23, Sixty-ninth Congress, first session, and prior reports, with a view to determining the feasibility and advisability of increasing the discharge capacity of Lower Yolo Bypass in order to reduce damage resulting from the diversion of flood waters. The final report on this very broad survey is still in the field being developed cooperatively. The CHAIRMAN. Will you just confine your statement, then, to the interim report? Colonel GOETHALS. This report before your committee now is an interim report concerning the broad development of the basin, providing for recommendation of early construction only of certain features thereof. The CHAIRMAN. Give us an abstract of those features. Colonel GOETHALS. I would like to mention them so that you can see the whole plan in diagram. The plan of improvement ultimately being considered in this report provides for the construction of seven multiple-purpose reservoirs in the interest of navigation, flood control, power, and conservation of additional water for other purposes, as well as the local floodcontrol improvements which I will discuss in connection with the initial phase of this plan. I will ask Mr. Kochis to point out on the map and name for you the reservoirs in the initial plan. Mr. KOCHIS. Table Mountain Reservoir, on the upper Sacramento River, just below the Shasta Dam; Black Butte Reservoir, on Stony Creek; Wilson Valley Reservoir, on Cache Creek; Monticello Reservoir, on Putah Creek; Bidwell Bar Reservoir, on a tributary of the Feather River, which in turn, is a tributary of the Sacramento River; the Narrows Reservoir, on the Yuba River; and the Folsom Reservoir, on the American River. Colonel GOETHALS. In addition to the reservoirs the broad comprehensive plan consists of modification and extension of the existing project for flood control on the Sacramento River by means of certain changes and extensions in levees and other structures, by channel clearing, enlarging and straightening in nine unrelated local areasif you will point those out as I read, Mr. Kochis. They are on Antelope Creek, Chico Creek, Butte Creek, Deer Creek, Elder Creek, Willow Creek, Thomas Creek, Cherokee Canal, and Lower Yolo Bypass. The initial phase recommended in the interim report includes those channel improvements just cited, and also the construction of Black Butte Dam and Reservoir, and the low dam phase only of the Table Mountain Dam and Reservoir at an estimated Federal cost for the initial plan of $46,056,000 for construction and $105,000 annually for maintenance and operation. For the work on the levees and channel improvements the customary three provisions of local cooperation now in existing law will be complied with by the State of California or other responsible local agencies. That is a brief cross-section of this project, Mr. Chairman. Colonel GOETHALS. No. This report was considered by the Board of Engineers only last Monday, February 7, and it has not yet had the comments of other Federal agencies. Mr. ELLIOTT. You have completed your findings on Tule River, so far as the Board of Engineers is concerned? Colonel GOETHALS. Yes. Mr. ELLIOTT. You have completed your findings on Kaweah, Tule, and Kern? Colonel GOETHALS. Yes. Mr. ELLIOTT. Are there any other streams in there that you have under consideration as to which you have not completed your findings? Colonel GOETHALS. No, sir. All have now been recorded. Mr. ELLIOTT. Even the streams that are adjacent to Kern? Colonel GOETHALS. Two of those creeks have been investigated, but they were not found economically feasible. Mr. ELLIOTT. They are more likely to be Bureau of Reclamation projects? Colonel GOETHALS. I could not say, sir. Mr. ELLIOTT. As I understand it, the Kern River report is still before the Bureau of the Budget and has been there for how long? Colonel GOETHALS. Approximately 3 years. Mr. ELLIOTT. And when were the reports on Tule and Kaweah submitted? Colonel GOETHALS. Within the last month. Mr. ELLIOTT. Then we cannot do much about them until about 1950, at the rate they are moving. Mr. POULSON. According to that procedure, this is not really legislation. It is vetoed before we ever have a chance to pass on it. Mr. ELLIOTT. We sit here as a body, presided over by one of the finest chairmen that any congressional committee has ever had, and we receive a letter from the President saying that you can do this and you cannot do that, and the Bureau of the Budget determines whether they want to permit it to go through, while millions of tons of foodstuffs are destroyed annually, and nothing is done about it. That is what is happening. The CHAIRMAN. Count that day lost when we do not refer to the fact that the Kern River report has been before the Budget for 3 years. Are there any further questions? Mr. ELLIOTT. Yes. I have some further questions. These streams that you have mentioned, Colonel, involve mostly flood control. Are there any irrigation features to them? Colonel GOETHALS. There will be irrigation features in the future development of the whole basin which is being considered in the comprehensive report now underway in the field. The immediate recommendations made in this initial plan cover the flood-control features. Mr. ELLIOTT. At this point I want to offer for the record a letter from the city of Porterville, Calif., in reference to the Tule River; also a letter from the Woodville Chamber of Commerce, Woodville, Calif., in reference to the Tule River; a resolution from the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, in reference to the Kaweah River; another resolution from the city of Visalia with reference to the Kaweah River; another resolution from Levee District No. 1, Tulare County, Calif., in reference to the Kaweah River; a resolution from the Board of Supervisors, County of Tulare, and a resolution from the Arvin Edison water storage district with reference to the flood-control dam at Isabelle, on the Kern River. Last year the damage to roads, bridges, and property on the Tule River was over $200,000. In 