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Show APPENDIX E MINUTES OF FLOOD CONTROL COMMITTEE MEETINGS Minutes of the Meeting Held December 14, 1955 Meeting of the Flood Control Committee of the Utah Legislative Council, Senate Lounge, State Capitol Building, 2; 00 p. m. December 14, 1955. Members of the Committee in attendance were D. D„ Harris, chairman, E. J. Skeen, M. T. Wilson, R. W. Bailey, E. J. Fjeldsted. Invited guests were E. R. Callister, Attorney General; R. Porter, Attorney General's Office; W. L. Anderson, State Road Commission Office; Lewis H. Lloyd, Utah Legislative Council. This was the first meeting of the committee. Chairman Harris reminded the committee that it was charged with a study of " the need for and desirability of the state accepting the responsibility for controlling its water in flood stages." That the purpose of this meeting should be to discuss and clarify our reponsibility under the charge made to the Legislative Council. Mr. Harris asked for a discussion of the kinds of floods with which we might be interested and their causes„ Mr. Fjeldsted remarked that man's use and occupancy of our valleys and mountains had played an important part in producing floods and in increasing flood damage„ Mr. Wilson of the Geological Survey said that there were two general classes of floods. One, snowmelt floods, and the other summer torrential rain floods. He briefly summarized a report prepared by the U. S. Geological Survey, not published as yet, which described the character of the 1952 flood, the peak flow damages done, and weather and topographic conditions contributing to the floods. He said that such floods are infrequent but that they had occurred in the past, two of which may have been greater in volume of runoff than the 1952 flood. Mr. Bailey suggested that under causes, floods could be classified as man- caused and normal. Snowmelt floods would be considered primarily normal; summer torrential rain floods could be the result of either normal, due to weather and physiographic conditions, or could be man- caused- such as overgrazing, deforestation, fire, etc.; more often they were the result of both conditions. It was pointed out that urban and industrial development had increased flood damage by encroaching on the streams' normal flood plains, use, and modification of natural channels, etc. Mr. Bailey referred to a number of reports made by the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service, on several flood occurrences in various parts of the State, setting forth causes, damages, and suggesting remedial measures. These reports can be made available to the committee. Mr. Harris asked if the state had adequate laws to cope with flood problems in the state. Mr. Skeen was asked to review the state laws that were at present on the books. He said there were three statutes dealing specifically with floods. Two applied to responsibility and authority of counties. The third granted certain authority to the state. - 43- |
