The Chief of Engineers recommends construction of detention areas, improved channels, a detention reservoir, pumping station, and reconstruction of a low-water dam at an estimated Federal cost of $6,180,000 subject to certain conditions of local cooperation. Local interests have indicated a willingness to comply with these requirements. The benefit-to-cost ratio is 2.1.

The State and Federal agencies favor the project. The Bureau of the Budget has no objection to the submission of the report to Congress. Mr. JONES. Are there questions?

(The statement by Congressman Melvin Price follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. MELVIN PRICE, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM ILLINOIS

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate having the opportunity to submit this statement to the distinguished House Public Works Subcommittees on Rivers and Harbors and Flood Control during their joint consideration of the omnibus rivers and harbors and flood control bill for fiscal year 1965.

Specifically, I wish to express my strong support for two flood control projects I hope will be included in the final authorization bill. They are the East St. Louis, Ill., hillside drainage project and the Wood River Drainage and Levee District project, Madison County, Ill. Both have been recommended by the Chief of Engineers and, I might add, both of them are in the Senate-passed Flood Control Act of 1965.

The East St. Louis flood protection plan as recommended by the Chief of Engineers in House Document No. 329, 88th Congress, carries an estimated $6.180.000 Federal cost for construction of interior flood control and drainage improvements as well as for a channel stabilization dam. The benefit-cost ratio is 1.8 for the interior flood and drainage improvements and 3.4 for the channel stabilization dam. The total cost of the program is estimated at $9,340,000. The Wood River Drainage and Levee District proposal as recommended by the Chief of Engineers in House Document No. 150, 88th Congress, modifies the existent project so as to provide for a pumping station with collector ditches and necessary auxiliary facilities for removal of water impounded by the existing main levee. The total cost is estimated at $193,000, of which $179,000 would be for Federal construction. The remaining $14,000 would be non-Federal costs for lands and rights-of-way. The benefit-cost ratio is 2.1.

Both of the projects are vital to the areas' economies in which they would be located. Considerable land, crop, and property damage has resulted because of inadequate interior flood protection and lack of proper runoff and pumping facilities. Without the projects further, serious economic dislocation can be anticipated. I heartily endorse them and earnestly request their authorization.

WOOD RIVER DRAINAGE AND LEVEE DISTRICT, ILLINOIS

Mr. MCRAE. Wood River Drainage and Levee District, Illinois, page 172 of the Senate report.

The area is located in southwestern Illinois along the left bank of the Mississippi River, about 15 miles upstream from St. Louis, Mo. The area is protected from Mississippi River floods. Interior flooding occurs during high stages of the river.

The Chief of Engineers recommends construction of a pumping plant and collector ditches at an estimated Federal cost of $179,000 subject to certain conditions of local cooperation. Local interests have indicated a willingness to cooperate. The benefit-to-cost ratio is 2.1.

The State and Federal agencies favor the project and the Bureau of the Budget has no objection to the submission of the report to Congress. Mr. JONES. Are there questions?

Now, we will go to the Plains Division, Lt. Col. R. S. Kristoferson.

STATEMENT OF LT. COL. R. S. KRISTOFERSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CIVIL WORKS FOR PLAINS DIVISION, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, WAHINGTON, D.C.; ACCOMPANIED BY JOHN S. GOTTSCHALK, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF SPORTS FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. Thank you.

Mr. JONES. Colonel, it is a pleasure to have you.

WHITE OAK BAYOU, TEX.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. It is a pleasure to testify before the committee, sir.

Mr. Chairman, the first report that I have for the committee this morning pertains to White Oak Bayou of Texas, which is found on pages 128 through 130 of the Senate report.

White Oak Bayou is a tributary of Buffalo Bayou in the San Jacinto watershed in southeast Texas.

A channel enlargement and lining project is under construction in the lower 8.5 miles of White Oak Bayou for flood control purposes. There is a need to extend the channel work upstream because of the rapid urban development of the Houston area.

The Chief of Engineers recommends 2.1 miles of channel enlargement and lining at a total estimated cost of $2,470,000. Local interests are required to comply with the normal A-B-C requirements at an estimated cost of $670,000, and to operate and maintain the project after completion. They are willing to comply. The benefit-to-cost ratio is 1.2 to 1.

The comments of the State of Texas, the Federal agencies, and the Bureau of the Budget are favorable.

