Statement To
Crossville City Council
December 12, 2000
The Crossville Tennessee City Council has
discussed plans to construct a dam on
the Caney Fork River in Cumberland County. Responding to a
news article in which Council members reportedly asked
"what do the environmentalists think about this?"
Chuck Estes, representing the organizations listed below, scheduled
an opportunity to present some concerns to the Council.
We embrace the expression of these concerns. Here is the text of the statement prepared and issued by Chuck
Estes.
For Immediate Release:
Thank you for the opportunity to talk to the
Crossville City Council about the proposed dam on the Caney
Fork River. I represent several conservation and recreational
organizations. The Friends of Scott’s
Gulf is group of individuals and other conservation
organizations that work for the preservation and protection of
Scott’s Gulf, the upper Caney Fork River gorge. This has
become a reality with the donation by Bridgestone-Firestone,
Inc. of 10,000 acres to the State of Tennessee to create the
Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness Area. I am also
here as the chairman of the water issues committee for the Tennessee
Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP). This group
was instrumental in establishing the Obed Wild and Scenic
River and Big South Fork National Recreational Area. TCWP
works for resource protection on the Cumberland Plateau and
Great Smoky Mountains area of east Tennessee. Lastly, I am
here as a member of the Board of American
Whitewater, a national organization representing
thousands of whitewater recreational boaters and affiliated
whitewater clubs. American Whitewater works to conserve,
restore, and enjoy wild and scenic rivers.
I am here tonight to respond to questions
raised by the city council about the reaction of environmental
organizations to the proposed Caney Fork dam. The
organizations I represent strongly object to the construction
of such a dam. We believe there are more environmentally
friendly options that could be pursued after completing a
detailed needs assessment and options analysis. The proposed
dam would eliminate a functioning river system in the proposed
lake location and would have an extremely negative impact on
the water quality and quantity on the river system downstream.
We support the development of a detailed needs assessment and
options analysis. This process should be conducted in
cooperation with the Cumberland Plateau Regional Water
Authority for a comprehensive strategy and options evaluation.
The need for a dependable water supply is
understandable. It should also be recognized that Crossville
and surrounding communities are located in a special region
with unique environmental and resource qualities. The rivers
and streams and associated forests of the Cumberland Plateau
are some of the most scenic and pristine areas in our country.
They are part of the equation that results in increased growth
of the region and the value of these resources must be
included in any development decision.
It is not clear that the water needs
projections that a project such as the Caney Fork dam is based
on are truly reflective of the water needs of Crossville and
surrounding area. A number of utility districts that have used
Crossville water in the past appear to be looking at other
alternatives. This underscores the importance of Crossville
working with surrounding utility districts and the regional
water authority to ensure that any project that may eventually
proposed is scoped correctly to avoid unnecessary costs and
impacts to the environment.
In December 1998 the U.S. Corps of Engineers
completed a preliminary engineering report of alternatives for
water supply on the Cumberland Plateau including Crossville.
The study found that construction of dams including a dam on
the Caney Fork River was less likely to receive required
permits because of environmental impacts than more
environmentally friendly alternatives such as a pipeline from
reservoirs such as Watts Bar Reservoir or Center Hill Lake and
groundwater resources. Also, the Corps found the Caney Fork
dam alternative to be significantly more expensive than a
pipeline to Watts Bar. The cost of a Caney Fork River dam was
estimated by the Corps as 63.5 million dollars versus 27.6
million dollars for a Watts Bar pipeline. Crossville’s own
estimate for the Caney Fork dam is 17 million dollars but a
report notes that that estimate does not include sufficient
funding for environmental related costs. It is clear that
there are cost effective as well as environmentally friendlier
alternatives to the proposed dam on the Caney Fork River.
Another factor to consider is the state
owned land approximately 3 ½ miles downstream of the proposed
dam in the area known as Scott’s Gulf.
Bridgestone-Firestone, Inc., has donated 10,000 acres to the
State of Tennessee to create the Bridgestone-Firestone
Centennial Wilderness Area. This area is a spectacular
recreational resource with a mature hardwood forest,
waterfalls, river bluffs and overlooks, cave systems, and a
high quality free flowing river system. Constructing a dam and
associated lake upstream of this area would have significant
impacts on water quality and quantity that are two of the main
forces at work in the Caney Fork River gorge. An upstream dam
would totally disrupt the natural flow regime of the river;
and historically most outflow from impoundments cannot meet
water quality criteria for iron, suspended solids, and
dissolved oxygen. Also, the sediment released through dam
construction would have immediate and unacceptable impacts on
the river system.
Impacts of a proposed dam on the Caney Fork
River would have significant impact on recreation
opportunities. The Scott’s Gulf area is fast becoming an
important destination for hiking, camping, boating, fishing,
hunting, and caving. Most of these activities are enhanced by
the excellent existing water quality that would be negatively
impacted by an upstream dam. The whitewater boating found in
the Caney Fork River through the Scott’s Gulf area is some
of the most challenging whitewater (Class III-V) in Tennessee.
The exciting rapids, spectacular scenery, excellent water
quality, and remoteness of the river make it highly prized by
whitewater boaters. The proposed dam would be located
approximately 1 ½ miles above the Clifty Bridge that is the
starting place for whitewater boating. A dam at this location
would eliminate whitewater boating in the Caney Fork River
gorge as releases from the impoundment would not be expected
to meet the large flows required for whitewater boating.
Caving would also be impacted. Several caves are located at or
near the river and continue to be formed by the river.
Much additional work needs to be done
exploring alternatives. Recently the South Cumberland Utility
District completed a water well producing 300 gallons per
minute. They and other utility districts are pursuing
groundwater alternatives. There have been concerns raised by
Crossville citizens about the water quality from reservoirs
such as Watts Bar Reservoir. According to the Tennessee
Division of Water Supply, there is no contamination issue with
raw water from Watts Bar Reservoir used for drinking water at
such cities as Rockwood and Spring City. Any contaminants of
concern are only found in the sediment column of the reservoir
not the water column. Additionally all raw water is filtered
to remove suspended solids as part of the water treatment
process. Finally, Crossville should explore the potential from
water conservation measures in household and local industries.
Many times water conservation applications have minimal life
quality impacts while providing large cumulative reductions in
water usage. These low cost alternatives could result in large
savings from reduced capital costs of water supply projects.
As alternatives exist that would result in
less environmental impacts, should Crossville continue to
pursue a dam on the Caney Fork River, objections will be made
to the issuance of a required 401 Water Quality Certification
and a Corps of Engineers permit. We will also request a full
NEPA evaluation and will seek a negative determination from
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. We urge Crossville to work cooperatively
with the regional utility districts and the Cumberland Plateau
Regional Water Authority to complete a comprehensive water
needs assessment and options analysis. Otherwise, projects may
be completed that do not match the true needs of the region
resulting in unnecessary costs and impacts to the environment.
Chuck Estes
On behalf of:
American Whitewater
Friends of Scott’s Gulf
Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning
