Minutes of meeting held on southern Nevada erosion, flood control, and drainage projects, Las Vegas Federal Building, December 30, 1937

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT LAS VEGAS, DECEMBER 30th, 1937 IN FEDERAL BUILDING OF EROSION FLOOD CONTROL AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS. Edwin Marshall, Chairman of Clark-Lincoln Counties, Nevada Flood Control Joint Committee in Charge. Members Present: E. S. Bowman, Logandale, Clarence Lewis, Overton, Warren Hardy, Bunkerville, John Leavitt, Bunkerville, Leo Hardy, Mesquite, Walter Hughes, Mesquite, A. Smoke, Las Vegas, J. E. Wittwer, Las Vegas, A. L. Kelly, Las Vegas, Sen: tor Jas. Wadsworth, Panaca Hervey Frehner, Hiko W. U. Schofield, Hiko Louie A. Gardella, Pioche George Hardman, Reno and Harry F. Sidney, Los Angeles Discussion of flood control districts and drainage areas in both Lincoln and Clark County was conducted. J. H. Wittwer spoke of Soil Conservation in Pahranagat Valley and Moapa Valley to plan a program to enable any agency already in the field to proceed with such work that needed being done. Geo. Hardman made mention of a Reconnaissance Purvey made of the water sheds of the area of Lincoln and Clark Counties stating that the survey was general only and covers the entire Meadow Valley Wash, Pahranagat Valley and Virgin River Water shed. Harry F. Blaney mentioned the cooperation of the U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Engineering in doing different kinds of work in flood control and drainage. In addition Erosion, Flood Control, Drainage of good farm lands as a Soil Conservation factor was discussed. A. L. Kelly spoke of saving the soil either by wind or water erosion, drainage, or flood control or by any other means; til amounting to the same thing; and that there was no consistency in the practice of haggling over technical terms in relation to Soil Conservation. Ma^ Hafen asked that the organization of Soil Conservation districts go forward without delay, then proceed with problems concerned. Extension Agent, J. H. Wittwer then presented a tentative program of work embodying problems of the entire area as follows: To expedite seriously needed Erosion and Flood Control work and provide Drainage for the several areas condemned, the following is submitted, each is urgent need of attention though the four first items are of first consideration. Minutes of Erosion Flood Control Meeting. - 2 - Deeamber 30, 193? 1. Flood Channel Protection Moapa Valley, Clerk County. 2. Flood Control - Diversion Works in the Rio Virgin River Valley at Mesquite end Bunkerville, Clark County. 3. Construction of a Flood Control-Rater Storage Project in the Delmue Ranch Area Lincoln County. 4. Flood Control-Drainage Project Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County. 5. Flood Control-Drainage Program for Moapa Valley-Clark County. 6. Flood Control-Channel Construction from Caliente to upper reaches of the Meadow Valley ^ash water shed area especially thru the Panaca, Rose, Eagle end Spring Valleys. 7. Flood-Erosion Control Project for the Clover Valley Mountain Area. 8. Erosion-Flood Control program for Das Vegas Valley, t*lartt Co. To effect at the earliest possible time, c construction program thru facilities of CCC Camps, that same be assigned to the following areas for summer season work: 1. Charleston Mountain - Kyle Canyon Area. 2. Charleston Mountain - Lees Canyon Area. 3. Delmue - Panaca Area. 4. Clover Valley Mountain Area. For Winter Season work: 1. Bunkerville for Virgin Valley. 2. Logandale for Upper Moapa Valley. 3. Kaolin - Lower Moapa Valley Moapa - Meadow Valley Wash and Arrowhead Canyon 3. Las Vegas Valley Area It was moved by A. L. Kelly, seconded by Warren Hardy that the tentative program as submitted by Extension Agent Wittwer be recommended to Secretary Henry A. Wallace thru Director of Extension Cecil Cruel. As a means of securing action on the proposed program at the earliest possible date, the following resolutions were unanimously approved: Minutes of Breton-Flood **3- December 30, 1937 Control Meeting Resolution No. 1. Completion of Purveys. for the designation of more specific and detailed procedure for action programs for control of floods and erosion and also for water storage in each the vicinity of the Delmue ranch and in the Clover Valley Mountain area, Now therefore be it Resolved, that the Clark and Lincoln Counties Flood Control Com-mittee hereby petition the Honorable Secretary, Henry A. Wallace to provide ways and means of completing surveys for said areas to such degree that an action program might proceed at the earliest possible date. Minutes of Erosion-Flood Control Meeting. Leeember 30, 1937 Resolution No. 2. More Liberal Interpretation of Action Programs. hhertas, there are closely related problems of Erosion-Flood Control - Drainage in Clark and Lincoln County Agricultural areas; and Whereas, present regulations governing activities of the various Bureaus of the Department of Agriculture do not permit of a practical solution of problems involved, Now, therefore, be it Resolved that the Ciark-Linooln Counties Flood Control Committee petition the honorable Secretary Henry A.. Wallace to provide that said Service Bureaus of the U. 3. Department of Agriculture in given areas, be impostcred to proceed with solution of ail phases of vork involved whether it be drainage, erosion or Hood Control. Minutes of Erosion-Flood Control -5- December 30, 1937 Meeting Resolution No. 3. Adaptation of CCC Camps. Whereas, there are CCC Camps operating in Northern states areas adapted to summer season work, and Whereas, climatic conditions in southern Nevada are such as provides ideal conditions for winter CCC camp work seriously needed from standpoint of Erosion-Flood Control-Soil Conservation; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Clark and Lincoln Counties Flood Control Committee petition the Honorable Secretary Henry A. Wallace to provide that all agencies now operating CCC Camps in Northern areas so adjust their regulations and operations as to permit of inter-change of said camps to Southern areas in order to meet more adequately the needs of areas concerned. Minutes of Erosion-Flood 6- Deoember 30, 1937 Control Meeting Resolution No. 4. More Adequate Financing of CCC Camps. Whereas, CCC Camps in their various fields of activities are now working ineffectively because of insufficient funds; and, Whereas, regulations governing use of equipment assigned to respective agencies supervising said Camps as now prevail, does not meet requirements of problems involved under respective CCC Camp and agency organizations; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Clark and Lincoln Counties' Flood Control Committee &o hereby petition the Honorable Secretary, Henry A. Wallace to adjust regulations to meet needs and requirements of Service organizations supervising said CCC Camps or other groups in the solution of problems concerned accordingly. minutes and resolutions be furnished Director C. W. Creel to enable his presenting problems concerned to the Honorable Secretary Henry A. Wallace and such other officials with whom Director Creel might confer regarding same. The meeting then adjourned subject to call of the Chairman for a subsequent meeting. THE CLARK-LINCOLN COUNTIES' FLOOD CONTROL COMMITTEE Chairman Marshall then ordered that a copy of the foregoing By. Edwin Marshall, Chairman E. S. Bowman, Secretary