HomeMy WebLinkAbout20001218 USDAUnited States Natural Resources State Conservationist
�— Department of Conservation 655 Parfet Street
_ Agriculture Service (NRCS) Room E200C
Lakewood, CO 80215-5517
Phone (303) 236-2886 http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov Fax(303) 236-2896
April 26, 2000
Barbara Kirkmeyer, Chairman
Weld County Board of Comm.
P.O. Box 758
Greeley, CO 80632
Dear Barbara:
You may already be aware of the effort of PL-566 Watershed sponsors from around thi Jnited
States to support legislation that would authorize the NRCS to use the PL-566 program to
rehabilitate aging watershed dams. Due to many of your efforts, U.S. Senator Wayne Allard
and U.S. Representatives Joel Hefley and Bob Schaffer have signed on as co-sponsors of HR
728 and S 1762.
Both of these bills have progressed through various committees of Congress. Enclosed you will
find a status report of where both bills are in the review and authorization process. I have
enclosed information that you will find helpful in learning about how this legislation might effect
the PL-566 Small Watershed Protection Program in Colorado. We at NRCS look forward to
being able to provide you the technical assistance and funding for the rehabilitation needs that
you might have. We will keep you informed if the NRCS receives the authorization to support
your projects in rehabilitation activities.
We certainly appreciate your actions over the years to inspect, operate and maintain the PL-
566 dams in your project. If you are aware of any structures that have rehabilitation needs
other than normal maintenance please bring them to our attention. If the above legislation
passes we will be doing a detailed inventory of specific rehabilitation needs. Your input into the
inventory will be very helpful.
Please feel free to call your local NRCS office or me if you have any questions. Again, thanks
for all of your efforts to maintain your watershed structures for the benefits that they were
originally designed.
Sincerely,
Stephen F. Black
State Conservationist
Enclosures
The Natural Resources Conservation Service works hand-in-hand with USDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
the American people to conserve natural resources on private lands. PROVIDER AND EMPLOYERin Otir
6 'm Lo 2000-1218
Status of Watershed Rehabilitation Legislation
April 21, 2000
HR 728 "Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 1999"was introduced in the House on
February 11, 1999, by Congressman Frank Lucas (OK). This bill provides authorization and $600 million over
a 10-year period to NRCS for rehabilitation of dams constructed as a part of PL-566, PL-534, RC&D, and
Pilot watershed projects. The staff contact on this bill is Nicole Scott(202-225-5565)of Congressman
Lucas's office. Currently, 63 members of Congress from 26 states have signed as co-sponsors.
The bill was referred to the House Agriculture, Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
Action has been completed by all of the committees. HR-728 awaits scheduling for a House floor vote
(expected in May 2000).
The following is a summary of actions taken in the three House Committees:
Agriculture:
• The subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit chaired by
Representative Barrett(NE) held a hearing on HR 728 on April 15, 1999, and a mark-up on July 20,
1999. HR 728 was passed without amendments with the recommendation for approval by the Full
House Agriculture Committee.
• The Full House Agriculture Committee held a mark-up of HR 728 on October 27, 1999. Three
amendments were offered, two of which were not directly related to the legislation. Amendments by
Goodlatte (VA) concerning permitting the removal of floodwater debris and Stenholm (TX)
concerning confidentiality of info gathered by USDA both passed. Chairman Combest(TX)offered
an amendment that included five technical changes to the original text of HR 728. His amendment
passed by voice vote with recommendation of approval by the House. Report 106-484, Part II, was
submitted April 4, 2000.
Transportation and Infrastructure:
• The subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment chaired by Representative Boehlert(NY)
held a hearing on HR 728 on September 24,1999, and a mark-up on November 8, 1999. Chairman
Boehlert offered a substitute bill that included five technical changes similar to those passed by the
House Agriculture Committee as well as an entire new section concerning the Secretary of the Army
(Corps of Engineers) conducting an inventory and assessment of WPA and CCC dams. Funds
were also authorized for the Secretary of the Army to take interim rehabilitation action on WPA/CCC
dams if imminent and substantial risk to public safety is involved. The subcommittee passed the
amended legislation unanimously by voice vote.
