tributaries, and provision for fish facilities on the Willamette River and tributaries. The reservoir projects are located on the tributaries of the Willamette. The two reservoirs that have been completed are Cottage Grove and Fern Ridge projects. The three that are in the planning stage are Lookout Point at the Meridian site on the Middle Fork and an alternate site, or sites, for the Quartz Creek and Sweet Home Reservoirs on the McKenzie and South Santiam Rivers and their tributaries, respectively. The two projects under construction are Dorena on the Row River and Detroit on the North Santiam. Local interests have made several improvements in this area. They have spent about $250,000 on local protection works. The city of Portland has constructed a concrete retaining wall at a cost of about $2,800,000. The Federal Government has also expended about $300,000 of ERA funds for bank-protection work along the main stream near Independence and between Harrisburg and Eugene. This past year, in December 1945 and January of 1946, the Willamette River underwent an extreme flood. This flood caused damages estimated at about $6,000,000 and inundated about 360,000 acres. The reduction in damage credited to the operation of the completed Cottage Grove and Fern Ridge Reservoirs is estimated at $1.200,000. The damage prevented in this one flood represents approximately onefifth of the total construction cost of those two projects. It is also estimated that had the Detroit, Dorena, and Lookout Point projects been completed and in operation, a further additional reduction would have resulted to the extent of about $3,000,000. The existing authorization will allow us to complete the Dorena project and initiate the Detroit and Lookout Point projects. Additional authorization is needed for the completion of the Detroit and Lookout Point projects and also for the construction of a reservoir on |