GARRISON RESERVOIR, N. DAK. TEXT OF PROVISION ON POOL ELEVATION Senator OVERTON. I just want to ask you in respect to this provision relating to the Garrison Dam in North Dakota. I would like to read it: Provided further, That no part of this appropriation shall be available to use to maintain or operate the Garrison (North Dakota) Reservoir at a higher maximum normal elevation than 1,830 feet (pool elevation) of constructing dikes or levees which would be required by higher maximum, normal pool elevation than 1,830 feet for operating such dam. INTERPRETATION OF HOUSE PROVISO Is it your interpretation that you can construct the Garrison Dam to the authorized elevation, which is higher than 1,830 feet, but that you have to maintain the pool at not to exceed 1,830 feet? General WHEELER. Yes, sir. We can build the dam up to the recommended height and build all the appurtenances in connection with it, except the dikes at Williston, but no part of this appropriation may be used to operate it at a normal pool above 1,830. It will be several years before the dam is completed and in operation so the proviso has no effect upon the construction. Senator OVERTON. Now, I call your attention to the words "to maintain or operate the Garrison Dam." General WHEELER. Yes, sir. Senator OVERTON. That word "maintenance" should not be construed as referring to construction? General WHEELER. No, sir; I do not think so. The records of the hearings will show that the intent was to permit us to go ahead with the construction of the dam to full height and of all appurtenances except the levees. Senator OVERTON. It does not give anything about the levees. It said the levees would be required by higher pool elevation than 1,800 feet at Williston. You will have to go higher than 1,830 feet. General WHEELER. Yes, sir. The pool has to go up above 1,830 before the levees are necessary. Senator OVERTON. So there would be no levee construction there as long as this provision remains? General WHEELER. Yes, sir; that is correct. OBSERVATIONS AS TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MODIFYING PROJECTS AFTER THEIR APPROVAL BY REGULAR COMMITTEES Senator OVERTON. Personally, I want to make the observation that I do not think the Committee on Appropriations ought to undertake to modify these projects after they have been authorized and studied by the regular legislative committees. This project was studied by the Flood Control Committee of the House and by the Commerce Committee of the Senate, and this whole matter of the Garrison Dam was gone into very thoroughly. It was worked out and authorized unanimously by the Congress. I do not think it makes any particular difference, so far as the Garrison Dam is concerned, at the moment. If the Appropriations Committee start to modify projects and assume the authority that customarily is vested in the Flood Control and Rivers and Harbors Committees of the two Houses, I think that they are treading on rather dangerous ground. FLOOD CONTROL, GENERAL PINEVILLE LEVEE AND ALOHA RIGOLETTE PROJECT, LOUISIANA There are two projects in Louisiana that I note that you have recommended. One is the Pineville levee and the other is the project just above the Pineville levee, known as the Aloha Rigolette project. That area is flooded, I suppose, two or three times. It is situated on the Red River, and whenever the river rises to flood height, why, it results in inundation of that land. You do recommend construction of those two projects? General WHEELER. Yes, sir; we recommend those. We included them in our initial recommendations to the Bureau of the Budget, and they are included on the list of projects for consideration by this committee that I have given to the chairman. Senator OVERTON. This is a rather small item. General WHEELER. They are small, one is $128,000 and the other is $874,000. GENERAL FLOOD CONTROL PROGRAM FOR WILLAMETTE VALLEY BASIN IN OREGON AMOUNT NEEDED FOR BANK PROTECTION Senator CORDON. General Wheeler, in connection with the complete Willamette Valley Basin program, did you make any estimate in connection with work necessary for bank protection? General WHEELER. Yes, sir; we did, Senator Cordon. That is very important in that valley. We have an estimate of $550,000 for bank protection. Senator CORDON. That takes care of the river for some 120 miles. General WHEELER. There are 20 locations where we want to spend this money. The banks are caving in in these floods and washing out some of the most fertile land in the country, and we can