55 STAT.] 77TH CONG. , 1ST SESS.-CH. 377-AUG. 18 , 1941 higher levees in his discretion, so that their construction will give the maximum practical protection without jeopardizing the safety and integrity of the main Mississippi River levees: And provided further, That prior to the beginning of construction local authorities shall Loca cooperation. furnish satisfactory assurances that they will (1) maintain the levees in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Act of May 15, 45stat. 535. 1928, and will (2) not raise the levees in the backwater above the limiting elevations established therefor by the Chief of Engineers. (c) In the development of the authorized project, the construction Tensas-Cocodrie of a levee and improvements contemplated in the report of March , protection. 7, 1941, of the Mississippi River Commission from the main-line levee on the west bank of the Mississippi River in the vicinity of Shaw, Louisiana, westward and northward to the vicinity of New- light, Louisiana, for the protection of that part of the Red River backwater known as the Tensas-Cocodrie area at an estimated cost of $6,976,000 is hereby authorized: Provided, That the Chief of rdadjustment, Engineers shall fix the grade of said levee, with a higher levee in etc. his discretion, so that its construction will give the maximum prac- tical protection without jeopardizing the safety and integrity of the main Mississippi River levees: And provided further, That prior Loc cooperation. to the beginning of construction local authorities shall furnish satisfactory assurances that they will (1) maintain the levee in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Act of May 15, 43 Stat. 35 .7 . 1928, and will (2) not raise the said levee above the limiting eleva- tions established therefor by the Chief of Engineers: Provided further, That subject to the foregoing conditions of local coopera- SRedRiverBack- tion the Chief of Engineers may in his discretion substitute other water, protection. levees and appurtenant works for, or make such modifications of, the levees and improvements herein authorized for the protection of the Tensas-Cocodrie area as may be found after further investi- gation to afford protection to a larger area in the Red River Back- water at a total cost not to exceed $14,000,000 and without jeopardiz- ing the safety and integrity of the main Mississippi River levees and without preventing or jeopardizing the diversions contemplated in the adopted project through the Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Basin. (d) The Chief of Engineers, with approval of the Secretary of ielimatuseit of War, shall reimburse local authorities for actual expenditures found by the Chief of Engineers to be reasonable, for providing at the request of the United States, in accordance with local legat proce- dure or custom, rights-of-way and flowage easements required for future setbacks of main-line Mississippi River levees. (e) The existing engineering plan for flood control of the Saint 8aintFranci River. Francis River is hereby modified so as to permit the substitution for the suspended portions of the original project below Oak Donnick, Arkansas, of the construction of a ditch in Cross County, Arkansas, beginning in the vicinity of the outlet end of the existing Oak Don- nick to Saint Francis Bay floodway and terminating in Saint Francis Bay about two miles north of Riverfront, including the construc- tion of a highway bridge at State Highway Numbered 42 made necessary by the ditch construction: Provided, That local interests Locooperaion. ive assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will (1) provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-way necessary for the construction; (2) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction works; and (3) maintain the works after completion in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War. (f) In the development of the authorized project, the constructi r onBo° Rapidie, of improvements for Bayou Rapides, Boeuf, and Cocodrie, Louisiana, La 643
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