John W. Morris
27 May
Changing Role of The Corps of Engineers-1970-1980
I was asked to write about the water resource program during my term as Chief of
Engineers 1976-1980. In a way, this is like discussing the last half of a one-mile
race-it overlooks the start. So, I will take some liberties and extend the period from
1970-1980 during which I became and remained involved daily in the Civil Program
and the Corps of Engineers as it accommodated itself to major shifts in national
policies toward environment cost-sharing, etc. The backdrop for measuring these
changes was my earlier experience in Savannah and Tulsa Districts during the
"heyday" of federal investment in water resource programs.
In the early sixties a good economic analysis and a strong benefit-to-cost ratio
were the best assurances of success in one of the bi-annual "omnibus" bills. These
successes were also the fruits of strong local support and powerful representation in the
U.S. Congress which were then in full bloom in many areas of the nation. None more
evident than in the region of the Arkansas and Red Rivers. As Tulsa District Engineer
at that time, there was a real challenge in meeting and fulfilling the federally legislated
project load and I suppose some people thought the program would last and last for
years if not forever. But soon thereafter the local support began to wane, congressional
power for water resource development weakened, and national priorities were modified
to the point that by 1980, U.S. Government's investment in new water projects had
dried up and we were in the middle of a 15-year hiatus in the authorization process.
To understand the reasons for the "holiday" from new public works nd the basis
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for certain concurrent changes, we need to reflect briefly on the causes of weakened
local and national support for such investments. First, by 1970 the national water
program was well advanced toward realization. New projects were spottily scattered
across the country and, as a group, less attractive than the projects already authorized.
Next, much of all public works already in place was beginning to need major
rehabilitation. Also, growth and development were pressing against virgin America,
causing, in many areas, a reduced quality of life; and, the U.S. economic situation was
entering a tough period. But, whatever the reasons, the fact remains that the water
resource development program was an early casualty of new national priorities for
environmental and economic attention. The extent and seriousness of its wounds are
still being evaluated almost two decades later and as with most sudden and long term
illness, major adjustments in lifestyle occurred.
The first major impact came with the passage of the National Environmental
Policy Act in late 1969. This sweeping legislation was 10 years too late, in my opinion;
and, therefore, was imposed summarily rather than gradually and efficiently. In one
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