Report Upon the Improvement of Rivers and Harbors in
The Walla Walla, Wash., District

Extract From the Annual Report of the
Chief of Engineers, 1954

Department of the Army
Office of the Chief of Engineers
1954

This district comprises southeastern Washington, exclusive of the watershed of the Columbia River and tributaries above and including the Yakima River, Wash.; all of Idaho, except the northern part and a small southeastern portion; a portion of western Wyoming; a small part of northwestern Utah; part of northeastern Nevada and all of eastern Oregon.
District engineer: Col. W. H. Mills, Corps of Engineers, to April 1, 1953; Col. F. S. Tandy, Corps of Engineers since that date.
Division engineer of the North Pacific Division, Portland, Oreg., comprising the Portland, Oreg., Seattle, Wash., Walla Walla, Wash., and Alaska districts: Brg. Gen. O. E. Walsh, United States Army, to Feb. 14, 1952; Col. E.C. Itschner, Corps of Engineers.

Improvements

Navigation
1.
2.
3.		 Snake River, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
McNary Lock and Dam, Columbia River, Oreg.
Inactive navigation projects
Flood Control
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.		 Columbia River Basin, Local Flood Protection Projects
Heise-Roberts area, Snake River, Idaho
Portneuf River and Marsh Creek, Columbia River Basin, Idaho
Lucky Peak Reservoir, Boise River, Idaho
Grande Ronde Valley, Columbia River Basin, Oregon
Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla River, Oregon
Mill Creek, Washington
Inactive flood-control projects
General investigations
Inspection of completed flood control works
Flood control work under special authorization

NAVIGATION

1. SNAKE RIVER, OREG., WASH., AND IDAHO

Location. The Snake River, which is the largest tributary of Columbia River, rises in Yellowstone National Park, in the western part of Wyoming, flows in a general westerly direction for about 1,000 miles and empties into Columbia River near Pasco, Wash. 324 miles from the Pacific Ocean. (See U.S. Geological Survey maps of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.)

Previous projects. No formal project for the improvement of Snake River was adopted by Congress prior to the act of June 13, 1902. Subsequent projects were adopted by River and Harbor Acts of June 13, 1902, June 25, 1910 and August 30, 1935. For further details see page 1991 of Annual Report for 1915, page 1849 of Annual Report for 1938 and page 2676 of Annual Report for 1948.

Existing Project. This provides for the construction of such dams as are necessary and open-channel improvement for purpose of providing slack water navigation and irrigation between the mouth of Snake River and Lewiston, Idaho The pool formed by McNary Dam will provide slack water from the mouth of Snake River to mile 9.7. For maintenance purposes the project also provides for any necessary work on the River between Lewiston and Johnson's Bar, Idaho, as authorized under previous projects. No channel dimensions are specified above Lewiston. A system of four dams between the mouth of the Snake River and Lewiston has been approved. The estimated total cost, revised in 1950, including the installation of three power units at each dam is as follows:

Dam 1 Ice Harbor, river mile 9.7 $142,000,000
Dam 2 Lower Monumental, river mile 44.7 123,000,000
Dam 3 Little Goose, river mile 72.2 139,000,000
Dam 4 Lower Granite, river mile 113.1 116,000,000
Total 520,000,000

The existing project was authorized by the River and Harbor Act approved March 2, 1945. (See H. Doc. 704, 75th Cong., 3d Sess.)

Local Cooperation. No conditions were imposed by law.

Terminal facilities. From the mouth of the Snake River to Riparia, 67 miles, there are no wharves or warehouses on the river banks. From Riparia to Lewiston, Idaho, 73 miles, there are no wharves, but there are public and privately owned warehouses and grain elevators located at Penawawa, mile 91.5, Lewiston, mile 140, Asotin, mile 146 and between Asotin and 11 miles above. Just above Lewiston, mile 140.5, there is a privately owned 40- by 60-foot wharf. On the left bank between Riparia and Lewiston there are several wheat warehouses formerly used for storage of wheat to be transferred to the railroad on the right bank.

Operations and results during fiscal year. Limited preliminary design and cost estimate studies of project features for Ice Harbor as presented in Design Memorandum No. 1, General Plan and Detailed Cost Estimate, were continued in accordance with recommendations contained in OCE approval of this report, dated 25 March 1953, and supplemental authority granted 16 January 1953. This work is approximately 20 percent complete and will be incorporated in revisions to the Design Memorandum when complete.

