JOHNSON CREEK-CONSTRUCTION This channel improvement and bank protection work is of great importance to the Portland area and the town of Gresham particularly. In view of the frequency of floods on Johnson Creek, it is requested that $150,000 be appropriated for this work. Representative Green's testimony presents the data on this project in greater detail. CONSTRUCTION—COLUMBIA RIVER, THE DALLES AND M'NARY DAMS These are major projects of vital importance to power generation, flood control and navigation along the Columbia River. The $50 million and $6 million requested for these projects are superbly sound investments that will pay for themselves directly and indirectly many times over. I would emphasize several things in connection with these projects which are pertinent to other projects in the area. First, their expected cost has been substantially reduced. This is contrary to the general allegation that costs always increase after a multipurpose project is authorized or put under construction. Recent dam-building experience has pointed the way to greater benefits at lower costs. The $31 million saved on the expected costs of these projects is heartening for future construction of major dams. Two, these projects are approaching completion. Their appropriation needs have declined greatly. So, for instance, last year $11 million was appropriated for McNary, as compared with the $6 million needed this year. The picture is even more impressive at The Dalles, for which $63,500,000 was appropriated last year as compared with $50 million required this year. This means that the general level of appropriations for fiscal 1957 would not be increased for Pacific Northwest power, flood control, navigation, and irrigation by undertaking the new projects Senator Neuberger, Representative Green, and I recommend and the more adequate appropriations we request for budgeted projects. These facts also show that the construction pipeline is in the process of becoming empty. Fortunately the 84th Congress has prevented this from happening by providing vital starts on construction and planning at Hills Creek, Cougar, Ice Harbor, Green Peter, and John Day. Important projects cannot be readied overnight and it is vital that progress continue without interruption. ICE HARBOR-CONSTRUCTION Again this year we join with the Senators from Washington in advocating construction funds for Ice Harbor Dam, which is necessary for power and navigation. COLUMBIA RIVER AT THE MOUTH Funds for deepening the channel at the mouth to the authorized depth were first provided last year despite the fact that the President made no request for this purpose. I urge that $1,300,000 be appropriated to carry this phase of the program forward. The channel deepening is badly needed to provide safe passage to oceangoing vessels which carry trade to and from Astoria and Portland. This work will also aid commerce with ports above Portland on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. This project and others covered in my testimony are required for the long and short term economic needs of the region. Oregon continues to suffer from serious unemployment with depressing effects upon the whole economy. Immediate stimulation is needed and the long-range benefits will provide a more stable and balanced economy for Oregon and Washington, and will thereby assist other parts of the Nation. These projects are also of importance to defense especially in providing badly needed low-cost power and navigation. LOWER COLUMBIA FISH SANCTUARY PROGRAM Preservation of fish resources of the Columbia Basin is vital to the local economy and national defense. This program, to be carried on by transfer of funds to the Fish and Wildlife Service, is important to balanced use of the riches of the Columbia Basin. Work of this kind should not be delayed because fish resources are being depleted. The sooner an effective program is devised and put into operation the more successful and economical it will be. COOS BAY (CHARLESTON HARBOR AND CHANNEL) Last year Congress appropriated $236,000 for the purpose of initiating construction work on this harbor and shore-erosion project which is located in one of Oregon's outstanding port areas. Originally the total cost of the project was estimated at $696,000, but the latest revised estimates reduced that figure to $675,000. The amount required to complete this project is $439,000, which was requested in this year's budget. I urge the appropriation of that amount. TILLAMOOK BAY AND BAR, CONSTRUCTION Congress approved this project in 1954 and authorized the expenditure of $1,500,000 with which to fill in a break in the Bayocean Peninsula. Completion of this project will restore Tillamook Harbor to the status of an important waterway for the shipping, logging and sawmill products and for the carrying on of fishing activities. During fiscal 1956 $200,000 was appropriated for final planning and the beginning of construction. The sum of $1,300,000, as requested in the budget, will enable the Corps of Engineers to complete the project. I urge the appropriation of this amount, because the worth of the project has been convincingly demonstrated. WARRENTON (SKIPANON CHANNEL) BOAT BASIN, CONSTRUCTION This project was authorized in 1948, but like many others throughout the Nation, was held in abeyance upon the outbreak of the Korean war. Its merit was recognized by the Corps of Engineers and Congress, but the lack of funds caused postponement of construction work. The small boat basin portion of the Skipanon channel project is of significance to the economy of the Columbia River coastal area. An appropriation of $185,000 would assure completeion of this basin, and would constitute a source of employment in an area that is