OCR Text |
Show impacts frequently give rise to strong opposition to a reservoir development, especially where the bene- fits from the project accrue mainly in relatively remote areas. On the other hand, reservoir construction and operation may give rise to local values which sub- stantially offset and may exceed the losses to the local economy caused by change from the existing land use. For example, the establishment of a popular recreational development on the periphery of a reservoir may give rise to requirements for supplies, services, cottages, and business sites en- tirely offsetting any disruption in the local trade area. This already has happened in the basin. Establishment of local industry in connection with water power development or other inducements created by the project may furnish greatly increased employment opportunities. Many examples can be given where this has taken place in other river basins. In. certain cases there are opportunities for leasing seldom-inundated lands in the flood control portion of a Federal reservoir for limited agricul- tural use. Under present law, 75 percent of the revenues from leasing reservoir lands is returned to the State to be used for road and school purposes in the affected locality, thus somewhat offsetting loss of tax revenues. The 1944- plan for the Potomac proposed the con- struction of seven storage reservoirs, one diversion dam, and six power head dams for flood control, hydroelectric power, pollution abatement, and allied purposes. Intense local opposition devel- oped toward the plan, especially toward some of the storage reservoirs. Brocks Gap and Millville Proj- ects in the tributary Shenandoah River Basin were the object of particularly violent criticism. The principal groups publicly opposing the plan con- sisted of farmers and landowners from some of the areas that would be inundated. They stated that large fertile agricultural areas would be flooded and that severe individual and collective losses would result from such inundation. There was indica- tion of an underlying opinion that some possible modification of the reservoir plans could be made to accomplish the desired objectives without taking so much laxid out of production and causing the anticipated disruption. While careful comparative studies had been made and more detailed investigations were contemplated before final construction plans were to be drawn, full knowledge of the impacts was not publicly available. -Although increased recreational oppor- tunities in connection with the reservoir projects were contemplated, people in the affected areas were unaware of those possibilities and the extent of local benefits. Opposition to the plan on the grounds of inundation problems and on recreation and park development problems8 resulted in at least temporary abandonment of the proposed im- provements. Conclusions The history of plans for the Potomac Basin illus- trates the need for basing reservoir project selec- tion on a careful determination of the effect of displacement. Such displacements should be held to the minimum consistent with balanced water resources development. Careful consideration should be given to the following measures: (1) Informing all people in the reservoir area as to the details of a project and how they will be affected individually, as far in advance of construc- tion as possible. Each seriously affected case should be handled in an individual manner. (2) Handling of contacts relating to relocation by local individuals in whom local citizens have confidence. (3) Legislation to provide for establishment of all persons dispossessed or moved in a situation substantially equal to that from which moved. (4) Provision of funds for early acquisition of reservoir lands and for assistance to dislocated property owners and operators in their reestablish- ment in new locations. (5) Provisions for productive use of all economi- cally usable reservoir lands not subject to per- manent inundation. (6) Consideration to trade areas, individuals, and businesses dependent upon those being dis- placed, and as far as possible assistance through employment during the period between the pre- project and postproject status. (7) Development of recreation and similar col- lateral activities on reservoir projects to offset local trade losses in previous pursuits. (8) Payments to local political units to compen- sate for net loss of taxes resulting from inundation. If the above procedures are fully adopted through legislative action, and project proposals are fully presented for discussion with those affected, less local opposition to project developments should be encountered. 8 See Policy Problem B-3, following. 602 |