KATEMENT BY KENNETH F. WATTS, WINFIELD, KANS., IN BEHALF OF ARKANSASWALNUT VALLEY BASIN ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF WINFIELD, KANS. My name is Kenneth F. Watts, and I live at Winfield, Kans. I am a rector of the Arkansas-Walnut Valley Basin Association, a voluntary, incorpoed nonprofit association, in south-central Kansas, and city manager of the of Winfield. The Walnut River runs approximately north and south through a rich populated by about 75,000 people with many cities and towns along its The river's source is northeast of Wichita, in Butler County, Kans., empties into the Arkansas River just below the city of Arkansas City, hich is about 3 miles north of the Oklahoma State line. In this area we have suffered losses by floods and by drought-loss of our fertile topsoil-which is irreplaceable losses to our farmers through destruc crops, fences, buildings, and livestock-losses to our counties and ities through destruction of bridges, highways, roads, and streets. During rought periods we have had serious curtailment of water supply for our industris, our municipalities, our farmers and ranchers, plus the loss of a potable underground water due to salt infiltration. During the past 30 years, we have been endeavoring to improve our flood central and this effort has been accelerated by the drought and salt water pollion pointing to the necessity of water storage. As part of our national imprenent program and in order to exist we must develop our water resources and protect our industries, farms, and homes from flood damage and destruction, and provide a supply of potable water. The passing of the 1958 Flood Control Act permitting the Corps of Engineers contract with municipalities for water storage will greatly facilitate matters an adequate water supply in the Walnut River Basin is greatly needed. The e of surface water in our area appears to be the most satisfactory method of supplying domestic and industrial water needs. The amount of ground water is limited and the quality in some areas is unsatisfactory. The chloride content of the underground water supply in this area is continually increasing. PROGRESS The Corps of Engineers, Tulsa, Okla., district survey report, at this time according to our understanding, indicates a favorable cost ratio for two reservars-one near El Dorado, Kans., and the other near Augusta, Kans., with the possibility of a third reservoir site. PRESENT SURVEY The present survey investigation of Walnut River Basin is an interim stody under authority of the House of Representatives public works resolution ipted October 16, 1951 which requested review of reports on the Arkansas Kiver and tributaries, submitted prior and subsequent reports with a view to determining what measures for flood control and channel improvement are adsable at this time on Walnut River and other tributaries in the southtern sections of the State of Kansas. The Water Supply Act of 1958 te 111. Public Law 85-500) provides authority to the Corps of Engineers develop storage for municipal and industrial purposes. Information on flood and water supply problems in the Walnut River waterwas obtained at a public hearing held by the district engineer at Winfield, , on November 26, 1957, and at later informal meetings with local interests from correspondence. WATER REQUESTS These cities have indicated water storage needs to meet their requirements er a 50-year period: Gallons daily 25, 000, 000 13, 500, 000 22, 000, 000 15, 000, 000 75, 500, 000 The cost of this water storage would be computed by the Corps of En and spread over a 50 year period as provided by the 1958 Flood Contr the various cities paying their proportionate share of the cost. FUNDS An amount of $40,000 for continuing work, study, and investigation survey report is needed for fiscal year 1961 as per capability set forth district engineer's letter September 8, 1959, Tulsa, Okla. We therefore respectfully urge the appropriation of this $40,000. AFFILATED ORGANIZATIONS Our Association is a member of the Tri-State Committee consisting States of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, and is represented on the mittee by our Kansas State senator, Joe Warren, Maple City, Kans. The Tri-State Committee supports our request for funds. Also, we are a member of both Mo-Ark (Missouri-Arkansas Basins Control and Conservation Association) and Arkansas Basin Development ation. Both of these associations support our request for funds. Mr. PARAMORE. Mr. Frank Liebert, a member of Tri State mittee of Arkansas Basin, Coffeyville, Kans. Mr. LIEBERT. I will appear tomorrow with the Arkansas group. I will defer remarks until then. NEOSHO-COTTONWOOD RIVER BASIN Mr. PARAMORE. Again I would like to refer to Congressma Rees, from Kansas, to present the next witness. Mr. REES. Mr. Chairman, I have the honor of presenting t committee a distinguished citizen from my community in a Kansas. We have in the past had a number of witnesses testi on behalf of projects in the Neosho-Cottonwood area. We hav witness today, Mrs. Frank Haucke, the only woman from K to testify. Her testimony in behalf of her community mak for the numbers who are here in behalf of other projects. Mrs. Frank Haucke and her husband are the owners of conside real estate in the Neosho-Cottonwood Valley area. They are a our leading citizens. They have had vivid experiences with damage to their property. It is a distinct honor to present Mrs. Frank Haucke. STATEMENT OF MRS. FRANK HAUCKE Mrs. HAUCKE. I am here today to represent my husband wh many years served as vice chairman of the Neosho-Cottonwood 1 Association. With your permission I would like to leave his statement. (The statement submitted by