Costs for the fiscal year were $9,778 for new work.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Construction has not been initiated at any of the four dam sites. Engineering and design on Ice Harbor Dam is approximately 18 percent complete. Hydraulic design and model studies have been initiated and the preliminary stage of an architect engineer powerhouse design contract has been completed. Plans and specifications for the first step cofferdam are 75 percent complete. Engineering and design studies for dams 2, 3, and 4 are in a preliminary stage only. Preliminary plans on real estate, flowage, and relocations covering the four dams have been completed and submitted to higher authority.

Total costs under the existing project have been as follows:

Description of Work New Work Maintenance
Site selection, lands, and damages (all dams) $587,500  
Ice Harbor Dam (dam 1) 855,837  
Lower Monumental Dam (dam 2) 43,166  
Maintenance of channel between Lewiston and Johnson Bar   $9,825
Total $1,486,503 $9,825

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 19501 2
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $225,000 $87,611 —$240,438 $140,000 $50,000 $1,971,936
Cost
 109,792 34,895 93 131,152 9,778 1,921,266
Maintenance
Appropriated
 6,000 5,000 —5,000 — — 214,947
Cost
 4,602 235 336 433 — 214,553
1Includes $434,763 for new work and $204,728 for maintenance for previous projects.
2In addition, $85,000 for new work was expended from contributed funds on previous project.

Other new work data:
Appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1954 $49,070
Unobligated balance available for fiscal year 1955 49,070
Estimated additional amount needed to be appropriated for completion of existing project 518,028,064

2. McNARY LOCK AND DAM, COLUMBIA RIVER, OREG.

Location. The site of this project is on the Columbia River, 292 miles above the mouth, near Umatilla, Oreg., and 3 miles above the mouth of the Umatilla River.

Existing Project. This project includes a dam, power plant, navigation lock, and appurtenant facilities for purposes of navigation, power development, and incidental irrigation. The proposed improvement provides principally for the improvement of navigation, creation of pool extending approximately 64 miles upstream to a point about 27 miles above Pasco, Wash. The dam, which will raise the normal water surface approximately 85 feet to elevation 340 mean sea level, will be approximately 7,600 feet long and will consist of an earth dam at the Oregon (south) abutment, a powerhouse, a spillway dam, a navigation lock, and an earth dam at the Washington (north) abutment. Suitable facilities for migrating fish, including fish ladders, will be provided.

The powerhouse installation will comprise 14 units of 70,000 kilowatts each, making a total installed capacity of 980,000 kilowatts.

The spillway dam will be 1,310 feet long and will be located in the north channel of the river. The overflow crest at 291 feet above sea level will be surmounted by 22 spillway gates capable of releasing the design flood of 2,200,000 cubic feet per second. The deck will be at elevation 361 and will provide a service roadway and tracks for the operation of two gantry cranes.

The navigation lock will be a single type and will operate at all flows less than 800,000 cubic feet per second.

The pool created by the spillway dam will provide a navigable channel with depths of 12 feet and over, between McNary Dam and the confluence of the Yakima River, a distance of approximately 43 miles. A controlling depth of 9 feet will be provided on Snake River from its mouth to a point approximately 10.2 miles above.

All structures will be founded on a massive basalt flow that reaches a maximum thickness of 130 feet and directly overlies a sedimentary interbed. The principal data concerning the navigation lock and spillway dam are shown in the following table:

Navigation Lock
Type Single lift
Dimensions:
Net clear width of chamber 86 feet
Net clear length 675 feet
Lift (vertical):
At extreme low water and normal pool 92 feet
At mean annual flow (190,000 cubic feet per second) 84.4 feet
At average maximum flow (550,000 cubic feet per second) 72.3
Depth over miter sill at adopted low water (43,000 cubic feet per second) 12 feet
Depth over upper sill at normal pool (elevation 340) 20 feet
Character of foundation Basalt flow
Spillway Dam
Over-all length of spillway dam section 1,310 feet
Type of construction Concrete gravity
Elevation spillway crest 291 feet above mean sea level
Elevation deck 361 feet above mean sea level
Height, maximum (foundation to deck) 158 feet
Type of control Fixed wheel segmental lift gates
Number of gates 22
Size of gates 50 by 53 feet
Stilling basin type Concrete apron with baffles
Normal pool elevation 340 feet above mean sea level
Maximum pool elevation 356.5 feet above mean sea level
Maximum spillway capacity at normal pool elevation 1,480,000 cubic feet per second
Maximum spillway capacity at maximum pool elevation 2,200,000 cubic feet per second

The estimated cost of the dam, navigation lock, 14-power unit generating installation, fishways, and attendant buildings and grounds, revised in 1954 is $287,300,000.