• The Full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a mark-up of HR 728 on
November 10, 1999. After a short discussion, they passed the amended version recommended by
the T&I Subcommittee by unanimous voice vote with a recommendation of approval by the House.
Report 106-484, Part I, was submitted November 18, 1999.
Resources:
• Committee action on HR-728 was discharged April 4, 2000.
S 1762 -"Small Watershed Rehabilitation Act of 1999"was introduced in the Senate on October 21, 1999,
by Senator Paul Coverdell (GA)and Senator Blanche Lincoln (AR). This bill is the Senate companion to HR
728. It is identical (verbatim)to HR 728 with one exception: the definition of"rehabilitation"in S 1762
includes an additional item (e)—"decommissioning the structural measure including removal or breaching".
This bill has been referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee. Currently, 15 senators from 13 states have
signed as co-sponsors. Staff contacts on this bill are Richard Gupton of Senator Coverdell's office (202/224-
3643) and Ben Noble of Senator Lincoln's office (202/224-4843).
The Senate Agriculture Committee will be scheduling a hearing on S.1762 soon.
Reinvesting in America's Watersheds: A Special Report
COLORADO COLORADO DAMS IN DANGER COLORADO COLORADO
PEOPLE AT R I S K ?
•
or 50 ears America's small upstream dams '
Y p �,'
have provided for flood protection, municipal
water supplies, wildlife habitat, water for live- `_�
stock,and recreational opportunities.But time
has taken its toll.Many of the nation's dams, N .
including those in Colorado, are in desperate
need of repair. If problems are not corrected, the come-
quences are grave—to both people and the environment.
Funding is needed, and now is the time to act.
Across the Nation. . . In Colorado. . .
More than 600 E Colorado's Small Water- j t ii
v�
dams need to be A �; —: -_ "? shed Program began in J'
rebuilt and up- " - ' - " 1954 with the Kiowa ��I
i Iv
d to ensure,. -L. `j' _
{� -�;�-e`C;r, Creek Watershed local-
gtade __„� �: ,_Y
the safety and $; ` ' ••is "- yr, ed in the east-central • is
r 4 H
health of those s\ `Y -:----7,-__;--A4. : - �. part of the state in H
downstream. In Elbert and El Paso coun- '' -
addition, another `,- '"T )- '- ;A� ties.The watershed flows � r _
1,500 dams need Y.
into the South Platte :Ft-
I I
repairs so they can Smell watershed projects Colorado Basin. While the Colorado has 752 small flaadeoanal dann
continue to pm- watershed continues to
vide flood control,municipal water supplies,recreational provide many benefits, the dams have problems that
activities,water for livestock,and wildlife habitat.An esti- must be addressed.Just consider:
mated$540 million is needed to rehabilitate these dams. •16 dams that were built to protect agricultural lands
Ten thousand dams built under Small Watershed Programs now have homes or other structures built downstream
make up a$9 billion inf astructure.These dams provide more in the flood plain"
than$800 million in benefits annually.The majority of these •33 dams, if not repaired, will have significant and
dams were built for a 50-year lifespan and some have already adverse environmental,economic,and social impacts.
or soon will reach that mark.Funds for building these dams •An estimated $28 million is needed to rehabilitate
have come from four programs:Flood Control Act of 1944 these dams.
(PL-78-534); Pilot Watershed Program; Watershed •The 152 upstream flood-control dams in 22 water-
Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1953(PL 83-566); sheds provide flood protection for more than 1 million
and Resource Conservation and Development(RC&D). acres and make up nearly a $60 million infrastructure.