greatly in need of additional employment stimulus. CHETCO RIVER AND HARBOR, CONSTRUCTION This project was authorized under the 1945 River and Harbor Act, as a $600,000 project designed to stabilize the river channel at its mouth, and to authorize dredging and the construction of jetties. The project was found to be justified economically. Based upon experience with respect to similar projects, I urge that the committee recommend $200,000 to initiate construction on this project. ARMY CIVIL FUNCTIONS-ADVANCE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, PLANNING An orderly program requires that projects be readied for construction. There are several key projects which are needed at the earliest possible moment. It it therefore urged that their planning be pressed to completion. JOHN DAY DAM, PLANNING It is impossible to overemphasize the urgency of readying John Day Dam for construction. When it comes on the line, it will be a major power producer contributing 1,100,000 kilowatts of initial installed capacity-the equivalent of approximately 2% Bonneville Dams. With adequate upstream storage its storage capacity can be increased to 1,500,000 kilowatts. The Pacific Northwest faces a power shortage in the 1960's that must be prevented. John Day Dam will take more than 5 years to build. Clearly, if it is to be ready in time to help prevent the predicted shortage, there can be no delay in readying the project for construction. John Day preconstruction planning can be completed this coming year for $1,450,000. This is a matter of the gravest urgency to the Pacific Northwest. It is therefore perplexing that the President has requested only $500,000 for this purpose, only one-third of the amount required. To delay completion of planning in this manner would be a blow to the economy and defense potential of the region and the Nation. In view of the great need and support for this project, I urge that the corps be given the $1,450,000 it has advised me it can use to get this propect ready for construction in the year beginning July 1, 1957. PENDLETON, OREG., FLOOD CONTROL, ADVANCE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN This project provides an extension in scope and capacity of the existing channel and levees at Pendleton, Oreg. Flood protection greater than that now afforded, and substantially in excess of floods of record on Umatilla River and small streams in the area would be provided by strengthening and reconstruction of existing levees and channel excavation. Protective works would also be constructed in the Riverside and State Hospital areas. This project would eliminate 97 percent of flood damages presently suffered. It would also eliminate the threat of loss of life and would permit expansion of important food-producing activities. The proposed project would protect properties lying within the flood plain having a total valuation of about $20 million. Completion of the work would also eliminate the fear of floods and consequently enhance the value of existing improvements. The project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1950. The estimated cost of construction is $675,000. A cash contribution of $16,000 is to be made by local interests, and they would also contribute rights-of-way, make utility relocations, and reconstruct necessary irrigation diversions. There has been appropriated $15,000 for planning purposes. I recommend to the committee the appropriation of $45,000 for advance engineering and design on this project. GREEN PETER DAM-WHITE BRIDGE, PLANNING Green Peter is a key flood-control project for the Willamette River Basin. Its history parallels that of Cougar. It is a substitute for an earlier floodcontrol project and was authorized several years ago for flood control only. In 1954 Federal power facilities were authorized to be added to the Green Peter and White Bridge project (the latter, a small reregulating dam newly authorized). It would provide about 300,000 acre-feet of storage on the South Santiam River (near Sweet Home, Oreg.), another major tributary of the Willamette. Installed power capacity of 81,000 kilowatts is projected for Green PeterWhite Bridge. This important project has an estimated total cost of $58,400,000, which represents an expected reduction of $3,600,000 since last year's estimate by the Corps. Last year Congress provided the first planning funds. An appropriation of $735,000 would enable the Corps to complete preconstruction planning this coming fiscal year, I am advised. This means that in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1957, construction could be begun. Unfortunately, the President has requested only $100,000 for this purpose, which would mean years of delay. This inadequate request is in strange contrast to Administration emphasis upon the importance of the Green Peter-White Bridge project. The recurrent floods that Green Peter storage would help control will not wait. Under the best schedule, construction will take 4 years. Delay means greater and continued flood and erosion losses. Delay is pennywise and pound foolish. COLUMBIA CHANNEL VANCOUVER TO THE DALLES, PLANNING This project has been authorized for many years. Each year's delay means that the eventual cost of deepening the channel to 27 feet will increase. Commerce on the Columbia River is important. The new Harvey aluminum plant at The Dalles will require oceangoing vessels for transportation of materials. It is highly desirable to have the channel ready when the plant gets into operation in a few years. This channel would mean expanded commerce for the whole basin. Therefore, we recommend $12,000 with which the project's planning can be completed. ARMY CIVIL FUNCTIONS, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Maintenance