Show f I Flood Hearing Draws Large Crowd An Informative public hearing hear hear- ing on flood conditions in Moab Valley was conducted Tuesday evening at the junior jun jun- for tor high school auditorium i The hearing was held at the request of the U. U S. S Corps of Engineers after a request by city and county officials for assistance In tn controlling the flood threats to the Moab area Mayor Norman Boyd presIded presided pres pres- lied over the meet and am introduced Introduced introduced intro Intro- members of the U. U S. S Army Engineers attending They were Col Earl G. G Peacock Peacock Peacock Pea Pea- cock district engineer Mr Koehm Roehm engineering division Mr Cramer planning and nd Reports Reports Reports Re Re- ports branch Mr Gerhart planning and reports branch Mr Light flood control plan plan- ning section Mr Hollenbeck flood control section and Mr Hatcher project ma nager pager Speaking at th the meeting at atthe atthe atthe the request of city and county county county coun coun- ty officials were John Hougard Hou- Hou gard Bard district forest ranger of the La Sal national Sorest forest who gave factual information en cn soil conservation and the theLa theLa theLa La Sal Forest watershed Winford Bunce former chairman chairman chairman chair chair- man of the Grand county commission and secretary tary of Moab Irrigation Co who reviewed re- re reviewed reviewed re re- viewed the agriculture and Irrigation situation and related related related rela rela- ted flood problems Donald Robinson writer for lor the Times-Independent Times who out out- outlined lined recreation available ible and potentials if It flood control pro pro- sect were accepted Mr Robinson also presented present present- ed a report on behalf of Dan Win bourn conservation officer officer oUi for the State Fish and Game department with in Information information In in- formation on effects of the floods on fishing and wildlife wildlife wild wild- life in the area lIe He then presented a report i for State Senator Samuel Taylor who was unable to attend because of Salt Lake City obligations in connection with a forthcoming special session of the legislature lIe He submitted copies of flood control control control con con- information compiled from research in the Grand Valley Times and The Times Times- Independent from 1896 to the present date Mr Taylor in his report urged the Engineers Engineers Engineers En En- to accept the project for survey Davis C C. Holder consultIng consulting consult consult- I ing engineer for Moab City presented factual information on culinary water problems in in Moab estimated engineering costs of projects completed and desired possible possible- solutions to the flood situations and a general summary of ol Moab's water problems forthe for the past ten years He also had a large map of the valley valley valley val val- ley showing Mill and Pack greeks Freeks reeks which he described as vicious canons aimed at atthe atthe atthe the the valley and said the residents residents' resIdents resIdents' residents residents' res res- interest in securing aid for the the project was another another ano ano- ther example of the spirit of the town a d determination to grow in Inn spite spate of f obstacles Dr F Fred Beyeler inserted a n well Veil received point in stating stating stating stat stat- ing a danger that has become real regarding insect Infestation Infestation infestation Infesta Infesta- tion and the possibility of diseases such as encephalitis originating in untended creek bottoms and flood areas Resolutions were presented favoring the flood control proby program program pro pro- gram by Jerry Havel dent of the Moab Chamber of Commerce Tom Stocks presIdent president pres- pres pres president ident of the Moab Junior Chamber of Commerce Dr Fred B Beyeler local veteran veteran- arian arlan and president bf of Moab W Wildlife e club cu and Raymond ymond Tibbetts president of the Re ne Retail tail tall Merchants' Merchants organization Comments from the floor were then allowed and several several several sev sev- sevi i eral residents brought up up worthy comments on the sit in Moab James Ogg presented th the Engineers with a prepared protest concerning the proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed flood control program In his statement he protested the use of federal funds for such a report and stated It should be planned constructed ted and financed by local residents residents residents re re- re- re who would directly benefit from the results lie He stated private contra tors he felt could handle the project cheaper than an agency ag ag- ency oncy of the government He lie said he felt the Engineers would have unbounded authority au nU in Moab if such a n project were completed as faras far faras as resource utilization was concerned Mr Ogg also took exception to the Idea that a flood problem existed here saying ying that in 1962 the proposed prod pro pro-i posed program was first brought to his attention after a flash flood causing some damage in certain residential subdivisions endangering one home one business establishment establishment establish establish- ment and the abutments of one bridge He referred referred- td the possibility ty of a serious flood in in this area as remote remote remote re mote He also took exception to Sen Taylors Taylor's reference reference to go government goy go assistance which had previously been necessary necessary necessary sary in Moab for schools the Arches national monument and a road to the potash installation in installation In- In stalla lon which w ch was partially partial partial- ly government subsidized saying that he was sure if the right way right way of-way could have been obtained obtained i the the potash company would have hav put out another million for tor a road after having Just spent 8 million mil mU- lion for a railroad William superintendent superintendent superintendent of f Grand school district dis dis- district informed ithe Engineers Engineers Engin Engin- that quarter ter of of'S a million r dollar school Sou Southeast east el elementary recel ed water damage In expensive electric equipment and much D h grounds damage during file fife recent floods here urged He d the Walker subdivision area be considered along with the two two creeks in the survey Keith Higginson representing representIng represent represent- tIng t- t Ing the water rights branch of the State Engineers Engineer's off office Ice told the Engineers of the problems pro pro- in the Spanish Vall Valley y area of Illegal megal wells used for culinary water purposes In lieu of access to proper water facilities Ted Ferren Spanish Valley land owner told of the eroded conditions of Spanish Valley compared to the waist-high waist grass that once covered the area and said We need needa a adam dam damn bad Col Peacock explained the process of the proposed project project pro pro- to the group First he said they could not come in until local citizens requested the action through the city county or state tives It must be confirmed to be beyond the capability of local city or county to handle the project the benefits must be proven to offset the cost and if the ratio is favorable Engineers must then go before before before be be- fore congress to defend the project to get it authorized If the project Is accepted by congress Col Peacock stated stated stated sta sta- sta- sta ted it means they think it Isa Isa is isa a worthwhile project if and when funds are available The survey is based on factual factual fac tac information the people of ot a town give to the Engin It is evaluated for tor or factual factual tactual fac tac- information only and emphasized the Corps has no political aims he said If It the project is undertaken en by the Corps work will bedone bedone be bedone done by local contractors on bid basis However Engineers Engineers Engin will wUl make a fair cost estimate es and the bids must fall within its limits It would be designed as cheaply as I possible within sound engin egin engineering principals he said gald The Colonel said local j gov-j must provide all rIghts way free tree of cost to the government except for tor reservoir or dam sites and the government must be free tree of ot any possible damage claim Local interests must agree to maintain and operate any work done except tor for reservoirs reser which will be kept under under un der supervision of ot the Corps of ot Engineers for tor protection Any recreation projects made possible by building of ot any lake he said would be leased to private or local government go go- for tor handling however however how- how I ever the Engineers would still maintain the lake on a flood control basis Any questions submitted by Individuals questioning the proposed project were answered ans I by the Colonel to their theirl I l apparent satisfaction |