Our Aging Dams
NATIONWIDE 4786 COLORADO 123 dams
darns #"are 30-39
are 30-39 years old
2,841 years old
dams
are —►
20-29
years old
1,081 dams are 11 dams
1,172 dams 4 �'0� are
1619 years old 185 dams are 263 dams are 20
-29
<10 years old ?45 Years old years old 18 dams are<20 years old
COLORADO COLORADO i DAMS IN DANGER COLORADO COLORADO
PEOPLEAT RISK ?
A Case Study...
In the north-central part of Colorado, Boxelder Creek
Watershed Dams are in need of being rebuilt.The five
watershed project dams were designed to protect agricul-
tural lands from floodwater, sediment, and erosion dam-
ages. New residential development downstream from the -.-
dam added the protection of human life as a new concern ..7;
for three of these dams.With the recent residential and '
commercial development,the watershed has become part
of Colorado's"Growing Pains:'
It is projected that only 1,150 square miles of land in _
Colorado will be subject to residential growth between
1990 and 2020, if current development densities persist, -
according to an article by Thomas Clark (Denver Post,
February 14, 1999).Protecting lives and structures down- �- _
stream calls for a more stringent design than does protect-
ing agricultural land. The North Poudre Irrigation
Company has maintained the dams, but doesn't have the
funds to make major upgrades to meet their changed
requirements for protection of human life. _ .
The watershed includes 160,640 acres and encompasses
the city of Wellington and the eastern of Fort THEdam;
PROBLEMS.Too:Seep area
portionbelow note in strong seep n
Collins along Interstate 25. It drains into the Cache La gutter.Above:Cracks across darn
Poudre River, which is a tributary to the South Platte (left)and above draw down awe
(right).In addition,the dams were
River.The Fort Collins Soil Conservation District was the constructed to protect a 4cunural
local sponsor of the project; however, North Poudre lands,but downstream areas have
since developed.This means the
Irrigation Company assumed operation and maintenance dams may need to be rebuilt,
of the dams after construction. which will be costly.
The local sponsors, with assistance from the Natural WHY REPAIR THE DAMS?Right
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), built these Children and adults enjoy the
recreational benefits the dams pro- . ;(
flood-control dams as part of the watershed project vide.Additionally,clean water is
�EI ��/
between 1970 and 1988.This was done under the author- vital to whole eommunPoes.The ! (' jl ` -
current situation poses a safety ..
ity of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act. and health threat to people,com-
munities,and natural resources. r %�
A Call to Action in Colorado
16 33 $ 28
dams need to be rebuilt dams need repairs to Ill
' � ' O n
and upgraded to protect safeguard municipal water
life and property in supplies,provide flood is needed to rehabilitate those
downstream areas control,and protect
natural resources dams to protect people and
natural resources
3/99
Aging watershed projects:
A growing national concern
S• is r�Q 's 14F, .. . g",gr*v ,:l. a say
° _• ..-''''',.,'",67'117,,°, yra a a °,S`�` .', :ms MAP+ wci--,,,m
,,,met , aoz,,::a CtS �,, "y
fie k a9�"" a
n. talon Voicflmaiga .tne.
, .: .
Cover phet0:Barb Icon
„. NRCS,.LIltle Rock,
_ ..
s _
w *r
-,„
z -
- - ye" - a
r n,
2
— .,-
•.-Jz-_ . , .��_ rte' u
r _
.ice... _ p,�,,.... _ p� �
Sr __
ar h 7 .
may _,.+rr
....,. ,�"` . .`°war a �,
i �J
__ _ .
,r.F�� „1„;z,-,..„-,,,-.*?.......,-.-- 0
�prw yl fit:.._&�,& -.,..;,;--;e
a� •� `
a
Y •
L ✓ E 1.?; i>,
t fl A n trv
a4 a
g r
i r y n r °
,
a
o
r :- ntral . 3r ,r:ar County,Oklahoma
Aging watershed projects: A growing
national concern
Robert G. Buckley, J. Randy Young, and Mike Thralls
he -Milt anniversary of CloudT
also was an occasiontolooktothefutureofthesepro-
jects. Over 10,000 upstream flood control dams have
Crt < k Site One in Oklahoma been built in over 2,000 watershed projects located in
46 states, and covering 160 million acres. Forty-three
brings us to the realization that percent of these dams are in Texas, Oklahoma and
Arkansas.
