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1936, and of "Salinas River, Calif.," authorized by the Flood Control Act approved August 28, 1937. It is devoted to consideration of channel improvement for flood control along the main stem of Salinas River. The advisability of comprehensive improvement of the Salinas River Basin for flood control and allied purposes will be covered in a subsequent report.

2. Salinas River rises in the Coast Range mountains in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., and flows 168 miles northwesterly through San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties to Monterey Bay. Its major tributaries are Estrella and San Lorenzo Creeks entering from the east and Nacimiento and San Antonio Rivers and Arroyo Seco entering from the west. The drainage area of 4,218 square miles is mostly mountainous with elevations rising from sea level to above 5,000 feet. The principal valley lands are contained in Salinas Valley which extends inland along the river to mile 93 between the towns of San Ardo and Bradley. This valley near the coast is a fertile alluvial plain 10 miles wide, from which it narrows gradually to two miles in width at San Ardo. The valley floor slopes at a fairly even gradient from an elevation of 50 feet at the city of Salinas, 12 miles above the river mouth, to an elevation of 450 feet at San Ardo. The river channel within the valley is wide and shallow with poorly defined, generally unstable banks, and its capacity varies from about 20,000 to 42,000 cubic feet per second. Average rainfall over the Salinas River Basin is 16.5 inches. The population of the basin is estimated at 53,000, the principal city being Salinas which had 11,586 inhabitants in 1940.

3. Agriculture and processing of agricultural products are the predominant occupations in the basin with the farming concentrated in the alluvial valleys along the river. Practically all of the better grade farm land in Salinas Valley is irrigated by pumping from wells, with double cropping and in some instances triple cropping, the normal practice. Principal crops in the lower valley are lettuce, sugar beets, beans, carrots and artichokes, while almond, walnut, and deciduous fruit orchards predominate in the upper valley. Cattle, sheep, dairy products, poultry, and eggs are also important commodities and some minerals are produced in the basin. Rail and highway facilities are available to the area. 4. Flooding has occurred along Salinas River in 21 years of the 45-year period since 1900, as a result of general rains over the watershed. The flood of February 1938, the largest since 1900, had a peak discharge of 75,000 cubic feet per second at the Spreckels gage, 121⁄2 miles above the river mouth. This flood caused damage estimated at $761,300, of which 48 percent was from inundation, 39 percent from bank erosion and damage to bank protection works, and the remainder from damage to roads, bridges, railroad property, and public utilities. Approximately 93 percent of the total damage occurred in the Salinas Valley below San Ardo. Other recent damaging floods occurred in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, and 1941. Average annual flood damage in the basin is estimated at $164,000, of which $149.000 is direct and $15,000 indirect. Of these amounts, $139,000 direct damages and $12,000 indirect are attributed to Salinas Valley. Local interests have constructed retaining walls, jetties, revetments, and other types of bank-protection works on the river at a cost of over $1,000,000, including annual maintenance, during the past 45 years. About 3 miles of channel-clearing work near Spreckels was accomplished with Federal funds at a cost of $5,146 under the provisions of the Flood Control Act of August 28, 1937.

5. Local interests desire preparation of a comprehensive water-supply plan for the drainage basin, construction of water-conservation and flood-control works, channel improvement, and prevention of land destruction by bank erosion. They believe that the improvement of the channel should take first place in any orderly plan of development and in accordance therewith, have constructed at their own expense two demonstration installations in Salinas Valley to assist in the study of effective bank stabilization and channel-improvement methods. The majority of riparian owners have expressed willingness to participate in a channel-improvement project by furnishing the necessary local cooperation. 6. The district engineer finds that the most practicable plan of improvement for initial development in Salinas Valley consists of correction and stabilization of the lower 93 miles of the river channel and about 1 mile of the channel of Arroyo Seco entering Salinas River at mile 45. He finds that such channel improvement is a necessary part of any plan for ultimate development of multiple-purpose reservoirs. The plan provides for clearing the channels of vegetation; constructing about 80 bank-miles of channel training works, 60 bank-miles of bank protection works, 12 bank-miles of light bank revetment and about 10 miles of earth dikes; excavation of about 1.5 miles of pilot channels; and protective planting of willows, baccharis, and other native vegetation on banks and

back of training works. The proposed improvement is patterned on the existing demonstration installations and would be accomplished over a 5-year period by intermittent construction during low-water seasons. First cost of the improvement is estimated at $1,960,000, of which $1,905,000 is Federal cost of construction and $55,000 is non-Federal cost of rights-of-way. Annual charges are estimated to total $95,100.

7. The district engineer states that construction and maintenance of the improvement would accomplish permanent stabilization of the river channel in a location satisfactory to riparian owners and would increase the channel capacity enabling it to carry floods of 50,000 cubic feet per second without damage to the flood plain. He estimates that the prevention of bank erosion and the partial protection from floods afforded by the improvement would provide annual benefits of $108,500, of which $85,900 is from prevention of direct flood damages and $22,600 is relief of average annual bank protection expense to local interests. The ratio of estimated costs to benefits is 1 to 1.14; therefore the district engineer concludes that the plan of improvement is economically justified and recommends its construction subject to certain conditions of local cooperation. The division engineer concurs.

