HENRY S. REUSS, STATE OF WYOMING, Cheyenne, June 18, 1971. Chairman, Conservation and Natural Resources Subcommittee, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN REUSS: This is in response to your letter concerning stream channelization projects. The terrain in Wyoming does not provide suitable conditions for channelization type developments. Therefore, we have had very little experience in the area. The record noted in some other States is very discouraging. We have a good working relationship with the Soil Conservation Service and anticipate that they will continue to request our assistance early in the planning phase of all proposed water development projects. Overall, in our dealings with the Federal agencies, we have noted a marked increase in the area of environmental concern in recent years, especially since passage of the National Environmental Policy Act and other legislation which has expressed a strong congressional desire for due consideration and production of natural resources. Thank you for your very commendable efforts to provide a good balance in Government programs. Sincerely, TED C. BAKER, Interagency Coordinator. PUERTO RICO COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO, HENRY S. REUSS, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, Chairman, Conservation and Natural Resources Subcommittee, House of Representatives, Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. REUSS: I acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 20, 1971 inquiring our views in relation to improvement modification and channelization of streams and rivers. We have not done any evaluation of these as to the effects on their watersheds or on neighboring watersheds. These activities are conducted by the Commonwealth Public Works Department with the allocation of State and Federal funds and some economical support from certain municipal governments. The channelization of these rivers is mostly with the purpose of preventing flood disasters. From the standpoint of health we certainly expect that the channelization of rivers will help substantially in improving the sanitary conditions in the area. Sincerely, Mr. HENRY S. REUSS, ERNESTO COLON YORDAN, M.D., COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO, Chairman, Conservation and Natural Resources Subcommittee, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. REUSS: Your letter of May 3 is acknowledged. Three watershed projects have been planned for Puerto Rico. The first project will commence construction during fiscal year 1972. In the planning of these projects, the advice of the Commonwealth Fish and Wildlife Division and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of the Interior, has been taken into consideration. Special emphasis has been given to the enhancement of fish and wildlife resources and their recreational values. Sincerely, LUIS RIVERA BRENES, WATERSHED PROJECTS INVOLVING CHANNELIZATION WORK APPROVED BY SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE SINCE JULY 1, 19601 (b). 58.74 8,503, 030 17.50 Georgia: 41.24 (a). Arkansas: (b). 1, 404.64 14,796, 924 (c). 1,042.5 (b). 561.78 Hawaii: (c) 842.86 11.2 8,916, 295 Number of miles of water way which (i.e., deepened, yet channelized as of May 1, Total Federal WATERSHED PROJECTS INVOLVING CHANNELIZATION WORK APPROVED BY SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE SINCE JULY 1, 19601-Continued (2) (3) 1 Information supplied by Soil Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture. 21,250 ft. (0.23 mile). .34 116, 570 National total: (a).. 16, 483.00 359, 946, 970 .34 (b). 4, 209.08 (3) 3,000 (c). 12, 426. 11 |