many of the earlier constructed up- The 50th anniversary of Cloud Creek Site One brings
us to the realization that many of these early construct-
stream flood control da HIS were de- ed dams were designed for a 50-year life expectancy
and for many dams that 50th year is near. Many of the
Si greed for a 50-vear life expectancy, and these dams either need or will soon need major reha-
bilitation. So the question faces America—what is the
for many dams that 50th year is near. future of these dams that have provided multiple bene-
fits for many years?Can we afford to lose an$8.5 billion
national infrastructure that provides flood control,
n July 3, wildlife habitat, recreation, irrigation and livestock wa-
1998, a cele- ter, and municipal and rural water supplies? Can we
There are over 10,000 bration was risk the safety and health consequences of not proper-
small watershed dams held in Cordell, Ok- ly maintaining this infrastructure?
in America.Some of lahoma,to celebrate
these are already the 50th anniver- Changing conditions
coming to the end of sary of the first up-
their designed life. stream flood control In the 1960s and 1970s, four small upstream flood
Rehabilitation of dam built in the na- control dams were built on the Muddy Fork of the Illi-
these daps 1s quickly tion.While this was nois River in northwest Arkansas.These dams provide
become ;a under iS- a milestone that flood protection, recreation, wildlife habitat, and mu-
Sue for local sponsors highlighted the nicipal and industrial water supplies for the cities of
and those people tremendous accom- Prairie Grove and Lincoln. The project provides over
plishments of local $500,000 of annual benefits to local citizens.
Whose lives are affect- watershed sponsors But now the dams are over 30 years old and they will
ed by the projects. and various agen- soon need major rehabilitation to continue to function
cies and groups, it properly and to ensure the safety of those living in the
22 CONSERVATION VOICES
watershed.One dam in the Muddy Fork Watershed was
built as a low-hazard structure to protect rural agricul •
-
tural land, but now has homes built directly down-
stream from the lake.Failure of the dam could be cata-
strophic.This watershed project is an example of hun- `
dreds of projects in the nation that are providing ( I
multiple benefits to communities,but where local spon-
sors are beginning to face serious problems.
Background : t i
The small watershed concept was first tested in 11 0
large river basins authorized by Congress under the
Flood Control Act of 1944(PL78-534). Upstream flood
control dams were built on small tributaries to major Location of upstream flood control dams that are 30+
streams to hold back water during heavy rains and years old.
slowly release it through pipes in the dams. Congress,
convinced of the effectiveness of the program, passed Watershed Project Locations
the Watershed Protection and Flood Control Act of 1953 i(PL83-566),expanding the watershed program.
Local sponsors provide leadership in the program and ? �� . s . t
secure land rights and easements needed for construe- - ! a ';`` r.- f-j±,
tion.The Natural Resources Conservation Service(for-
merly the Soil Conservation Service) provides technical I I-'-
assistance and cost-sharing for the construction.Local
sponsors assume responsibility for the operation and :� F ' c .i
maintenance of the structures once they are completed. 1
Current situation
4' . PL-534 FRalacia _--.
In the next ten years over 1,000 dams nationwide will - -
reach the end of their 50-year life expectancy.And one- nRcs
half of the 10,000 dams are already more than 30 years There are watershed projects in every state,Puerto
old.Along with other structural repair,concrete princi- Rico,and the Pacific Basin covering 160 million acres.
pal spillways and concrete and metal pipes need to be Dams have been construction In 46 states.
PL-534 aPilot/RC&D APL-566
650
600
550
CA
500
450
400 B
Ch 350
p 300 ME
d 250
E▪ 200
150 _
Z -
100
50 - w
a0 f)U)114123,!),)It)U)ICDD(0(0(0(0(O0((00(0(00N--A nf:r r r l-N-N-((0(0(0V,22(0(D(00)0 0)0))0)00
Year
Nationwide project structures construction 1948-1995 IPL-566,Pllot/RC&D,&PL-534).
