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Show Conclusions There are now no serious conflicts in regard to water uses, although local problems, as at Rome, will develop as the construction program proceeds. These problems will be largely alleviated when the more complete system of reservoirs has been pro- vided, so that the entire river can be operated as a coordinated unit for all purposes. There is ade- quate water for all present needs. There is, how- ever, a definite need for long-range planning to provide for maximum utilization of the water re- sources of the basin and to prevent conflict between water uses. 2. Conservation of Fish and Wildlife The Problem Extent to which full conservation and develop- ment of fish and wildlife resources should be sought in planning and construction. The Situation Water projects and programs may affect fish and wildlife favorably or adversely, depending upon the particular circumstances. In most cases damages can be minimized and benefits maximized without adversely affecting other purposes, if the relation of fish and wildlife values to other resource values is fully considered in the early stages of planning. The amended Coordination Act of 1946 author- izes the Jish and Wildlife Service to investigate the effect of water projects upon fish and game.3 It has studied some projects in this basin and has made its findings available to the Corps of Engi- neers and others. Although field studies have not been completed for all of the areas affected by proposed projects, it appears that reservoir con- struction will result in (1) a net increase in the value of the fishery resources, and (2) a substantial reduction in the wildlife resources. Fishery habitat in the Alabama-Coosa River system will be greatly modified by the plans for improvement. The impoundments created by existing AJlatoona Dam and by the four authorized dams will have a total surface area of about 75,950 acres at proposed maximum power pool levels. Fishery values of these impoundments will •Act of August 14, 1946, 60 Stat. 1080, 16 U. S. C. 661 et seq. 552 be comparable to those now afforded by Lay, Mitchell, and Jordan Reservoirs except that Allatoona Reservoir is located close enough to At- lanta to afford even higher opportunities for use of the fishery with correspondingly increased values. Existing stream segments, sloughs, and natural lakes in the reservoir areas below maximum-pool levels will be inundated. Fishery values lost in this manner were relatively minor in Allatoona Reser- voir and will be low in Howell Mill Shoals Reser- voir, but will increase progressively downstream, becoming greatest in the Claiborne Reservoir which will inundate numerous valuable overflow lakes. Spawning runs of striped bass will be blocked by the Claiborne Dam. This will result in substantial fishery losses. Valuable fishing areas will be created by the tailwaters below each dam. Down- stream from the dams and their tailwaters, changes in fishery habitat will depend on the manner in which the reservoirs are operated. If the frequency, extent, and duration of over- flows are substantially reduced, a proportional re- duction in fishery values is anticipated. Such losses may be compensated in part by increased minimum stream flows and by reductions in stream turbidity. Wildlife resources will be reduced under the au- thorized plan of improvements since the reservoirs will inundate about 76,000 acres of big game, up- land game, and fur animal habitat. Such losses will be greatest in the three reservoir areas on the Ala- bama River. Losses of big game resources will be particularly severe since suitable habitat for black bear, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys in Ala- bama is limited. Loss of waterfowl habitat will be compensated by the enlarged area of habitat created by such impoundments. Downstream from the dam and reservoir projects, wildlife resources will be affected by the extent to which flood stages are re- duced in amount and duration. Flood flow reduc- tion will reduce the value of the lowlands as water- fowl habitat to some extent. Frequent flooding has prevented the clearing of extensive lowland forest areas for agricultural purposes. Clearing would reduce the area available for white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, and beaver. However, some increase in bobwhite quail, mourning doves, and cottontail rabbits will prob- ably occur. The amended Coordination Act provides that the costs of installing and maintaining facilities for mitigating losses to fish and wildlife resources shall be an integral part of project costs and shall be included in cost estimates submitted to Congress |
