STATEMENT OF HON. LOWELL STOCKMAN, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

Mr. STOCKMAN. Mr. Chairman, the comprehensive plan of river development outlined in the 308 report of the Corps of Engineers has been developed as a result of extensive investigations and studies over a period of years, and has been thoroughly tested by means of numerous public hearings throughout the basin, and coordinated by joint planning with other Federal and State agencies. Its intent is to provide flood control, hydroelectric power, inland-waterway navigation, and maximum irrigation development for the region.

While the plan is very extensive and requires large expenditures, in essence the Northwest is not asking for a gift, but only that the Federal Government extend credit for these projects, some of which will pay for themselves in a return of actual dollars and cents, while others will prove more than economically justified.

Already the two great projects of Bonneville and Grand Coulee are returning annually $22,000,000 in cash to the Federal Treasury, which is far more than sufficient to pay all amortization, interest, and operation and maintenance charges both for the dam and for the federally owned transmission system. In fact, the Federal Government is now receiving a cash net return or profit of $2,000,000 annually from the Bonneville Dam alone.

The inland navigation features of this plan are of considerable importance to the district which I represent in eastern Oregon. The Columbia River is at present hazardous and difficult to navigate, but already some 1,250,000 tons of commerce annually are carried in the upper region of the river above Bonneville Dam. This is bringing considerable benefits to eastern Oregon, on account of the movement upstream of petroleum products and downstream of great cargoes of wheat, most of which is processed through river ports at Umatilla and The Dalles. The eventual construction of The Dalles and John Day Reservoir will provide slack-water navigation whereby eight barges would be handled by a single towboat instead of one as at present.

The greatest flood-control benefits of the comprehensive plan are for the lower Columbia at and below Portland; but some of the minor tributaries in the district I represent suffer severe damage from floods and will be provided flood protection by this plan. One of these is the Grand Ronde Basin, whoch suffered terrible damage in 1948 and was exposed to lesser flooding within the last month. Even this small flood covered 2,000 acres of agricultural land in the lower valley; and the flood of Catherine Creek threatened the city waterworks, a bridge, and other valuable property which was saved only because of flood-control work constructed last fall be the county, supplemented by emergency work during the flood by the Corps of Engineers. The 308 report provides for a complete levee and channel improvement in the valley at a cost of approximately $3,000,000. This will remedy a situation which threatens an extremely prosperous valley and several towns within it. Additional study is also being made of reservoirs and flood protection for this valley, but I understand that these studies are not yet complete.

The Umatilla River is another tributary with very serious flood problems. The city of Pendleton in particular has only a partial degree of levee protection which leaves the city in an extremely dangerous situation in the event of a major flood such as occurred in the past. Serious loss of life as well as property damage is at stake. The 308 report provided for $500,000 for levee and channel improvements at this point and approximately $150,000 for channel work downstream at points where serious damage is threatened. This work is necessary and should be pushed. In addition other studies not included in the 308 report are being made by the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation of a multiple-purpose project for this stream, the Ryan Creek Dam. This dam is not definitely recommended in the 308 report; but I wish to mention it at this time and to state that while I regard the levee and channel work proposed as essential, I do not consider that this flood protection will be fully adequate until this reservoir is also constructed.

The 308 report also provides for construction of a dam on the Willow Creek to protect the town of Heppner which is subject to cloudburst floods, which on one occasion in the past drowned over 200 persons.

There are other local flood problems in my district which arouse concern from time to time. I note that the 308 report calls for an authorization of $15,000,000 to cover these small local flood-control projects throughout the basin in addition to those specifically authorized. In view of the vast number of localities subject to floods, and the changing conditions on many of these streams, where remedial action must be taken within a few months or even weeks in order to prevent the loss of irreplaceable property values, I think that the request for blanket authorization, which is generally similar to the provisions of the Flood Control Act of 1948, should be included in early authorization under the basin plan.

The amount involved is small in comparison with the cost of a single one of the vast multiple-purpose projects of the main control plan, but the possibility of a prompt remedy for these acute local flood situations is important in terms of human needs.

Thank you.

The CHAIRMAN. Our next witness is Mr. Jackson. Representative from the State of Washington. We are very happy to hear from you at this time.

STATEMENT OF HON. HENRY M. JACKSON, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

Mr. JACKSON. Mr. Chairman, Governor Langlie is right when he says that the Northwest is of one mind as to the need for the great projects embodied in the joint plan presented here this morning by the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

The Pacific Northwest has been suffering from a power shortage unprecedented in the history of our region. During the past year it has been necessary on several occasions to curtail the use of power. The result has been a cut-back in production in many of our important industrial operations. What is worse, we have had to turn away industries which were anxious to enter and settle in our region, but were prevented from doing so by a lack of power.

