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Show by the construction agency. The intent of the existing law clearly is to prevent reduction in ex- isting fish and wildlife resources as a result of proj- ect construction. Difficulties have arisen, however, in the application of this policy. For example, the recommendation of the Fish and Wildlife Service that a wildlife refuge be estab- lished on Allatoona Reservoir (see Policy Problem D-l) to replace loss in wildlife habitat was not fol- lowed because the Corps of Engineers believed that it lacked authority to do so. Difficulties have also arisen in this basin in pro- viding, as an integral part of water projects, meas- ures to improve fish and wildlife resources above those required for preventing losses. The Fish and Wildlife Service recommended to the Corps of En- gineers that a subimpoundment in the Allatoona Creek arm of the Allatoona Reservoir be established to provide a wildlife refuge and to enhance fish and wildlife benefits. The recommendation was not followed. Pollution in parts of the basin adversely affects fish and wildlife resources. (See Policy Problem A-2.) Current and proposed programs for abate- ment of pollution will serve to reduce such effects. The increased emphasis upon drainage of large areas of wet land for agriculture acts to reduce wildlife habitat. This problem will become in- creasingly serious as increased flood protection makes agriculture possible in the areas adjacent to the lower river. Protection of wet lands essential to preserve wildlife resources has, therefore, be- come increasingly important to the Fish and Wild- life Service and to State conservation departments. The Production and Marketing Administration gives financial assistance to landowners for drain- age. Technical services are also available from the Soil Conservation Service to landowners in soil conservation districts for surveys and drainage plans. Coordination between the agricultural and the wildlife agencies on this problem has not been satisfactory. Conclusions As part of a multiple-purpose river basin pro- gram, Federal, State, and local agencies should cooperate to the fullest extent to conserve and en- hance the fish and wildlife resources of the Alabama- Coosa Basin. Such a program should include (1) separation of fishery resource from wildlife in calculating benefits and losses; (2) addition to project costs of any justifiable facility required to compensate for fish and wildlife losses at project sites; (3) addition to projects of any justifiable facility for enhancement of fish and wildlife bene- fits; (4) adoption of pollution abatement as a pur- pose of river development projects; and (5) par- ticipation by the Fish and Wildlife Service and State conservation departments in planning pro- posed Federal or private drainage projects sub- sidized directly or indirectly by the Federal Government. 3. Recreational Use of Reservoir Areas The Problem Planning and providing for recreational use of reservoir areas in the interest of maximum bene- ficial use. The Situation At Allatoona Reservoir the Corps of Engineers is providing facilities to make the reservoir area use- ful for recreation. A master recreation plan has been prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service and State and local authorities. This plan proposes a Federal picnicking and observa- tion area near the dam, 2 State parks, 3 county parks, 20 boat-launching ramps, several organized group camps, and 2 private cabin and club sites. A 300-acre subimpoundment has been provided in the Proctor Creek arm of the reservoir near Acworth. It is expected that the county will develop and op- erate a park on the south shore of the subimpound- ment pool and Acworth will provide one on the north shore. An agreement was negotiated in November 1950 between the State of Georgia and the Corps of Engineers whereby the State is licensed to develop, operate, and maintain the two State park areas. Similar negotiations are proceeding on the county park areas. The Department of Anthropology and Arche- ology of the University of Georgia and the Smithsonian Institution carried out a program of archeological exploration and excavation on lands now inundated by the reservoir. This program was financed with funds made available by the Uni- versity of Georgia. The National Park Service has cooperated with the Corps of Engineers in making studies of the recreation potentialities of several other authorized reservoir projects in the basin. Suitable recreation 553 |