Report of the Secretary of the Army
on Civil Works Activities for Fiscal Year 1992
Department of the Army Corps of Engineers
Extract Report of the Walla Walla District

Surveys

The Water Resources Development Act of 1986 authorized the Corps to operate and maintain a system of non-Federal levees along the Snake River in the vicinity of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A draft reconnaissance study of the potential for improving the system with levee raises, extensions, or relocations was completed in FY 90. The final reconnaissance study was combined with the Jackson Hole Restoration study, which will be completed in FY 93. A combined flood protection and restoration feasibility study is expected to start in FY 93.

A reconnaissance study of a proposal to lower the Tri-Cities Levees in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, Washington was completed. The levees were built by the Corps as part of McNary Lock and Dam in the 1950's. Consequent upstream storage development may provide an opportunity to reduce levee heights for the purpose of land enhancement and recreation. It was determined that there was not presently a Federal interest in lowering levees. However, locals may do so at their cost.

A reconnaissance study of the Walla Walla River Basin, Washington and Oregon, was completed in April 1992. The study focused primarily on flood damage and prevention. However, local interests requested consideration be given to other water resource needs, including M&I water supply, irrigation, water-based recreation, and restoration of spring chinook salmon and steelhead trout runs. Future studies of water resource development in the Walla Walla Basin were not recommended at this time.

Jackson Hole River and Wetland Restoration and Flood Control reconnaissance study was initiated to restore fish and wildlife habitat in the 500-year floodplain of the leveed reach of the Snake and Gros Ventre Rivers at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The study will evaluate losses resulting from levee construction over the past 30 years and determine restoration measures to compensate for these losses.

The Energy and Water Development Act, Public Law 102-104, authorized a study in cooperation with the Port of Walla Walla, Washington, for disposition of the current Walla Walla District Headquarters. The study was completed in September and forwarded to North Pacific Division for comments and review. We participated in the Columbia River and Tributary study, a survey directed by the North Pacific Division.

Total cost of surveys was $926,685 for FY 92, including flood control studies ($98,676); special studies, including Soil Conservation Service, Bureau of Reclamation, River Basin and Regional Planning Commissions, and Cooperation with States ($24,229), Special Investigations, Inter Agency Water Resource Development and FERC Licensing Activities, and North American Waterfowl Management Plan ($111,014), and District Disposition Study ($92,766).