1930 the damage was greater than that, in the same area. The CHAIRMAN. Those letters and resolutions will be placed in the record in connection with the colonel's statement. (The documents referred to and submitted by Mr. Elliott are as follows:) Re Floodwaters of Tule River. Hon. ALFRED J. ELLIOTT, PORTERVILLE, CALIF., January 5, 1944. Congressman, Tenth Congressional District, Tulare, Calif. DEAR MR. ELLIOTT: The Council of the City of Porterville, at its regular meeting, held January 4, 1944, met and discussed the problems arising on Tule River, and the detriment and damages which have been sustained, and may reasonably be expected to result in the future, by reason of the floodwaters of Tule River being uncontrolled. The council was of the opinion that the entire solution for an adequate control of the floodwaters of Tule River must be solved by the erection of an adequate flood-control dam at some suitable location on Tule River. Reports considered by the council at this meeting indicated that the annual damages sustained in the district by floodwaters from Tule River exceeded the annual sum of $200,000, and that little, if no benefits had ever been received by anyone in the district as a result of these floodwaters. The council was of the opinion that the reports and recommendations of the Army engineers should be followed, and that such dam should be built and erected as soon as possible by the Army engineers, under jurisdiction of the War Department, and anticipating that you, after having made a personal investigation of the matter, would be in favor of the immediate construction of an adequate dam. under jurisdiction of the Army engineers, appointed a committee, consisting of Mr. Irvin H. Althouse, city engineer, and Mr. Waldo E. Burford, city attorney, to study the various types of districts which might be formed for the purpose of the maintenance of such dam and regulation of the stored floodwaters from Tule River. Assuring you that the Council of the City of Porterville is deeply appreciative of the efforts which you are exerting to accomplish the desired results, and bring about some immediate solution for control of these devastating floodwaters from Tule River, you may rest assured that the Council of the City of Porterville endorses, and is in favor of and recommends to you the immediate construction and erection of a dam on Tule River to store and control the floodwaters of Tule River. Yours respectfully, Congressman ALFRED J. ELLIOTT, CHARLES J. CUMMINGS, WOODVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We, the Woodville Chamber of Commerce, have adopted a resolution asking your cooperation in regard to the flood control dam at Success, on the Tule River, that you support and do everything in your power to get this project built by the Army. We feel that it is an important project and will solve the flood problem on Tule River which has caused approximately $210,000 a year damage to crops, land roads, and bridges. We further feel that all differences will be ironed out and a district formed to take control when the project is finished. Thanking you in advance for your support, we remain Very truly yours, N. E. VOSSLER, Chairman. "Past history over a long period of years having shown very extensive flood damages caused by rain and snow floods in the Kaweah River Delta, and the Kaweah River channels are, and for many years have been, filling up with sand and conditions now exist which indicate that in the future great flood damage will occur unless prevented by (1) extensive levees and much channel dredging, or (2) by the impounding of the flood waters behind a flood-control dam. The first preventive measure will cost several million dollars and will give protection to some areas but will not prevent greater damage to other rich lands in the lower reaches of the Kaweah River Delta. The second preventive measure (a flood control dam) will remove the danger of floods to the district lands, including the city of Visalia, as well as to the other portions of the Kaweah River Delta, and would result in the conservation of such flood waters for irrigation use within those portions of the delta now faced with a water deficiency. "The office of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, has reported to the Flood Control Committee of the Congress of the United States, that the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, has recommended the immediate authorization of early construction of such a flood control dam on the Kaweah River, to be built by the Army at a cost of approximately $1,600,000, and suggested that local interests should contribute $365,000 toward the first cost of the project and assume the maintenance and operation of the project. "The Visalia Chamber of Commerce gives its unqualified endorsement to the Army recommendations, and expresses its belief that such construction and operation is not only highly desirable, but is an immediate necessity if enormous future losses of property and valuable waters are to be avoided. The Visalia Chamber of Commerce recommends to every public and private agency that they give their unqualified and active support to such a program, to the end that such efforts may result in early construction and utilization of the works proposed." Above recommendation approved unanimously by Visalia Chamber of Commerce board of directors in open meeting, January 17, 1944. HAZEL DUTTON, Secretary. Councilman Beckwith offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: "Whereas the Kaweah Delta water conservation district, by and through its board of trustees, has unqualifiiedly endorsed and is actively sponsoring the construction of a flood-control dam on the Kaweah River in Tulare County as recommended by the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army to the Flood Control Committee of the Congress of the United States, at an estimated cost of $4,600,000 of which it is recommended that $365,000 of the first costs be contributed by the local interests