Mrs. Haucke follows:) STATEMENT OF FRANK HAUCKE, COUNCIL GROVE, KANS. I serve as chairman of the Kansas Soil and Water Conservation Com and am vice president of the Neosho-Cottonwood Flood Control and Conservation Committee, as well as a member of the legislative commit the Missouri Arkansas Basins Flood Control and Conservation Commit Through the years I have been engaged in farming and stock raising Neosho Valley. Here I have witnessed many devastating floods where were lost and millions of dollars worth of property destroyed. Intermit between floods severe drouths have occurred. To help solve the above mentioned problem the Corps of Engineer recommended four reservoirs on the Neosho Cottonwood Rivers. Ther been recommended in the budget monies for continued construction on t these reservoirs and planning money on the third for which we are gr to your committee and the Bureau of the Budget. We are here to request of your committee the following reasonable funds for the fourth reservoir. Cedar Point Reservoir on Cedar Creek, Cedar Point, Kans., $50,000 planning money. We are very desirous that you give favorable consideration to our requests that these worthwile projects may be brought to an early completion. I hope that the comprehensive flood control and water conservation program dhe Missouri Arkansas Basins Flood Control and Water Conservation Assoon and the Arkansas Basin Association will also be carried out as this will benefit a large segment of mid-America. We will deeply appreciate your recommendations that monies be made available for these important projects, and thank you for the courtesies extended us. Mr. PARAMORE. Next I would like to present Mr. George Fox, president, Neosho-Cottonwood Flood Control Association. STATEMENT OF MR. GEORGE A. FOX Mr. Fox. We will file our statements. I want to say we thank you n behalf of Neosho Cottonwood Flood Control Association for bringing our projects here and for promoting them for us and getting them started. We feel that they are now on the way. straction and we thank you very much. Mr. Fox's statement follows:) We have two under con STATEMENT OF GEORGE A. Fox, PRESIDENT, NEOSHO-COTTON WOOD FLOOD CONTROL ASSOCIATION Gentlemen of the committee, my name is George A. Fox. I am president of the Nesho-Cottonwood Flood Control Association and president of the Chetopa State Bank, Chetopa, Kans. On behalf of the citizens living on the farms and cities along the Neosho and Cottonwood Rivers that our organization represents we wish to thank you for your operation and help in getting these projects started on these rivers. John Redmond Dam at Burlington, Kans., is now under construction and funds are allocated in the budget for the years 1960 and 1961. Council Grove Dam at Council Grove, Kans., is under construction and funds are allocated in the budget for this project for the years 1960 and 1961. Marion Dam at Marion, Kans., is under planning and funds are allocated in the judget to sontinue such planning. This leaves only the Cedar Point project without planning money, and could use $50,000 planning money this year to start planning on Cedar Pint. If the Cedar Point and the Marion projects could both be planned the same time it would save a considerable amount of expense. We wish to thank this committee for your help in getting these projects arted and we would appreciate it very much if we could get Cedar Point arted this year. We bring this to your attention for your consideration. Thanking you again for your many past favors. Mr. PARAMORE. I would like to present the honorable mayor of e city of Wichita, Mr. Justice Fugate. STATEMENT OF MAYOR JUSTICE FUGATE Mr. FUGATE. At the risk of startling the committee, the city of chita is not asking for any funds for itself at this time. We tre here endorsing the petition of our neighboring communities to the east, the cities of Augusta, Eldorado, Winfield, and Kansas City. We solicit your consideration of their position. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ASSOCIATION SUMMARY STATEMENT OF MR. LEW M. PARAMORE Mr. PARAMORE. Before I turn this over to Congressman Breeding would like to file some statements and that will conclude this portion of the hearing. I have my own statement from the Mississippi Valley As tion, one from the Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District, we the platform of the Mississippi Valley Association endorsed Louis of February, statement of the Missouri River Bank and bilization Board, statement of the Omaha Chamber of Comm and statement from the Yankton, S. Dak., Chamber of Comme telegram which I would like to furnish at a later date. I have a statement from the Chamber of Commerce of K City, Mo.; Kansas City, Kans.; and of the Armourdale Industr Homeowners Association. All of these I have been asked to si and make part of the record. (The statements referred to by Mr. Paramore follow :) STATEMENT OF LEW PARAMORE, AREA MANAGER, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ASSOC: KANSAS CITY, KANS. I am area manager in charge of the Kansas City office of the Missi Valley Association. The 41st annual convention of this organization wa in St. Louis, Mo., February 7, 8, and 9, 1960, and was attended by ap mately 1,800 delegates from the Mississippi Basin. Resolutions were mously adopted at the annual meeting endorsing the projects for whic delegation from this area are requesting appropriations for the fiscal year The Mo-Ark Basins Flood Control and Conservation Association an affiliated local associations are members of the Mississippi Valley Associ Part of my duties as area manager is to coordinate the activities o organization. The members of the Kansas-Missouri Council of