access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Little Sioux Watershed Records, MS 106, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

The Little Sioux Project was authorized under the 1936 Flood Control Act and subsequent legislation.  Federal funds were made available to the Department of Agriculture in late 1945 "to assist farmers and other interested parties in planning and applying watershed measures ... to keep flood damages to a ... minimum."  Areas authorized for assistance included all the uplands of the Little Sioux Watershed.  It was one of the first authorities granted by Congress and was referred to as a Pilot Watershed Project.

The Little Sioux Watershed is an organization of representatives (district commissioners) of the Soil Conservation Districts whose purpose is to "reduce erosion and runoff at the source." 

Collection description

This collection (1943-1992, n.d.) contains correspondence, reports, court briefs, notes, maps, and newspaper clippings.  Much of the material is concerned with the Monona-Harrison County Drainage District members acceptance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan for flood control versus the Gaynor Plan.  A paper "Nile Valley of the Middle West" by Martha Fischer gives historical background and information on the development of the Project.  The collection also contains classifications and assessments of lands in the drainage districts and material relating to the Little Sioux Flood Prevention Project.

Related material may be found in MS 85 Alden J. Erskine papers, MS 79 John D. Beardsley Papers, and MS 81 George E. and Sewell E. Allen Papers.

1956