Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. $841, 000.00 (See Appendix Q Q.) IMPROVEMENT OF NAPA RIVER, REDWOOD CREEK, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO, WILMINGTON, AND SAN DIEGO HARBORS, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. W. H. H. Benyaurd, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. James J. Meyler, Corps of Engineers, the entire year, and Lieut. Charles L. Potter, Corps of Engineers, since July 29, 1891. 1. Napa River, California.-The project is to clear the river of snags and the banks of overhanging trees interfering with navigation, and to dredge the bars between Vernon Mills and Carr Bend, in the immediate vicinity of Napa City, so as to give throughout that stretch a navigable channel 75 feet wide and 4 feet deep at low water. Work upon the improvement was commenced in 1889. During that year the river was cleared of snags, and a gravel bar near the steamboat landing was removed by dredging. During the past year operations were continued under contract with Thomas H. Williams, jr. Thirty-two snags were removed, and a channel of the required width and depth was dredged through 16 bars, requiring the removal of 21,972 cubic yards of material. The entire work contracted for was completed December 11 last, leaving the river in good boating condition, and completing the present project. The work can not be considered of a permanent character, as the bars will re-form from material brought down during winter storms. Appropriations will therefore be needed in the future to maintain the channel in a fair navigable condition. The total amount appropriated for this work is $17,500, and the total amount expended to the close of the fiscal year is $17,458.57. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. (See Appendix Ꭱ Ꭱ 1.) $12, 219. 20 12, 177.77 41.43 2. Redwood Creek, California. This improvement is a continuance of that heretofore carried on under appropriations made for improvement of Redwood Harbor. The project for the latter work contemplated dredging the creek from the old steamer landing to Redwood City, a distance of about 6,000 feet, so as to give through that stretch a channel 50 feet wide and 3 feet deep at mean low tide. This work was completed in 1889. Examination made the following year showed that the channel had partially filled up from natural causes. The appropriation of $8,000 made by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, was for the purpose of redredging the channel and widening the passage through the middle ground. Work was commenced upon this project about the middle of March last with the Government dredger belonging to the improvement of the San Joaquin River. At the close of the fiscal year the channel had been redredged for a distance of 4,600 feet, requiring the removal of 40,845 cubic yards of material. It is expected to complete the entire work before the end of August. As this will complete the project no additional appropriations are asked. The present improvement, like the former, can not be considered of a permanent character. There being no tidal basin, there will be a constant tendency to shoaling, due to natural causes. Appropriations will therefore be needed in the future to maintain the creek in a navigable condition. The total amount appropriated for dredging at Redwood is $23,400, of which $8,000 was for Redwood Creek, and the total amount expended to the close of the fiscal year, including outstanding liabilities, is $20,950.92. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, balance available (See Appendix Ꭱ Ꭱ 2.) $8,000.00 5, 291.82 2, 708. 18 259. 10 2, 449.08 3. San Luis Obispo Harbor, California.-The project for this improvement is intended to secure a protected anchorage and landing at Port Harford by the construction of a breakwater on Whaler Reef, extending from Point San Luis to Whaler Island, and thence to a point where the outer reef rises above high water. The total length of the structure, when completed, including the island, will be about 2,300 feet. That portion of the breakwater between Point San Luis and the island, about 300 feet in length, was completed two years ago, and a commencement was made upon the extension beyond the island. During the past year the latter work has been continued under contract with the San Francisco Bridge Company, and the outer breakwater has been advanced a distance of about 300 feet, and depressions in the reef beyond have been partially filled. The total amount of rock placed upon the reef the past season was 7,870.5 tons. Work under the present contract will be completed in August. The total amount appropriated for this improvement is $65,000, and the total amount expended is $52,053.07. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $6,699.84 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 11, 952. 04 18, 651.88 July 1, 1892, balance available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R R 3.) 994.89 30,000.00 30, 994. 89 189, 900.00 4. Wilmington Harbor, California.-Previous to the commencement of this improvement in 1871, there was a depth of less than 2 feet at the entrance at low tide. By the operations of dredging and jetty exten, sion this depth was increased to 10 feet in 1881. The present projectwhich was adopted in that year, was intended to secure a depth of 16 feet at mean low tide. That depth has been obtained through the entire channel inside. Over the bar the depth is fully 14 feet at above stage of water. During the past year operations have consisted in making needed repairs to the east jetty; in removing, by dredging and blasting, shoal places in the channel near Deadmans Island, and in raising and extending the west jetty. Contractors delivered 21,309 tons of stone, which was used in strengthening the east jetty and in extending the west jetty. The latter work was advanced a further distance of 800 feet. During the coming season the work of jetty extension will be continued to the extent of the available funds. The total amount appropriated for this work is $904,000, and the total amount expended to close of the fiscal year, including outstanding liabilities, is $894,450.64. 5. San Diego Harbor, California.