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State highway departments are constructing new and better highways and individual landowners have and are improving their lands and farmsteads. Thus, the entire community takes on a refreshing and pleasing "new look," while at the same time restoring and preserving the fundamental economic base.

Peavine Mountain

NEVADA

Installation of project measures has stimulated private investment in the flood plain below the watershed structures. Areas formerly shunned by home buyers and building contractors are now being developed. Resale values on older homes have increased and approximately 100 new homes have been constructed. The new homes have an estimated value in excess of $2 million.

No large storm events have occurred since completion of construction but a significant amount of sediment has been trapped and kept off city streets on several occasions. The city of Reno is preparing a design for a Pitch and Putt golf course around the perimeter of the Lower Peavine floodwater-retarding structure. Upper Meadow Valley Wash

Flood flows from snowmelt in 1969 were the largest that have occurred since the debris and grade stabilization structures were completed in 1964. The structures prevented an estimated $15,000 in damages by controlling flood flows, sedimentation, and channel degradation. Considerable sediment was kept out of the state constructed Eagle Valley Recreation Reservoir downstream from the watershed.

An unexpected benefit from the Francis Grade Stabilization Structure is the use of the sediment pool as a spring and fall resting area for migratory waterfowl. This has increased the hunting opportunities in this area.

Baker River

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Site 2 of this watershed was designed as a multiple-purpose recreation and flood prevention structure. This site provides a 37-acre recreation pool 28 feet deep.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has stocked the pool with trout. Even before a boat-launching ramp could be constructed, 8 to 10 boats were tied up around the pool area. Fishing has been excellent. Geese use the area as a resting place and several families of ducks have grown up on the pond.

Roads across the dam and around parts of the pool have been constructed by the sponsors. In the near future a boat-launching ramp and picnicking facilities will be constructed.

During the spring of 1969 one-half the flood storage in this reservoir was used to provide flood protection to roads and communities downstream of the site. Souhegan River

For years the town of Greenville (population 1,250) was plagued by water shortage problems. Often during the summer and fall it was necessary to truck water from nearby towns, Watering of lawns, washing cars, and other waterconsuming uses were prohibited.

Now that the multiple-purpose water supply and flood control dam 12A has been completed, large quantities of water are available for Greenville and surrounding towns.

Since completion of the reservoir, a plastics plant has moved into town and became a major water user. The town will soon award a contract to construct a swimming pool. In the past such a pool would have been considered a waste of water.

Site 12-A, along with sites 13, 14, 19 and 35, has virtually eliminated any flood threats to Greenville and downstream areas. The 108-acre reservoir and associated land areas provide some very fine scenery and wonderful wildlife habitats in this area in addition to a safe yield of 2 million gallons of water per day.

Stony Brook

NEW JERSEY

Increased recreational use of the five sediment-control impoundments in this project prompted the sponsors to take advantage of opportunities to develop needed recreational facilities. The plan has been amended to include an addi

tional reservoir area with recreational facilities for fishing, boating, picnicking, and other sports including a golf course. Acess roads, parking lots, foot bridges, water supply, sanitation, and electric power are included. The facilities will handle 400 visitors a day.

Existing reservoirs have been used by church groups, scouts, civic clubs, and others for picnics, cookouts, and other outdoor activities. A soil and water conservation 4-H Club uses one of the reservoirs for fish management studies. Rockwell Company's "Dad's Club" used one for a fishing contest for 90 boys. Ringos Scout Troop 65 uses one to give training in canoeing before the scouts go to camp to obtain their merit badges. Fire companies use the reservoirs for drilling. Rural Ramble Tours use them for a picnic lunch stop. A totally unexpected delight to the local landowners has been the sight of Canadian Geese using the reservoirs as rest stops during their migration.

