County agent project progress report, Flood control, November 1, 1933

COUNTY AGENT PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT DATE: January 1, 1933. PROJECT NUMBER: STATE OFFICE NO. 172 NAME OF PROJECT: Flood Control OBJECT: To Prevent Excessive Erosion and Effect Flood Control in the Rio Virgin and Moapa Valleys. GOAL: Secure Establishment of CCC Camps to Adequately Construct Erosion and Flood Controls. PROCEDURE AND RESULTS: As soon as the RFC Relief became operative, during the fall of 1933 and spring of 1934, all relief cases for each Mesquite, Bunkerville and Moapa Valley were designated. Flood Control projects were immedi- ately surveyed by the County Surveyor for specific recommendations to County and State Relief Administrative organizations. His reports and recommendations were fully approved and undertaken, to the extent of their being carried on into the 1934-35 CWA program for relief of un- employed in the Virgin Valley, whereas Moapa's CWA program was directed toward the immediate need of improving the Valley Highway, anticipating that flood controls in that section would be undertaken by the CCC Camps established at each Overton end Moapa in October, 1933. The assistance extended the various departments in establish- ment of two CCC Camps rights of ways, projects properly designated and approved, and looking after various phases of Relief program, consumed the greater part of approximately 110 days' strenuous work. The value of projects involved in Flood Control and Erosion work may approximate over $107,000.00 in labor and material, and will influence for better some 200 family homes, who are wholly, or in part, owners of farm homes, approximating 10,000 acres of choice lands, all of which is under cul- tivation and far above that class known as "Marginal Lands." Of specific jobs under consideration, two have been completed; others ere under way, and by the close of the year 1934, practically all will be completed. For their excellent spirit of fine cooperation, appreciation is extended the following: Staff officers of both March Field, Riverside, California, and Ft. Douglas, Utah, with headquarters of the 9th Corps Area, San Francisco, California. The U. S. Forest Service, Ogden, Utah. The Agricultural Engineering Department, Berkeley, California. The U. S. National Parks Service. The Nevada State Office Extension Service; and Residents of each the Rio Virgin and Moapa Valleys, for their splendid support toward furnishing rights-of-way and the cooperative assistance in doing the required work. The value of this work, aside from the relief unemployment factors, has already demonstrated its importance. One minor structure has prevented the washing away of one man's farm lands and has saved one community from grave danger of having more lands, and even homes and its public schools, washed away. OUTLOOK AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The possibilities of this work will mean the virtual saving of communities --in some cases their entire holdings --in fact, their very life and hope of carrying on: Supervised by careful engineering ability, constructed according to plans and specifications for absolute safety after allowing amply for emergencies, it appears as if - communities and individuals will take on new hope - for safety and for progress. Close cooperation of all concerned is needed, however, as never before, owing to the immensity of the job, that the work of Erosion and Flood Control, according to the vision and the need as unfolded, may go on to completion of one of the greatest accomplishments undertaken by the University Extension's work since its inception in Southern Nevada.