Draft:The Flood Control Act of 1954

• Comment: You’ve made a great start to this article, however, as yet it lacks sufficient sources which prove notability. It requires 2-3 sources which are reliable, independent, secondary sources, which talk at length about the topic of the article. Unfortunately the sources you have so far aren’t quite there. Govt sources about govt laws are unfortunately primary, rather than secondary sources, and thus don’t count for determining notability. The Jenkins and Grey paper looks good, but assuming that it’s THIS paper https://priceschool.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jenkins-and-Gray.pdf it doesn’t cover the 1954 act as far as I can tell, only earlier acts. This is the same issue the Corp of engineers vignette has - it only refers to earlier acts.
  Until these sourcing problems are solved, demonstrating notability, II am afraid that no amount of editing of the article itself will help in getting it accepted. We need the sources first. Good luck, hope that you find them soon, and then we will be able to go ahead and approve this 👍 Absurdum4242 (talk) 16:02, 25 September 2025 (UTC)

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Flood Control Act of 1954

Public Law: Title II of Public Law 780, 83d Congress (the 1954 River & Harbor and Flood Control Act)^[1] 

Date enacted: September 3, 1954 ( President Eisenhower signing covers both River & Harbor and Flood Control aspects)^[1]

Also known as: the Flood Control Act of 1954 (as Title II of the larger rivers & harbors bill)^[1]

Introduction

The Flood Control Act of 1954 was a federal statute enacted on September 3, 1954, as Title II of the River and Harbor Act of 1954 (Public Law 780). The Act authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to plan, construct, and maintain flood control projects across the United States. It also expanded permissible uses of reservoir lands, permitting recreation and public leases when deemed in the public interest. The 1954 Act continued a legislative tradition of federal involvement in flood management, following earlier Flood Control Acts of 1936, 1938, 1941, and 1946.^[2]

Background

Federal participation in flood control developed gradually in the early 20th century. The catastrophic Mississippi River Flood of 1927 had led to the Flood Control Act of 1928, which expanded the Army Corps of Engineers’ role. Later, the Flood Control Act of 1936 formally declared flood control to be a national policy. By the early 1950s, recurring floods and growing demands for multipurpose water resource projects—including navigation, hydropower, and recreation—led Congress to reauthorize and expand flood control programs.^[3]

Provisions

The Act contained several key provisions:

• Project Authorization: Approved new flood control projects recommended by the Chief of Engineers and authorized appropriations to fund them.
• Reporting Requirement: Prohibited authorization of any project unless the Chief of Engineers had submitted a formal report on its feasibility.
• Reservoir Land Use: Permitted the Secretary of the Army to allow recreational use of reservoir lands and to lease property for activities consistent with flood control and navigation.
• Funding: Authorized appropriations “as may be necessary” to carry out the Act, with funds remaining available until expended.^[4]

Implementation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was designated as the primary federal agency responsible for planning and constructing the authorized projects. Local governments were generally required to provide lands, easements, and rights-of-way and to assume responsibility for maintenance after completion. The Act emphasized multi-purpose reservoir projects, balancing flood control with navigation, water supply, and recreation.^[5]

Impact

The 1954 Act advanced new levees, reservoirs, and channel improvements across multiple river basins. By explicitly authorizing recreation at Corps-controlled reservoirs, the Act contributed to the growth of public parks and outdoor activities tied to water infrastructure. It reinforced the U.S. government’s ongoing responsibility in flood management, setting a precedent for later laws such as the Flood Control Act of 1965 and the Water Resources Development Acts.^[6]

Related Legislation

• Flood Control Act of 1928
• Flood Control Act of 1936
• Flood Control Act of 1946
• Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (focused on watershed-level projects under the Department of Agriculture)

References

1. "Text - H.R.9859 - 83rd Congress (1953-1954): An Act authorizing the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors for navigation, flood control and for other purposes". www.congress.gov. 1954-09-03. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
2. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Statement by the President Upon Signing the River and Harbor Act and the Flood Control Act, September 3, 1954. American Presidency Project
3. Jenkins, W. & Gray, R. The Origins and Development of Federal Flood Control Policy. USC Price School of Public Policy, 2025.
4. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pertinent Public Laws: Stillhouse Hollow Lake Master Plan, Appendix G. Fort Worth District, USACE.
5. U.S. Congress, River and Harbor Act of 1954; Flood Control Act of 1954 (Public Law 780, 83d Congress). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1954.
6. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Historical Vignette 13: Flood Control Acts. Headquarters, USACE History Office.