We anticipate that in the area of the other impoundment we will be able to obtain substantial land by dedication by the subdivision devel

opers.

We have concluded at this stage of the game that it is not the proper time to decide the ultimate disposition for management on all of the areas around this program that are impounded.

There is, in the case of the multipurpose impoundment, for example, an area where the development comprises some 400 acres, and the developer is viewing the prospect of the recreational advantages of it. It is possible in that case that the impoundment in the surrounding lands will be dedicated to a nonprofit association of homeowners, in terms of assets and in terms of its management.

I think that we may find that circumstances will vary from case to case with each impoundment, and as those circumstances develop a decision will be made as to the control and management of the impoundment.

Thank you very much, again.

Mr. POAGE. We certainly appreciate that information.

Are there any questions?

If there is nothing further on this, we will turn to the next project.

LARKIN CREEK WATERSHED, ARKANSAS

LARKIN CREEK WATERSHED WORK PLAN

Size and location.-35,800 acres in Lee and St. Francis Counties.

Tributary to.-L'Anguille River.

Sponsors.-Lee County Soil and Water Conservation District, St. Francis County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Number of Farms, 420.

Size of Farms: About 90 acres average.

Purposes.-Watershed Protection, Flood Prevention and Drainage.

Principal Measures.-Soil conservation practices on farms and structural measures consisting of about 48 miles of multiple purpose flood prevention drainage mains and laterals.

Benefit-Cost Ratio.-2.3 to 1. With secondary and redevelopment benefits excluded, the benefit-cost ratio is 2.0 to 1.

Area Benefited.--28,100 acres.

Number of Beneficiaries.—About 420 farm owners and operators will benefit directly from installation of the project measures.

1 For land treatment measures this is primarily the cost of applying land treatment measures by landowners. Cost sharing from funds appropriated for the agricultural conservation program may be available if included in the county program. For structural measures this is the cost of land rights and project administration. It may also include costs for construction or engineering services for purposes other than flood prevention.

a The value of measures already installed ($317,000) increases this to 69 percent.

Prorated P. L. 566 Structural Cost per Acre Benefited.-$17.

Carrying out the Projects.-The Lee County and the St. Francis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts will assume all local responsibilities for installing, operating and maintaining the structural measures.

The estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance is $4,900.

Mr. POAGE. The explanation will be presented for the Department by Mr. Graham.

Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, Larkin Creek watershed is located in north-central Lee County and south-central St. Francis County, Ark., and contains about 36,000 acres. Marianna, county seat of Lee County, lies about 4 miles southeast of the watershed, and Forrest City, county seat of St. Francis County, is about 4 miles northeast. The watershed is bound by Coffee Creek on the north, L'Anguilla River on the east, Cypress, Cat, and Hog Tusk Creeks on the south, and Big Creek on the west. Larkin Creek and its tributaries are the main drainage system for the watershed.

Sponsors of the project are the Lee and St. Francis County Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Both Lee and St. Francis Counties are eligible to receive assistance. under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. The median family income in 1960 was $1,710 for Lee County and $1,973 for St. Francis County, compared to $3,184 for Arkansas.

Both counties have prepared overall economic development plans which stress the need for watershed projects to alleviate flooding and poor drainage.

There are about 420 farms averaging 90 acres in size in the watershed. The residents depend primarily upon agriculture for their livelihood. Crops produced most abundantly are soybeans, cotton, wheat, and rice, with sorghum grain, corn, and okra grown in lesser quantities.

Topography in the area ranges from flat to moderately undulating, with elevations of 170 to 214 feet above mean sea level. The capacity of existing ditches and natural drainageways is not sufficient to contain runoff from storms occurring twice a year. Large areas in the watershed are frequently inundated, causing restricted land use, high costs of production, lower quality of products, decreased yields and, in some instances, the complete loss of crops. Difficulty in traveling due to high water is also experienced. Sheet erosion on cultivated land causes a continual sediment problem to the channel system. Poor internal drainage of the soil, the level terrain, and the lack of adequate

ditches and natural drainageways are significant problems. The estimated average annual flood damage is $95,000.

The work plan proposes about 48 miles of multiple-purpose flood prevention drainage mains and laterals and land treatment measures for both cropland and grassland. These include conservation cropping systems, crop residue use, cover and green manure crops, grasses and legumes in rotation, and drainage for cropland, and pasture planting and management, brush control, and farm ponds for grassland.

Installation cost of the project is estimated at $1,700,000, of which $630,000 will be paid from Public Law 566 funds and $1,100,000, or 63 percent, from local funds. When the value of measures already installed is included, the local contribution is increased to 69 percent of total cost. The project sponsors will also operate and maintain the project at a cost estimated at $4,900 annually.

About 420 farmowners will benefit directly from the project. Labor and machinery can be more efficiently utilized, more efficient operations will be achieved, and production costs will decrease. Wet conditions in the watershed should be eliminated to a large extent. The benefited area includes 28,100 acres. Average annual benefits are estimated at $129,000, with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.3 to 1.

The prorated Public Law 566 structural cost per acre benefited is $17.

Mr. POAGE. Thank you, Mr. Graham. That sounds like a very good

ratio.

Mr. GRAHAM. A very good one; yes, sir.