stop that with bank revetments. Senator CORDON. This estimate is for continuing work already begun and spotted heretofore in those places which were at that time deemed to be the most dangerous? General WHEELER. Yes, sir; that is correct, sir. Senator CORDON. Do I understand that this estimate is to continue that work in places that recent floods have indicated are likewise of great danger with reference to the people and the property on both sides of the river? General WHEELER. Yes, sir; that is correct. Senator CORDON. And what was the amount of that? WILLAMETTE VALLEY BASIN FLOOD-CONTROL PROJECTS DORENA RESERVOIR, DETROIT RESERVOIR, AND LOOKOUT POINT RESERVOIR Then the other elements of that plan that we would like are to continue Dorena Reservoir, $2,018,200 and undertake the highway and railroad locations for the Detroit Reservoir, $2,000,000 and for the Lookout Point Reservoir, $4,000,000. These items would make a total of about $8,568,000. Senator CORDON. Of that, a million and a half dollars for the Detroit Reservoir, was included in the bill? General WHEELER. Yes, sir. HARLAN COUNTY RESERVOIR, NEBr. Senator WHERRY. Just one question, Mr. Chairman, while the general is still here. These recommendations of 13 projects submitted by the Secretary, do they have your approval, too, as "must" projects? General WHEELER. Yes, sir. We recommended them to the Secretary. Senator WHERRY. And it is my understanding, Mr. Chairman, that they will have our first consideration. I do not want to ask a lot of questions about this Harland Dam, if you are going to approve them. If you are not, I would like to have some testimony relative to the justification. As I understand it, the general has recommended them. The Secretary has recommended and he approves these 13 projects. CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR, COLO. The second project I want to refer to is not in my territory. It is the Cherry Creek Reservoir, in Colorado, which was in the Budget estimate, was not allowed by the House, and is not requested to be restored by the Corps of Engineers. Is that correct? General WHEELER. Yes, sir; that is correct. Senator WHERRY. So that in this additional appropriation of $38,000,000, you are not recommending that project be one that we consider at this time? I have it in my list. General WHEELER. Yes. sir. I have it in Senator WHERRY. So it was in the list when you considered it? Senator THOMAS. It is 12 o'clock, and I would like for the committee members to remain. We will excuse the witnesses. Can you be here tomorrow at 10 o'clock? We will recess until that time. (Thereupon, at 12 noon, Tuesday, February 26, 1946, the committee recessed until Wednesday, February 27, 1946, at 10 a. m.) WAR DEPARTMENT CIVIL FUNCTIONS APPROPRIATION BILL, 1947 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1946 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., Hon. Elmer Thomas of Oklahoma (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Thomas of Oklahoma, Hayden, Overton, Russell, Chavez, O'Mahoney, Maybank, McClellan, Gurney, Ferguson, Wherry, and Cordon. CORPS OF ENGINEERS STATEMENT OF LT. GEN. R. A. WHEELER, CHIEF, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, ACCOMPANIED BY BRIG. GEN. R. C. CRAWFORD, COL. J. H. STRATTON, COL. J. P. LaCROIX, COL. W. J. ELY, COL. ERNEST C. BOMAR, COL. R. S. MOORE, C. C. BURGER, G. L. BEARD, E. W. BASSETT, L. N. KIMBEL, AND R. L. BUMGARNER-continued. FLOOD CONTROL, GENERAL LIST OF PROJECTS APPROVED BY HOUSE Senator THOMAS. The committee will come to order. On yesterday, at the close of the hearings, I made request of the Chief of Engineers to have a statement prepared under three headings or three separate columns. The secretary will pass this statement around as prepared by the Chief of Engineers. In the first column to the left on this list, you will find the names of the several projects and the amounts that the House bill allowed for each project. Column No. 1 contains the projects that are now in the bill. So that if the Senate should not see fit to make any changes, offer any other projects, or reduce or increase any item, the items under column No. I would be what would be appropriated for by this measure. FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS CONTAINED IN LETTER OF SECRETARY OF WAR TO COMMITTEE Column No. 2 on this list contains the recommendations of the Secretary of War. Some of those are new projects and some are increases of projects already mentioned in column No. 1, where the 41 |