All land is privately owned. The 1,545 farms in the watershed average about 150 acres in size. Cash grain and cattle feeding are the principal farm enterprises. Omaha has the world's largest livestock market. Land values range from $300 per acre for the lower value ricultural land to $3,000 per acre in areas where urban development is imminent.

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The Papio Watershed Board estimates that there are 310,000 people now living in the watershed, a substantial increase from the 183,000 reported by the 1960 census and not far less than the 340,000 officially projected for 1980.

Papillion Creek has developed a notorious reputation over the years for its devastating floods. The last major flood occurred in June 1964 when seven lives were lost and property damage was counted in the millions. The Corps of Engineers is developing a flood control project designed to alleviate floodwater damage throughout the watershed, much of which is concentrated in and near the city of Omaha. The two plans have been fully coordinated.

The watershed problems with which the watershed project is most concerned center around erosion, principally by gullies. Channel degradation is common in a large number of drainageways. Overfalls vary in height from 7 to 31 feet and move upstream at rates of 5 to 25 feet annually. As channels deepen, they also widen and valuable land is destroyed and a greater area is reduced in value.

Of even greater importance is the impracticability of carrying out an adequate conservation program on tributary lands until a stable base grade can be established in the natural waterways. Thus, the erosion cycle is self-perpetuating. The sheet erosion and the gully erosion feed on each other and control on one cannot be fully effective without the control of the other. It should not be inferred from this that the conservation program is lagging in the watershed. Farmers have already installed land treatment measures valued in excess of $3.5 million.

Gullying not only damages and destroys farmland, it also destroys the even more valuable land in urban areas and exposes and damages underground utilities. In these areas, the vertical-sided gullies are a safety hazard, particularly to children. They also create an unsightly appearance which tend to depreciate property values. Bridges are frequently damaged and must be periodically lengthened or reinforced to remain in use.

The sediment coming from this erosion is deposited on roads, railroads, farmland and in buildings, drainage ditches and tributary channels. In addition, 300,000 tons are delivered to the Missouri River annually.

As mentioned previously, this watershed plan and the flood control plan being developed by the Corps of Engineers represents a coordinated attack on the flood problems of the Papillion Creek watershed. The measures to be included in the corps plan will include those measures needed to reduce flooding on the main stem and tributaries that will be installed in drainage areas of 10 square miles or larger.

The watershed work plan includes an accelerated land treatment program and 52 grade stabilization structures. The objective of the land treatment is to increase the proportion of the watershed adequately treated from 55 percent at present to 75 percent by the end of the project installation period (8 years). The 52 grade stabiliza

tion structures will be located on drainageways averaging about 500 acres in size.

The land treatment measures are estimated to cost $2.6 million and structural measures about $1.3 million. Public Law 566 funds will bear about 39 percent of the total project cost or about $1.5 million and other funds the remainder. In addition, local funds will be used to finance the cost of operation and maintenance, estimated at $2,700 annually.

The project will reduce sheet erosion, retard runoff, halt the growth of gullies, and reduce sediment movement in the watershed under conservation treatment; but will also increase the effectiveness of the existing conservation program.

The stabilizing structures will directly benefit 6,340 acres that would be destroyed or seriously impared in the absence of treatment. In addition, these structures will reduce sediment movement by 40,000 tons annually, one-third of which would be trapped by the structures planned by the Corps of Engineers.

About 1,600 landowners will be benefited directly. Others will benefit indirectly because the watershed project will make the corps project more effective. The estimated benefits amount to $87,500 annually. The prorated Public Law 566 cost per acre benefited is $90.

These estimates have not placed a value on the benefits the watershed project will have on the downstream flood control project. If these benefits were included, it could be expected that the benefit-cost ratio of 1.7 to 1 would be even more favorable.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much.

Are there any questions?

Mr. GATHINGS. No.

The CHAIRMAN. If not, we are very much obliged.

The committee will have to stand adjourned until tomorrow morning.

We have completed projects that were assigned for this morning, but tomorrow morning we will take up the other projects.

Congressman Cunningham's statement is submitted for the record. It will be made part of the record.

(The statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. GLENN CUNNINGHAM, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEBRASKA

Mr. Chairman, I would like to testify on behalf of the Papillion Creek Watershed Comprehensive Plan for flood control and soil erosion prevention.

The Papillion Creek Watershed is comprised of 245,800 fertile acres of land in Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties in Nebraska. The Papillion Basin which is still primarily agricultural is representative of some of the nation's most productive farm land. It also lies directly adjacent to the growing city of Omaha, Nebraska, and because of this fact poses a constant threat in the form of flash flooding to heavily populated areas in that city.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now reviewing a 28 million dollar plan which would provide for 21 large flood containing reservoirs. The Papillion Creek Watershed Work Plan which this Committee now has under review is absolutely essential to the success of the Army Engineers Flood Control, Recreation and Water Quality Plan for without erosion control life expectancy of the 21 dams would be shortened considerably.

The plan you are reviewing consists of the installation of 52 grade stabilization structures which would be installed over an eight-year period. These measures would provide significant reduction in land damage to 1,600 farm and urban properties. The estimated total project cost is $3,859,500.

