Report of the Secretary of the Army
on Civil Works Activities for Fiscal Year 1995
Department of the Army Corps of Engineers
Extract Report of the Walla Walla District
Flood Control Work Under Special Authorization
No Section 205 work was performed in Fiscal Year 1995.
Emergency flood control activities-repair, flood fighting, and rescue work (PL 99, 84th Congress, and antecedent legislation):
There were no Federal costs for this fiscal year.
Emergency Bank Protection (Section 14, Flood Control Act of 1946, PL 526, 79th Congress):
Construction commitments and Congressional adds in Fiscal Year 1995, under Section 14, Continuing Authorities Program exceeded the statutory limit of $12.5 million. These national program over-commitments prompted drastic actions.
District Commanders were directed (November 15, 1995) to delay any study or project not meeting the essential imminent threat criterion until funds were available to complete the study or award a construction contract. Essential facilities are defined as those facilities whose failure would cause loss of life, pose a significant health threat, or severely threaten public safety. Imminent threat means that failure of the facility will likely occur this fiscal year (before September 30, 1995). Any project must first meet the essential criterion and also the imminent criterion.
The future of the Continuing Authorities Program, under which the Section 14 projects are funded, is uncertain. The Administration proposed a phase-out of this program. However, both the House and Senate Reports accompanying the Fiscal Year 1996 Energy and Water Development Appropriation bills took exception to that proposal, yet reduced the budget request for the program. At this point, there is no resolution to the differences concerning the overall program direction nor is there a determination on how we will proceed, due to the constrained funding. Once these decisions are made, requests for Continuing Authorities Program work will be further considered. At this time, we can not forecast when funding will be available to continue work.
Fiscal year costs were $20,297 for continuation of three feasibility studies: 1) The Snake River upstream of Blackfoot, ID ($3,770); 2) Fort Hall Landmark, ID ($51); and 3) Willow Creek downstream of LaCrosse, WA ($10,388); and an initiation of two feasibility studies: 1) Grand Ronde River, OR ($3,042); and 2) Little Weiser River, near Gladhart Lane ($3,046).
Snagging and clearing of navigable streams and tributaries in interest of flood control (Section 208, Flood Control Act of 1954, PL 780, 83rd Congress):
Fiscal year costs of $34 for completing two feasibility studies, including Big Lost River, upstream of Arco, ID ($26) and Little Weiser River, upstream of Cambridge, ID ($8).
Project modification for the Improvement of the Environment pursuant to Section 1135(b), PL 99-362, as amended:
Fiscal year costs were $268,133, including continuation of feasibility studies on Jackson Hole Project, WY ($19,204); Portneuf River, Pocatello, ID, unit restoration ($127,370); Walla Walla River, OR ($76,220); Catherine Creek at Union, OR ($36,829); the initiation of a new feasibility study on the Little Weiser River, ID ($6,786); and initial appraisals and coordination works ($1,724).