Mr. TEAGUE of California. It looks like an ideal project. I do not think we will have to spend too much time on it.

Mr. POAGE. We will not, unless somebody else wants to be heard.
Does anybody else want to be heard on this?

If not, we will pass on to the next project.
The lower Red Rock Creek watershed.

LOWER RED ROCK CREEK WATERSHED, OKLAHOMA

LOWER RED ROCK CREEK WATERSHED WORK PLAN

Size and Location.-116,582 acres in Noble and Pawnee Counties.

Tributary to.-Arkansas River.

Sponsors.-Noble County Soil and Water Conservation District, Pawnee County Soil and Water Conservation District, Red Rock Creek Conservancy District.

Total watershed privately owned.

Number of Farms: 225.

Size of Farms: About 500 acres average.

Purposes.-Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention.

Principal Measures.-Soil conservation practices on farms and structural measures consisting of 26 floodwater retarding structures. The storage capacity of the structures ranges from 249 acre-feet to 3,769 acre-feet.

Benefit-Cost Ratio.-1.3 to 1. With incidental recreation and secondary benefits excluded, the benefit-cost ratio is 1.1 to 1.

Area Benefited.-11,142 acres.

Number of Beneficiaries.—About 350 landowners and operators will directly benefit from installation of the structural measures.

1 This is primarily the cost of applying land treatment measures by landowners. Cost sharing from Federal funds appropriated for the agricultural conservation program may be available if included in the county program developed each year in consideration of approved State and National prograins and the annual authorization by the Congress. * Consisting of:

The value of measures already installed ($630,191) increases this to 46 percent.

Prorated P.L. 566 Structural Cost per Acre Benefited.-$133.

$671,571 7,800

Carrying out the Project.-The Red Rock Conservancy District assumes all local responsibilities for installing, operating and maintaining the structural

measures.

The estimated annual cost of operation and maintenance is $3,950.

Mr. POAGE. Mr. Graham will submit the Department's explanation. Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. Chairman, and members of the subcommittee, the lower Red Rock Creek watershed is located in north-central Oklahoma in Noble and Pawnee Counties. Red Rock Creek heads 4 miles north of Enid, Okla., and flows eastward for about 45 miles to its confluence with the Arkansas River. A watershed work plan has been developed and construction is in progress on the upper Red Rock Creek watershed. Lower Red Rock Creek watershed contains about 117,000 acres which includes 21,000 acres of individual allotted and tribal land held in trust by the Federal Government for Indian landowners in the watershed.

The economy of the watershed is basically agricultural with oil and gas being the second largest industry in the county. About 59 percent of the farm income is from crops and 41 percent from livestock. There are 225 operating farm units in the watershed averaging about 500 acres in size.

During the 20-year period, 1935 through 1954, flooding of various magnitudes and intensities occurred about 100 times. Major floods, covering more than 50 percent of the flood plain, occurred five times during this 20-year period of analysis. This frequent flooding has restricted the best use of the flood plain lands and caused extensive damage to crops, pastures, and fixed improvements such as fences, farm equipment, roads, and bridges. There are about 11,000 acres subject to flooding. Erosion damages in the form of flood plain scouring is also a severe problem. The estimated average annual damages amount to $168,000.

The proposed remedial measures for this watershed project include soil conservation practices on the lands and 26 floodwater retarding structures. The soil conservation practices consist, primarily, of measures to establish good land cover and improve soil conditions which will decrease erosion damage and sediment yields. In addition, such measures as contour farming, terracing, and grassed waterways will be applied as needed. Miscellaneous areas will be treated to perpetuate. protect, and improve the fish and wildlife resources in the watershed. The project measures will reduce average annual damages about 73 percent. It is anticipated that the general public will have access to a number of the sediment pools created by the floodwater retarding reservoirs. This incidental effect of the project is expected to attract about 22,000 visitors annually for boating, fishing, and hunting activities. Total benefits estimated to accrue annually amount to $138,000, resulting in a benefit-cost ratio of 1.3 to 1. With incidental recreation and secondary benefits excluded, the benefit-cost ratio is 1.1 to 1. The prorated Public Law 566 cost per acre benefited is $133.

The total installation cost of the project is $3,782,000. The local interests will bear $1,417,000, or 37 percent of this cost. Considering the cost of land treatment measures already applied ($630,000), local contribution amounts to 46 percent of all costs. In addition, the local sponsors will assume the costs for operating and maintaining the structural measures, estimated at $3,900 annually.

Mr. POAGE. Thank you, Mr. Graham.

Are there any questions? Mr. Teague.

Mr. TEAGUE of California. Would you state what the average value of the land benefited is?

Mr. GRAHAM. I did not state that. The flood plain land is valued at $350 to $400 per acre.

Mr. TEAGUE of California. Thank you.

Mr. POAGE. Are there any other questions?

If not, we are very much obliged to you, Mr. Graham.

We have a statement from our colleague Mr. Belcher, and without objection, it will be inserted in the record at this point.

(The statement of Hon. Page Belcher, a Representative in Congress from the First Congressional District of the State of Oklahoma, follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. PAGE BELCHER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am pleased for this opportunity to discuss with you the merits of the Lower Red Rock Creek Watershed project as outlined in the Work Plan prepared under authority of Public Law 566.