Mr. GATHINGS. If I might, I should like to say that this project is similar to the other one that was from the district served so well by Mrs. Norrell. It has for its purpose, drainage, as well as other benefits to this rich, black, alluvial delta soil. It has the wholehearted support of the people of Chicot County, and it carries quite heavy favorable benefit-cost ratio. Mrs. NORRELL. I might add further, if you would permit me to do so, Mr. Chairman, that this is another project similar to the GradyGould watershed project that we had. It was necessary to complete almost in its entirety the Beouf-Tensas project, and the Bayou Mason project down there before we had ample passageway for the water from these watersheds to be diverted from them. So that is why the watershed project is being brought up at this time. Mr. POAGE. Thank you. Mrs. NORRELL. Thank you. WEST FORK OF POND RIVER, KY. Mr. POAGE. Now we will pass to the West Fork of Pond River watershed. (The West Fork of Pond River watershed work plan is as follows:) WEST FORK OF POND RIVER WATERSHED WORK PLAN Size and location: 52,900 acres in Christian and Hopkins Counties. Sponsors: Christian County Soil Conservation District, Hopkins County Soil Conservation District, West Fork of Pond River Watershed Conservancy District, city of Crofton. Size of farms: From 3 to over 1,000 acres, with a median size of 100 acres. Project purposes: Watershed protection, flood prevention, and municipal water supply. Project measures: Soil conservation practices on farms; and structural measures consisting of eight floodwater retarding structures; one multiplepurpose storage structure, and 25 miles of stream channel improvement. Storage capacity of the structure ranges from 118 to 1,692 acre-feet. Number of beneficiaries: Owners and operators of 120 farms and residents of the city of Crofton supplied with water. 1 This is primarily the cost of applying land treatment measures by landowners. Cost sharing from Federal funds appropriated for the agricultural conservation program may be available if included in the county program developed each year in consideration of approved State and National programs and the annual authorization by the Congress. 2 Consisting of— Prorated Public Law 566 cost per acre: $174 (derived from figures marked by asterisk). Carrying out the project: The city of Crofton assumes all local responsibilities for installing, operating, and maintaining the multiple-purpose storage structure. The west fork of Pond River Watershed Conservancy District assumes these responsibilities for all other structural measures. The annual operation and maintenance cost is estimated at $7,041. Mr. POAGE. Do you wish to make a statement? Mr. STUBBLEFIELD. I have a statement to make. Mr. POAGE. Do you care to have Mr. Brown make his explanation of it first? Mr. STUBBLEFIELD. Yes, sir; I would. Mr. POAGE. Will you do so, Mr. Brown? Mr. BROWN. Mr. Chairman, the west fork of the Pond River is located in Christian and Hopkins Counties and contains an area of 52,900 acres. It is a tributary of the Pond River here which in turn runs into the Green River. This is an area that contains 435 farms at the present time, having a medium size of about 100 acres each. The project is primarily for flood prevention, but does contain one structure which has a municipal water supply in it for the city of Crofton. The total benefits of the project are 91.5 percent agricultural. The municipal water supply benefit is only about 1 percent of the total project. The benefited area in this project, which is shown in yellow on this map, is 5,591 acres within the watershed area, and the land in the watershed area that is benefited is in 120 different ownerships. The total cost of this project will be $1,852,600, of which the Public Law 566 share will be $1,123,180, or 61 percent, and the non-Federal part of the cost will be $729,420, or 39 percent. This has a favorable benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.4 to 1. It has a prorated cost per acre for the acreage within the watershed alone, not taking into account any potential benefits down on the Pond River of $174 per acre. The amount of municipal water supply which will be included in this one structure is some 80 acre-feet, and the city of Crofton will bear the additional costs for that water supply fully, which will amount to $21,250 for that addition to this particular structure. This project is sponsored by the soil conservation districts of Christian and Hopkins Counties, by the West Fork of Pond River Watershed Conservancy District and the city of Crofton. I believe that those are the main facts in the case. Mr. POAGE. Thank you very much, Mr. Brown. We will be glad to hear from our colleague now, Mr. Stubblefield. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK A. STUBBLEFIELD, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF KENTUCKY Mr. STUBBLEFIELD. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss with you briefly the West Fork of Pond River watershed project located in Hopkins and Christian Counties, Ky. Christian County is located in my district and Hopkins in the district of my good friend, Congressman Bill Natcher. This area in southwestern Kentucky is naturally suited to general farming which is the principal source of income for about 700 farm families. Beef and hog production are the major livestock enterprises and the typical crops are corn, hay, tobacco, soybeans, and small grain. The major watershed problem is floodwater damage on the flood plain, which is equal to 10.6 percent of the entire watershed area and contains the major part of most of the farms affected. The average annual damage is nearly $21,000 and the land is being used far below its capabilities because of the flood risk. Some farms have had to be abandoned. More than one out of four of the farms in the watershed are under cooperative agreements for soil and water conservation plans. A good start has been made toward installing land-treatment measures and the plan includes provisions to accelerate installation of the remaining needed measures during the 5-year project