This concludes my statement.

Mr. JONES. Are there questions?
The next project.

HIGHLAND BAYOU, TEX.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. The next project, sir, is Highland Bayou, Tex., found on pages 130 and 131 of the Senate report.

Highland Bayou drains a small, low, flat watershed on the western shore of Galveston Bay in Texas. It is subject to severe storms and floods easily due to slow runoff.

The Chief of Engineers recommends a diversion dam and improvement of about 19 miles of channel for flood control purposes at an estimated total construction cost of $4,870,000. Local interests are required to comply with the normal A-B-C provisions at an estimated first cost of $1,370,000 and $37,000 annually for maintenance and operation. They are willing to comply. The benefit-to-cost ratio is

3.4 to 1.

Comments of the State of Texas and the Federal agencies are favorable. The Bureau of the Budget has no objection to submission of the report.

Mr. JONES. Are there questions?

Mr. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, I do have a question.
Mr. JONES. Mr. Baldwin.

Mr. BALDWIN. The comments of the Bureau of the Budget I have read in the Senate report, and when they get through, they state they agree. After writing a full paragraph of comments, which comment about the alternate plan, when they get all through, they say they agree with the corps's position. Is that correct?

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. That is correct. And they also state we have underestimated the benefits. They feel the benefit-to-cost ratio is 3.6 to 1 instead of the 3.4 to 1 we have in our report.

Mr. JONES. Next project.

EL PASO, TEX.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. The next report, sir, pertains to El Paso, Tex. It is found on pages 133 through 135 of the report.

Sir, the city of El Paso, Tex., is subject to flooding from the many tributaries of the Rio Grande which originate in the Franklin Mountains. After short intense rains such as summer thunderstorms, serious floods descend upon the city and its suburbs.

The Chief of Engineers recommends a local protection project composed of four independent elements. Each element consists of detention dams, diversion dikes, interceptor and outfall channels, and associated structures. The total estimated first cost of the project is $15,624,000. Local interests are required to comply with the normal A B C's of local cooperation at an estimated cost of $3,131,000 and to operate and maintain the completed project. They have indicated willingness and ability to cooperate. The benefit-to-cost ratio is 1.7

to 1.

The improvements proposed in two of the independent elements will change flows in the international sections of the Rio Grande. For that reason, the Chief of Engineers recommends that construction in these two areas be deferred until the International Boundary and Water Commission starts construction to increase the capacity of the Rio Grande and its floodway. He recommends early construction of the remainder of the plan.

The comments of the States of Texas and New Mexico and the Federal agencies are favorable. The International Boundary and Water Commission concurs, with the understanding that construction of elements affecting the international sections of the Rio Grande will be deferred.

The Bureau of the Budget has no objection to submission of this report.

That concludes my statement, sir.

Mr. JONES. In low flow periods, Colonel, do you not have a saline problem in certain sections of the river?

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. Saline, sir?

Mr. JONES. Yes.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. I am not aware of that problem. I know that in the Southwest this is a general problem, but I am not specifically aware of one in El Paso itself, sir.

Mr. JONES. So you do not have that problem in the lower reaches? You do not have the saline problem in the lower reaches of the river? Colonel KRISTOFERSON. I think there probably is, but this project is concerned with flood control for the city of El Paso itself, rather

than with improving the quality of the water for irrigation or municipal purposes.

Mr. JONES. Well, what is being done on the upper reaches of the stream in the way of impounding reservoirs to assure normal streamflow? Is anything being done?

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. A general answer to that question is that nothing is being done, because the waters of the Rio Grande are already overappropriated and any reservoirs built have to be operated in accordance with the compact between the United States and Mexico. Mr. JONES. Yes, I understand.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. And for that reason flows are almost never impounded, but are generally free to flow to meet the water rights of the people below.

Mr. JONES. Well, there is the Falcon Dam in relation to this project? Colonel KRISTOFERSON. It is downstream, sir.

Mr. JONES. Downstream? I have never understood why they did not have upstream reservoirs to assure streamflow in drought periods. That would not usurp the withdrawal rights of Mexico or of Texas, or New Mexico.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. I believe the answer to that question lies in the priority of water rights. If waters are withheld, first priority users can use them and people further down on the list are unable to withdraw the waters.

Mr. JONES. They would not withdraw them if you had enough water running down the mainstream of the river?

