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Show requirement that property owners should pay the cost of flood protection in flood hazard areas would also discourage investment in structures there. There has been no zoning in the Alabama-Coosa Basin to deter encroachment onto the flood plains. Local flood protection works have been constructed for three urban areas, Prattville and Collinsville, Ala., and Rome, Ga., and are being considered now for Gadsden, Montgomery, Selma, and an addi- tional area in Rome. Conclusions Flood damages in this area have not been serious and a limited amount of flood protection work has been done. The approved plan for reservoir con- struction for control of the rivers for power pro- duction will further reduce flood hazards. Under such conditions, zoning of the flood plain may be the least costly means of preventing flood damage. C. The Character of Development 1. Basic Data Adequacy The Problem Adequacy of basic data essential for planning and programing basin development. The Situation Coverage of the Alabama-Coosa Basin by topo- graphic maps is very limited. Those available prior to the basin studies of the Corps of Engineers were United States Geological Survey quadrangles, many of reconnaissance character. These were prepared before 19O0, and covered only the Piedmont area above the Fall Line. To complete its plan, the Corps of Engineers made many reservoir topo- graphic surveys and a multiplex survey of the main stems. This work, limited by funds, was not inte- grated into that of other agencies. The only available information on subsurface formations 3 ground water distribution, and loca- tions of mineral deposits in the basin is contained in an old report by the State geologist; these meager data were supplemented by limited field explora- tions at the various project sites. They must be sup- plemented by more data for detailed planning. While soil surveys have been completed on more than 80 percent of the basin, most of the surveys 556 need to be supplemented by appraisals of soil pro- ductivity and land use capabilities. More detailed and up-to-date soil survey maps are needed in areas of intensive farming. Forest resources and related industries have been surveyed by the Forest Service to provide informa- tion on the acreage, kind and amount of timber, rate of growth, and use. To keep abreast with changes that are continually taking place in these factors, resource studies should be reinventoried periodically. Recent aerial photographs are available for the entire basin. With the exception of one small area flown in 1944, all areas in the basin were under con- tract for reflights in 1949 and 1950. The Geological Survey has for many years col- lected and published records of stream flow. At present, 51 gaging stations are cooperatively main- tained in the basin. Data from these stations were supplemented by short-term records when the Corps of Engineers' studies were made. Cooperative pro- grams of the Geological Survey and the States for obtaining stream flow data have not always been satisfactory for obtaining long-range stream flow data, as the States' interests have varied from time to time, and have not always coincided with the needs of other agencies. This has resulted in in- terrupted records unsatisfactory for sound planning. A cooperative program between the Geological Survey and the Corps of Engineers has been the means for obtaining minimum data required by the Corps. The United States Weather Bureau has been sup- plying rainfall data from stations throughout the basin for many years. From these records varia- tions in precipitation and general storm character- istics can be determined. However, there are 14 counties in the basin in which no records of rain- fall are kept. Sedimentation studies are being initiated by the Corps of Engineers in connection with authorized reservoir projects. Flood control and sedimenta- tion studies by the Department of Agriculture have been made on eight subwatersheds in the Piedmont area and are under way on four more. Sources of pollution are known. Data concern- ing the pollutional aspect of domestic and munici- pal wastes are also available. Data covering the pollution effects of industrial wastes are deficient and detailed information on industrial waste is lacking. Classification of reaches of the stream for pollution control, based on water uses, depends on these and other categories of data. |