period. This treatment, together with the eight floodwater retarding structures, one multiple-purpose storage structure and 25 miles of stream channel improvement, will reduce flood damages by 80 percent and allow the farmers to use their land to best advantage. The multiple-purpose structure provides additional water supply storage for the city of Crofton, a farming community with a population of 892 people. Sponsors have planned this project with the technical assistance of the Department of Agriculture. They are willing to contribute 39 percent of the overall project costs and maintain the project after installation. They expect the project to return $1.40 in benefits for each $1 of cost. An adequate water supply will permit the future growth and development of the city of Crofton. Again, let me say that I appreciate your consideration of this project and should it be approved, it will be of considerable benefit to the people of southwestern Kentucky. Mr. POAGE. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else who wants to make a statement? I have a statement here before me from our colleague, Mr. Natcher, which, without objection, will be made a part of the record at this point. (The statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM H. NATCHER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF KENTUCKY Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss with you the West Fork of Pond River watershed project. This watershed covers an area of 52,900 acres, with the area lying in two Kentucky counties. These counties are Christian and Hopkins. No Federal lands or irrigation developments are included. The work plan proposes a project at an estimated cost of $1,852,600. The structural measures will include eight flood retarding structures, one multipurpose storage structure, and 25 miles of stream channel improvement. Damage by floodwaters is one of the principal watershed problems, together with pollution problems brought about as the result of the condition of the channel of the West Fork of Pond River. The ratio of estimated average annual benefits to estimated average annual cost of structural measures is 1.4 to 1. This is an important project and it will render great benefits to a section of Kentucky which not only appreciates the fine work that has been accomplished under our small watershed project law but which believes wholeheartedly in our soil conservation program. Mr. Chairman, I want you and the members of your committee to know that I appreciate this opportunity to appear at this time, and I sincerely hope that the work plan for watershed protection, flood prevention, and channel improvement for the West Fork of Pond River watershed is approved. HARDIN CREEK, TENN. Mr. POAGE. If there is no further discussion of this project, we will pass on to Hardin Creek watershed. (The Hardin Creek watershed work plan is as follows:) HARDIN CREEK WATERSHED WORK PLAN Size and location: 62,900 acres in Wayne and Hardin Counties. Sponsors: Hardin Creek Watershed District Wayne County Soil Conservation District, Hardin County Soil Conservation District. Total watershed land use: Cropland_. Grassland. Woodland_ Miscellaneous. Total watershed privately owned. Size of farms: About 235 acres. Project purposes: Watershed protection and flood prevention. Percent 5 6 85 4 Project measures: Soil conservation practices on farms, and structural measures consisting of four floodwater retarding structures and 174,800 linear feet of stream channel improvement. Storage capacity of the structures ranges from 1,240 to 3,230 acre-feet. Annual benefits To agricultural acreage (land and crops). To agricultural improvements. To nonagricultural improvements. Indirect... Total.. Area benefited: 4,506* acres. Number of beneficiaries: Owners of about 200 farms. 1 This is primarily the cost of applying land treatment measures by landowners. Cost sharing from Federal funds appropriated for the agricultural conservation program may be available if included in the county program developed each year in consideration of approved State and National programs and the annual authorization by the Congress. 2 Consisting of Administration of contracts... Benefit-cost ratio: 1.4 to 1. $1,200 143,000 4,290 Prorated Public Law 566 cost per acre: $211 (derived from figures marked by asterisk). Carrying out the project: The Hardin Creek Watershed District assumes all local responsibilities for installing, operating, and maintaining the structural measures. The estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance is $5,674. Mr. POAGE. You may proceed. Mr. BROWN. Mr. Lane will present this one. Mr. LANE. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, the Hardin Creek watershed is located in Wayne and Hardin Counties, Tenn. It has an area of 62,900 acres and is directly tributary to the Tennessee River, immediately downstream from the Pickwick Dam which is one of the TVA dams on the Tennessee River. Mr. GATHINGS. Will you point north out on the map, in which direction is it? Mr. LANE. North is directly up on the map. This watershed flows generally to the west and toward the Tennessee River which flows northward. The watershed is characterized by a large percentage of the land being woodland-a total of 85 percent in woodland. Only 5 percent of the watershed is in cropland with a high proportion located within the flood plain area where it is periodically damaged by flooding. The project proposes a system of floodwater retarding structures supplemented by channels to provide an adequate level of protection for the agricultural flood plain. The area benefited is estimated at 4,506 acres. The number of beneficiaries consist of the owners of about 200 farms. The estimated total project cost is $1,605,161, of which the Public Law 566 cost is estimated to be $1,345,021, or 84 percent, and the other or non-Federal cost is $260,140 or 16 percent of the total. The benefit-cost ratio is estimated to be 1.4 to 1. The pro rata Federal cost per acre as developed before this subcommittee, on the basis of the 4,506 acres benefited within the watershed is $211 per acre. |