OCR Text |
Show responsibility for flood control. That if we agreed the state should assume responsibility in flood control, that responsibility should be defined with the idea in mind of preparing legislation for consideration of the Legislative Council. After considerable discussion it was the consensus of the meeting that the flood problem was such that certain needed action could be taken only by an agency of the state and that in all phases of flood control the state should have the authority and responsibility for promoting flood control action and guiding cooperation and integration of flood control activities of all agencies and organizations. There seemed general agreement that no new agency in the state should be set up to discharge the state's flood control responsibilities but that such activities should be vested in an existing agency or department. Mr. Skeen suggested that in order to clarify and determine the extent to which the state should enter the flood control field, the committee should delinate the various flood problems and to expedite this he moved that flood control problems be grouped, for discussion purposes, into three categories^ ( 1) land use, ( 2) flood control works, and ( 3) regulation of water control facilities. The No. 3 category was discussed first. There was general agreement that there was a definite need for the state to have authority and responsibility for regulating water control facilities such as reservoirs, canals, and laterals in case of flood emergencies. It was recognized that such authority and responsibility would carry with it liability. The chairman asked Mr. Skeen if he thought that the state's Constitution would permit of a law granting the state such powers. Mr. Skeen was of the opinion that the police powers of the state would make such an act operative. Mr. Miner concurred. Category No. 2 was discussed next. It was generally agreed that construction of flood control facilities, dams, debris basins, levees, diversions, etc. should not constitute a major function of the state. Such measures should, in the main, be the responsibility of other agencies and organizations such as the Army Engineers, U. S. Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, Counties, Soil Conservation Districts, etc. It was felt, however, that in order to receive maximum service from these agencies in flood control that a state agency should be given the authority and responsibility for promoting flood control works; for facilitating cooperation, and promoting integration of the activities of various control agencies and groups. It was pointed out that federal agencies required local financial participation in flood control works; that maintenance of structures was often required of local groups. It was felt that the state could and should facilitate such required cooperation. Category No. 1, Land Use, was discussed and, unless further consideration of it is requested by a member of the committee in the future, it would not be included in any recommended legislation. In connection with the problem of proper use of privately owned watershed lands in the interest of flood control, Mr. Fjeldsted suggested that the committee might wish to consider the desir- - 45- |