8. The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors is of the opinion that the benefits from prevention of bank erosion and other flood losses are sufficient to warrant the improvement. It concurs in the recommendations of the district and division engineers.

9. After due considertaion of these reports, I concur in the views of the Board. The proposed improvement will provide needed protection in the Salinas Valley and is justified by the prospective benefits. The channel-improvement program will be a necessary part of any plan for the comprehensive development of the water resources of the basin. I therefore recommend construction of channel

improvement works along the lower 93 miles of Salinas River and the lower 1 mile of its tributary, Arroyo Seco, in accordance with the plans of the district engineer and as shown on the accompanying drawings, and with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers may be advisable, at an estimated cost to the United States of $1,905,000, subject to the condition that responsible local interests furnish 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 works; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (c) maintain and operate all the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War.

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, April 12, 1946.

Lt. Gen. RAYMOND A. WHEELER,

Chief of Engineers, War Department.

MY DEAR GENERAL WHEELER: I have reviewed your proposed Interim Flood Control Survey Report, Salinas River, California.

The report recommends for authorization a program for alinement and stabilization of 93 miles of the Salinas River Channel below San Ardo and about 1 mile of the channel of Arroyo Seco which joins the Salinas River at mile 45. The plan presented consists entirely of channel improvement in the form of channel-training and bank-protection works, supplemented by channel clearing, low dikes, pilot channels, protective planting, and adequate maintenance during and after construction. The proposed construction will be prosecuted in the light of experience gained in the initial stages, and will be carried on during a 5-year period.

While a peak discharge of 75,000 second-feet has been observed in the river near Spreckles, the channel will be designed for a capacity of 50,000 second-feet with a 16-percent chance of overtopping the banks under existing conditions of river control. On the other hand, the chances of overtopping are likely to be reduced eventually, if plans which the Bureau of Reclamation has under consideration for the construction of certain storage and diversion works are carried out.

You indicate that your interim flood-control report has been prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation of this Department and the Water Resources Division of the State of California. I understand that these agencies are continuing their studies preparatory to submitting a comprehensive report, as soon as may be practicable, covering, in addition to the proposals made in your report, measures for providing irrigation water supplies and for improvements in land protection and in land uses. A major part of those studies is being directed toward methods for restoring the declining ground-water levels and for eliminating salt-water intrusion.

The cooperative studies of the Salinas River Basin may show that the best solution to the problems will be in the construction of multiple-purpose reservoirs on tributaries which rise to the Coast Range. Such reservoirs could provide municipal and irrigation supplies together with a reduction of river flood stages. However, they would control only a portion of the drainage area of the basin. For this reason, I believe that the works you recommend will be necessary to obtain the maximum benefits that may be realized by development of a comprehensive plan. They place no demands on water supplies and they would not interfere with irrigation or other conservation plans foreseeable at this time. I recommend that the proposed plan be authorized, recognizing that it is only a part of an ultimate plan, in which the irrigation reservoirs and conservation works of this Department will play an important role.

Sincerely yours,

WARNER W. GARDNER, Acting Secretary of the Interior.

The CHAIRMAN. Any questions by members of the committtee? Representative Outland is very much interested in this project.

STATEMENT OF A. D. McLAREN, SECRETARY TO HON. GEORGE E. OUTLAND, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Miss MCLAREN. The local officials and State officials and the property owners of the area affected are unanimously in favor of the Army engineers' plan, and they feel that the piecemeal control is no longer effective. They have tried very hard to do it locally and they hope the improvements of this plan will be made.

The CHAIRMAN. Representative Outland is granted the permission to extend his remarks.

(The statement referred to is as follows:)

TO THE FLOOD CONTROL COMMITTEE,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., May 3, 1946.

House of Representatives:

Mr. CHAIRMAN: I greatly appreciate the opportunity you have granted me to make a brief statement regarding the contemplated flood-control project on the Salinas River in California.

I have just returned from a very brief visit to this area and I find the citizens of this section unanimously supporting this contemplated project. It will have tremendous value to the local landowners along the river, as well as to the various transportation facilites in that section. I have been unable to discover any opposition to the plan as suggested by the Army engineers. I urge that your committee give serious consideration to the approval of this particular project. I may say that the river on which this project will be located flows through one of the most fertile and productive agricultural areas in America, and from this standpoint alone the prevention of future floods would be eminently worth while. In support of this project, I should like to submit copies of telegrams received from: (a) The county surveyor of Monterey County, and (b) the chamber of commerce, together with the chairman of the board of supervisors.

GEORGE E. OUTLAND.

Hon. GEORGE E. OUTLAND,

Congressman, Eleventh Congressional District,

SALINAS, CALIF., May 1, 1946.

