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<br /> 3
<br />. It is estimated that the peak flows 0 f tributaries hav. been .. folloYfs:
<br /> Salt Fork . . . . . . . . . . . no ,000 e,f.s.
<br /> Cimarron 80,000 .
<br /> . . . . . . . . . . .
<br /> Grand }oo ,000 .
<br /> . . . . . . . . . . .
<br /> Canadio.n 250,000 "
<br /> . . . . . . . . . . .
<br /> Verdigris 80,000 .
<br /> . . . . . . . . . .
<br />
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<br />11. The average annual discharge of the Arkansas River, b~sed upon
<br />periods of reoord which vary from 9.. fow years to 60 yellTs - an f:.verage
<br />of about 15 years, is l~,OOO o.f.s. and }O,OOO,OOO aore-feet annually,
<br />or 3.5 inches of run-off. or this total annual flo~, it may be ~aid that
<br />the Grand River contributes about 6,750,000 acre-feet or 10 inohes of
<br />run-off from its drainage area, and the Verdigris 4,500,000 acre-feet or
<br />about the same inches of run-off from its draino.ge aros.. The Fourche
<br />La Fave River in Arkansas contributes 1,000,000 acre.reet, which is 17
<br />inches of run-crf, from its small drainage area (1,125 square miles);
<br />the Petit Jean River, about 900,000 acre-feet or aboU~ 15 inches of run-
<br />off from ita drainage area of 1~080 square miles. The Poteau River con-
<br />tributes about 1,300,000 acre-feet or 13 inches of run~ff, and the
<br />Illinois River about 1,000,000 acre-feet or 12-1/2 incMlS of run-off.
<br />The South Canadian River, with a drainage area of nearly 30,000 square
<br />miles, oontributes only about 800,000 acre-feet, or 1;2 inoh of run-offJ
<br />the North Canadian River, 1,500,000 aore-feet or nearly 2 inches; and
<br />the Clmarron about 750,000 aore-feet or 3/4. inch.
<br />
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<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />12. The flood plain of the ArkanBas River and tributaries agre-
<br />gates nearly 6,000,000 aores, over half of whioh is improved land, and
<br />the average annual direct flood loss is about J5,OOO,OOO. The average
<br />annual crop loss is )3,300,000 on 2,200,000 aores or about ~1.50 per
<br />acre.
<br />
<br />13. There are 26 levee districts below Fort Smith with 180 miles
<br />of levee to protect 670,000 acres, of which 220,000 are in the Mississippi
<br />River backr.ater. These levees were constructed by private interest at an
<br />initial oost of about ';3,OOO~OOO. There are also a number of smaller
<br />levee systema, prinoipally in the Neosho and Verdigris valleys and at
<br />Tulsa, Arkansas City, \1infie1d~ Augusta, l:ichita, and Pueblo. Few of
<br />the levees are adequate in height and seotion.
<br />
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<br />14. There are but f&w places 1n the valleys of the upper Arkansas
<br />or its tributaries which are wide enough to panni t economical flood pro-
<br />tection by levees. Rectifioation and enlargement of stream channels is
<br />seldom feasible. Diversion 1s not practicable, and aocordingly reser~
<br />voirs are for the best proteotion of the smaller valleys, and reduction
<br />of those flood flows will in turn benefit the main stream below. It has
<br />become inoreasingly important, however, that the development of these
<br />reservoir sites consider all purposes~ that is, flood control, irriga-
<br />tion. water power, abate::l8nt of streaIt pollution, navigation, recrea-
<br />tion and wildlife.
<br />
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<br />
<br />15. In the Arkansas River basin ",-est of the 99th meridian, about
<br />750,000 acres are under irri&ation. In Arkansas belaw Little Rock there
<br />are about l25~OOO acres irrisated for rice cultivation; this in the area
<br />
<br />2411
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