The existing project was authorized by the River and Harbor Act approved March 2, 1945. (See H. Doc. 704, 75th Cong., 3d Sess.)

Operations and results during fiscal year. New work: Placing of concrete in powerhouse structure, nonoverflow dam, spillway dam and navigation lock upstream miter sill is complete except the embedding of turbine parts. Installation of second pumping units in fishway pumphouse was completed and work is progressing on the third unit.

Installation of turbines, generators, electrical equipment, fishway pump, piping, and fish collection system machinery is in progress by several contractors.

Contract work in connection with Kennewick levees and pumping plants was completed.

Maintenance: The pool was raised to minimum operating level of elevation 335 on November 4, 1953. The project was placed on a permanent operation basis on December 1, 1953, and has been in continuous operation throughout the balance of the fiscal year. Counting of fish, using the two ladders at the dam, was initiated in March 1954. The first four power units were placed in commercial operation on the following dates: November 6, 1953, December 26, 1953, April 10, 1954, and June 16, 1954.

Total costs during the fiscal year were $41,157,966 for new work and $468,146 for maintenance.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Construction of existing project which was started May 5, 1947, is now approximately 86 percent complete.

Work on the Washington shore including the navigation lock is 99 percent complete. Fish facilities are complete except for installation of operating and control equipment. The following structures have been completed: north and south embankments, spillway structure, powerhouse and intake structure and fishway pumphouse building. The following relocations have been completed: 80.8 miles of railroad, 42.5 miles of State highway and County roads, and 57 miles of power and communication lines. Construction of levees is complete.

The project was placed on a permanent operation basis on December 1, 1953. The pool was raised to elevation 340 on December 6, 1953. The first four power units were in commercial operation June 16, 1954.

Total costs have been $246,351,146 for new work and $468,146 for maintenance.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $35,000,000 $39,610,000 $42,900,000 $62,604,000 $26,350,000¹ $244,039,000
Cost
 36,791,573 40,305,923 55,813,617 50,696,511 41,157,966 246,351,186
Maintenance
Appropriated
 — — — — 479,000 479,000
Cost
 — — — — 468,146 468,146

Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954 $3,636
Appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1955 24,000,000²
Unobligated balance available for succeeding fiscal year 1955 24,003,636
Estimated additional amount needed to be appropriated for completion of existing project 19,261,000
1Excludes $4,573,000 allotted on a loan basis, and includes $1,924,000 revoked for Bureau of the Budget Reserve.
2Includes repayment of $3,700,000 advanced funds. Balance of $873,000 to be repaid from fiscal year 1956 funds.

3. INACTIVE NAVIGATION PROJECTS

Name of project For last full Report see Annual Report for— Cost and expenditures to June 30, 1954 Estimated amount required to Complete
New work Maintenance
Umatilla Harbor 1952 — — $575,000¹
1No funds appropriated for work.

4. COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN, LOCAL FLOOD PROTECTION PROECTS

Location. The improvements included in this project are located along the Columbia River and its tributaries within the confines of the Walla Walla, Wash., District.

Existing Project. The Flood Control Act approved May 17, 1950, approved a general comprehensive plan for the Columbia River Basin for flood control and other purposes as set forth in House Document 531, Eighty-First Congress, second session, and authorized to be appropriated the sum of $75,000,000 for the partial accomplishment of those projects. Of this authorization, an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 was authorized for local flood-protection works throughout the Columbia River Basin, subject to the conditions that all work undertaken pursuant to this authority shall be economically justified prior to construction, and local cooperation specified in the 1936 Flood Control Act, as amended, shall be required. Protection to the following areas, located in the Walla Walla District, is being considered under this latter authorization:

