WSP07941

• File Number: 8113.600
• Description: Arkansas River Basin Interstate Committee - ARBIC
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/2/1985
• Title: Statement of the Arkansas River Basin Interstate Committee -- Relative to Appropriations for the Comprehensive Development of the Arkansas River Basin for Fiscal Year 1986
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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were not anticipated in the design of the Arkansas Navigationway, but which
have occurred due to deep degradation of the Mississippi. Solutions to the
problem are still under study by the Corps' Waterway Experiment Station at
Vicksburg.

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Of equal importance, is the necessity to repair damage to Dam No. 2 incurred
during the unprecedented high flows during the December, 1982, floods, The
instability of this dam endangered the entire system upstream to Tulsa, and
should the dam fail, the entire navigation system would be lost.

Therefore, the construction authority needs to be kept open until these
matters, among others, are satisfactorily resolved.

I also respectfully encourage you and members of your staff to give careful
consideration to the material presented by the states of Arkansas and
Oklahoma regarding "user fees". This matter has been given very serious and
careful consideration by the members from those two important states, and I
am confident their recommendations will be of great help to the members of
this committee as you develop policies regarding funding of water projects.

NON FEDERAL COST SHARING

I have attached a statement which was unanimously adopted by the members of
the Arkansas Basin Development Association, a volunteer organization which
represents the five Arkansas River Basin States. This Policy Statement has
been given serious consideration by our members, and we respectfully urge
that this Congressional Committee carefully consider the recommendations as
you develop policies for funding of absolutely essential water resource
projects,

Finally, Mr. Chairman, we strongly support the statements of the individual
states, wherein they request adequate funding for planning and construction
of vital projects. You will note, in many instances, the recommendations are
for the appropriations requested by the Administration in their 1986 budget
requests. Other states request funding for the full capability of the Corps
and the Bureau. These recommendations are made with the full knowledge of
the serious financial problems facing the Nation, and the strong desire to
reduce federal expenditures wherever possible. We agree with that policy,
but as mentioned in the beginning of my testimony, we do feel that the Nation
is facing a very serious water supply problem. Funds invested today for
multipurpose water projects will save sizable expenditures in the future, and
also enhance the tax base throughout the entire nation, The reductions in
flood damage alone will save the federal and state governments millions of
dollars and will help keep the water where it can be productively used.

Thank you very much, Mr, Chairman, for affording us this time, and we look
forward to working with you and your colleagues as you develop water policies
and programs for 1986.

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