| OCR Text |
Show property in the reservoir area is generally unsalable because it has no future use other than for flowage. When the acquisition program is started, accel- erated purchasing of property immediately puts most of the original owners into the market for replacement of their former holdings. The first type of hardship is particularly severe on a property owner who, due to financial circum- stances, may be forced to sell his holdings before the Federal agency is able or ready to buy. The abnormal market could result in his receiving a greatly reduced price and a consequent financial loss. Moreover, with impending dislocation, a property owner is deterred from making improve- ments which might permit him to realize a better return on his investment. This state of suspense and uncertainty can be resolved only when he dis- poses of the affected property and is relocated in another area. When property is purchased, most owners will want to relocate in the same general vicinity where they can carry on their accustomed endeavors. In an agricultural area, farmers would normally prefer to buy farms of the same type and quality as their previous farms so that they can continue to use the knowledge, equipment, and experience they possess. The sudden competition in the local mar- ket may so inflate prices that some owners required to move will not be able to locate where they wish, and those who do may suffer a loss because of the higher price they are forced to pay. The Corps of Engineers is not authorized to pro- vide relief in relocating displaced families and, while property owners are paid for their land, no consideration is given tenants. Such assistance as other agencies may furnish is generally inadequate. The difficulties of relocating have caused prop- erty owners in proposed reservoir areas to oppose the adoption of worthwhile reservoir projects. This same knowledge has also led some owners to increase the price of their land above the normal market value to compensate for anticipated loss. The results are a higher price for the flowage area than otherwise would be required and delays and difficulties in negotiating purchases. Opposition to reservoir development arises also from effects on the local economy which stem from conversion of property from its existing use and from disruption of local trade areas and reduction of taxable property. This is true especially when the main benefits from the project accrue to rela- tively remote areas. On the other hand, reservoir construction and operation may result in local values which offset or exceed losses to the local economy caused by change from the existing land use. Recreation developments may establish re- quirements for supplies and services. Establish- ment or expansion of local industry in connection with water power development or other functions created by the project may furnish greatly increased employment opportunities. Seldom inundated lands in the flood control portion of reservoirs may be leased for limited agricultural use. In some instances it would be desirable to ac- quire certain lands adjacent to Federal projects, which Federal agencies now lack authority to ac- quire, to permit their best use and to exclude unde- sirable encroachments in the interest of sound con- servation and recreation developments. State or other local public agencies can acquire such areas and should be encouraged to do so. However, if State or local public groups do not acquire lands particularly suited for conservation and recreation use, it may be desirable that Federal agencies be given authority to acquire them. The land acquisition programs for the 35 reser- voirs which have been completed or are under construction in the Ohio Basin have involved 460,000 acres. A total of 13,700 tracts of land of all types have been acquired; a somewhat smaller number of land owners or tenants have been af- fected by this program. The 45 reservoirs in the approved basin plan for flood control, navigation, power, and other purposes which have not been started will have a permanent pool area of 491,000 acres, much of which will be available for seasonal crop use. Total land acreage acquired will be somewhat greater. In acquiring land for watershed management purposes, comparable problems do not exist. Such lands are usually submarginal for agricultural use or are depleted forest areas which the owners usually want to sell. Where owners or tenants occupy such land, the Forest Service allows them to remain on it under permit until they are able to relocate. In the Cumberland National Forest, for example, the many tenants were permitted to re- main on the land for several years. Some were em- ployed on a part-time basis to carry out reforestation and other land rehabilitation work until other job opportunities became available. In all, about 2 million acres have been acquired by the Forest Service for watershed purposes in this basin. 689 |