Project Federal Cost
Grande Ronde Valley, Oreg.¹ $4,445,000
Portneuf River and Marsh Creek, Idaho¹ 1,193,000
Umatilla River, Oregon 1,105,000
Touchet River, Wash. 492,000
Heise-Roberts Extension, Idaho 4,623,000
Boise Valley, Idaho 5,541,000
Lower Walla Walla River, Wash. 372,000
Blackfoot Area, Snake River, Idaho 74,000
Blackfoot River, Idaho 451,000
Shelley Area, Idaho 51,000
Little Wood River, Idaho 186,000
Kendrick, Potlatch River, Idaho 76,000
Mill Creek, Wash. 113,000
Payette Valley, Idaho 1,103,000
Teton River, Idaho 687,000
Malheur River, Oreg. 432,000
South Fork Clearwater River, Idaho 102,000
Palouse River, Wash. 515,000
Mud Lake area, Idaho 675,000
Weiser River, Idaho 788,000
Whitebird Creek, Idaho 64,000
Camas Creek, Idaho 688,000
1The economic justification of work proposed for this area has been established in compliance with conditions set forth in the Flood Control Act of 1950.

Local Cooperation. Section 3 of the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, as amended, applies to all the flood-control projects.

Operations and results during fiscal year. Plans and specifications were initiated during the fiscal year on the Portneuf River and Marsh Creek Location, Idaho. Design memorandum was initiated during the fiscal year on the Grande Ronde Valley, Oreg. Justification Reports were initiated on the following locations, Teton River, Idaho, Weiser River, Idaho, Mill Creek, Wash., and Lower Walla Walla River, Wash. Total costs for the fiscal year were $37,352.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Plans and specifications have been initiated on the Portneuf River and Marsh Creek Location, Idaho. Design memorandum has been initiated on the Grande Ronde Valley, Oreg. Justification reports are in progress on the following projects, Teton River, Idaho, Weiser River, Idaho, Mill creek, Wash., and Lower Walla Walla River, Wash. Total costs have been $37,352.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 — — — — $60,000 $60,000
Cost
 — — — — 37,352 37,352
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $21,973
Appropriated for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 80,000
Unobligated balance available for fiscal year 1954
 101,973
Estimated additional amount needed to be appropriated for completion of existing project
 $23,822,000

5. HEISE-ROBERTS AREA, SNAKE RIVER, IDAHO

Location. This project is located on both banks of the Snake River between the towns of Heise and Roberts in eastern portion of Idaho, approximately 20 miles northeast of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Existing Project. This provides for channel improvement of the Snake River at selected points between Heise and Roberts, Idaho, by channel clearing, alignment changes, levee construction and bank protection works. This work is a part of a multipurpose project on the Snake River, Idaho, which also includes the construction of the Palisades Dam by the Bureau of Reclamation for operation in the combined interest of flood control, irrigation, and power.

The existing project was authorized by Flood Control Act approved December 22, 1944 (H. Doc. 452, 77th Cong., 1st sess.). The estimate of cost revised in 1953 is $1,575,905 for construction. The cost of lands and damages is to be paid by local interests.

Local Cooperation. Assurances of local cooperation have been furnished.

Operations and results during fiscal year. Special report on project adequacy is approximately 98 percent complete. Construction on emergency controls on outlets through flood walls were completed.

Total costs for the fiscal year were $4,821.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Construction of the project as described in Definite Project Report titled "Heise-Roberts and Weiser areas, Snake River, Idaho," dated January 29, 1948, is 100 percent complete. Construction on emergency controls on outlets through flood walls, being done by hired labor, was completed

Total costs have been $1,575,481.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $340,300 $9,000 $78,000 —$1,095 — $1,575,905
Cost
 207,792 177,416 54,468 32,384 $4,821 1,575,481
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $424
Unobligated balance available for fiscal year 1955
 424

6. PORTNEUF RIVER AND MARSH CREEK, COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN, IDAHO

Location. This project is located at three areas along the Portneuf River and along the entire length of its main tributary, Marsh Creek, all in Southeastern Idaho.

Existing Project. The plan of improvement provides for channel straightening and improvement, removal of obstructions and construction of new levees and revetments or improvements to existing levees in the Blackrock area, in and adjacent to the city of Pocatello, Idaho, and in the vicinity of Inkom, Idaho, all of the Portneuf River, and channel improvement along the entire length of Marsh Creek.

