The Bureau of the Budget has been consulted and advises that while there would be no objection to the submission of this proposed report to the Congress, in the absence of evidence showing that the proposed works are necessary to the prosecution of the war, the submission during the present emergency of any estimate of appropriation for the construction of the project would not be in accord with the program of the President. Respectfully, 1 L HENRY L. STIMSON, WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Subject: Loyalhanna Creek at Latrobe, Pa. 1. I submit herewith for transmission to Congress an interim report by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors made in response to provisions of the Flood Control Act approved August 28, 1937, which authorizes a preliminary examination and survey of Kiskiminitas and Conemaugh Rivers and their tributaries, Pennsylvania. A final survey report covering these rivers and their tributaries, including Loyalhanna Creek, is in preparation. The present report is based upon the studies made by the district engineer in the course of investigations for the final report. 2. The Board recommends improvement of Loyalhanna Creek at Latrobe, Pa., by channel enlargement and straightening in general accordance with the plan as described herein and shown on the accompanying drawing, at an estimated cost to the United States of $112,500 for construction; subject to the condition that no funds shall be expended for construction of the work until responsible local agencies have given 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 improvement; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (c) maintain the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. 3. After due consideration of this report, I concur in the views and recommendations of the Board. E. REYBOLD, Major General, Chief of Engineers. es the oposet at the ne sub riation ith the repor spors enerd COD. 1. This interim report on Loyalhanna Creek, at Latrobe, Pa., with Warustration, is submitted in response to provisions of the Flood Con 2.50 ol Act approved August 28, 1937, which authorizes a preliminary amination and survey of Kiskiminitas and Conemaugh Rivers and eir tributaries, Pennsylvania, A final survey report covering these vers and their tributaries, including Loyalhanna Creek, is in prepa93. tion. The present report is based upon the studies made by the dis De er et engineer in the course of investigations for the final report. 2. Loyalhanna Creek is located in Westmoreland County, Pa., east Pittsburgh. It flows northerly for 49 miles and at Saltsburg, Pa., nites with Conemaugh River to form Kiskiminitas River, a tributary 19Allegheny River. Latrobe is an incorporated borough, with 1940 Kiskopulation of 11,100, located 23 miles above the creek mouth. Loyalanna Creek drains an area of 211 square miles above Latrobe and a ache tal of 300 square miles. Within Latrobe, the creek follows a very basertuous course with a particularly sharp bend in the lower part of e borough, as shown on the accompanying map. vana inves 3. Latrobe is subject to damages from floods on Loyalhanna Creek hich overflow the banks with an average frequency of once per year. he maximum flood of record occurred in 1936. It had an estimated eak discharge of 27,000 cubic feet per second and reached a stage 2 feet above the no-damage elevation. This flood inundated about acres, within the developed portion of the city, containing an tensive residential district and several industrial plants. The direct theamages resulting from the flood are estimated at $52,000 of which bout 80 percent pertains to residential areas. Railway and highway bod damages at Latrobe have been small and direct damages to mmercial establishments have been essentially confined to a greensuse, a garage, and a small store. Hydrological conditions are such at larger floods than those of record may occur. Local interests sire that improvements be undertaken to afford relief from flood amages at Latrobe. The Council of the Borough of Latrobe has dicated by passage of a resolution that suitable local cooperation any works undertaken for that purpose may be expected. 4. The district engineer has considered the reduction of flood dames at Latrobe by reservoir control of the excess flood water run-off ad concludes that this is not warranted. He has also investigated the Possibilities of securing relief from flood damages by means of channel provements, levees, flood walls, and combinations of such works. From these studies he has found that improvements to afford complete rotection would not be economically justified and that partial proection may be best and most economically secured by channel enargement and straightening. He has formulated a plan providing r improvement of Loyalhanna Creek channel from the vicinity of the east end of Chambers Street, in Latrobe, downstream for 10,000 feet including a cut-off to improve conditions at the sharp bend of the POVE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS ue to WAR DEPARTMENT, THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, ar. ; and bject: Loyalhanna Creek at Latrobe, Pa. creek in the lower part of the city. The channel is designed to ac commodate a flow of 12,000 cubic feet per second at the no-damage stage, to reduce by 1.6 feet the stage of a flood equivalent to the maximum of record and to lower the stages of possible larger floods. The district engineer estimates the cost to the United States for construction at $112,500 and to local interests for rights-of-way at $5,200, a total first cost of $117,700. Total annual costs are estimated at $5,500, of which $1,100, including $830 for maintenance, is assigned to local interests with the remaining $4,400 represented by interest and amortization charges on the Federal investment. The district engineer estimates the average annual benefits of the improvements at $6,600, consisting of $5,200 for prevention of direct flood damages with allowance for possible larger floods than those of record and for future developments expected to take place in the flood plain if the improvement is not undertaken, $500 for prevention of indirect flood losses and $900 for enhancing the value of the area by making it more suitable for use. On the basis of these estimates the improvement has a ratio of estimated costs to benefits of 1 to 1.2. The district and division engineers have advised that they consider the improvement economically justified and that they recommend the work subject to the condition that local interests furnish all lands and rights-of-way required and agree to hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works and to maintain the works after completion. 5. The Board, after careful consideration, concurs in the finding of the district engineer that although Latrobe cannot be afforded complete flood protection at justified cost at this time, prospective benefits warrant local improvement of Loyalhanna Creek channel to reduce flood stages and eliminate a substantial part of the flood losses. Itfis of the opinion that his plan for the work is a suitable one and concurs in the views of the district and division engineers as to the proper measures of local cooperation. Improvement of Loyalhanna Creek in accordance with the plan outlined would be in conformity with the best comprehensive plan for development of the water resources of the Allegheny and Kiskiminitas River Basins being prepared for presentation in the final report. The Board recommends improvement of Loyalhanna Creek at Latrobe, Pa., by channel enlargement and straightening in general accordance with the plan as described herein and shown on the accompanying drawing, at an estimated cost to the United States of $112,500 for construction; subject to the condition that no funds shall be expended for construction of the work until responsible local agencies have given 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 improvement; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (c) maintain the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. For the Board: JOHN J. KINGMAN, Brigadier General, United States Army, Senior Member. о |