Two landowners surrounding the largest impoundment, 30-acre Honey Lake, joined forces to develop formerly poor pasture and woodland into house lots. With trees and utilities provided, one acre lots with lake frontage are now selling for $30,000. The increased land values were unimaginable to these two landowners before the advent of the impoundment. Stocked with bass and bluegills, the lake is used for fishing, canoeing, and sailing.

Paulins Kill

The completion in 1963 of the largest of the three impoundments above the town of Newton created considerable change in land values. One owner of previously poor brush and pasture land, valued around $300 an acre, decided to convert to a 90-unit housing development. With roads and utilities provided, half-acre lots sell for $3,00 to $4,000. Homes overlooking the impoundment range from $15,000 to $40,000. Homeowners use the sediment pool for swimming. Another owner built garden apartments on land previously subject to flooding. Small businessmen improved their properties. One built a new service station. Town Bank

The Mayor of the city of Salem reports the success of the channels and pumping plant was the initial motivation for an $800,000 urban renewal program. The city is taking on a new look with new apartment buildings and improved industries. The school has a new ball field on previously flooded land. Former gravel roads are now black-topped streets and some new streets have been built. A former swamp is mowed and set aside for a future park. The success of the project motivated an adjoining community to establish a similar project for agricultural water management. It also motivated the City Council toward a large, complex multiple-purpose project on Salem River involving recreation, flood control, irrigation, fish and wildlife, and water supply.

Tortugas Arroyo

NEW MEXICO

Since this project was completed in 1962, four floods have occurred. The structures have prevented an estimated damage of $45,000.

Flood control on this arroyo made it possible for New Mexico State University to build a golf course along the arroyo bottom, thus converting wasteland into a worthwhile recreation facility.

A new subdivision, Pecan Valley Acres, has developed in the protected area. Twenty-five to thirty new homes, selling for $15,000 to $20,000, have already been constructed. Plans for at least this many more homes are underway. Tramperos Creek

In 1965, two floods occurred. Structures completed in 1961 provided protec tion to eleven small privately owned storage and diversion dams, 1,500 acres of meadow land, roads, bridges, and creek crossings, and hundreds of tons of baled hay stored in the field. It is estimated that at least $55,000 in damages would have occurred without the structures.

Since 1961, 650 acres of irrigated cropland have been developed. The small reservoirs that serve as diversion points for the irrigated fields are stocked with bass, serve as nesting spots for ducks and other waterfowl and have aided the deer population by providing watering locations.

Many miles of the formerly dry channel now have a small perennial flow. This has increased the wildlife population, principally waterfowl, many times

over.

Ponds associated with this small flow have been stocked with bass and catfish which offer recreation for both fishermen and picnickers in an area where no prior facility existed.

Livestock water wells along many miles of reach now produce adequate amounts. Also, new wells are now being drilled which produce, and many in areas which were formerly dry.

Santa Cruz River

Installation of structural measures in this project were completed in 1962. Flood damages previous to the installation of these measures were sustained almost every year on one or more of the tributary arroyos and on the main stream of the Santa Cruz River. Damages occurred to highways, residences, irrigated farmland, irrigation canals and headings, roads and bridges; and sediment caused damage all the way to the Elephant Butte Reservoir.

A storm hit the Santa Cruz River watershed on September 11, 1969. This was the largest storm since installation of structural measures was completed. With this inflow and the amount of water that fell on the watershed it is estimated that flood damages in the vicinity of Chimayo would have exceeded $185,000 without the project.

Cowaselon

NEW YORK

Muckland owners show faith in the project by substituting tile drains for the open ditches outletting into the enlarged stream channels. Food processors in Canastota continue to expand their operations in the belief that the area protected by the project will provide them with a steady supply of quality vegetables.

Ischua Creek

Two industries, the Ontario Knife Company and Stardell Products in the village of Franklinville, had planned to relocate. With the installation of the project, both companies have remained and have increased their employment by 50 percent over the last 10 years.

One new industry, Barrett-Kegeo Corporation (office equipment), has located in the village because of the project.