The existing project was authorized under the Columbia River Basin Plan by the Flood Control Act approved May 17, 1950, (Public Law 516, 81st Cong., 2 sess.) subject to economic justification. Justification was provided by a survey report completed in fiscal year 1953. The estimated cost revised in 1954 is $1,193,000 for construction.

Local Cooperation. Section 3 of the Flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, as amended, applies.

Operations and results during fiscal year. Plans and specifications were initiated during the fiscal year. Total costs during the fiscal year were $17,766.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Plans and specifications have been initiated. Total costs have been $17,766.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 — — — — $20,000 $20,000
Cost
 — — — — 17,766 17,766
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $1,559
Appropriated for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 25,000
Unobligated balance available for fiscal year 1955
 26,559
Estimated additional amount needed to be appropriated for completion of existing project
 1,148,000

7. LUCKY PEAK RESERVOIR, BOISE RIVER, IDAHO

Location. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho approximately 9 miles southeast of the city of Boise, and approximately 12 miles downstream from Arrowrock Reservoir.

Existing Project. The plan of improvement provides for construction of a rolled earth-fill dam approximately 250 feet high and 1,700 feet long at the crest, with a reservoir providing a total storage, at normal pool level, of 306,000 acre-feet. The spillway will be located on the left abutment and will be designed to pass 123,000 cubic feet per second at maximum pool. Its discharge will be controlled by automatically operated tainter gates. The outlet works are to be located on the left abutment and consists of a tunnel controlled by Howell-Bunger valves.

The plan contemplates the joint use of storage in Lucky Peak, Arrowrock, and Anderson Ranch Reservoirs. Operations of the dam as a flood-control facility will be by the Department of the Army under the direction of the Secretary of the Army with the understanding that complete or partial joint use of the storage in the three reservoirs may be undertaken at such time as may be agreed upon by the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Interior, and local interests concerned with flood control and use of irrigation water. The existing project was authorized by the Flood Control Act approved July 24, 1946. The latest (1954) approved estimated project cost is $19,400,000.

Local Cooperation. Section 2 of the Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938, applies.

Operations and results during fiscal year. The contract for the completion of the diversion channel, cofferdams, main dam, and excavation of the spillway was completed in December 1953. The contract for the construction of the manifold, penstock, intake tower, bridge, spillway, and completion of the intake tower has advanced from 14 percent to 65 percent complete. Delivery of slide gates and materials to be furnished under contract for hoisting machinery and appurtenances was initiated in June. Construction work on relocation of Highway 21 was completed, except for final surfacing, and opened to traffic. Mores Creek Bridge was completed and opened to traffic. Relocation of Arrowrock County Roads was completed and opened to traffic. A contract for the relocation of Robie Creek Road was awarded and completed during the fiscal year. The major work to be accomplished by the Bureau of Reclamation has been accomplished. Total costs for the fiscal year were $3,670,796.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Construction of the existing project, which was initiated in November 1949, is now 83 percent complete. The following construction work at the project has been completed: Control and diversion tunnel, March 1951; Lower portion of intake tower, July 1952; Diversion channel, cofferdams, main dam, and excavation of spillway, December 1953; Relocated Highway 21 was opened to traffic in October; all work with exception of final surfacing and final painting on Mores Creek Bridge was completed; Arrowrock Road relocation and Robie Creek Roads were completed. The contract for the completion of outlet works, intake tower, penstock, manifold, intake bridge, and spillway advanced from 14 percent to 65 percent complete. Status of supply contracts for furnishing gates and appurtenances are as follows: Emergency gates, delivery complete, slide gate and control equipment, delivery initiated in June; hoisting machinery for emergency gate, delivery of first items made in June. Work being accomplished by Bureau of Reclamation at Arrowrock Dam 90 percent complete. Total cost has been $16,035,586.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $3,000,000 $2,400,000 $3,800,000 $4,975,000 $1,500,000¹ $16,455,000²
Cost
 1,099,375 3,499,736 2,784,969 4,482,800 3,670,796 16,035,586
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $314,553
Appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 1,750,000
Unobligated balance available for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 2,064,553
Estimated additional amount needed to be appropriated for completion of existing project
 1,195,000
1Includes $152,853 repayment of funds advanced on a loan basis and $347,147 revoked for Bureau of the Budget reserve.
2Excludes $500,000 allotted on a loan basis.