funds totaling $7,722,000 are required for completed multipurpose, navigation and flood control projects. These consist of the following: Operation and maintenance: Columbia River between Vancouver, Wash., and The Dalles, Oreg. Columbia and lower Willamette River below Portland, Oreg., and Vancouver, Willamette River above Portland and Yamhill River The Dalles-Celilo Canal Willamette River at Willamette Falls Cottage Grove Reservoir Dorena Reservoir Fern Ridge Reservoir Willamette River bank protection Bonneville Dam The Dalles Dam Detroit Reservoir Lookout Point Reservoir McNary Dam Coos Bay Coquille River Umpqua River Yaquina Bay and Harbor I believe that the committee is familiar with these projects because of past appropriations for construction and maintenance. Particular attention is called to the need for continued maintenance work for navigation at Yaquina Bay and Harbor ($380,000), Umpqua River ($130,000), Coquille River ($40,000), and Coos Bay ($1,200,000). These are vital to commerce. Postponement of such work is uneconomic because of the adverse effects upon the communities involved and the general increase in costs when harbor and channel maintenance is neglected. MALHEUR IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SNAKE RIVER, OREG., FLOOD CONTROL, CONSTRUCTION This is a local flood-control project conditionally authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1950, subject to an overall limitation of $15 million for projects of this type in the entire Columbia River Basin. The project would be located on the bank of the Snake River opposite Weiser, Idaho. The project would provide protection against flood damage to an irrigated area of about 500 acres and an arterial highway. Sixty to seventy farm units on which 45 families reside are in the area subject to damage. It comprises developed irrigated lands, farm homes, roads, irrigation works, and utilities, constructed over the past 30 or 40 years at an investment of about $1,000 per acre. A flood-protection project here authorized in 1944 was never built. The severe flood of April 1952 caused considerable damage, and by enlarging the area of attack has greatly increased the future flood hazard. Continued erosion of the high bank creates possibility of a breakthrough which would extensively damage the irrigated lands, might cause loss of life, and would isolate the pumping plant and other facilities serving the irrigation operations of the District. In addition, an arterial highway would be severed requiring long rerouting of traffic and damage to the roadway. The estimated cost is now about $55,000, and the annual benefits that would be realized from the project are about $3,000. The benefit-cost ratio is about 2 to 1. The need for this work is urgent. I ask the committee to give favorable consideration to the request for $55,000 on this item. UMPQUA RIVER, SCHOLFIELD RIVER AT REEDSPORT, OREG. This project was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1954 as a navigation project. Provides for a channel in Scholfield River, 12 feet deep and generally 100 feet wide, from its confluence with the Umpqua River to a point 0.5 miles below the first railroad bridge, a distance of 2 miles, widened at the entrance. The present estimated Federal cost is $54,000. Local interests would contribute $10,000 toward the cost of the new work, and furnish rights-of-way and suitable spoil-disposal areas. Benefits are estimated at $15,000 and are comprised of savings in elimination of time lost in tying up 175,000 tons of logs awaiting high tide and elimination of extra handling costs on 20,000 tons of outgoing lumber. The benefit-cost ratio is about 1.75 to 1. I recommend the appropriation of $54,000 for this item. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, CONSTRUCTION Talent division, Rogue River project, construction funds The Talent project was authorized in August 1954. It involves rehabilitation work on the Talent irrigation district for flood control, irrigation, and electric power generation. The total cost of the project is estimated at $19,200,000, a reduction of $1,300,855 over last year's estimate. $150,000 was appropriated for planning on this project during fiscal 1956. This planning has reached an advanced stage, and I have been advised by the Bureau of Reclamation that $3 million could be used for construction during fiscal 1957. The project is extremely important to an area of my State that has been ravaged by floods, and its irrigation economic benefits are substantial. For the foregoing reasons I urge that $3 million be appropriated for construction, rather than the lower sum of $2,400,000 recommended in the President's budget. Haystack Reservoir, Deschutes project, north unit On August 10, 1954, the Haystack equalizing reservoir was authorized as part of the north unit of the Deschutes irrigation project. This reservoir would store off-peak flows from the Wickings Reservoir, and would provide a source of water for irrigation of about 50,000 acres of fertile land. Congress appropriated $274,000 for initiation of construction on this dam for fiscal 1956. I recommend the appropriation of $1,035,000 for the project for fiscal 1957. CONCLUSION Last year Congress foresightedly provided funds for many projects in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere in the country not included in the President's budget. Those actions showed wisdom and understanding of the flood control, power, navigation, irrigation, and recreation needs of the country. We must go forward in the same affirmative fashion. If we do otherwise, the cost in damage, human suffering, and economic stagnation will be many times greater than the sound investments we are making in America's future. |