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Show Mannet and Winfield locks and dams of the Corps of Engineers located on the Kanawha River, tributary to the Ohio River, in West Virginia. The operation of these projects is subject to regulations imposed by the Depart- ment of the Army in the interests of navigation. Suffi- cient engineering data were available for the design of the three power plants. The power plants have been operated efficiently and have accomplished the purposes for which designed. The company pays to the United States annual charges amounting to $104,000 for the use of the three Government dams. Department of Agriculture 39. Los Angeles River watershed flood-control project, California.-This project was initiated in 1940 on a par- tial basis and undertaken on a basin-wide basis following full authorization in 1944. The project is only about 15 percent complete to date because of inadequate funds, and was to reduce erosion and debris flow, and to retard flash floods. The project is not yet sufficiently under way to provide full measure of accomplishment. The debris basin func- tions were fulfilled; fire control plans changed to take advantage of new techniques in using helicopters to reach fires instead of roads; plans also altered to construct few barriers instead of numerous check dams to prevent down- ward cutting of channels and to stabilize side slopes. Local political difficulties arose due to county organiza- tion and divided authority. Inadequate clearing was responsible for contamination of water supply and inade- quate data then available prevented carrying out fully all the vegetative aspects of the plan. Work in the valley lands was restricted due to unexpected growth of Los Angeles. 40. Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina.-The Weeks Act of 1911 authorized Federal acquisition of for- est land at the headwaters of navigable streams to stabilize runoff and to reduce sedimentation. The Nantahala pur- chase unit was established by the Forest Service with a gross area of 1,349,000 acres. At present 366,500 acres have been purchased at an average cost of $5.93 per acre. At the time acquisition was begun, the United States Geo- logical Survey reported 40 percent of Balsam Gap unit was deeply gullied and most agricultural lands had been abandoned; floods were more sudden and disastrous; streams were always muddy, and were clogged with debris. After purchase, fire control measures have been applied to the whole area; several thousand acres reforested and gullies healed; transportation developed; recreational im- provements installed. Expenditures for 1914-49 amounted to $7,119,000, or about $20 per acre. A forest property has now been built up with a stand of almost a billion feet of timber worth approximately $10 million, and growing rapidly. Receipts from the area to date, chiefly of old and defective material, are almost $1,200,000, or $3.30 per acre, 55 percent of the purchase price and 16 percent of the total cost. A bene- fit-cost ratio of 1.5 to 1.0 is possible on basis of worth of the timber alone. The land is worth about twice its purchase price. Private forest lands within the national forest and those adjacent have greatly benefited from forest fire protection which has cut losses and permitted increased growth, from the transportation and communication sys- tem, and from increased values in recreational privileges of hunting, fishing, and general recreation. Communities in area have become stabilized with increased revenues from tourists, sales of homecraft work, permanent wood- working plants, and specialty shops. Streams now run clear, flood flows have decreased, and sedimentation is practically at a standstill. 41. Everglades drainage project, Florida.-The origi- nal drainage project in south Florida was initiated through State action in 1881. Overspeculation was fol- lowed by the collapse in 1925. Hurricanes and the de- pression of the 30's resulted in further heavy losses. In 1941, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation bought refinanced bonds for $20 million. Water improvements needed are estimated still in excess of $20 million. The development of a navigation channel and the undertaking of flood-control works have provided canals, levees, chan- nels, and other needed works which the local people could not finance. Drainage was instituted without knowledge of the amount of water to be handled, the levels to be main- tained, or the effect of drainage on the soil. As a result, no canals were of proper size or shape to meet demands, the drainage effort was unsuccessful, and many farming ventures were lost. The present Federal program in which local interests are to share to a slight extent, will make agriculture possible over a considerable portion of the area. However, soil subsidence with drainage is rendering the present works of decreasing usefulness, and with cultivation it is doubtful if the area can long be kept in agriculture. 42. Little Tallahatchie River watershed flood-control project, Mississippi.-Authorized in 1944, the Little Tallahatchie project got started after World War II. It was designed to reduce flood damages above the Sardis Dam and reduce sedimentation. The watershed area of 867,000 acres is in a serious condition as a result of pro- longed land abuse, some lands being wholly ruined for any use without reclamation. Annual damages estimated at $1,200,000. Program cost estimated at $10.4 million over 20 years, of which $4.6 million was the Federal cost, including $1.0 million for land purchase. Program development by the Department of Agriculture was held up at very start by State legislation which pre- vented Federal land purchase. Local oil prospects were a factor that influenced local interests against further public ownership of land. Drainage, an important element, was omitted from the program but authorized in later legislation. The program is now proceeding on a somewhat different basis than originally intended but meeting program ob- jectives. The State has relaxed part of its ban on public acquisition as evidences of oil have faded and worsening land conditions become more apparent. The program is progressing with full local cooperation and satisfactory local arrangements. 43. Scofield irrigation project, Utah.-A private irri- gation dam was built in 1924 and partially failed in 1926. It was originally expected to irrigate 52,000 acres, but only 10,000 acres were suited for development. It was proposed to reconstruct the project under the Case- Wheeler Act, which provides for construction of irriga- tion works by the Bureau of Reclamation and for agri- cultural development by the Department of Agriculture 399 |