OCTOBER NOVEMBER1998 23
replaced in many of the dams.Homes and other strut-
tures have been built below some dams that were only
designed to protect rural lands and many sediment
basins are becoming filled, eliminating water storage
capacity and reducing flood control.
In most cases sponsors have diligently maintained
the structures,but they don't have the funds and other
resources needed for major renovation of the dams f P'f' +i'= � +"
that have reached their planned life span, but with
needed rehabilitation could continue to provide bene- r, a,G;x •<`
•fits indefinitely.In many cases rehabilitation would cost ✓i h` '° 4 .
more than the original cost of the dam. NRCS does not r '' ..,., "
•
currently have the authority to expend funds on reha- �f
bilitation efforts and state funding is very limited. Re-
(470% :410
moving the dams could be an option in some cases,but
brings up questions such as the loss of flood control, Concrete principal spllhwrys and pipes on
old-
loss of fish and wildlife habitat,downstream movement many of the er upstream flood control dams me beginning to deterlo-
of sediment collected over the years, and the issue of rate and will need replacing to ensure safety of the dam.
chemicals,metals,etc.,that might be in that sediment.
Other issues: velopment has changed the nature of what was once
a rural dam.
• Some of the dams do not meet current state dam reg-
ulatory requirements. Many of these requirements
The future of the watershed projects
were written or significantly rewritten in the 1970s rests with the people
with over 70 percent of the small watershed dams al-
ready constructed. Laws regarding this were often While there are certainly some challenges ahead,
retroactive and conflicted with the original design of there also are many opportunities to reinvest in aging
the existing dams. watershed projects. The structural repair of dams,
• Early projects did not always consider resource ways to extend the life of the structures,and safety and
needs such as water quality,riparian corridors,wet- health issues have to be addressed.This is also a good
land restoration and wildlife habitat. time to take a new look at the resource needs in water-
• Many of the dams are in rural areas and the public sheds.There may be opportunities to enhance wildlife
doesn't even know they exist.And although there are habitat,wetland areas,add water for municipal or rur-
dams in urban areas,the public usually doesn't un- al water supplies,or add recreational facilities as reha-
derstand how the dams function or the benefits that bilitation is performed.
they provide. This a growing national concern.We are just now be-
ginning to realize the enormous challenges ahead in
What is being done? these projects.Local people and state and federal agen-
cies have worked together for over 50 years to build
There are some positive things occurring related to these dams and put conservation on the land to pro-
this issue. Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas has in- tect the watersheds.Now is the time to look at the next
troduced H-R. 4409 in the House of Representatives 50 years and beyond and start planning how to deal
that would authorize NRCS to provide funding and with these aging watersheds to insure they continue to
technical assistance with these aging projects. provide the benefits they have in the past.
• NRCS has authorized a pilot project on Sergeant Major
Creek Watershed in western Oklahoma to serve as a
model on rehabilitation of an aging watershed project.
• States are working to help local sponsors. The Okla-
homa Conservation Commission has purchased
equipment such as a special video camera that is
used to film the interior of pipes in dams to identify
cracks or other problems. Other equipment such as
pumping equipment is available to sponsors to low-
er
water levels when working on the dams.
• The National Watershed Coalition has adopted reha-
bilitation as a high priority and has held national Robert G.Buckley is Executive Director, Texas State Soil and
meetings to help identify future rehabilitation needs Water Conservation Board and President,National Association of
and begin to look at ways to meet those needs.They State Conservation Agencies;J.Randy Young Executive Director,
have also been working with watershed project Arkansas Soil and Water Commission and Vice-President,Nation-
sponsors,state and federal officials and home own- al Association of State Conservation Agencies;Mike Thralls is Ex-
ers associations that have concerns where urban de- ecutive Director, Oklahoma Conservation Commission
24 CONSERVATION VOICES
Hello