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. That is correct, sir. But I do not believe the yield of the Rio Grande is able to meet all of the existing water rights. It is principally the matter of water law that causes the problem.

Mr. JONES. All right.

Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Chairman, Amisted Dam will take care of exactly what you are saying below that area.

Mr. JONES. I recall when we were considering the Falcon Dam that is built, it is estimated it would take approximately 7 years to build the reservoir. After you had a flash flood down there, you built it in about a few months. That is the history of the reservoir?

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. I have no knowledge of that, sir. (Statement of Congressman Richard L. White follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD C. WHITE, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM TEXAS

Mr. Chairman, the city of El Paso, Tex., the major city of my district is one of the fastest growing cities of the Nation. It more than doubled its population in the decade from 1950 to 1960. With a population of more than 300,000, it ranks 46th among the cities of this Nation. Its value to the Nation is immense. It is the largest city of the Mexican border and it is the site of Fort Bliss, the world's major center for the training of troops from all the free world in the operation of antiaircraft missiles. It is also the site of Biggs Air Force Base, an important unit in the Strategic Air Command, and of William Beaumont General Hospital, an Army hospital which is also used by the Veterans' Administration. Throughout all of its history, El Paso has been subject to frequent damage from flash floods, occurring principally in the months of July and August, when the area's meager rainfall is concentrated. The city and county of El Paso have spent many millions of dollars to control these floods, but has gradually come to realize that a proper measure of control would involve cooperation of local, State, and national governments. El Paso set up its own flood control council,

composed of leading engineers of the area, who spent many months in studying the problem. The planning was later referred to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and on November 26, 1963, the city council of El Paso approved the plan submitted by the Corps of Engineers, and furnished the assurance of local cooperation necessary. On October 3, 1964, the people of El Paso approved a bond issue for the city's share of the program in the amount of $3,131,000.

With El Paso having completed its share of the program, it was hoped that a public works omnibus bill, including the El Paso flood control program, would be passed by the 88th Congress, so that preconstruction planning funds, in the amount of $300,000 could be requested for the fiscal year 1965–66. Unfortunately, the bill was not passed by the 88th Congress, and as far as El Paso is concerned the need for its passage as early as possible in this session is urgent, so that the needed preconstruction funds can be immediately requested. Upon approval of the present legislation, I will try to secure funding for the entire program so that planning may begin at the earliest possible moment.

My city will continue to suffer flood damages in the neighborhood of a million dollars a year until this project is substantially completed. As late as 1963, a prominent young El Paso attorney lost his life in a flash flood as unexpected as it was vicious. For the protection of life and property in the El Paso area, I respectfully request the prompt approval of the full $12,493,000-the Federal share of this project, which was approved by the Senate Committee on Public Works and the full Senate-for the El Paso flood control project to be included in the omnibus public works bill.

Mr. JONES. The next project.

LAS ANIMAS, COLO.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. Sir, the next project is Las Animas, Colo. It is found on pages 135 through 137 of the report.

Las Animas, Colo., lies on the south bank of the Arkansas River. Urban flooding occurs when flows exceed 10,000 cubic feet per second. It was flooded in the June floods in Colorado.

The Chief of Engineers recommends levees, associated protective measures, and interior drainage works at an estimated total first cost of $1,725,000.

Local interests are required to comply with the normal "a, b, c" provisions at an estimated cost of $184,000 and to operate and maintain the completed project. They have indicated willingness to cooperate. The benefit-to-cost ratio is 1.3 to 1.

Comments of the State of Colorado and the Federal agencies are favorable. The Bureau of the Budget has no objection to submission of this report.

That concludes my statement, sir.

(At this point, Mr. Edmondson assumed the chair.)

Mr. EDMONDSON. Colonel Kristoferson, do you have current infor mation as to what damage took place in recent floods at Las Animas? Colonel KRISTOFERSON. I do not have that information with me. I can supply it for the record, sir.

Mr. EDMONDSON. All right. I think it would be helpful to update the presentation in connection with this project, if you would supply it.

Colonel KRISTOFERSON. Yes.

Mr. EDMONDSON. If there is no objection, it will be made a part of the record at this point.

(The information follows:)

The preliminary estimate of damage caused by the June flood in Las Animas, Colo., is $396,000 damage to public property and $797,000 damage to private property, making a total of $1,193,000 in flood damage.