the Mississippi Valle sociation are on record urging Congress to appropriate sufficient fun complete the authorized and recommended flood control, navigation, and conservation projects in the Missouri Basin at the earliest possile date. On behalf of our officers and members, I urge the members of the I Works Subcommittees on Appropriations to give favorable considerati the requests submitted for the fiscal year 1961 by the witnesses from Kansas-Missouri Council of the Mississippi Valley Association and the va local associations affiliated with Mo-Ark. STATEMENT OF ROBERT B. COLSON, PRESIDEnt, Gering-FORT LARAMIE The Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District and the Gering Irrigation Di ask you to give us your favorable consideration for further immediate a priation of $530,000 as budgeted for fiscal year 1961 for the Gering Valley control project. The requested amount of $530,000 is necessary to supplement the funds al appropriated in 1959 for planning and construction on this project. The for alleviating the serious flood damage being done each year in this valle for allaying the terrific erosion being caused by these floods grows more u with each passing day, as evidenced by the following facts: (1) This catastrophic problem has been in existence since 1947. (2) Beginning in 1947 we have had major floods in every year except 1 several in some, the latest and most disastrous being in June 1958. (3) The local effort of the irrigation districts to protect against flood the past 13 years averages about $48,000 per year. This does not includ immense damage to roads, lands, crops, public bridges, or railroads. (4) Scotts Bluff County has spent in excess of $590,000 in the repair replacement of bridges and roads in Gering Valley in the past 13 years. า is still repair and replacement work to be done estimated at a quarter million dollars, which cannot be done by the county because of lack of funds (5) The Gering Irrigation District which operates within this area suffered such severe financial reverses from these continuous floods that it operate only on short-term loans at a high rate of interest. (6) There is most acute danger of floods destroying an irrigation canal crossing over the Gering drain and should this happen no crops will be raised this area until the structure is replaced and protected by adequate flood con measures. (7) In 1948, Congress authorized the Corps of Army Engineers to make an bestigation, and the project was approved by the corps. $) In 1958, the Gering Valley flood control project was authorized by Cngress, after being authorized and vetoed twice before. In 1959, $341,000 was appropriated by Congress for fiscal year 1960 for gaming and for a start on construction. 10) An estimated $100,000 will have been spent by the Army Engineers in reconstruction planning and designs between October 1959 and next June 30. This will all be wasted if construction does not go on without interruption. 11) Due to the frequent onslaught of these floods the physical conditions along the stream progressively worsens, and the Corps of Engineers have been unable to keep their planning and designs up to date. Local agencies and interests are willing, and have offered, to provide the messsary local cooperation as soon as construction is started. Any further delay in getting on with the construction of this project will ay sabject the whole valley to further deterioration. 114 Delay to date has multiplied many times over the cost of remedial meres: more delay will only pyramid the costs. We urge you, our friends who know our problem, to support us in this request to the end that a valuable piece of America may be saved from utter MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ASSOCIATION, New Orleans, La. Herewith is the 1960 platform of the Mississippi Valley Association. It represents the combined thinking of leaders from all parts of the midcontinent and southern sections of our country assembled in St. Louis during the month of February at the 41st annual convention of the Association. It is a carefully analyzed program of continued progress in developing the Mississippi Valley's and the Nation's water and soil resources in order to maintain a prosperous, expanding economy. In this year of 1960 it is particularly urgent that Americans remember that water resource development is a capital investment in the future of this Nation, essential to our internal economy as well as to our national security. Very truly yours, HARRY X. KELLY, President. PLATFORM, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ASSOCIATION (Adopted, 41st annual meeting, St. Louis, Mo., February 7, 8, 9, 1960) FOREWORD management of our natural resources, particularly soil and water, is foundation upon which the future of America will be built. The Mississippi Tilley, comprising a major part of 23 States, is richly endowed with natural urces which have contributed significantly to America's civilization. Te rededicate the Mississippi Valley Association to continued vigilance and essive action to foster the wise management of these natural resources. aly if all aspects of soil and water management are considered as essential inseparable elements of the whole problem of water and soil management this Nation meet its obligation to an expanding population to provide: A full measure of flood protection. 2) A transportation network fully utilizing all forms of transport. (3) Sufficient water for domestic, industrial, and irrigation requirements. (4) Facilities for growing recreation demands. (5) Accelerated soil conservation and reforestation. (6) The conservation of underground water. The ability to sustain a stable, expanding economy. |