The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-12-04
Away RNGrNEER REPORTS

ARMY RNeMA%EEE hEEVa&A0
(From Page One)
a number of old channels, which
are dry ct lower stages, connect
Libby and Parmenter Creek and a
. ditch used to irrigate lawns and gar
dens in the city extends from the
east bank of Flower creek through
the residential area to discharge in
to the Kootenai River just down
stream from the mouth Of Libby
Creek.
During the early summer of 1947,
local interests cooperated in inn
proving the chanel on Flower Creek
and in early Oct0Aer the most criti-
cal points on Libby Creek were
improved by local interests. The
inspection of the area by repre-
sentative of Colonel Hewitt's Office
an 3 October I947 indicated that
the channel of Flower Creek was
IN a condition to carry safely a nor
nal flood flow and that the work
which was then being accomplished
along Libby Greek by the local
interests would afford at least tenn
6orary relief for the most serious
locations along that stream. Shortly
thereafter, on IA October 1917, a
STERN of wide extent set in and
continued through Il October 1947,
with the result that all streams in
the area rose rapidly. Flower Creek
attained a stage said to be I'M
precedented for the late summer
season and believed by some long
time residents to be the maximum
ever observed. Damage in the Libby
Creek area was negligible, probably
a. a result of the recently completed
channel Improvements by the local
interests. Flower Creek, however,
overlooked through all of the old
high-water channels, flooding yards
and gardens and threatening a num-
Der of houses. It washed out the
approaches to a number of smaller
county bridges and caused the loss
of about 1000 cubic yards of road
fill. No appraisal of the overall
damages has been made, but it is
doubtful that total damages will
exceed 100000
AS you will undoubtedly recall,
a general authority is available t.
US under Section of the Flood
Control Act of % August 1897, as
. amended by subsequent legislation
for removing accumulated snags
and other debris and clearing drc
Strengthening the channel in naVi-
gable streams and tributaries there
of when such work is determined
10 be advisable in the interest Of
flood control That authority is die
only one available to us at this time
under which we might possibly be
of assistance in connection with the
flood problem in the Libby area.
Because of the topography of the
creek valleys and the amount Cf
drift and gravel which have ac-
cumulated in the stream channels
over period of years as a result
of clearing. logging and placer min
ing operations in the upper creek
basins, however. work of the ma
ture which we might properly un-
dertake under the existing snag
ging and clearing authority would
be of only temporary effectiveness
unless augmented by yeasy main
tenance program. At this time, we
do not have the necessary authority
from Congress, nor funds with
which to cary out annual main
tenance work of the nature required
to supplement channel clearing in
the Libby area, and such main
tenance work is considered to be
the responsibility of local interests.
On the basis of the information
available at this time, it appears
that channel clearing and rectifi-
cation work on Flower and Par
menter Greeks in the vicinity of
Libby, at an estimated cost of ST.
10000, would afford limited a
mount of flood protection which
would be of a temporary nature
only unless the improved reaches
were properly maintained by the
local interests am pleased to
say, therefore, that il has been
determined that such work would
be advisable in the interest of flood
control, and would fall within the
scope of the authority available to
Flood Control Act. as amended. pro-
vided that local interests furnish
assurances that they will maintain
the work after completion. Ac-
cordingly. funds in the amount of
$2,5O0.00 have now been allotted |
to Colonel Hewitt for the accom-
plishment of channel rectification |
work on Flower and Parmenter
Creeks, the initiation of the work |
to be contingent upon the receipt
of assurances from the local interests /
that they will maintain the com
pleted improvements You may be /
assured that Colonel Hewitt will /
proceed with this work as expedi-
tiously as practicable upon receipt
of the required assurances Of local |
cooperation.
The Enclosure with you letter of |
6 November l947 is returned as
requested
Sincerely yours,
Isl r. A. WHEELER