But extending these parks all the way up the stream-and right in the middle and this is Wheaton area with all of those tens of thousands of homes, and the same thing is happening on the west side, and the Gaithersburg area with the Bureau of Standards beginning to grow the same way, and it won't be any time at all before the whole area will be surrounded.

So it behooves us not to miss a wonderful opportunity like this. Senator JORDAN. What kind of fish is that I see so many catching up and down this Rock Creek Parkway this spring? I see strings of them-that long [indicating].

Mr. SMITH. Well, I don't know, but I am guessing they are suckers, and maybe a few large mouth bass. I know fish are put into the streams every year. I have a pond at my home, and we have blue

gills and large mouth bass.

But I don't do too much stream fishing.

I know, also, that in the Seneca area in Montgomery County, the States stocks European or brown trout in that, and they come down here and hit the mud in lower Seneca, and the people just pull them right out, so they don't have a chance.

But the local people have go to discipline themselves and improve the habitat, so we can grow some fish in places like that. And there is really no excuse that we don't develop some of these resources we have with some commonsense, and not just constantly exploit them. We have just too many people now not to change our attitudes about some of these things.

Senator BREWSTER. Mr. Smith, thank you for an excellent and clear explanation and description of this project. It is very helpful to the committee to have you here, sir.

Mr. SMITH. Thank you, sir.

Senator BREWSTER. Now, do we have Mr. Douglas Moore here, representing Montgomery County?

Mr. Moore, could you give us the position of the county on this project?

STATEMENT OF DOUGLAS H. MOORE, JR., DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.

Mr. MOORE. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

I have been asked to appear in lieu of the president and members of the county council. They are in their regular session this morning, their regular Tuesday session. They regret they are unable to appear before this committee today.

They have asked me to present for the record two resolutions that the council has adopted in the past. And, with your leave, I will present these in the record.

I would like to merely state in summary what these resolution are to cover.

Approximately 1 year ago, in July of 1962, the council adopted a resolution in which it stated its awareness of the importance and necessity of this-the construction of impounding dams-and indicated its willingness or desire to participate as a cosponsor with the other organizations in this project.

By that resolution of 1 year ago, they approved-the council approved the assumption of the role of sponsor by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

And, also, in the same resolution, they authorized the county to participate along with the other organizations as a local sponsoring organization. And the council, by this resolution, also authorized its county manager, Mr. Mason Butcher, to execute the necessary documents under the public law for Federal assistance and such other agreements on behalf of the county as are necessary for the county's participation.

The other resolution, that I believe has been introduced into the record, was adopted very recently, in April of this year.

This resolution recites the fact that the council, as I mentioned, in the earlier resolution, has approved the assumption of the role as a sponsor, and has authorized the county government to participate with the planning commission and the soil conservation district in the sponsorship of the project And by this resolution reaffirms its support for the work plan, and asks that the members of the Congress of the United States support the project, and urge its approval, in order that the project may proceed

As I say, with your leave, I would like to submit these in the record. And, again, express the regrets of the council that they were unable to appear before the committee today.

Senator BREWSTER. Thank you, Mr. Moore.

And both of these resolutions have been included in the record. Mr. Moore, do you know of any opposition to this in Montgomery County, Md.?

Mr. MOORE. I have heard of none; no, sir. I know of none.
Senator BREWSTER. Thank you, sir.

Now, we have Mr. John Hewitt, director of parks, the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission?

STATEMENT OF JOHN P. HEWITT, DIRECTOR OF PARKS, MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION, REPRESENTING MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

Mr. HEWITT. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I appreciate very much the opportunity to appear here on behalf of the commission to ask your favorable consideration of legislation for funds for the construction of these two impoundment dams.

I would like to point out one important factor. The commis sion is a cosponsor of the project, and, as such, under the master plan of the upper Rock Creek watershed, is responsible for the acquisition of this site, or sites. And at the present time we have acquired 924 acres fee simple title, and we have under contract an additional 458 acres. And this is roughly approximately 96 percent of the total area that is needed for the damsites and the impoundment area.

