§702j–1 Saint Francis and Yazoo Rivers; lands and easements; alteration of highways; cooperation of States

Summary

Work on the flood-control projects for the Saint Francis River and the Yazoo River must not start until the States or other qualified agencies promise to do two things at no cost to the United States: make any highway changes needed because of new reservoirs and pay any damage from those changes, and give all land and easements needed to build levees and drainage ditches. The Chief of Engineers can choose where to place Yazoo headwater reservoirs. He can also replace any or all of the seven detention reservoirs named in his February 12, 1935 report with levees, floodways, or extra channels. With the Secretary of the Army’s approval, the Chief of Engineers may change the Saint Francis plan to add a detention reservoir and let the United States buy the lands and flood rights needed for it, except rights to flood highways, so long as the United States’ estimated cost does not go up. He may also replace the Yazoo plan with a combined reservoir, floodway, and levee plan if the total cost stays within the authorization in House Committee on Flood Control Document Numbered 1, Seventy-fourth Congress, first session. The same local promises about highways and lands are required before any work begins.