1938: Flood And Flood Control

Federal and State Authorities.

Many flood-control projects are carried on under an organization — often called an Authority — which may apply for funds to the Federal Government and sometimes to the state, or may sell its own securities. The series of floods of 1937 along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and of March 1938 in California, have called the attention of the country as a whole to the importance of flood control.

By a district court's decision in April 1938, the Federal Government has been restricted in its efforts to take authority over streams from the states. This decision says, in effect, that the Federal Government has power and navigation control through the Interstate Commerce clause of the Constitution, but is devoid of other authority over streams. The following-out of this decision should lead to an orderly development of flood-control, water-conservation, and power projects.

Projects and Developments.

The Grand River Dam Authority, Oklahoma, is undertaking a large and important flood-control and power development estimated to cost $20,000,000. It will include the building of a concrete dam (Pensacola Dam), spill-ways, and a 60,000-kw. hydroelectric station.

The Orange County Flood-Control District, Orange County, Calif., has underway at least a three-year development which will include the building of several dams to store flood waters. Estimated cost, $15,000,000.

The Los Angeles County Flood-Control District completed the building of the San Gabriel Dam and spillway. In the dam was installed one of the largest needle valves ever built.

To control the upper Susquehanna River and its tributaries, detention reservoirs were started in New York at Whitney Point and Arkport, which, with previous work at Avoca, Painted Post, Hornell, and other locations, will prevent damage from floods. Work has been done by Civilian Conservation Corps, and also by contractors. Total estimated cost, $33,000,000.

On the Rio Grande River, two projects have been under way: one near El Paso, Texas, consists of a dam and a canal. The other, at the Rio Grande delta, included several miles of levee and flood channels by the United States on its side of the river while, on the Mexican side, Mexico built several levees.

Work has continued on the flood-control and power project at Austin, Texas, which comprises the building of the Marshall Ford Dam, a bridge and a highway. It is expected that the project will be completed in 1939.

The Tennessee Valley Authority — which was originally considered a Federal agency to control floods in the Tennessee valley, but now engages in generating and selling electricity — has under construction or planned five dams; namely, Pickwick Landing, Wilson, Guntersville, Wheeler, and Gilbertsville. All are in various stages of construction: funds for starting the key dam, Gilbertsville, were appropriated by Congress in May 1938.

Flood control of the Minnesota River has been made possible by restoring the level of Stone Lake by diversion of Whetstone River. The concrete diversion channel is about 4,100 ft. long.

Flood Control Bill.

Congress passed, in June 1938, a Flood Control Bill authorizing the expenditure of $376,700,000 over a five-year period for flood-control projects in 23 states and Alaska. Included in the bill was an authorization of $375,000 a year for additional Weather Bureau reporting services on rains, flood forecasts and warnings, and another authorization of $10,000,000, to come out of War and Agriculture Departments appropriations, for further surveys and studies. Among the large authorizations in the bill were $75,000,000 for reservoirs and $50,300,000 for local flood protection in the Ohio River basin; $40,000,000 for the lower Mississippi River; $54,000,000 for the Denison reservoir on the Red River in Oklahoma and Texas; and $25,000,000 for flood control of the White River basin. See also CIVIL EXGINEERING.