We expect to complete the acquisition prior to the end of this calendar year.

In reply to Senator Jordan's question to Mr. Smith a few moments ago, there isn't one dwelling that is affected by the damsites or the impoundment of the water.

Senator JORDAN. You are mighty lucky on that, aren't you? Mr. HEWITT. Yes, sir. But we have spent so far approximately $2 million in land acquisition in this area.

Senator JORDAN. Where did you get the money for that?

Mr. HEWITT. Seventy percent of these funds come from local sources, from a park tax that is levied upon the real estate in Montgomery County. Thirty percent was obtained through the Housing and Home Finance Agency, Federal open-space grant.

Senator JORDAN. That is not included in here as a part of the cost that you are asking for now, is it?

Mr. HEWITT. This is only for land acquisition-yes, sir.

Senator JORDAN. Well, you are only asking

Mr. HEWITT. It is not part of the funds that are being requested for the construction of the dams; no, sir.

Senator JORDAN. But you are asking the Federal Government to repay part of that money, is that right, that you have already expended in acquisition of the sites?

Mr. HEWITT. No, sir. They have already authorized that. That is in hand. That has been approved.

Senator JORDAN. That has already been approved?

Mr. HEWITT. Yes, sir.

Senator JORDAN. That answers my question on that.

Senator BREWSTER. If this project were delayed, in your opinion would the cost be increased?

Mr. HEWITT. I believe that the cost would go up considerably. Our land costs in Montgomery County for sewer and water extensions are being made it is increasing roughly 25 percent per year.

Senator BAYH. Perhaps I missed this. What would be the total amount of land that will have to be acquired in the projects when you are finished?

Mr. HEWITT. I believe-and I may stand corrected on this but there are roughly 200 acres, for the two damsites, and for the impoundment area. But, in addition to this, the park and planning commission, under their master plan of parks, to acquire and protect the land in the Rock Creek Valley, plans to acquire some 3,000 acres of land, which would be in addition to what is needed for the damsites. And this is to conserve the natural areas of the Rock Creek Valley, and also to provide much needed recreational facilities for the Metropolitan Washington area.

Senator BAYH. It is my understanding that under a separate appropriation that the funds to acquire some of this park have already been authorized.

Mr. HEWITT. Yes, sir.

Senator BAYH. And you are now seeking funds specifically for the construction?

Mr. HEWITT. For a portion of the construction of the dams; yes, sir. Senator BAYH. Thank you.

Senator BREWSTER. Any further questions?

Thank you very much for appearing before the committee, Mr. Hewitt.

Mr. HEWITT. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

(The prepared statement of Mr. Hewitt follows :)

Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I am John P. Hewitt, director of parks, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to appear before your committee to urge favorable action on legislation which would appropriate funds for the construction of two impoundment dams in the upper Rock Creek Valley in Montgomery County, Md.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a cosponsor of this project along with the Montgomery County Council and the Montgomery Soil Conservation District. The project also was planned concurrently with the comprehensive plan for the Potomac River Basin, and, as you know, has been approved by the Department of Agriculture.

I am sure all of you are familiar with the periodic flooding of the Rock Creek Valley, extending from Maryland all the way down to the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. These floods cause thousands of dollars' worth of damage annually, not only to park facilities in which the Federal Government has a vital interest, but to adjoining private property. Farmland in the upper portion of the valley also is harmfully affected.

It is to prevent these floods, to protect our natural resources, and to provide more open space and recreational opportunities for the expanding population in the Washington metropolitan area that we ask your approval of funds for the two dams.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, acting in accordance with its adopted master plan for the upper Rock Creek watershed already has purchased virtually all of the land for the two dam sites (acreage owned 924.3950, acreage under contract 458.3856, total 1,382.7806). And other agencies have cooperated by installing their utility lines in such a manner that they will not be inundated by the impoundments.

We believe this legislation is tangible evidence of cooperative efforts by rural and urban citizens to solve land use and conservation problems in areas where city meets country and land uses intermingle.

