Gorge for the combined purposes of flood control and storage for municipal water supply. The CHAIRMAN. How far is that from the mouth of the river; about how far? Colonel GEE. About 40 miles from the agricultural area and about 65 miles from the mouth of the river. The CHAIRMAN. And how far is it above that part of it which is being presently navigated in fact? Colonel GEE. It is at least 35 miles from the head of navigation. The CHAIRMAN. The estimated cost. Colonel GEE. The estimated cost of this project is $18,300,000 of which 16,300,000 is Federal cost and $2,000,000 is the contribution by local interests to the cost of this project by virtue of the fact that it stores water for domestic water supply. The CHAIRMAN. What will those local interests be, approximately, or substantially, in the cities, towns or industries, or whatever? Colonel GEE. The contribution is divided between the State of Washington and the county in whtch the city of Seattle is located, and the money for their portion of this plan has already been appropriated by the agencies; both agencies. The CHAIRMAN. Will any of that water be available for the Seattle area? Colonel GEE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The city of Seattle proper? Colonel GEE. Certain portions of the city of Seattle will be benefitted, particularly for industrial water. The CHAIRMAN. What is the ratio of benefits to cost? The CHAIRMAN. Just under the wire. Go ahead. Colonel GEE. I have no further statements unless there are questions, sir. The CHAIRMAN. With the permission of the committee, I will reserve questions until we finish with the next item. STATEMENT OF SENATOR HARRY P. CAIN, OF WASHINGTON STATE, ON THE GREEN RIVER FLOOD-CONTROL PROJECT IN WASHINGTON STATE Mr. CAIN. Mr. Chairman and members of the House Committee on Public Works, the opportunity to testify before this committee in behalf of the Green-Duwamish flood-control project is a courtesy which I appreciate sincerely. This is a matter of no little concern to me. In fact I have introduced in the Senate-and the bill is before the Senate Public Works Committee of which I am a member-legislation to authorize construction of the Eagle Gorge Dam on the Green River to alleviate what all of us in Washington State recognize as a situation which must be remedied. My personal interest, however, is not as important as is the conviction among a large number of Washington State residents that the continuing flood problem on the Green-Duwamish must be rectified in the common interest. This conviction on the part of our people out in Washington is, perhaps, best illustrated by the fact that our State legislature, a couple of months or so ago, passed a bill appropriating $1,500,000 in State funds to assist in defraying the cost of the project. Not only did the legislature take this action, but it did so without a single dissenting vote, the attitude of the senate and house of representatives of our State legislature reflecting the approval of the committees which handled this bill, for the committee, too, were unanimous in their action. On top of this State action, Mr. Chairman, King County, in which the Green-Duwamish River originates and through which it flows on its 75-mile path to Puget Sound, likewise has demonstrated its cooperative interest in accomplishing this flood-controlling project. The Board of King County Commissioners, following the State action, met in special session and by amending the budget already adopted, set aside $250,000 more in matching funds. An equal sum, $250,000, has been pledged by King County in its 1950 budget, making a total outlay toward the construction of the dam of $500,000. Thus the people of my State are prepared to pay from local revenues $2,000,000 as a contribution toward this work. I would like to make one more statement relative to these matching funds, Mr. Chairman, before I continue on with other phases of this project. It is important, I believe, for the committee to take cognizance of the act by which the State appropriated this money. Expenditure of these funds is contingent upon "adoption and authorization of the project by Congress, and the making of a Federal appropriation therefor." We should note, likewise, that State appropriations are limited to the biennium in which they are made, as if the local matching funds are to be used efficiently and without the possible necessity of going through the process of reappropriation, the attention of Congress is necessary this session. Out in my State, Mr. Chairman, we have long been aware of the need for doing something about the reoccuring floods on the GreenDuwamish River. In fact the original survey to set up a Federal flood-control project was made more than 20 years ago. But many intangibles and various plans proposed have prevented accomplishment until this time. Proposals have covered many possibilities. The United States engineers have considered widening and deepening the river channel to carry a larger volume of water. They also have studied the feasi bility of dikes or levees to protect the river valley from flood