I shall not burden the committee with a detailed justification of each and every project contained in these reports, now being discussed informally by the committee. I shall merely say that I believe that the dams, irrigation, flood control and navigation facilities mentioned by Colonel Weaver, Mr. Newell, and others, must be built. However, I have heard nothing here today to indicate they will be properly coordinated and brought to completion at a rate commensurate with regional needs or national security.

The substance of the Columbia River program is one thing-proper, efficient administration and rapid achievement of the program are something else again.

The question of organization was not the one which this committee set out to discuss today. But since it has been raised, I feel duty bound to address myself to it.

I should like to address myself particularly to one statement made by Governor Langlie this morning. He said:

Much of the support for authority legislation, which is offered as an alternative, is inspired from the Washington, D. C., level.

In this statement, Governor Langlie makes two mistakes. For one thing, he implies that there is little or no support among the citizens of the Northwest for a Columbia Valley administration. It might be well to call to his attention, and to the attention of the committee, the fact that CVA has been publicly and enthusiastically endorsed by the Washington State Grange, representing most of the farmers in my State of Washington, the Washington State Federation of Labor and the CIO, and the Washington State Council of Machinists, representing almost all of the organized working men in my State. It seems that no one is supporting CVA in Washington except the people of Washington.

I should like to read to the committee parts of a letter sent to my colleague, Congressman Hugh B. Mitchell, by the heads of those organizations in my State. They write:

Recent newspaper reports quoting anti-CVA spokesmen as saying that there is no support in the Pacific Northwest for the Columbia Valley Administration bill is an insult to the many Northwest organizations which have actively favored this legislation for years.

The organizations we represent have a combined membership of a half million persons plus their families. We challenge the CVA opponents

to name the people they represent when they claim to speak as the voice of the Pacific Northwest.

*

* *

CVA will bring greater benefits to the Pacific Northwst by hastening the development of the Columbia, America's greatest source of power. It will be done in a completely democratic manner, and the people of the Northwest will have more to say in their future destiny than they have ever had before. The enthusiasm of our members convinces us that, were the CVA issue put to the test of a vote, the people of the Pacific Northwest would be overwhelmingly in favor of this legislation. The manner in which the people of our region are rallying to the support of CVA further convinces us that the Pacific Northwest wants a CVA and will have a CVA.

Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, the Washington State House of Representatives have passed a memorial favoring CVA. I have received letters from thousands of sincere individuals, local units of labor unions and granges, expressing their support of CVA. The President has received similar letters and telegrams congratulating him on his vigorous support of CVA legislation.

It is really hard for me to believe that CVA has been inspired solely "at the Washington, D. C., level."

The other mistake which Governor Langlie has made is to imply in his statement that CVA is an alternative to the comprehensive plan proposed here.

When he says "alternative," I believe he implies that one plan replaces or rules out another. But CVA in no way rules out the building of the projects outlined in the joint plan proposed by the Bureau and the corps. On the contrary, the CVA bill specifies that the projects already authorized and under way will be continued, and there is no reason why the other projects which the Northwest needs so badly cannot be undertaken by the Columbia Valley Administration.

So CVA is not an "either-or" proposition. It is a "both and." The CVA would mean that these projects would still be built but under a unified plan, which dovetails with plans for other phases of resource development-such as fish and wildlife conservation, forest and range management and soil conservation.

The people of my State want the 308 report projects approved. The people of my State also want assurance that they will be completed and administered in such a way as to develop the region's resources for all their values.

Thank you.

The CHAIRMAN. Any other Members of the Senate or House here? If not, Mr. Clerk, you will observe their request and if they send in statements before next Thursday, you will insert them at this point in the record.

If there are no further witnesses, the committee stands adjourned until 10 o'clock Monday morning.

(At the request of Congressman Homer D. Angell the following additional statements regarding projects in the Columbia River Basin were submitted by Col. Herbert C. Gee :)

DATA ON CLATSKANIE RIVER AREA

Clatskanie River, Oreg., flows through the town of Clatskanie to empty into Beaver slough. The river is navigable to the town of Clatskanie, and tidal effect extends to a point a short distance above the town. The river makes four very sharp bends within the town, and local interests have constructed bulkheads along the banks in order to prevent property damage. The main street and business establishments are located on a peninsula formed by an oxbow bend in the river, and the elevations of the stores range from 14 to 18 feet, mean sea level. During the flood of 1918, two blocks of the main street lying at a slightly lower elevation were flooded, and traffic on Columbia River Highway was suspended. Annual floods which occur many times during the rainy season, cause damage principally through bank erosion. The land areas so affected are too small to justify protection. Local citizens are desirous that some form of flood protection be provided for the town. Construction of 1,500 feet of timber bulkhead and 500 feet of 10-foot levee would be required to protect the town. The estimated cost of such works is $90,000, of which $73,000 would be Federal and $17,000 non-Federal.