Washington, D. C.:

Local landowners in Salinas Valley along 93 miles of river proposed to be protected by flood-control works unanimously in favor of project. During past 30 years riparian owners, State of California Highway Department, Monterey County Highway Department, and Southern Pacific Railroad Co. have spent over $1,500,000 in piecemeal construction of protection work and we are of unanimous opinion that work is too great an undertaking for local interests and may only be consummated by plan proposed by United States Army engineers. Flood of 1938 which is average high flood caused damages of $761,000. Total value of land and improvements in flood plan is estimated $80,000,000. Salinas Valley also has definite water conservation problem and the approval of plan now under consideration is prerequisite to ultimate solution of said problem for Salinas River Basin. H. F. COZZENS, County Surveyor.

SALINAS, CALIF., May 1, 1946.

Congressman GEORGE E. OUTLAND,

House Office Building, Washington, D. C.:

Complete information regarding Salinas River project going to you from Howard Cozzens, county engineer, and member State water board. Entire citizenship appreciates good work done on this matter.

L. E. Wyatt, president, Salinas Chamber of Commerce; C. L. Pieda,
chairman, San Luis Obispo and Monterey County Joint Salinas
River Committee; R. S. Tipton, Soledad Chamber of Commerce;
Tom Rogers, Greenfield Chamber of Commerce; F. W. Lopes,
Gonzales Chamber of Commerce; A. B. Jacobsen, chairman,
Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

The CHAIRMAN. What witnesses do you have?
Miss MCLAREN. Mr. Ely.

STATEMENT OF NORTHCUTT ELY, SPECIAL COUNSEL, REPRESENTING THE STATE ENGINEER, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. ELY. I am directed by Mr. Edward Hyatt, State Engineer of the State of California, on behalf of Hon. C. H. Purcell, director of public works, to submit to the House Committee on Flood Control the following report on the proposed Salinas River flood-control project. First, I have a letter from Director Purcell to the Chief of Engineers, dated April 6, 1946, which reads as follows:

Lt. Gen. P. A. WHEELER,

Chief of Engineers, United States Army,

Washington 25, D. C.

APRIL 6, 1946.

DEAR GENERAL WHEELER: Your proposed interim report on Salinas River in Monterey County, Calif., was received on February 8, 1946, and has been under review since that date in accordance with provisions of Public Law 534, Seventyeighth Congress second session. At my direction, it was submited to the division of water resources of this department for study and report thereon.

The report of the division of water resources has been received and is transmitted herewith, with the request that it be included as a part of the comments of the State on your report. I concur in the conclusions and recommendations set forth in the report of the division of water resources.

Yours very truly,

C. H. PURCELL, Director of Public Works.

REVIEW BY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES, CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, OF THE PROPOSED INTERIM REPORT OF CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, ENTITLED "SALINAS RIVER IN MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIF."

In accordance with section 1 of Public Law 534, Seventy-eighth Congress, the proposed interim report of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, on a survey of Salinas River in Monterey County, Calif., together with the reports of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors and of the district and division engineers was transmitted by the Chief of Engineers on January 29, 1946, to the director of public works, the official designated by Gov. Earl Warren as his representative in such matters. The report was received and referred to the State engineer on February 8, 1946, for review and report thereon. On February 11, 1946, the report was referred to the division of highways of the State department of public works and to the State department of natural resources for resources for review and comment.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF CHIEF OF ENGINEERS

The Chief of Engineers concurs in the views of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, which are as follows:

(1) The Board concurs generally in the views and recommendations of the reporting officers. The proposed channel improvement will provide needed protection from ordinary floods, prevent the destruction of valuable land by bank erosion, and reduce damages from the larger filcods to the maximum extent warranted by channel works. The prospective benefits fully justify the cost of construction. Such a channel-improvement program will be a necessary part of any plan for the comprehensive development of the water resources of the basin.

(2) Accordingly, the Board recommends construction of channel improvement works along the lower 93 miles of Salinas River and the lower one mile of its tributary Arroyo Seco, in accordance with the plans of the district engineer and as shown on the accompanying drawings, and with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers may be advisable, at an estimated cost to the United States of $1,905,000, subject to the condition that responsible local interests furnish 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 works: (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (c) maintain and operate all works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War.

AUTHORIZATION

Preliminary examination and survey of the Salinas River was authorized and directed by section 6 of congressional act approved June 22, 1936, Public, No. 738, Seventh-fourth Congress, as amended by the act approved August 28, 1937, Public, No. 406, Seventy-fifth Congress. Section 5 of the latter act contains the following:

"That section 6 of the act entitled 'An Act authorizing the construction of certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control, and for other purposes,' approved by adding to the list of localities at which preliminary examinations and surveys are authorized to be made, the following names: Salinas River, California."

Pursuant to the above authority, a report on the preliminary examination of Salinas River for flood control was submitted by the district engineer, January 20, 1938. After review by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, a survey of the entire drainage basin for flood control and related matters was ordered by the Chief of Engineers, July 11, 1939. A tentative draft of a proposed flood-control survey report on Salinas River was submitted by the district engineer to the division engineer under date of June 16, 1941. The tentative draft was withdrawn and a resurvey is in progress.

In connection with the resurvey studies, possibilities of channel training and bank-protection works were developed, that appeared to fit into any general

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