OCR Text |
Show international commissions with specified responsi- bilities concerning navigation, among other uses. Thus, the International Joint Commission was created pursuant to a treaty between the United States and Great Britain for the purpose of pre- venting disputes regarding the use of boundary waters and to settle questions arising between the United States and Canada. The International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, was created for the purpose of ex- amining and deciding differences arising on the boundary portions of the Rio Grande and the Colorado River. This Commission also has cer- tain responsibilities concerning the construction of projects. Flood Control Assumption of Federal responsibility for the control of floods on a national basis is a relatively recent development. For many years and for a variety of reasons, flood control was deemed a problem largely local in character. Early legisla- tive evidence of Federal interest appeared in the Swamp Land Acts of 1849 and 1850, granting unsold swamp and overflowed lands to several States for disposal. It was stipulated that the proceeds were to be applied to the prosecution of drainage, reclamation, and flood control work. In the next two decades, investigations, surveys, and reports reflected a continuing Federal interest confined largely to flood problems in the Missis- sippi Valley. In 1879, Congress created the Mississippi River Commission and delegated to it the duty of con- sidering plans to improve navigation of the Mis- sissippi River, prevent destructive floods, and pro- mote and facilitate commerce, trade, and the postal service. After floods in 1915 and 1916, Congress authorized appropriations totaling over 50 million dollars for control of floods on the Mississippi and Sacramento Rivers. An addi- tional appropriation of 60 million dollars for flood control work on the lower Mississippi River was authorized in 1923. Following major floods in 1927, Congress adopted a project for control of floods of the Mississippi River in its alluvial valley, and authorized additional appropriations of 325 million dollars. After major floods in 1935 and 1936, numerous flood control projects were authorized throughout the Nation under the Flood Control Act of 1936. At the same time, Congress declared that "flood control on navigable waters or their tributaries is a proper activity of the Federal Gov- ernment in cooperation with States, their political subdivisions, and localities thereof." It also de- clared that flood control investigations and im- provements are "in the interest of the general welfare," and that the Federal Government should improve or participate in the improvement "if the benefits to whomsoever they may accrue are in excess of the estimated costs, and if the lives and social security of people are otherwise ad- versely affected." Later, Congress declared that the words "flood control" as used in that declara- tion shall be construed to include "channel and major drainage improvements." Between July 1, 1936, and June 30, 1949, total Federal expenditures for flood control work by the Army Engineers exceeded $1,700,000,000, over one-half the amount spent in over 100 years on Federal navigation improvements. Federal investigations and improvements of rivers and other waterways for flood control and allied purposes are prosecuted by the Department of the Army under the direction of its Secretary and the supervision of the Chief of Engineers. The Department of Agriculture has responsibility for investigations of watersheds and measures for runoff and water flow retardation and soil erosion prevention, an activity which will be mentioned later in connection with related uses of land. In the preparation of flood control projects, it should be noted that Congress in 1917 declared that all provisions of existing law relating to ex- aminations and surveys and to works of improve- ment of rivers and harbors "shall apply, so far as applicable" to examinations and surveys and to works of improvement relating to flood control. In the main, legislation relevant here bears a marked similarity to that governing navigation improvements. Authorizations of surveys, prep- aration of reports thereon, cooperation with 284 |