Aquatic Resource Management

Fresh water is required by humans for drinking, agriculture, and most industrial processes. The energy from flowing water is in high demand, as is protection from floods. At the same time, there is great concern that water is used in ways that do not compromise its vital role in sustaining a healthy and aesthetically-pleasing natural environment.

The southern Appalachians have a bountiful supply of water, so water policy and management evolved over the past century as if water supplies were unlimited. With increasing population density, water resources must now be managed for multiple uses, some of which may be incompatible. Consumptive uses of water, such as withdrawals for municipal supply or manufacturing uses, can negatively affect nonconsumptive uses such as recreation and aesthetic enjoyment. Effective management of water resources must balance competing demands while ensuring that uses remain sustainable over time. Striking the proper balance is no minor task.

Under the array of competing demands for water resources, management policies are guided by a number of Federal laws. Among these are the:

• Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972, whose primary objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nations water.
• Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, which requires an assessment of the vulnerability of all drinking water sources to contamination.
• National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976, which provides for protection of streams, streambanks, wetlands, and other water bodies during timber harvest operations on the National Forest System.
• Federal Power Act of 1920, which provides for cooperation between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other Federal agencies, including resource agencies, in licensing and relicensing power projects.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, which requires all Federal agencies to consider environmental values and factors in agency planning and decision-making.
• Endangered Species Act of 1973, which requires that recovery plans for threatened and endangered species be developed and implemented.

Both water quality and quantity are necessary to adequately meet human uses, protect ecological function, and preserve natural amenities such as biodiversity. Different aquatic resources are often managed by different agencies, even on the same body of water (Poff and others 1997):

1. Water supply and flood control are the responsibilities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

2. Water quality is a major concern for the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State environmental agencies.

3. Water-dependent species of sporting, commercial, or conservation value are protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and State natural resource agencies.

4. Flood control, river navigation, power supply, water quality, recreation, and land use in the Tennessee River System are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, a Federal corporation and the nations largest public power company.

Major goals of water resource management in forest management in the southern Appalachians include:

• Maintenance of Water Supply
• Maintenance of Water Quality
• Conservation of Species and Ecosystems
• Riparian Zone Management
• Aquatic-Based Recreation