Local interests would be required to assume the usual requirements of local cooperation consisting of furnishing lands, easements, and rights-of-ways, making necessary highway, highway bridge and utility alterations, holding and saving the United States free from damages, and maintaining and operating the works after completion.

DATA ON KALAMA RIVER, SOUTH AREA

This area is situated in the southern part of Cowlitz County, and extends along Columbia River from Kalama River on the north to and including the town of

Kalama, Wash. The 1948 flood waters inundated the main street of Kalama to a depth of from 2 to 4 feet. All business in town was suspended for a 6-week period, and preliminary estimates indicate the damage to have been $350,000. This does not include the damage to the municipal dock, the railroad station, or to the fish dock facilities which lie outside of the area which would be protected by levees. The total area is about 610 acres, of which 520 acres would be protected. Construction of 3 miles of levee, a tide box, drainage ditches, and a pumping plant would be required. The estimated cost of this work would be $520,000, of which $420,000 would be Federal and $100,000 non-Federal cost. Protection to this area would enhance the value of all business property, create potential sites for small industries, and expand the diversified farming area. With full protection, the fringe area on the north side of town probably would be fully developed.

Local interests would be required to assume the usual requirements of local cooperation consisting of furnishing lands, easements and rights-of-way, making necessary highway, highway bridge and utility alterations, holding and saving the United States free from damages, and maintaining and operating the works after completion.

DATA ON VANCOUVER LAKE AREA

This area is located at river mile 100 and extends from the corporate limits of Vancouver, downstream along Columbia River for a distance of about 9 miles. The total area of the 1948 flood plain is about 10,000 acres, of which about 4,000 acres normally are inundated annually. The area is essentially suburban and includes orchards subsistence farms, a large aluminum reduction plant, and a highway and railroad. Several large dairy farms supply milk products to the city of Vancouver are located in the area. The land is extremely rich and protection from flooding, combined with drainage of the low-lying areas, would open large areas for truck gardening, and for additional industrial sites for Vancouver and vicinity. The population within this area increased greatly during the war years and, as long as the war housing units are occupied, this population will be threatened by major floods. The area is so extensive that it could support a suburban population equal to the present city of Vancouver.

Plans for protection of this area were proposed in 1920 and again in 1923, but opposition arose to prevent development. The most feasible plan under present conditions and probable future development, would require the construction of a levee, about 2.8 miles in length, along the river front of the industrial area, possibly constructed with material excavated from the Columbia River ship channel; a levee about 7.7 miles in length, including 2,500 feet of flood wall, extending from the Aluminum Co. of America property downstream along the river 6.9 miles, thence northerly to a closure of Lake River; a diversion ditch to empty Salmon Creek into Lake River; tide boxes; a pumping plant in connection with the Lake River closure; and a pumping plant at the outlet of Shillapoo Lake. The estimated cost of the above work would the $1,898,000, of which $1,462,000 would be Federal and $434,000 non-Federal cost. Local interests would be required to assume the usual requirements of local cooperation consisting of furnishing lands, easements and rights-of-way, making necessary highway, highway bridge and utility alterations, holding and saving the United States free from damages, and maintaining and operating the works, including the pumping plants, after completion.

DATA ON HAYDEN ISLAND

Hayden Island, situated on the Oregon side of Columbia River at mile 105, opposite Vancouver, is separated from the Oregon mainland by North Portland Harbor. It is about 4 miles long and contains approximately 850 acres. A total of 292 acres of the eastern half of the island adjacent to United States Highway No. 99 has been developed by Hayden Island Amusement Co. In addition to the amusement park, 24 duplex houses containing 48 rental' units, a supermarket, drug store, restaurant, riding academy, hunt club, and filling station are located on the island. The damage caused by the 1948 flood was slightly in excess of $110,000, exclusive of the loss of business during the flood. Protection of the east end of the island, which lies upstream from the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway, justifiably could be accomplished by provision of a 4-mile levee, an automatic drainage gate, and a small pumping plant. At a later date, if conditions