to be benefited thereby; and "Whereas the city of Visalia represents a very considerable portion of the local interests to be benefited by such flood control measures: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the council of the city of Visalia, That it endorse and unqualifiedly approved, and that it does hereby endorse and unqualifiedly approve and recommend the active support by the city of Visalia of said proposed flood control measures as recommended by the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army." The motion was duly seconded by Councilman Lally and carried by vote as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Burnett, Beckwith, Lally, McCormick. Noes: Councilmen None. Absent: Councilmen None. I, Beatrice Thut, city clerk of the city of Visalia, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly passed and adopted by the council of the city of Visalia at a regular meeting of said council held on the 17th day of January 1944. [SEAL] BEATRICE THUT, RESOLUTION BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LEVEE DISTRICT No. 1 OF TULARE COUNTY Levee district No. 1 of Tulare County, Calif., includes within its boundaries about 12,000 acres of highly developed farms and also the major portion of the city of Visalia; about 20,000 inhabitants reside within said district, and the properties therein, real and personal, are of a present market value of more than $25,000,000. It is bordered on the north by the St. Johns River (a branch of the Kaweah River), and Mill Creek and Packwood Creek (also branches of the Kaweah River) pass through a part of the district. The district organized in 1890, and enlarged in 1906, constructed and maintains a levee along the south bank of the St. Johns River and for a short distance a levee along a part of Mill Creek. These levees have proven sufficient to protect the city of Visalia and most of the lands within the district from serious flood damage except during the year 1908, although on numerous other occasions extreme flood flows have broken the levees or entered the district from river overflow occurring outside the district boundaries. The customary and normally expected flood flow of the Kaweah River and its branches does not exceed approximately 10,000 second-feet, but within recent years on many occasions flows of from 15,000 to 32,000 second-feet have occurred. The river channels are and for many years have been filling with sand, and conditions now exist which indicate that in the future great flood damage will occur unless prevented by (1) extensive levees and much channel dredging, or (2) by the impounding of the flood waters behind a flood-control dam. The first preventive measure will cost several million dollars and will protect the district, but will not prevent great damage to other rich farm lands outside its boundaries both north and south of the district or in the lower reaches of the Kaweah River Delta. The second preventive measure (a flood-control dam) will remove the danger of floods to the district lands, including the city of Visalia, as well as to the other portions of the Kaweah River Delta, and would result in the conservation of such flood waters for irrigation use within those portions of the delta now faced with a water deficiency. The office of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, has reported to the Flood Control Committee of the Congress of the United States that the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, has recommended the immediate authorization and early construction of such a flood-control dam on the Kaweah River, to be built by the Army, at a cost of approximately $4,600,000, and has suggested that local interests should contribute $365,000 toward the first cost of the project and assume the maintenance and operation of the project. The board of trustees of levee district No. 1 of Tulare County gives its unqualified endorsement to the Army recommendations and expresses its belief that such construction and operation is not only highly desirable, but is an immediate necessity if enormous future losses of property and valuable waters are to be avoided. The board of trustees of the district recommends to every public and private agency that they give their unqualified and active support to such a program, to the end that such efforts may result in early construction and utilization of the works proposed. The foregoing resolution was unanimously adopted at a meeting of the board of trustees of the above-named district duly held at Visalia, Calif., on January 6, 1944. E. B. COF. Secretary. RESOLUTION In the matter of the construction of a dam on the Kaweah River. Before the board of supervisors, county of Tulare, State of California On motion of Supervisor Patterson, seconded by Supervisor Brown, the following resolution was made, passed, and adopted: Whereas during the past several years, flood waters of the Kaweath River have caused great damage to the roads and bridges along its course as well as great damage to private property in the Kaweah Delta area, and Whereas the United States Army engineers have caused to be made a survey of the Kaweah watershed and of the overflow area of the Kaweah Delta, and have recommended the construction of a dam by the Army on the Kaweah River to control the flood waters and that after the construction of the dam that local interests assume the operation and maintenance of the same, and Whereas this board has considered the report, and has familiarized itself with the benefits to be derived from the construction of the dam: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That this board approves the report of the United States Army engineers and recommends the immediate construction of the dam; be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to Senators Sheridan Downey and Hiram W. Johnson of California and to Congressman Alfred J. Elliott of this congressional district and to each member of the Flood Control Committee of the House of Representatives. |