OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS Mr. KIRWAN. Operation and maintenance, 23 projects. Insert 74 to 78 for the record. (The information referred to is as follows:) COLUMBIA BASIN-JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, GENERAL, FISCAL YEAR 1957 1. Navigation (a) Channels and harbors.-The work to be accomplished under this activity consists of maintaining the navigation channels and harbors of coastal harbors and waterways by means of dredging and repairing of navigation structures and periodic inspections and surveys to determine the condition of the projects for programing purposes and providing navigation interests with adequate information on existing channel conditions; all as authorized in the laws adopting river and harbor projects. The budget estimate of $2,409,000 for fiscal year 1957 is required for essential maintenance work on four channel and harbor projects named in the list which follows. The projects listed have been subjected to an economic analysis and determined that continuing maintenance is justified. The amount of funds appropriated in recent years for this activity has not been sufficient to provide for the adequate and timely maintenance of all justified projects and has resulted in a substantial backlog of work, particularly structural repairs and the maintenance of moderate and shallow-draft navigation channels. This condition continues to exist. Project Oregon : Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1957 Columbia River between Vancouver, Wash. and The Dalles, Ore__ Willamette River above Portland and Yamhill River_. Condition surveys-- Total channels and harbors_--_ $90,000 250,000 1,650,000 350,000 9,000 2,409 000 (b) Locks, dams, reservoirs, and canals.-The budget estimate of $210,000 provides for the operation and ordinary maintenance of two lock and dam projects in the Columbia Basin. The amount requested in fiscal year 1957 is approxmately $44,000 less than the amount available in fiscal year 1956, and is coge sidered the minimum necessary for operation and maintenance of the projects. (a) Reservoirs.-The budget estimate of $203,800 provides for the operat: a and ordinary maintenance of five flood control reservoirs in the Columbia Basta during the fiscal year 1957 and nondeferrable rehabilitation work. The b.........fs that accrue from the impoundment of damaging floodwaters by this estendre reservoir system are substantial. The amount requested in fiscal year 1967 s approximately $48,000 less than the amount available in fiscal year 16 amount requested is necessary for minimum operation and maintenance of the projects. T.e (b) Other (including channel improvement projects, miscellaneous maintenance items and inspections).-The budget estimate of $82,500 provides for the minimum requirement of regular maintenance of the Willamette River bank-protection project, and inspection of completed works during fiscal year 1957. The budget estimate of $3,914,000 for the operation and maintenance of seven multiple-purpose projects in the Columbia Basin during fiscal year 1957 is the minimum amount necessary for operational requirements. It contemplates deferment of other than indispensable ordinary maintenance and rehabilitation work. As construction features on four of the projects are being completed and placed in maintenance status in fiscal year 1957 the amount requested is an increase of approximately $110,000 over the total available in fiscal year 1956. The total amount requested includes $100,000 for the initial operating requirements of one project under construction which will have completed features reaching maintenance status; approximately $115,000 for the increase operation and ordinary maintenance needed at two projects approaching completion; and approximately $57,000 for urgent rehabilitation work at the older projects. The completion of power generating units at these projects will add 396,000 kilowatts of installed capacity during fiscal year 1957, increasing the total generating capacity of all Corps of Engineers multiple-purpose projects in the Columbia Basin to 2,434,000 kilowatts. Project Idaho: Albeni Falls Reservoir_. Oregon : Bonneville Dam_--- The Dalles Dam___. Detroit Reservoir__. Lookout Point Reservoir. McNary Dam____. Washington: Chief Joseph Dam....... Total, multiple-purpose projects, including power.. 4. Lower Columbia River fish-sanctuary program Tentative allocation fiscal year 1957 $218, 000 1,100,000 100, 000 386,000 400, 000 1,210,000 500, 000 3,914, 000 Funds requested under this budget reflect only the additional recurring costs results from the construction of new or the enlargement of existing facilities under the Columbia River fish sanctuary program. Operating and maintenance funds for facilities and activities in operation prior to the inception of the program will continue to be provided by the respective agencies involve i. To assure maximum production and efficient operation at those facilities constructed under the program, it will be necessary to provide funds in the amount of $1,250,000 for fiscal year 1957. Funds so provided will permit continued operation at 16 hatcheries, make possible the maintenance of an unimpeded pathway for migrating salmon during their return at spawning season, continue the im portant function of observing and assessing the accomplishments under the program, and cover costs of administering and supervising the overall planning of the program. Total, Columbia Basin___ Tentative allocation, fiscal year 1957 $8,069, 300 Mr. KIRWAN. $1,250,000 is requested for 1957 under this heading for the Lower Columbia River fish-sanctuary program. Mr. HAGEN. That item is for the continuation of the operation of facilities already constructed and those under construction now which will be completed. Mr. KIRWAN. Why shouldn't these funds be carried in the budget of the Fish and Wildlife Service? Mr. HAGEN. That is an annual question, sir. We have considered it with the Bureau of the Budget and some action will be taken in the near future, I believe. Mr. KIRWAN. Trying to get it all under one head? WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1956. GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Mr. KIRWAN. We will get down now to "Reclamation." Columbia Basin, Bureau of Reclamation, general investigations, $1,410,000. Pages 1 to 10 will be inserted in the record. (The information referred to is as follows:) $1,073, 285 Total obligations, fiscal year 1956_- Estimated allocation of appropriation, fiscal year 1957-- $1, 410, 000 Total obligations, fiscal year 1957---- 1, 410, 000 Description. The appropriation of "General Investigations" funds for the Columbia Basin provides for the planning of the basin and project developments of the Bureau of Reclamation for the utilization of the water resources of that basin. The program of General Investigations may include: (1) Engineering and economic investigations to determine the feasibility of potential reclamation projects. These investigations may consist of reconnaissance surveys to establish with a minimum of time and funds, the justification for further detailed study; basin surveys to establish basinwide plans, or detailed studies of the feasibility of specific projects. (2) Advance planning to prepare newly authorized projects for construction. (3) Investigations of existing projects necessary for rehabilitation, financial adjustments, or water conservation. The general investigations program includes, where appropriate, small allowances for necessary transfers of funds or reimbursements to other agencies, such as the Geological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service. Weather Bureau, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Department of Agriculture, etc. for work over and above their regular programs which those agencies performa in connection with the Bureau's investigations of specific potential projects and which these other agencies are better equipped to do. Work under way and proposed.-The general investigations program for the current fiscal year in the Columbia Basin is $1,073,285 which is financed with appropriated funds in the amount of $1,058,155 and $15,130 of funds advanced by local interests. With these funds, planning activities will be under way on a total of 27 investigations. Of this total, 24 will be a continuation of studies under way at the beginning of the fiscal year and 3 will be investigations being initiated or resumed. Ten of these investigations will be completed. The request of $1,410,000 for fiscal year 1957 for this basin will be utilized for planning activities on a total of 29 investigations, of which 17 wil be continuations of prior-year investigations and 12 will be initiation or resumption of new investigations. Of the total, 10 will be completed in fiscal year 1957. The activity breakdown of work proposed in fiscal year 1957 compared with the program for fiscal year 1956 is shown in the following "Summary by Activities," and the details of the program proposed is presented in the accompanying tabulation entitled "Schedule of General Investigations Program, Fiscal Years 1956 and 1957." Reconnaissance. The fiscal year 1956 cost program of $10,656 will provide for completion of a special evaluation report on the Big Wood River project. The program for fiscal year 1957 provides for completion of a reconnaissance study of the Spokane Valley project. Basin surveys.-In fiscal year 1956, a cost program of $179,265 will provide for a continuation of work on the preparation of basinwide plans for the upper and middle Snake River Basins where pressure for irrigation developments and a limited supply of water has necessitated an overall evaluation of all potential projects in the basin. Work will also continue on the development of operating plans for multipurpose reservoirs constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers in the Columbia River Basin and the development of plans for the Clarks Fork Basin. The fiscal year 1957 cost program of $563,000 will provide for a continuation of the studies in the Clarks Fork, the Columbia and the upper and middle Snake River Basins. As part of the Columbia River Basin study work in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers will also be undertaken to review and bring up-to date the latter's comprehensive report on the basin. Planning will be started on an overall evaluation of the Kootenai River Basin. The increase over fiscal year 1956 is attributable to the cooperative study with the Corps of Engineers, to the start of the Kootenai Basin study and to an expanded program in the upper and middle Snake River Basins which is a direct result of the urgency of completing this study as soon as possible to provide guides for full basin development. Of this Project investigations.—In fiscal year 1956, a cost program of $894,012 will finance feasibility investigations on 18 potential projects in this basin. total, 3 will be studies being initiated or resumed and 6 will be completed. The fiscal year 1957 cost program of $801,414 for this activity will provide for a continuation of feasibility studies on some 12 projects which will be underway at the end of the prior fiscal year. In addition, work will be initiated on 10 new investigations of high-priority projects. Of these studies, eight will be completed. In the Columbia River Basin, one authorized project not under construction will be in the advance planning stage in fiscal year 1956. Completion of the definite plan report for this development, the American Falls power division of the Minidoka project, will involve a cost program of $3,336. During fiscal year 1956, studies will be under way on four existing Bureau projects to ascertain the need for rehabilitation or water-conservation improvements and for economic studies and contract negotiations associated therewith. Of these studies, two will be completed. Of the two studies not completed in fiscal year 1956, one will be completed and one will be continued in fiscal year 1957 with the cost program of $27,000. JUSTIFICATION During fiscal year 1956, studies will be underway on four existing Bureau Northwest increased by over 33 percent and is continuing to expand. Dur this period the economic development of the area failed to keep pace with the population increases and the region is characterized by inshipment of mana factured goods and outshipment of bulk commodities. Agricultural devel ment also fell far behind and the farm produce now falls far short of meeting the regional requirements. As a result, there is a pressing need for adding hundreds of thousands of acres to the present cropland in the immediate fait re. Almost all of this expansion will have to be in the form of new irrigated lat is Fortunately there are many potential opportunities to create these new de velopments in the Columbia Basin. However, in past years practically a f the reservoir sites at which flows could be regulated by works of small or modest scope and at a low unit cost have been developed. The situation makes future development of the potential water resources of the area more costly and cez plex. Also, as the water supplies are developed and the pressure for addit supplies increase, competitive relationships between prospective uses be me more involved and more difficult to establish in a balanced and beneficial ra The pressure that is mounting throughout this area for further expans: a d its agricultural base by developing new land has been augmented by the current drought that is facing many parts of the West, including the Columbia Fash Many existing projects, both privately and federally constructed, are in perate need of additional water to augment presently inadequate supplies that are seriously limiting crop production. |