Impact of Multiple-Purpose Reservoir System on Regional Environment

Abstract

In 1933 the Tennessee Valley needed the resource tools with which to improve itself economically. In addition to the tools to rehabilitate agriculture, the TVA provided the developed river. Flood control has made the level land on the shoreline safe from floods and, therefore, safe for industrial use. The waterway provides low-cost barge transportation. The impoundment of water provides abundant supplies for cities and industries. It provides a great source for water-based recreation, vital to the welfare of all in today’s world. And, of course, TVA dams and steam plants provide large amounts of electric power at low cost. Capitalizing on opportunities in the Tennessee Valley in the future will require bold new programs to upgrade the quality of life in the region, particularly in the rural areas. It will require imaginative planning to guide the development of rapidly growing small towns and comprehensive approaches to revitalize existing cities and even create new ones. In some instances, it will require carefully coordinated development.