stages. The present proposal, construction of a dam in the upper reaches of the river, is considered the most efficient and practical and meets with unanimous approval by everyone concerned. Let me say, Mr. Chairman, that there is no one in our State, of whom I know, who opposes this project. The Federal agencies concerned have all approved the project and the proposal of the engineers. It remains now only for Congress to authorize the work and appro priate the funds representing the Federal portion of the investment. Controlling this situation has become of growing importance in the last few years. There was a time, when a flood-control project was first suggested, that the benefits would not justify the expense. But since that time this area has grown tremendously. Thousands of new residents have settled in the Puget Sound area and in the towns and communities along this river. The product of the fertile soil in the valley plain has become of immeasurably greater importance to the people of Seattle and Tacoma, our most populous centers, and new industries have sprung up. Land values have increased until now the benefits which would be derived more than compensate for the estimated expense involved in construction of the dam. In fact, on the basis of value to the people and the area, it would be perfectly legitimate for us to ask the Federal Government to undertake this project alone. But our people in Washington State are willing, yes, eager, to demonstrate to the Congress that they feel this project is worthy and want to assist, to the limit of their ability, in its accomplishment. I believe the Army engineers can testify to the degree of local cooperation and interest. I believe the engineers can attest to a solidarity in thinking and action, of volunteer effort and time given by dozens of interested persons, including accomplished engineers and other technical experts, in fostering the achievement of this development. We have a large stake in this project, now and in the future. The controlling of floods along this river is imperative in the public interest and health. Periodic floods have caused severe damage, costing millions of dollars over the years, in the devastation of farms and small towns, loss of productivity, erosion of the soil, and destruction of highways and utilities. Until we control this situation, this area is naturally retarded. It is difficult to zone the valley for most effective use. It is hard for the State to plan highways and other transportation facilities and for the railroads and utility companies to enlarge and improve on their services. All of us in the State know the flood danger, in itself, merits attention from the Federal Government. We know, too, that future development of the river valley, both to bring about increased agricultural yield and as a site for new and expanded industry, depends on alleviation of the existing conditions. Seattle visualizes the time when its southern boundaries will expand into this valley, for it is the only natural course of growth to the south of the city. Seattle looks toward the time when industrial plants will occupy areas now rural and when this property will become a greater source of employment and prosperity through the productivity which follows expansion and progress. But this is a phase which lies in the future. It cannot and will not be unless we furnish the key, which is the control of the floods sweeping down this river channel from the high slopes of the Cascade Mountains. The Green-Duwamish River flood-control project is fundamentally and exclusively just what the name implies. The dam proposed will permit control of the river's flow by storage of water in heavy run-off periods. Release of water in dry seasons will help establish normal water flow and benefit the agricultural lands in the valley below. It may be that at some future time this flood-control dam will also become a possible source of municipal water supply for one of the several communities in the area. This project is not like many within our State where the Government is investing tax dollars under a system of guaranteed returns from power and irrigation. There is this to consider, however. To control the floods on this river will increase the development of this area. It will mean more dollars for the farmers who have lands in the valley. It will mean more industrial plants, more people, and more productivity. And out of those returns will come more revenues for the operation of this Government in the form of greater tax receipts. It would be repetitious for me to discuss with you gentlemen of the committee the engineering phases of this proposal. They are well and ably presented by the United States engineers and some of the expert witnesses appearing at this hearing. My personal conviction is that this is a meritorious undertaking in which the Federal Government has a direct responsibility. My earnest hope is that you will find the facts conclusive and stimulate the progress of this area by authorizing Federal participation in this undertaking. The CHAIRMAN. The other item for the day