| OCR Text |
Show Potentialities Investigations, mostly of survey scope, made by the Corps of Engineers with the cooperation of the Federal Power Commission and other interested agencies show that 12 undeveloped sites in the Poto- mac River Basin could be utilized to provide hydro- electric installations aggregating 771,500 kilowatts, capable of a total average annual generation of 2.3 billion kilowatt-hours. The active storage capacity contemplated in connection with these 12 projects, together with that proposed at the Patterson Creek and Brocks Gap Reservoir projects which would not have power developed at their sites, amounts to 3.6 million acre-feet. These power potentiali- ties would be developed as part of multiple-purpose plans for utilizing the water resources of the basin. (Table 1.) Programs to Develop the Potential No projects or programs are presently proposed to develop any of the potential water power of the basin. Navigation Existing Improvements The navigable deep water portion of the Potomac River, which extends from Chesapeake Bay to Washington, D. C, contains 146 miles of navigable channels, including a main channel 24 feet deep. The authorized projects include 9 miles of channels of 24-foot depth in Washington Harbor. Although the full project depth is not maintained throughout the harbor, the channels are maintained to depths adequate to serve the demands of existing com- merce. Some 2.5 million tons of traffic annually pass ovear the improved channels at and below Washington. Cargoes include sand and gravel, petroleum products, naval ordnance, seafood, news- print paper, and phosphate rock. Except for naval ordnance _, practically all the waterborne movements are inbound. Seven projects completed or in opera- tion in the tidewater section below Washington pro- vide harb»ors for small boats engaged in the seafood industry and for recreational craft. One additional project serves the excursion trade. The channels of the Potomac River Basin are navigable during all seasoirs of the year. The cost to June 30, 1950, of all navigation projects by the Corps of Engineers was 5 million dollars. Facilities Under Construction or Authorized A yacht harbor to accommodate 356 boats, 4 piers, and bulkhead walls has been authorized for construction on the north side of Washington Chan- nel. Construction was initiated in 1938 and to date a commercial pier and mooring facilities for 198 small boats have been completed. An excursion pier now under construction is scheduled for com- pletion in 1951. Three projects for development of tributaries of the tidewater section below Wash- ington, D. C, have been authorized for construc- tion. The estimated cost to complete all authorized projects is 5.2 million dollars, with an estimated average annual maintenance cost of 143,200 dollars. Benefits from these navigation projects have not been fully analyzed. However, the economic merit at the time of their authorization was judged by their need for the safety, convenience, and expansion of commerce, and by the peculiar situation pre- sented by the need for waterfront facilities in keep- ing with the esthetic characteristics of the National Capital area. Additional Navigation Needs and Proposed Program Studies are now being made to determine the ad- visability of further improvement of the waterfronts at and in the vicinity of Washington, D. C. Studies of the possible use of eight tributaries of the tide- water section below Washington have been author- ized. In general, the completion of all lower river authorized and contemplated navigation projects will result in a series of natural or artificial harbors for small craft along both sides of the river below Alexandria not more than about 10 miles apart. Future Construction Program for Reservoir Development The reservoir plan for the Potomac River and tributaries 3 has been authorized for review.4 This plan was recommended by the Division Engineer 8 H. Doc. 622, 79th Cong., 2d sess. 4 This review is only a preliminary examination to deter- mine whether or not a report of general survey scope is warranted. 588 |