More intensive use of the flood plain has taken place and the per acre value of flood plain land has increased. A new high school has been located on the flood plain and also the Ischua Valley Country Club has built a new course due to the application of this project.

One structure, a multiple-purpose recreation and flood prevention, is now under construction and since construction started, one new subdivision has taken place over the proposed lake and one landowner has changed his enterprise from dairy to a comping venture. It is estimated that this lake will supply 15,000 recreation use days.

There is also an influx of new people from the Buffalo area buying land in the flood area for summer homes which undoubtedly is having a great effect on the real estate prices.

Ahoskie Creek

NORTH CAROLINA

The Ahoskie Creek Watershed project has saved the town of Ahoskie $30,000 in the cost of sewerage treatment. The savings resulted from elimination of flooding of the treatment facilities. Channel construction reduced the flooding. The reduction of flooding has made possible a sub-division development of high cost housing in the town of Ahoskie. Before the project was completed this area was subject to flooding. The county tax collector reports that the county tax base was increased by $300,000 in this one sub-division as a result of the project. The town tax base was increased by the same amount.

Caw Caw Swamp

The travelway constructed from the spoil beside the channel has provided access to the Waccamaw River for boating and fishing. This section of the river was previously several miles from a boat landing or walk in. The deepened and widened channel has provided fishing for about two miles up from the Waccamaw River. One landowner has begun the development of a "green tree" reservoir.

Conetoe Creek

Extremely heavy rain during May 1969 caused flooding in almost the entire watershed. Because of the channel functioning as designed, replanting of an estimated 17,700 acres of crops was not necessary. The estimated cost of replanting, had it not been necessary, plus the value of subsequent yield reductions, would have been $336,300. A side benefit from this project is quite unique. Because of experience gained by local people working together in a common interest, the citizens in the small town and adjacent to Conetoe organized themselves into the Conetoe Community Water Association. Through this association and assistance from the Farmers Home Administration, they have been able to install a community water system serving about 100 homes and businesses. Because of this water supply, the area is developing and people are moving into the rural community rather than moving out. The chairman of their water association, a supervisor of the soil and water conservation district, was quite active in the establishment of the watershed project.

Individuals have been observed using field glasses to do their bird watching along the improved channel.

Forest River

NORTH DAKOTA

The Forest River watershed includes the North Branch. Middle-South Branch, and Lower Forest. The North Branch watershed was completed June 1969. In all three watersheds six dams and 35 percent of the channel improvement have been completed, resulting in many acres of farmland being protected from floodwater and furnishing local water-based recreation.

In a survey conducted in the spring of 1969, it was found that the North Branch Forest River watershed provided $70,180 of flood preventing benefits. The 1969 snowmelt would have flooded about 11,000 acres of land of which 9,200 is cropland.

Three multiple-purpose dams now provide fishing for people who used to travel up to 150 miles for this form of recreation. Many people now travel 50 to 60 miles to these new impoundments that are stocked with either trout or northern pike. Ice fishing has become a popular sport at the Whitman Dam, and good creel limits are also obtained in the spring and summer. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation has participated with the local people in further developing the area adjacent to Whitman Dam for recreation.

Many of the Air Force personnel from the Grand Forks Base visit the three multiple-purpose dams for fishing and recreation. Local residents in the small towns are also enjoying the fishing that is "next door".

Two local merchants have added boats and water skiing equipment to their existing businesses.

Excellent progress in applying land treatment practices has further demonstrated the confidence local residents have in the flood prevention and protection from erosion hazards provided by completed projects.

Tongue River (Pilot)

Icelandic State Park near the town of Cavalier was developed as a result of building Renwick multiple-purpose dam. A local resident donated 190 acres of natural woodland to be established as an arboretum. An additional 280 acres provided by the sponsors offer plenty of room for camping and recreation. Renwick Dam has a surface area of 204 acres. The State Game and Fish Department has stocked the lake with fish. A nine-hole golf course borders one side of the manmade lake. The State Park provides a caretaker and additional help to improve and keep up the recreational facilities. Local residents of Cavalier used to travel 65 miles to the nearest lake in another state, but now enjoy a beautiful park and lake only 6 miles from their town. More than 80 members have joined the local boat club.