Also, this project has national significance as a demonstration of this kind of cooperation, since Rock Creek Park has a special historic and sentimental meaning for the people of the entire Nation.

Rock Creek's waters, joined with those of the Potomac, flow within the shadow of historic monuments and Government buildings that are familiar to every visitor to the Nation's Capital.

This plan would reduce flood peaks an average of 70 percent from the levels experienced in recent years. It would cut down sharply on pollution. It would save hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. It would conserve our natural resources; and it would demonstrate to the Nation as a whole what local and national institutions, working together, can accomplish.

Thank you again for permitting me to appear before you.

Senator BREWSTER. Now, do we have Mr. Kenward K. Harris, representing. I understand, the Citizens Council for a Clean Potomac and the Washington Canoe Club?

STATEMENT OF KENWARD K. HARRIS, REPRESENTING CITIZENS COUNCIL FOR A CLEAN POTOMAC AND THE WASHINGTON CANOE CLUB

Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I am Kenward Harris, 1025 Connecticut Avenue. I greatly appreciate your affording me this opportunity to appear on behalf of the Citizens Council for a Clean Potomac in support of this legislation.

I also am speaking as a director of the Washington Canoe Club. Though the Citizens Council for a Clean Potomac has been supporting this project for the last 7 years, I will take only a few moments of your time this morning.

It is very clear that the beneficial effects of the program have been well and ably presented by my predecessors this morning. But I would like to limit myself to the project insofar as it affects the Potomac River.

It has been estimated, I think, that Rock Creek would deposit 1.7 million tons of sediment into the Potomac over the next 50-year period. The Rock Creek project is designed to reduce this amount by roughly one-third, a very substantial decrease, to say the least, and one highly important to what we feel to be perhaps the outstanding natural resource of the Nation's Capital.

Perhaps you recall yesterday's Evening Star and the front page picture it captioned, "A Canoe Ride on the Potomac."

The picture was taken at the confluence of Rock Creek with the Potomac, the new Thompson Boat Center, which has recently become opened and has become very popular. It is estimated that 21,000 persons rent canoes alone from the 3 primary boat liveries in the area during the season. This figure does not include canoeists from the Washington Canoe Club, the Old Dominion Boat Club, and the Potomac Boat Club, who enjoy their own craft on the Potomac.

In addition to being the focal point of the metropolitan area's recreational canoeing-the Potomac has played a very major role in U.S. Olympic success. The 1960 Olympic paddling team was composed of 10 persons, 5 of whom came from this area, 3 from the Washington Canoe Club, 2 from the Potomac Boat Club. Half the team, the U.S. Olympic team, did their training and their conditioning on the Potomac River. This is something which I think is perhaps not-has heretofore not been brought out.

But the depositing of silt and sediment in the Potomac just below the confluence with Rock Creek and further down is a very important factor in the usefulness of the Potomac in regard to this particular sport.

I won't take your time by listing the various medal winners and national champions and persons of this nature who do use the river for this particular sport. Suffice it to say that you are all aware of the numerous rowing crews which have enjoyed a considerable reputation and success as a result of their practice and training on the river. In conclusion, the Citizens Council for a Clean Potomac and the the Washington Canoe Club respectfully urge your consideration and favorable action upon this legislation.

I should be more than happy to answer any questions, should there be any, Mr. Chairman.

Senator BREWSTER. Thank you, Mr. Harris.

We will include in the record a statement from Mr. Carl J. Johnson of the Potomac River Commission.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF ROCK CREEK WATERSHED APPROPRIATION

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin is an interstate compact organized by the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia for the purpose of abating and controlling water pollution in the Potomac River Basin.

Studies arranged for by this commission indicate that approximately 0.9 million tons of sediment (silt) are contributed to the Potomac estuary annually from the Washington metropolitan region. Consequently, water pollution from this source is a matter of great concern. When added to the 2 million tons annually being received from upstream areas, sediment becomes one of three major types of pollution.

In the late 1940's and early 1950's this commission held citizens' meetings to bring this problem to public attention. Out of these meetings grew the Rock