OCR Text |
Show Connecticut River Flood Control Compact, 1951 Whereas, the federal government exercises jurisdiction over the na- tion's navigable rivers and their tributaries through passage of the flood control act of nineteen hundred and thirty-six and various other acts amendatory thereto; and Whereas, these acts provide for construction by the United States of dams for flood control and, where feasible, in addition to flood control for storage of water to be used for irrigation, recreation or hydroelectric power or for any of these purposes; and Whereas, the Connecticut is an interstate river and control of major floods on it can be obtained only by the construction of dams by the United States under authorization of the above-mentioned acts; and Whereas, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the States of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont recognize that it is in the interest of their general welfare that the United States construct in the Connecticut River Valley a comprehensive system of local protec- tion works and dams and reservoirs to control floods and prevent loss of life and property, the disruption of orderly processes and the im- pairment of commerce between the aforesaid states; and Whereas, the United States has constructed dikes, flood walls and other local protection works at Hartford and East Hartford in the State of Connecticut and at Springfield, Riverdale, West Springfield, Chicopee, Northampton, Holyoke, and Springdale, in the Common- wealth of Massachusetts and dams and reservoirs for the storage of flood waters at Knightville, Birch Hill and Tully in the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, at Surry Mountain in the State of New Hampshire and at Union Village in the State of Vermont and has reached agreements with the state wherein located for construction of dams and reservoirs for the storage of flood waters at Barre Falls in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and at Ball Mountain and at Townshend in the State of Vermont; and Whereas, the Congress has at various times authorized construction by the United States of other dams and reservoirs for the storage of flood waters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the States of New Hampshire and Vermont and has more recently instructed the corps of engineers to determine what additional local protection works and dams and reservoirs are required for a comprehensive system to control floods in the Connecticut River and its tributaries; and Whereas, it is believed that such a comprehensive flood control sys- tem should include dams and reservoirs controlling flood run-off from approximately twenty-five (25) per cent of the total drainage area of the Connecticut River above Hartford, Connecticut, and strategically located in reference to characteristics of tributaries and to damage centers; and Whereas, construction by the United States of additional dams and reservoirs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the States 64 |