State Park visitations are on a steady increase. More than 2,300 people attended a one-day Centennial Pageant at the Icelandic State Park in 1968.

Two small fertilizer plants have been established employing six people. A bean storage plant has recently been built employing two people. A soil testing laboratory is being constructed to furnish more precise soil management directly to farm operators. Two boat dealerships have begun since completion of the Renwick Dam.

Although the spring and summer precipitation almost doubled the normal rainfall, the 10 dams and 40 miles of channels were never exceeded in capacity.

Margaret Creek

OHIO

This 38,600 acre watershed is located in the southwestern part of Athens County.

One multiple-purpose fish and wildlife structure including a 48-acre lake was completed in September 1967. This structure was cost shared by the Division of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Division of Wildlife has purchased 421 acres of land surrounding the lake. They began stocking the lake in the spring of 1968 and the lake was opened to the public for fishing in July 1969.

Two more structures were completed in the summer of 1970. One of these is a multiple-purpose structure designed for flood prevention, water supply, and recreation. The water supply is being planned for the Village of Albany, the new Ohio University airport now under construction, and much of the remainder of the Conservancy District. The surrounding rural area served by the water system will cover approximately 40 square miles and will include 150 miles of pipeline. At present 960 residents have signed user agreements and paid their tap fee.

In addition, 25 commercial establishments have signed user agreements. They include one motel, apartments, and trailer courts which total approximately 300 individual taps. The commercial taps also include General Telephone Company, Athens Country Club, three schools, three commercial farms, and one nursery. The Le-Ax Water Distributing Corporation has awarded contracts for a treatment plant and distribution system for approximately one and onehalf million dollars. It is planned that the contract for the recreation development for this site will be let this fall.

Due to the topography of the area and the planned water supply, new housing has doubled in the northeast portion of the watershed and a number of new housing developments are under planning. The planned water supply and recreation areas were influential in the selection of a site for a new Ohio University airport and golf course which are now under construction at the edge of the watershed just southwest of Albany.

On May 24, 1968, the watershed received a 4-inch rainfall in 12 hours. Structure 6 stored 515 acre-feet of floodwater (73 percent of total). No flooding occurred in the valley immediately below the structure. Township Road 29 was not damaged as it often had been prior to the construction of the dam. Marsh Run

The 20,000 acre watershed is located in the southern part of Huron County and northern part of Crawford County.

The works of improvement provide flood protection, drainage, and irrigation water to an area of muck soils that is producing highly specialized vegetable crops.

On July 12, 1966, a 4-inch rain deluged the area, but with the fabridams deflated, the channels easily contained the flow and no flood damage occurred. Again in 1967 and 1968, smaller rains occurred that proved the value of the project. Then on July 4, 1969, a storm dumped 4-inches of rainfall on the area. Again, the channels contained the flow with no flooding on the adjacent muck. One of the vegetable growers stated their production has increased approximately 40 percent due to flood prevention and having adequate irrigation water. This is reflected by their employee role increasing from approximately 200 before the project to a present day 310 people. Other growers have had similar increases.

The numerous tours by groups of local people, civic groups, and organizations as well as groups from distant points, show the great interest in the unique water management aspects of this project.

West Fork Duck Creek

Tourist business is bringing unexpected prosperity to a flood prevention project area in southeastern Ohio.

Wolf Run Park is a joint venture of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, and the Soil Conservation Service. The 220-acre Wolf Run Lake is a multiple-purpose flood control, water supply and recreation lake which was built in 1966 as part of the West Fork Duck Creek Public Law 566 project.

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