8. GRANDE RONDE VALLEY, COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN, OREG.

Location. This project is located along Grande Ronde River; Catherine, Willow and Ladd Creeks; and lower reaches of several small tributaries, all in the eastern part of Oregon.

Existing Project. This project provides for channel improvement and construction of levees on both banks of Grande Ronde River between LaGrande and Elgin; on Catherine Creek through Union downstream, including the old channel of Grande Ronde River; on Willow and Ladd Creeks; and on the lower reaches of several small tributaries.

The existing project was authorized under the Columbia River Basin Plan by the Flood Control Act approved May 17, 1950 (Public Law 516, 81st Congress, 2d Sess.) subject to economic justification. The economic justification of this work has recently been established. The estimated cost revised in 1954 is $4,630,000 for construction. The costs of rights-of-way and highway and utility revisions will be paid by local interests.

Local Cooperation. Section 3 of the flood Control Act approved June 22, 1936, as amended, applies. In addition to the usual requirements local interests are required to accomplish, at their own expense, any highway and utility revision.

Operations and results during fiscal year. Design memorandum was initiated during the fiscal year. Total costs during the fiscal year were $967.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Design memorandum has been initiated. Total costs have been $967.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 — — — — $10,000 $10,000
Cost
 — — — — 967 967
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, fiscal year ending June 30, 1954
 $9,033
Appropriated for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 20,000
Unobligated balances available for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 29,053
Estimated additional amount needed to be appropriated for completion of existing project
 $4,600,000

9. MILTON-FREEWATER, WALLA WALLA RIVER, OREG.

Location. On both banks of the Walla Walla River between Joe West and McCoy Bridges in the vicinity of Freewater and Milton, Oreg., 8 miles south of Walla Walla, Wash.

Existing Project. The plan of improvement provides for channel rectification and improvement of approximately 7 miles of Walla Walla River in the vicinity of the towns of Milton and Freewater, Oreg. The lower 5.3 miles, between McCoy Bridge and the Milton powerplant, will be protected by levees with necessary revetment and channel improvement designed for a flood of 18,600 cubic feet per second. The upper 1.7 miles, extending from the Milton powerplant upstream to Joe West Bridge, will be improved by some channel clearing and rectification. The existing project was authorized by the Flood Control Act approved August 18, 1941, House Document 719, Seventy-sixth Congress, Third Session. The latest (1953) approved estimate of cost is $890,000 for construction, and $59,600 for lands and damages to be paid by local interests. The project will provide protection for the towns of Milton and Freewater and for other lower lying areas in the Walla Walla River Valley from Milton, Oreg., to McCoy Bridge against floods with a discharge about two times as great as that of the maximum flood of record, which occurred in 1931.

Local Cooperation. Assurances of local cooperation have been furnished. Local interests have contributed $6,300 to cover the cost of their portion of diversion structures.

Operations and results during fiscal year. No work was accomplished during the fiscal year.

Total costs for the fiscal year were $14, all for new work.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Construction of levee and channel improvement has been completed throughout sections 1 to 6 inclusive. This includes all levees and revetments on the project.

Remaining work consists of channel improvement from the upstream limit of the project to station 108. This work is indefinitely postponed pending reopening by sponsors.

Total costs have been $884,704 for new work. In addition, costs and expenditures for new work from contributed funds amounted to $6,300.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $640,000 — — —$125,000 — $890,000
Cost
 388,853 $273,981 $120,106 148 $14 884,704
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $3,896
Unobligated balance available for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 3,896

10. MILL CREEK, WASH.

Location. Near Walla Walla, Wash., on Mill Creek, a tributary of the Walla Walla River.

Existing Project. The plan of improvement provides for construction of flood-control works consisting of a storage dam, outlet works, diversion works, division structures and improvement of a stretch of Mill Creek Channel, including the reconstruction of the Otis and Merriam Street Bridges across Mill Creek in the city of Walla Walla, Wash.