on which we have a report is Albeni Falls. ALBENI FALLS, IDAHO (S. Doc. 9, 81st Cong.) Colonel GEE. The survey report on the Albeni Falls project was authorized by resolution of the Committee on Commerce, April 6, 1937, and a subsequent resolution from the same committee September 24, 1943. This project is located at the outlet of Lake Pend Oreille, a large lake in northern Idaho, which is fed by the Clark Fork River as its principal contributing source of water. Its outlet is the Pend Oreille River on which stream the proposed improvement would be constructed. The Clark Fork River rises near Butte, Mont., flows 350 miles to Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho. The Pend Oreille River flows through the lake and flows 25 miles to Albeni Falls. About 2 miles from the Falls, the stream enters the State of Washington and flows 72 miles to the Canadian border. It flows a distance of 16 miles in Canada and there joins the Columbia River. The drainage area of the Pend Oreille River at Albeni Falls is 24,200 square miles. The population of this basin in 1940 was 188,000 people. Its principal resources are timber products. There is some agricultural activity principally involved in the raising of small grains and forage and the raising of livestock. Maximum rainfall in the area yearly has been 32 inches; the minimum, 11; the average annual is 23. From 1903 to 1946 or 1947 there were 14 floods with peak discharges in excess of 100,000 second-feet at Albeni Falls, the maximum being 136,000 in June of 1913. The stream slopes on these rivers-the Pend Oreille flows over a series of falls during its lower reach at the point where the proposed improvement would be located. In its upper reaches, it constitutes a portion of Lake Pend Oreille itself. The low water fall is about 7 feet per mile through the upper portion of the stream and at the location of the project there is a drop of about 8 feet in three-quarters of a mile. There are no existing projects in this basin authorized by the Federal Government; there is at present a dam being constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Hungry Horse Dam. The CHAIRMAN. What has that to do with the outlet of this lake? Colonel GEE. It contributes to the flood control in the Columbia Basin by virtue of the fact that a portion of the storage in Hungry Horse will be allocated to flood control. The CHAIRMAN. For the record, how does it get into the Columbia? Colonel GEE. Down the Flat Head River to Clark Fork, and thence into Lake Pend Oreille. The CHAIRMAN. So this water then by Hungry Horse Dam is kept out of Lake Pend Oreille, is it? Colonel GEE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Is there any other dam that keeps water out of that lake? Colonel GEE. No, sir; not at present. The CHAIRMAN. What is the cost of the Hungry Horse project, estimated cost? Is it $1,000,000 or more? Colonel GEE. It is a Bureau of Reclamation project, sir. The CHAIRMAN. It is not under your supervision? Colonel GEE. That is under the Bureau of Reclamation, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Is there any other project under your supervision in this area? Colonel GEE. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Previously authorized? Colonel GEE. Certain local emergency works have been carried out in the area. There are no authorized projects, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Indicate on the map-I have no desire to interfere with your orderly presentation-indicate on the map generally where that dam is located. Colonel GEE. On the Pend Oreille River in a gorge which now constitutes the natural outlet of Lake Pend Oreille. The purpose of that project would be to impound additional waters in Lake Pend Oreille by stabilizing the water surface elevation of that lake and raising it the amount indicated by the deep blue-shaded area around the perimeter of the lake. In doing that, it would be necessary to construct a low protective levee around the town of Sandpoint, Idaho, which is situated on the northwest shore of the lake. The floods of record on Lake Pend Oreille because of floods in the Clerk Fork have inundated the areas around Lake Pend Oreille shaded in red. It is also clear from this map that the proposed raising of the lake surface does not inundate as much land as the natural floods which enter the lake from the Clark Fork. In addition, this impounded water would be released at controlled rates to provide additional water supply for all power installations downstream from this project. They include the Grande Coulee Dam and the Bonneville Dam, both now in operation. The waters released from this project will build up the low-water flow of the Columbia River at the Grand Coulee Dam and at the Bonneville Dam for the generation of hydroelectric power at both sites. The CHAIRMAN. Did I understand you to say this river emptied into the Columbia River 16 miles up in Canada north of the border? Colonel GEE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What benefit is there to Canada and what arrangements for Canada to participate in the cost? |