170 residences, 14 businesses, and the city sewage treatment plant are located in the flood plain on the mainland. At Prairie du Chien, damages resulting from bigh-water conditions begin when discharges on the Mississippi River exceed 100.000 c.f.s. Based on July 1970 price levels, total damages resulting from the 1965 flood would equal about $2,336,000. The average annual damages, based on historical flood data and July 1970 price levels, are estimated to be $193,000. & Improvements desired.-Local municipal interests have requested aid in developing a permanent flood control plan. At a public hearing on 11 January 1966, Federal, State, and local representatives expressed interest in a flood control project at Prairie du Chien. The recent large floods experienced in 1967 and 1969 have further stimulated the community's desire for flood control. City officials have indicated wide support for a permanent evacuation plan that would allow prudent use of the flood plain areas such as an expanded park system to complement the existing historical and water-based attractions within the community. 7. Plan of improvement.—The District Engineer finds that evacuation and relocation, together with flood plain regulation, would constitute the most practical and economically feasible solution to the flood problem at Prairie du Chien. The plan would include Federal purchase and demolition of about 48 buildings, relocation of about 157 buildings, and flood proofing seven business and industrial buildings located on St. Friol Island. Some 33 structures on the mainland would be raised. The lands on which the structures to be purchased by the Federal Government are located would be obtained in fee title by the city, and Federal ownership of a flowage easement would be provided. Implementation and enforcement of the management practices would be by non-Federal interests. The plan of improvement includes grading and landscaping of new building sites, construction of driveways and basements, and connection of all utilities. The buildings to be purchased would be demolished and the debris would be removed. In addition, the vacated sites would be filled and graded where necessary in the interest of aesthetics and safety. Structures and other works that would be allowed to remain on St. Friol Island include the historical sites and those businesses that complement open space use of the area, provided these are flood proofed so as not to sustain substantial flood damages. City and State interests plan to develop the evacuated flood plain on St. Friol Island for recreation and tourism purposes as demand for these uses increases. 8. Economic evaluation.-Based on July 1970 prices, the District Engineer estimates the first cost of the plan of improvement at $1,640,000, of which $1,312,000 would be Federal and $328,000 would be non-Federal. Average annual costs, based on an interest rate of 5% percent and an economic life of 50 years, would total $96,000, including $5,000 for non-Federal management of the flood plain. Average annual benefits are estimated at $158,000. The benefit-cost ratio is 1.6. 9. The District Engineer finds that the proposed flood control improvements are economically feasible and would be compatible with any comprehensive plan that may be developed for the upper Mississippi River Basin. He recommends adoption of the plan of improvement subject to certain conditions of local cooperation. The Division Engineer concurs. 10. Public notice.-The Division Engineer issued a public notice stating the recommendations of the reporting officers and affording interested parties an opportunity to present additional information to the Board. Careful consideration has been given to the communications received. VIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS 11. Views.-The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors concurs in general in the views and recommendations of the reporting officers. 12. The Board notes that recurring floods have caused physical and financial hardship to the residents occupying the flood plain at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The magnitude and duration of flooding have resulted in unsanitary conditions, hazards to health, prolonged disruption to the lives of residents with the attendant inconvenience and expense of cleanup and repair after flooding, and a general deterioration of homes and supporting facilities. The Board further notes that the reporting officers have investigated several alternative means of rectifying this condition and found that a plan of evacuation, relocation, or flood proofing of structures within the flood plain was the only practical and economically feasible solution. 13. The Board notes that the project recommended by the reporting officers has an estimated total cost of $1,640,000, an average annual cost of $96,000, average annual benefits estimated to be $158,000, and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.6. Subsequent to completion of the report of the District and Division Engineers, the Congress enacted Public Law 91-646. "Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970." The Act establishes new guidelines for relocation of residents affected by Federal, or Federally assisted programs. The Board believes that the provisions of Public Law 91-646 are applicable to the proposed project. It notes that the law contains more liberal provisions for the relocated residents than those proposed by the reporting officers and that its application would increase the cost of the project. On the basis of supplemental information provided by the reporting officers, the Board estimates that the project cost would be increased by about $660,000 to a total of about $2,300.000 and the average annual charges would be increased approximately $39,000 to about $135,000. In addition to the average annual benefits of $158,000 for reduction of flood damages, the application of Public Law 91-646 would provide improved housing that would result in additional social benefits which have not been evaluated in monetary terms. Therefore, it is the view of the Board that the proposed project will effectively reduce damages and losses from flooding, achieve a more appropriate use of the flood plain by converting it from urban residential to managed open space with potential recreational use, and by application of Public Law 91-646, improve the physical and social well-being of relocated residents. The recommended improvements are needed and economically justified, and the requirements of local cooperation are appropriate. 14. Recommendations.