The storage dam, which will form a reservoir of 6,000 acre-feet capacity, is a rolled earth fill structure 145 feet high, 3,200 feet long at the crest, and 800 feet wide at the base. Flood water is diverted storage by means of diversion work on Mill Creek consisting of a rolled earth fill dam 1,700 feet long and 20 feet high, with a concrete spillway section and headworks at the left abutment, and a concrete-lined canal leading from the headworks to the storage reservoir. Stored water is subsequently released through outlet works consisting of a steel-lined concrete conduit through the base of the storage dam and a canal 5,900 feet in length from the dam to Mill creek. The normal flow of water past the diversion works is apportioned, by means of two concrete division structures, to the three delta streams, Yellowhawk, Garrison, and Mill Creek. The project will control the entire Mill Creek drainage area of 85 square miles and care for a flood of 11,400 second-feet. The existing project was authorized by the Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938. The Flood Control Act approved August 18, 1941, modified the project in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief of Engineers in House Document 719, Seventy-sixth Congress, third session. The cost of the completed project was $2,162,155.

Local Cooperation. For the project, except for Mill Creek through the city of Walla Walla, section 2 of the Flood Control Act approved June 28, 1938, applies. For the section of Mill Creek through the city of Walla Walla, Wash., local interests will provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for construction of the project, and hold and save the United States free from claims for damages resulting from improvement. Assurances of compliance with these requirements received from local interests were approved by the Division Engineer, March 2, 1948. Local interests have contributed $80,000 toward the cost of channel improvement through the city of Walla Walla.

Operations and results during fiscal year. Maintenance: Piezometer and seepage studies were conducted. Ordinary maintenance and repairs were continued. Reservoir regulation was routine except for diversion for bed sealing. Stream flow was normal. Reservoir regulation manual will be resubmitted for approval in March 1954.

Total costs for the fiscal year were $17,459, all for maintenance.

Condition at end of fiscal year. Construction of the dam and appurtenant works was completed in 1942. An auxiliary outlet canal from the dam to Russell Creek and construction of additional drainage at the toe of the dam were completed in 1944. Paving of the channel through the city of Walla Walla was completed in 1948. Compaction of reservoir area, installation of seepage relief wells, grouting of interior drains, and installation of a new sluice gate were completed in 1949 and 1950. Diversion of water for bed sealing operations was carried out during 1952.

Total costs have been $2,559,879, of which $2,162,155 was for new work and $397,724 for maintenance. In addition, costs and expenditures for new work from contributed funds amounted to $80,000.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $58,800 —$95,439 — — — $2,162,155
Cost
 36,433 4,011 — — — 2,162,155
Maintenance
Appropriated
 18,000 —7,000 $15,000 $17,200.00 $13,500 399,600
Cost
 196,696 23,245 14,899 17,290 17,459 397,724
1In addition, $80,000 for new work was expended from contributed funds.

11. INACTIVE FLOOD-CONTROL PROJECTS

Name of project For last full Report see Annual Report for— Cost and expenditures to June 30, 1954 Estimated amount required to complete
Construction Operation
and
Maintenance
Jackson Hole, Wyoming 1953     $2,000,000²
Pullman, Palouse River, Washington 1953 $49,267 — 1,460,733²
Colfax, Palouse River, Washington 1953 73,851 — 2,386,149²
Pendleton, Umatilla River, Oreg. 1939 $143,263 — (1)
Dayton, Touchet River, Washington 1953 16,064 — 548,936²
Malheur Improvement District near Weiser, Snake River, Idaho 1949 319 — $51,681²
Pilot Rock, Birch Creek, Oreg. 1949 3,700 — $147,300²
Pendleton, Umatilla River, Oreg. 1950 — — 633,000²
Lewiston-Clarkston Levees 1950 — — 3,910,000²
(1) Completed
(2) No funds appropriated for work.

12. GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS

Examinations and surveys. Total costs of work during the fiscal year for examinations and surveys were $161,464 and expenditures were $161,464.

Total funds unexpended as of June 30, 1954, amounting to $183 plus an allotment of $60,400, or a total of $60,583, will be applied during the fiscal year to examinations and surveys.

Collection and study of basic data.Total costs of work during the fiscal year for the collection and study of basic data were $1,923 and expenditures were $1,923.

A total of five reconnaissance trips were made during the fiscal year to define the snow line at various times during the snow-melt period. Pictures were taken at representative locations for comparison of snow field condition at various times. The extent of the snow field was plotted on sectional aeronautical charts and a drawing was prepared to preserve information on snow line locations and elevations. It is anticipated that the data obtained on these trips will be utilized in hydrograph reconstitutions and in future years as a basis for forecasting runoff and stream flows.