I was born and raised near what we call the Papio Creek, and I know that the streams in the Papillion Creek Basin are capable of both good and bad. I can remember when the Papio was a pretty and useful stream. It was unpolluted and wild and near the mouth of the stream, you could catch small fish. Civilization has changed the Papio and there now no one would dare eat a fish, if there are any still alive.

The Papio also has a bad side to its character, which we saw in June of 1964, when seven persons were killed and many million dollars of flood damage was inflicted on the area.

I strongly urge the approval of the Papillion Creek PL 566 Work Plan as a way to hurry up the day when the Creeks of the Papillion Basin can once again become useful vehicles in the growth and prosperity of both agriculture and urban development near Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. Chairman, this project has widespread support within the State of Nebraska, and I would like to submit for the record two letters, the first from the Governor of Nebraska, the Honorable Norbert T. Tiemann, and the second is from the Executive Secretary of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Mr. Warren D. Fairchild.

STATE OF NEBRASKA,
Lincoln, June 26, 1967.

Re: Papillion Creek Watershed Project.

Hon. GLENN CUNNINGHAM,

U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN CUNNINGHAM: It is my understanding that the Papillion Creek P.L. #566 Watershed Work Plan will soon be considered for possible approval by the House Credit and Conservation Sub-Committee. I would appreciate it if you would enter this letter in the official record of the Committee Hearing so as to indicate my personal support for this very worthwhile project. The Papio Watershed Work Plan in Washington, Douglas and Sarpy Counties is an excellent example of coordinated planning activity. Our state government in Nebraska, through the auspices of the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Commission, cooperated very closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Soil Conservation Service in developing a comprehensive plan of watershed protection and flood control for this important drainage in our state. Even though the Papillion Creek Watershed did not have excessive flooding during the recent period of heavy rainfall in our state, past flood records will indicate the need and desirability of this project. I am well reminded of the June, 1964 flood in which seven lives were lost and millions of dollars damage was inflicted within the Papillion Creek drainage basin.

I consider the watershed and flood control program as developed on the Papillion Creek to be a logical and feasible program for controlling the flooding and erosion problem of the area. The small watershed program offers considerable opportunity in our state in the wise development of our water resources. This opportunity is well reflected by recent sizeable increases by the Nebraska Legislature to accelerate state participation in the planning and operational phase of this program.

We in Nebraska are most hopeful that the Papillion Creek Watershed project will receive early approval by the U.S. Congress. Immediately upon this approval we will see that the necessary steps are taken by local and state governments to implement this work plan at the earliest possible date.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN CUNNINGHAM: I have been informed that in the near future the House Conservation and Credit Sub-committee will consider the possible approval of the Papillion Creek P.L. 566 Work Plan. The work plan will cover a sizable area in Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties-including a major portion of metropolitan Omaha.

Immediately following the June, 1964 flood, I was appointed to serve as coordinator in developing a plan for watershed protection and flood control along Papio Creek. How well I recall the 1964 flood when seven lives were lost and many million dollars of flood damage was inflicted in the 250,000 acre drainage area. The Papio Creek P.L. 566 watershed work plan in conjunction with the flood control report developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has consummated several years of planning activity by the local, state, and federal governments. I am most pleased with the coordinated planning activity in this basin. I am convinced that the best possible program of watershed and flood control has been planned for this important water course in Nebraska.

Please convey to the members of the House Conservation and Credit Subcommittee the position of complete support of the Nebraska Soil & Water Conser vation Commission for the Papio Creek Watershed Work Plan. We are most anxious to receive early approval of this project in order that construction can proceed at the earliest possible date.

Yours truly,

WARREN D. FAIRCHILD,
Executive Secretary.

(Whereupon, at 11:26 a.m., the subcommittee adjourned, to reconvene Thursday, June 29, 1967.)

WATERSHED PROJECTS

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 1967

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION AND CREDIT

OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 a.m. in room 1304 Longworth House Office Building, Hon. W. R. Poage (chairman) presiding.

Present: Representatives Poage, Gathings, Teague, Dole and Goodling.

Also present: Fowler C. West, assistant staff consultant, and Mrs. Marjorie Johnson, subcommittee clerk.

Hollis R. Williams, Deputy Administrator for Watersheds: Clyde W. Graham, Director, Watershed Planning Division; William A. Weld, Assistant Director, Watershed Planning Division; and R. Neil Lane, Chief, Projects Branch, Watershed Planning Division, Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please come to order.
We will hear the argument on the Pecan Creek.

PECAN CREEK, TEXAS

PECAN CREEK WATERSHED WORK PLAN

Size and location: 19,200 acres in Hamilton County.
Tributary to Leon River, Brazos River.

Sponsors: Hamilton-Coryell Soil and Water Conservation District, City of
Hamilton, and Hamilton County Commissioners Court.
Total watershed land use:

Size of farms: about 177 acres average.

Purposes: Watershed protection and flood precention.

Principal measures: Soil conservation practices on farms, and structural measures consisting of 5 floodwater retarding structures. Storage capacity of the structures totals 1,996 acre-feet.

Annual benefits: