The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-07-01
ArnyEngineerS Hold Hearing
Iy70nPropoSed LibbyDdm

and description of the proposed
Kootenai dam above Libby and be
low Jennings is released for publ
cation from the Army Engineer;
office in Seattle:
A public hearing will be held ir
the Theater Building, Libby, at 2:0(
p. m. on July 7, 1948, to consider
proposals for dam at Libby site
on Kootenai River, and for a levee
project to protect Boomers Ferry
Idaho. These projects are prospect
i've elements in report being pre-
pared pursuant to the following
resolution adopted September "a
1913:
United States Senate. Committee
on Commerce
Resolved by the Committee on
Commerce of the United States
Senate, that the Board of Engineers
for Rivers and Harbors, created IN
der Section 3 of the River and
Harbor Act approved June ID, 1902,
be, and is hereby requested to re-
view the reports on the Columbia
River and tributaries submitted I'M
der the provisions of House Docu-
ment Numbered 308, SiXty-ninth
Congress, First Session, as author
lied by the River and Harbor Act
of January 81, 1927, with a view to
determining whether any modifica-
ton of existing projects or recon-
mended comprehensive plans of i'm
provement should be made at this
time"
Libby Dam site is located in Mon
tana on KOOtenai River upstream
212.8 miles from its mouth, SIS miles
downstream from the international
boundary and is miles downstream
from Jennings, Montana. The pro-
posed dam would create pool at
normal full elevation 2,440 feet,
mean sea level, extending SO miles
in a narrow strip to a point "a river
miles upstream from the interna-
tional boundary. The reservoir
would impound 4,250,00 disable
acre-feet of flood waters and would
provide a high degree of regulation
of the flow of Kootenai River up
stream from Kootenay Lake. It
would reduce all floods of record
to flows causing negligible damage
on the Kootenai above Kootenay
Lake and also provide substantial
flood control benefits on the lower
Columbia.
A hydroelcctric installation with
a capacity Of $4,000 kilowatts
would fulfill all local need for
power and assist greatly in meeting
the regional power shortage now
evident. The reservoir regulation
also would add prime power for
Canadian development
The reservoir pool would provide
an economic means of tranSporta-
ton of logs from woods to mill. 1t
would be retaind at a high level
the summer recreation
al period. The use of the stored
water would begin in the fall and
continue through the winter months
until reservoir capacity was avail
able for retention of spring flood
waters and a repetition of the cycle.
The project would include develop |
ment of habitat for wildfowl and
fish in cooperation with the inter
ested conservation agencies
Developed lands required for the
reservoir include a few farms and
the towns of Jennings Warland,
Stone Hill and Rexford. The new
locations of these towns would be
determined largely by the route OF
the relocated railroad. Major relo-
cations of the main line OF the Great
Northern Railway and OF Montana
State Highway No. 81 would be re-
CURED.
The proposed levee project at
Bonners Ferry would extend from |
the Great Northern Railway at the /
aasterly limit of the city down
stream along the line of the exist
ing levee to the rock bluff west of
he Great Northern Railway branch
line bridge, and along existing rail !
wav fills from the rock bluff to high |
ground to the south. 1t would pro.
tect the city against all floods OF
record.
A more detailed description of the
projects; their purposes,
costs. and effects, will be presented
bv engineers of this office at the
hearing, after which all interested !
parties or their representatives Will
be afforded full opportunity to eX-
press their views concerning the
and extent of the pro
posed improvements and the need
and advisability of their construc--
ton. A record of the hearing will
the report of the District
Engineer to higher authority. Oral
statements of interested parties are
solicited, but for the accuracy of the
record, important facts and evil
dence should be furnished in writ
ing
w. r. SHULER
1t. Colonel, Corps of Engineers
Executive officer