-Accordingly, the Board recommends adoption of a project to reduce damage from flooding at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, by flood proofing or evacuation and relocation of structures in the flood plain, and management of the evacuated flood plain in accordance with applicable State laws and adopted city codes; generally in accordance with the plan of the District Engineer and with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers may be advisable; at an esitmated total first cost of $2,300,000 and $5,000 annually to maintain and manage the flood plain: Provided that, prior to initiation of the project, local interests give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army that they will: a. Provide all lands, easements, and rights-of-way for the buildings moved from the flood plain and obtain legal control over the vacated lands to permit regulation of their use in a manner consistent with adopted flood plain regulations, presently estimated to cost $60,000; b. Provide Federal ownership of a flowage easement on lands in the design flood plain area; c. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to demolition or other relocation construction work; d. Maintain and manage the flood plain in accordance with regulations that meet State laws and city codes and are acceptable to the Secretary of the Army, at an estimated cost of $5,000 annually; e. Bear 20 percent of all project costs, presently estimated at $460,000 less the costs incurred for obtaining lands, easements, and rights-of-way, the remainder presently estimated at $400,000, to be paid as a cash contribution; and f. Provide a cash contribution to defray any costs for betterments in addition to that required to obtain safe, decent, and sanitary housing. 15. The Board further recommends that: Evacuation and relocation of those residents of the flood plain at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, specified by the reporting officers, be accomplished in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 91-646, "Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970"; Subject to specific advance agreement between the city of Prairie du Chien and the Chief of Engineers, the city be reimbursed, when Congress provides funds for implementation of the evaluation plan, for any Federal evacuation costs incurred by the city for any part of the recommended plan accomplished on its own accord subsequent to authorization; and The proposed plan of work be completed no later than five years after the first appropriation of funds by Congress. 16. The estimated net cost to the United States for the recommended improvements at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, is $1,840,000. For the Board: W. ROPER, Major General, USA, Chairman. Mr. ROBERTS. You may proceed with the Fall Creek basin report. FALL CREEK BASIN, INDIANA Colonel EINEIGL. Sir, the statement is at the back, after the pictures. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, this report concerns improvements for flood control, water supply and recreation in the Fall Creek basin in Indiana. It is in response to a resolution adopted December 11, 1969, by the House Public Works Committee. Fall Creek is a tributary of West Fork White River, and joins that stream within the city limits of Indianapolis. Studies for this report were largely founded on the conclusions of the Wabash River Coordinating Committee, as developed in the Wabash River basin comprehensive study completed in 1971. Residential areas along Fall Creek and agricultural areas along White River downstream of Indianapolis are subject to frequent flooding. The Indianapolis area has imminent need for additional water supply. A large deficit in regional needs for outdoor recreational opportunities is projected. In the earlier comprehensive study and in this report, consideration has been given to a wide range of alternatives for satisfying the water needs of the area. A multiple-purpose reservoir, designated as Highland Lake, is recommended for authorization and construction. The recommended project would provide for construction of an earth dam about 2,700 feet long and 80 feet high, at mile 17 on Fall Creek. A subsidiary dike, 13,000 feet long and 45 feet high, would be constructed across the valley of a tributary, Mud Creek. The impoundment, shown in green, would extend up both streams. It would supplant Geist Reservoir, shown in blue, a small water supply reservoir operated by a private utility company, with a yield of 20 million gallons per day. The recommended project would be operated for flood control, a water supply yield of 77 million gallons per day, recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement. The total estimated cost of the project is $57,930.000, based on 1971 prices. An estimated $24,210,000 would be reimbursed by local interests for water supply and recreation development. The net Federal cost is estimated at $33,720,000. The benefit-cost ratio is 1.4, based on the 5-percent interest rate. The recommended project will not satisfy all needs. It will afford a high degree of flood protection for the residential area along Fall Creek but, although it will moderate flood damages in the agricultural areas downstream of Indianapolis, residual damages in those areas will still be high. Presently developed water supplies for Indianapolis provide a yield of 160 million gallons per day, 40 of which is obtained from ground water. A demand for 360 million gallons per day by the year 2020 is projected. In addition to the recommended project, development of other surface supplies and further development of ground water supplies will be required to meet total needs. It is estimated that the recommended project would ultimately have a recreational attendance of 4.5 million annually, but in terms of the total regional demand for recreational opportunities this would be a modest contribution. The tradeoff of impacts on reservoir area interests versus the benefits which, primarily, accrue to downstream interests is recognized. On balance, however, the project is recommended as the best available alternative for responding to immediate needs in the study area. Preliminary estimates indicate that about 200 dwellings would have to be removed from the reservoir area and 1,300 graves relocated. About 15,250 acres, including Geist Reservoir, would be removed from private ownership. Aquatic areas beyond the limits of Geist Reservoir would be altered from free flowing to slack water, increasing the stream miles affected from 7 to 21. The rural character of the areas around the reservoir will be subject to more rapid change. The final environmental impact statement was filed with CEQ on October 2, 1972. The recommended project is favored by the State of Indiana and strongly supported in Indianapolis. It is also strongly opposed by other interests. Strongest opposition has been voiced by a citizens' group representing landholders and residents of the proposed reservoir area, organized under the name of Save Heritages and America for Tomorrow. The Audubon Society is opposed to alteration of the existing environmental character of the reservoir area. Comments of the State and Federal agencies are generally favorable. The report has been submitted to the Congress. This concludes my statement, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ROBERTS. Thank you, Colonel. Any questions? The gentleman from Indiana. Mr. ZION. