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<br />243 S 9 0
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<br />MISSOURI RIVEIl BASIN
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<br />(b) At Council Bluffs, Iowl1, a city of more thl1n40.,0.0.0. population,
<br />over half the city would he inundated in 11 major flood, including
<br />important milroads, mauufacturing and industrial establishments.
<br />(c) At Omaha, Nehr., a city of over 20.0.,0.0.0. population, the munic-
<br />ipal airport is located within the flood plain, also important manu-
<br />f"cturing and industrial plants, and the entire vilJ"ge of Carter Lake,
<br />Iowa, which includes about 1 ,250. fl1milies.
<br />Cd) At Sioux City, Iowa, 11 city uf over 80.,0.0.0. population, a portion
<br />of t.he business district is subject to flooding, and also a large part of
<br />the stockyards, railroad facilities, and some manufacturing and indus-
<br />trial establishments.
<br />In addition to these cities! there are over 50. smaller municipalities
<br />which are wholly or partia Iy vulnerable to floods along the muin
<br />stem of the Missouri River.
<br />22. F/.ood,'.-In the upper pllrt of the river the highest flood of
<br />record "'"S caused by the I\Jarch rise of 1881. PraetiellUy the entire
<br />Mea from bluff to bluff was inundated from Sionx City, Iowa, to St.
<br />Joseph, 1\10., and the river wa.s nuuve Bood stngc all the Wil.Y to the
<br />moul.h. In addition to I.he damage cansed by the wIlter itself, there wus,
<br />a grel1t. delll of damllge done by the cutti.t'g llnd crushing Iletion of huge
<br />cakes of ice as they were swept downstream. 'Vhen reservoirs are
<br />constructed upstrellJll froDl Sioux City, this type of dnmoge ,,,..ill be
<br />largely eliminated. The flood of 1881 caused millions of dollars of
<br />dam fige.
<br />23. In the lower part of the river the highest flood of record was
<br />caused by the June rise of 1844. This flood also produced stages in
<br />the upper port of the river approaching those of the 1881 flood.
<br />Reliable records of the damage caused by this flood are not I1vailable.
<br />The next highest flood of record in the lower part of the river was,
<br />Mused by tllC June rise of 190.3. This flooel pllralyzed commerce,
<br />industry, find communications for \'....eeks nnd caused millions of dollars
<br />of dan1l1r;e at the Kl1nsl1s Citys I1l0ne. It lIoodee! tbe entire hot.toms
<br />area on which is now !ocated hundreds of industria! ane! ffillnufacturing
<br />plants and tbe l1irports. The totl1! direct damage during this flood
<br />between Sioux City and the month WI1S over $10,0.0.0.,0.0.0..
<br />24. In I1ddit.ion to the floods of 1844, 1881, and 190.3, there hll,e
<br />been many other severe floods between SiolLx Cit,y and the mouth, such
<br />as those wbich occurred during 190.8, 190.9, 1915, 1927, 19a5, 1942,
<br />and 1943. In fact, there is flooding of some consequence practically
<br />every year on the Missouri River between SiolLx City and the mouth.
<br />25. Individual farmers, groups of fanners, levee districts, and
<br />drainage district.s have constructed levees at many locutions bctwrcn
<br />Sioux City and the mouth in an I1ttempt to safeguard their lands and
<br />property. Accumte figures are not availl1hle as to the total amount
<br />expended by local interests on levees and drainnge works in their
<br />efforts to provide flood protection, hnt it is estimated that these
<br />expenditures b,,,,e exceeded $20.,000.,00.0.. The levees hl1ve been
<br />successful in protecting against some of the minor floods, but have
<br />not been adequate to withstand tbe more severe !loods.
<br />26. The March rise of 1943 produced a major /lood in the upper
<br />part of the river under ill \'e~tiO'u.tioll. The resulting stages were
<br />higher than any experienced sin~e 1881. Levees were breached aU
<br />the way from Sioux City to Kl1nsng City. Then in MI1Y, fiS a result
<br />of heavy minfall, a major flood occurred in the lower pl1rt of the river.
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