-Before the adoption of the present project, the work carried on at San Diego had for its object the preservation of the harbor, which was being injured by the deposition of material brought down the San Diego River in flood stages. The river was diverted from its course, and caused to empty into False Bay. This was accomplished by building a substantial levee across the old channel of the river near its entrance to the harbor, and excavating a new water way leading to False Bay. This work was completed in 1876. The present project for the improvement of the harbor contemplates the preservation and repair of the levee; securing a depth of 26 feet at mean low tide over the bar at the entrance by the construction of a jetty on Zuninga shoal, and maintaining a channel of 24 feet depth of water over the middle ground. At the commencement of the fiscal year, dredging was in progress at the head of the middle ground. The channel was excavated for a width of 250 feet to a depth of 22 feet at mean low tide. This channel partially filled up again. It is not intended to continue operations at this point until the jetty at the entrance has been extended seaward sufficiently to control the movement of sand on Zuninga shoal. No work has been done towards the construction of the jetty. Proceedings were instituted last October in the United States circuit court for the southern district of California, to condemn a strip of 18.85 acres on Coronado North Island, needed for jetty purposes. The case came to trial in June, and an award of $13,942.46 was made by the jury for the land in question. Upon possession of the land being obtained by the United States, the work will be commenced. The total amount appropriated for the improvement of San Diego Harbor since 1875 is $192,500. The total amount expended is $91,740.19, of which $82,085.37 was upon the construction and repair of levee across San Diego River. ENG 92-24 100, 759. 81 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893............. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 284,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix RR 5.) EXAMINATION, BY BOARD OF ENGINEERS, FOR DEEP-WATER HARBOR ON THE PACIFIC COAST BETWEEN POINTS DUME AND CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. In compliance with the provisions of the act a Board of Engineers, consisting of Col. G. H. Mendell and Lieut. Cols. G. L. Gillespie and W. H. H. Benyaurd, Corps of Engineers, was constituted to examine the Pacific coast between Points Dume and Capistrano with a view to determining the best location for a deep-water harbor, and to report a project and estimate of cost for the same. The report of the Board was submitted under date of December 8, 1891, and was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 39, Fifty-second Congress, first session. The Board, after full examination, concludes that the selection of a site for a deep-water harbor within the limits designated by the act is restricted to the harbors in Santa Monica Bay and San Pedro Bay, and is of the opinion that San Pedro is the better of these, and submits alternative estimates of the cost of the necessary breakwaters as follows: If constructed of rubble and concrete. If constructed entirely of rubble..... $4,594, 494 4, 137, 591 After a careful consideration of the facts in the case as presented by the Board, its views as to the location and general estimates of construction are concurred in by me. The difference in cost of the two breakwaters, for the same arcs of protection, is over $700,000 in favor of San Pedro, and when the other advantages of San Pedro, as detailed by the Board, are taken into consideration, it would seem that its selection has been properly made. (See Appendix R R 6.) IMPROVEMENT OF SAN JOAQUIN, MOKELUMNE, SACRAMENTO, AND FEATHER RIVERS, PETALUMA CREEK, AND HUMBOLDT HARBOR AND BAY, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. San Joaquin River, California.-At the time of the adoption of the project for this work, 1877, the low-water channel of the river to Stockton was only 6 feet deep, and the upper river was navigable for only six or seven months in the year for boats drawing 2 feet of water or less. The original project contemplated a channel of 9 feet depth to Stockton, secured by dredging the shoal places and making cut-offs to straighten the river between its mouth and that city, and removal of snags, scraping bars, and building small wing dams in the upper river to improve its depth and prolong the boating season. This is the project of to-day, with the addition of the closure of several crevasses and sloughs which take water from the river and impair the scouring effect of its flood stages. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, there had been spent on this work $195,853.61, mostly in dredging in Stockton Slough and the river proper, the making of three cut-offs below Stockton, and doing a little work in the upper river as proposed. This work had made navigation to Stockton practicable during the entire year for boats drawing 9 feet of water, but has not lengthened the boating season above Stockton Slough for boats of 3 feet draft, for the reason that little or no work has been done above Stockton. During the present fiscal year the work consisted of dredging in Stockton Slough and the river in its near vicinity, to maintain the channels already secured, in building a dam to partially close Lairds Slough, rebuilding the dam at Paradise Cut, and making a cut-off at Head Reach; this latter, on account of insufficient funds, was only made one-half the width and less depth than originally intended; it will be increased both as to width and depth when more money is available. The cost of the above was $62,031.60. The results have been the maintaining of the 9-foot channel to Stockton, work on which is needed annually, as the channels are not selfmaintaining. Lairds Slough, near the village of Grayson, is a crevasse through which about 75 per cent of the water in the river flowed, and consequently lessened to that extent the flow below, thereby decreasing the depth. It was closed by a dam 310 feet long, 16 feet (average) high, 10 feet wide at crest, and 60 feet wide at base. Its effect was to confine the water to the main stream and increase the depth to Grayson. At Paradise Cut a crevasse has existed for many years, and, with similar results as at Lairds Slough, has decreased the depths below. During this year it was partially closed by a dam, measuring at its crest 220 feet long, built up to 8 feet above low water-built to replace one carried away during 1889. The result as to keeping the river within its banks has been all that was hoped for. The cut-off at Head Reach, 9 feet deep by 150 feet wide at the surface, was made to remove a much complained of impediment, as the Stockton boats always encountered in this bend a head wind, and the cut also lessened the distance considerably. The funds available suf ficed only to excavate the channel to half the desired width, but the effect of the new channel is a marked improvement in the time made by the boats engaged in navigation on the river. The cost of this cutoff was $27,239.41. The following is a list, in the order of importance, of the works needed for improvement of this river, together with the estimated cost of the several items: Dredging to maintain 9 feet depth to Stockton. Raising dam at Paradise Cut... Making cut-off at Twenty-one Mile Slough Making double cut-off below mouth of Stockton Slough. Increasing width and depth of cut at Head Reach Survey of upper river to Firebaugh's Ferry.. Snagging and building wing dams. Total. $25,000 2,000 65,000 20,000 37, 750 5,000 10,000 164, 750 |