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Colonel Eineigl, this is a vital project. Indianapolis is one of the major metropolitan areas which is growing healthily and favorably. It is not developing ghettoes, and it is growing rapidly. And, as your statement suggests, the need for municipal water is increasing very rapidly. Now, in your statement, you talk about opposition which has been voiced. And I can assure you it has been voiced very loudly but by a very small minority of the people affected. The mayor of Indianapolis, Mayor Luger, is very enthusiastic about this project. Both Congressmen, Hudnut and Bray, feel it is vital to the development of this area. And although we certainly have to be cognizant of the loud voices in protest, let me assure the gentleman that the voices are loud but they represent a very small minority of the people affected. Mr. ROBERTS. The gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Breaux. Mr. BREAUX. Colonel, has the Audubon Society, which is objecting to the project, proposed any alternatives or any other way of stopping the water supply problems there? Colonel EINEIGL. Not for the water supply problem. Generally, they object to any change to the environment. Moving the people out of the flood plain, flood plain management, and other nonstructural solutions have their general support. We will provide a copy of their letter for the record. [Copy of National Audubon Society letter follows:] NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY, Re: Highland Lake, Fall Creek Basin project in Indiana. Colonel JOHN RHETT, District Engineer, Army Corps of Engineers, DEAR COLONEL RHETT: We have reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement on Highland Lake, Fall Creek Basin in Indiana. We appreciate your offer to incorporate our comments in your final Environmental Impact Statement. We have had our Amos W. Butler Audubon chapter in Indianapolis survey the area and our comments on the environmental impact of the project are as follows. We would appreciate the opportunity to amend these statements and expand upon them. I might add that many of the members of the Amos W. Butler chapter are quite familiar with this area. It appears that an estimated 52% of the benefits accruing to the project are accrued to recreational benefits. However, little or nothing is discussed concerning how this would be accomplished or what the environmental impact would be of the recreational activities themselves. A significant sentence in the report is "Net benefits of the project arising from fish and wildlife recreation would be minor." We predict that most of the recreational activities for which a reservoir of this size would be useful would be primarily for power boats and water skiing and similar recreational activities. These activities in themselves are detrimental to a natural environment. As for fishing, the present Geist Reservoir can amply provide for this activity. It is our feeling that the flood protection arrangements to which most of the environmental statement is devoted cannot be justified. Most of the basin downstream of the Geist Reservoir is a natural flood plain and is relatively narrow. The greater part of this land is owned by the Metropolitan Park System and is used for picnic grounds, hiking trails, etc. The infrequent floods of this area are moderate, have done little or no damage and have been of insignificant economic importance. In the populated areas downstream, the stream channel is deep and the water is well controlled. Low-flow augmentation or securing a constant flow in the river during drought periods in the summer could possibly be of benefit. However, it is our feeling that even this would create another undesirable effect. The proposed lake shoreline which will be on a relatively flat terrain would have a very wide border area of muddy land which we feel would be highly objectionable. The present reservoir does not have this problem because it occupies a natural lake basin and for the most part it is steep shoreline. In addition, the fluctuation of the water level in the present reservoir changes very little. The upstream border of the present reservoir has the largest stand of native timber in Marion County. Most of the present shoreline is in native cover and all this would be destroyed by the proposed reservoir. In order to establish a stabilized ecosystem following the construction of the proposed reservoir, it would require a better part of a generation before it could establish itself. The proposed dam and construction site would also cover an area that is a mixture of cattail marsh, native timber and second growth trees and shrubs. With the present dam spillway pool, this area provides an interesting series of habitats for small mammals, birds (kingfishers, wood ducks, winter wrens, woodpeckers, warblers) and many other animals. The adjacent upland harbors such species as redwing blackbirds, meadow larks, other field species and provides many nesting and resting sites. The area is not well suited for commercial activities since it does not entertain much traffic. This also lends itself to good habitat for many forms of wildlife. In addition Fall Creek is the longest free-flowing stream in the country which is accessible for nature study. Hardly any of the White River is available for this purpose and nearly all of Eagle Creek is bordered by privately owned land except for the area included in Eagle Reservoir, In addition, the area would lose approximately 6,900 acres of agricultural land, an important economic resource which must be considered and a loss which cannot be reversed. The case for retention of agricultural lands which would be made available by prevention of flooding as a result of the proposed project is very difficult to estimate and even more difficult to accurately qualify. It is our feeling that the best alternative use for the Fall Creek Basin would be to provide for the public purchase of the flood plain border area and the land surrounding the Geist Reservoir, incorporating such land with that presently |