Total funds unexpended as of June 30, 1954, amounting to $77, plus an allotment of $2,100, or a total of $2,177 will be applied during the fiscal year 1955 to the collection and study of basic data.

13. INSPECTION OF COMPLETED FLOOD CONTROL WORKS

Allotments totaling $2,500 have been received previously for inspection of various completed flood control works to insure that projects are being maintained by local interests.

Operations during the fiscal year 1954 consisted of inspections of flood control works at the following locations: Touchet River, Wash., Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla River, Oreg., and Mill Creek, Wash.

Total cost during the fiscal year 1954 was $324.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 — $1,500 — $1,000 — $2,500
Cost
 — 175 $579 652 $324 1,730

14. FLOOD CONTROL WORK UNDER SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION

Snagging and clearing of navigable streams and tributaries in the interests of flood control. (Sec. 13 of the 1946 Flood Control Act.)

In addition to funds previously allotted amounting to $212,422, funds in the amount of $33,400 were allotted during fiscal year 1954, making a total of $245,822, all for new work. In addition, local interests at Waitsburg, Wash., have contributed $20,000 to cover cost of their portion of Touchet River project.

Channel clearing and snagging was completed at Owyhee River, Oreg. Plans and specifications were completed for Phil Ford and Salubria Cove Locations, Weiser River, Idaho as well as preparatory work by local interests.

Total costs from Federal funds during the fiscal year have been $51,086. Total costs to June 30, 1954, have been $214,794, all for new work.

Cost and Financial Summary
Consolidated
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 — $70,000 — $35,561 $33,400 $245,822¹
Cost
 — 39,090 $16,471 1,286 51,086 214,794¹
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $30,883
Unobligated balance available for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 30,883

Small flood control projects not specifically authorized by Congress. (Section 212 of the 1950 Flood Control Act.)

A revocation in the amount of $4,400 was made during fiscal year 1954 from a total previously allotted of $166,969, plus a new allotment of $274,050, making a total of $436,619 for work under this authorization for fiscal year 1954.

Operations during the fiscal year. Plans and specifications were completed for Tomanovich-Salmon City Location, Salmon River, Idaho; Gooding-Shoshone, Big and Little Wood Rivers, Idaho. Project reports were partially completed for Dry Creek Location, Tributary of the Walla Walla River, Wash.; Deep Creek Location, Potlatch, Idaho; Bancroft Location, Portneuf River, Idaho.

Total costs during the fiscal year have been $69,859. Total costs to June 30, 1954, have been $191,411, all for new work.

Cost and Financial Summary
Consolidated
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work:
Appropriated
 $100,000 $14,000 $120,000 —$67,124 $269,650 $436,619
Cost
 12,759 71,352 22,888 14,553 69,859 191,411
Other new work data:
Unobligated balance, June 30, 1954
 $245,207
Unobligated balance available for succeeding fiscal year ending June 30, 1955
 245,207

Flood control emergencies—Repair and flood fighting and rescue work. (Section 210 of the 1950 Flood Control Act and supplemental authorizations.)

In addition to funds previously allotted in the amount of $2,527,179, funds in the amount of $33,205 were allotted during the fiscal year, making a total of $2,560,384, all for maintenance.

Plans and specifications were completed on Ford Smith and Galloway Locations, Weiser River, Idaho. Design and construction were completed for placement of revetment stone at Jackson Hole Area, Snake River, Wyoming and Fullmer Location, Heise Roberts Area, Snake River, Idaho. Emergency flood fights were carried on at Wilson Area and Jackson-Wilson Bridge, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and on Payette River, Idaho.

Total costs during the fiscal year have been $80,234. Total costs to June 30, 1954, have been $2,534,245.

Cost and Financial Summary
  Fiscal year ending June 30— Total to June 30, 1954, including fiscal years prior to 1950
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
New Work
Appropriated
 $136,513 $84,247 $46,219 $134,650 $33,205 $2,560,384¹
Cost
 214,164 155,891 80,654 132,114 80,234 2,534,245¹
1In addition $64,000 for maintenance was expended from contributed funds—$44,000 for Touchet River at Dayton, Washington and $20,000 for Boise River, Silver Bridge, Idaho.

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