Evening star., 1945-02-11

BRYSON CITY, N. ,C.-IyA de-
velopment, completed, current, and
contemplated not only are changing
the face of Western North Carolina.
They are introducing new recrea-
tional factor in region which al
ready is the most popular natural
playground in America.
The Southern Appalachians lack
the natural mountain lakes Of
Northern States because they did not
endure The glacier actions which
would have dredged out lake bottoms
and damned up the coves. The up
heavals which created the largest
mountain mass in the East sent its
hundreds of streams illogically
bounding East, West, North and
South, and they cut through the
softer rocks, creating many spec
tacular gorges, but never encounter
ing insurmountable and lake-fllling
barriers.
Now, through the agency OF man,
the distinctly mountain scenery Is
rapidly acquiring an aquatic atmos-
phere too. Coves along which mixers
used to tramp now are placid en-
payments upon which sailboats ride,
or into which bass fishermen cast
from skiffS.
The largest lake of all, Fontana,
this year is flooding thousands Of
acres, most inhabitants Of which
have never seen body of water
larger than a goodsized mountain
creek. The shore line will be 2l5
miles long. The dam itself Is 45l
feet high, fourth highest in the
world.
Already the Great Smokes Noun
tain Park has taken advantage OF
this new attraction. About 1900
acres of land has been added to the
park so that part Of the shore line
of the Fontana Lake will front on
the park, making it possible for
visitors tc enjoy swimmip", boating
and fishing. A highway will 60
across the dam and another will
connect Bryson City directly with
the park.
iva has no plans of its own for
recreational developments on the
lakes, but it has program OF CO.
operation for full utilization Of such
possibilities. Lands acquired by IVA
along the shore line of Hiwassee
Reservoir, for instance, have in the
most part been transferred to the
administration of the United States
Forest Service for management, and
"it is entirely possible" says TVA,
that such a policy will be applied to
other iva reservoirs in Western
North Carolina.
Since start of the war, iva re-
veals, at least dozen sites have
been leased along lake shores for
public parks. One of the most re-
cent was park near Murphy on
Hiwassee where the town plans facil-
tiles for swimming, boating, fishing.
tennis, picnicking. Negotiations are
underway with Clay County for a
1OO-acre county park on beautiful
Lake Chatuge. IVA officials, while
recreational developments
along the lakes, warn that down
pull" of water is a serious handicap
to commercial investments.
**
The possibilities of some OF the
lakes are outlined here:
., Appalachia Reservoir.-The dam
lies nearly 10 miles downstream from
Hiwassee Dam, and thus there are
two relatively constant level lakes in
close proximity to residents of North
Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
Main shore line of the lake is % miles
in length at normal level. The area
is roughly mountainous and not
easily accessible at present. Water
level is subject to maximum f1uctu-
alton of AZ feet, but IVA officials
think the lake will be maintained
with drawdown of only 2 to 5 feet
as daily f1uctuation. This will not
seriously interfere with recreational
development nor mar the scenic
beauty of the lake. DEVELOPMENT for