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TVA Reservation Redevelopment
News, Information and Comments
For contact information, click here.
August 15, 2009 : Read comments of John Crowder here.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Following is our Press Release concerning the Reservation Redevelopment.
PRESS RELEASE FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACTS:
Charles Rose, President, Shoals Environmental Alliance, H. (256) 381-2826, C.
(256) 366-1937 or chuckrivers@comcast.net
Nancy Muse, Vice-President, Shoals Environmental Alliance, H. (256) 767-2909, C.
(256) 710-8718 or NancyMuseSEA@aol.com
Shoals Environmental Alliance Voices Concerns over TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Redevelopment, Announces Public Meeting
On June 18, 2009, TVA issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) addressing the impacts of the disposal and
alternative future uses of approximately 1,380 acres of land on its Muscle
Shoals Reservation in Colbert County, Alabama. In regard to determining the
scope of the EIS and the environmental issues that should be addressed therein,
TVA held a public meeting on July 14 and is accepting comments from the public
until August 5.
Shoals Environmental Alliance (SEA) questions various aspects of this proposed
redevelopment, including its effects on wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitat
and historic sites and structures.
Included in the redevelopment zone are many unused or underused industrial sites
and office buildings.
*** At this time, SEA has no objections to the sale, reuse or re-adaptation of
these industrial sites and office buildings, as long as no harm is done to the
integrity of any historic sites or structures.
*** SEA does object to the impairment or destruction of any historic or
prehistoric sites, historic buildings, wetlands, woodlands, wildlife habitat or
any other natural areas on the reservation.
*** We at SEA feel that the Muscle Shoals Reservation, with its many historic
sites and centrally located green spaces, offers the public a unique opportunity
for recreation, observation of nature and the appreciation of our local history.
Its redevelopment should be undertaken with great care.
*** We encourage TVA to begin the nominating process to place the Reservation
(as the Muscle Shoals Historic District) on the National Register of Historic
Places.
On Tuesday, July 28, Shoals Environmental Alliance will host a public meeting to
discuss the TVA Reservation Redevelopment. We invite everyone with questions or
concerns about TVA's plan to dispose of these 1,380 acres on the Muscle Shoals
Reservation to attend.
Place: Florence Library, in the conference room.
Time: 5:00pm-refreshments & informal discussion, 5:30-7:00pm-meeting.
Info: Call (256) 366-1937.
Muscle Shoals Historic District
In 2002, when TVA contemplated transferring almost 1,000 acres of the Muscle
Shoals Reservation to Retirement Systems of Alabama for a Robert Trent Jones
golf course, they were required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
to perform an Environmental Assessment (EA).
As part of that assessment, TRC conducted a cultural resources survey. Noting
the large number of prehistoric sites, historic sites and historic buildings
surveyed, TRC recommended that a large portion of the reservation be designated
as a historic district, the Muscle Shoals Historic District (MSHD).
The MSHD was referenced in TVA’s June 18 NOI. Although TVA has not yet nominated
it to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), a TVA representative told
SEA President Charles Rose that the fact it is deemed eligible for listing
affords it the same protections under federal law
There are several structures on the Muscle Shoals Reservation recognized as being independently eligible for listing on the National Register. These include the CCC Picnic Pavilion and the Animal House, both located on the north side of Reservation Road, and the National Fertilizer Development Center, the TVA Environmental Research Building and the TVA Greenhouse Complex, all located in the redevelopment zone.
All of the 1,380 acres proposed for redevelopment are within the Muscle
Shoals Historic District.
Wetlands
A 1981 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service map indicates numerous wetlands in the
1,380 acres proposed for redevelopment, including several on the north side of
2nd Street. The 1996 Muscle Shoals/Wilson Dam Reservation Land Use Plan states
that there is a wetland west of Hatch Blvd. A TVA representative said that this
is between Hatch Blvd. and the Village #2 historic site (roughly across Hatch
from the Holiday Inn).
Wetlands are considered among the most important ecological structures in
existence, providing such services as wildlife habitat, flood mitigation and the
filtering of water before it enters the water table. The 2002 RSA EA reported
that these type wetlands have been estimated to provide a minimum value of
services of $7,927 per acre per year. The 2002 report also noted that wetlands
on the Reservation would probably be of more value, considering their “location
within an urban landscape”.
Woodlands
The redevelopment section on the south side of Reservation Road includes
hundreds of acres of woodlands, including a large expanse in the south-west
corner of the Reservation. Numerous wetlands and mature hardwoods are found in
these forests.
The 1996 Muscle Shoals/Wilson Dam Reservation Land Use Plan notes the uniqueness
and value of the Reservation’s greens paces, located in the middle of the Shoals
area, just minutes from downtown Florence, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals & Tuscumbia.
It is recognized that these woodlands play other important roles, including
creating a visual buffer & noise barrier, wildlife habitat, flood control,
recreation, mitigating global warming and helping to reduce the “heat island”
effect of all the paved surfaces nearby.
Considering the current glut of commercial and residential properties on the
market in the Shoals, SEA sees no reason why these woodlands need be destroyed
or impaired.
Wildlife Habitat
Deer are often observed in the tree line on the south side of Reservation Road
by passing motorists.
For several years now, biologist Damien Simbeck has led birding walks in this
area of the reservation during the fall migration season, with 127 different
species reported.
The 1996 Muscle Shoals/Wilson Dam Reservation Land Use Plan lists numerous
species found there, including muskrat, mink, Eastern wood rat, long-tailed
weasel, Norway rat, house mouse, rabbits, opossum, short-tailed shrew, gray
squirrel, raccoon, gray fox, red fox, coyote, eastern mole, least shrew, striped
skunk, Eastern box turtle and various species of bats, birds, lizards, snakes,
frogs salamanders & toads. Deer, bobcat and armadillo are also observed on the
Reservation.
TVA has planted several areas on the south side with native grasses to attract
wildlife. The Muscle Shoals/Wilson Dam Reservation has been certified by the
Wildlife Habitat Council in recognition of TVA’s efforts in providing habitat.
In 2004, the Wildlife Habitat Council awarded Shoals Environmental Alliance
their Community Partner of the Year award in recognition of SEA’s efforts on the
Reservation in this regard.
Loss of habitat is the #1 reason for the decline or extinction of species.
Click this link to read TVA’s June 18 announcement, the full Notice of Intent,
see a map of the proposed redevelopment section, and sign up to receive email
updates from TVA. You will also learn how to make comment to TVA about the
redevelopment.
http://www.tva.gov/environment/reports/muscle_shoals/index.htm
To receive updates from Shoals Environmental Alliance about the TVA Reservation
Redevelopment, email: chuckrivers@comcast.net
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 --- TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation Redevelopment Scoping
Meeting
TVA will host an open-house style public meeting from 4:00-7:00 p.m., at Muscle
Shoals High School, 1900 Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661.
You may make written comments at the meeting or at any time before August 5,
2009.
We at SEA urge you to attend and get better informed about this proposed
redevelopment of the TVA Reservation. We have many concerns (listed below.)
At these open-house meetings there are usually tables set up, manned by TVA
personnel who can answer your questions about the possible environmental
consequences of the proposed redevelopment, such as cultural resources,
wetlands, floodplains, threatened & endangered species, water quality, noise,
effects on roads & traffic, environmental justice, plant & animal habitat,
visual resources & recreation. It’s pretty informal, you can come at any time,
although there might be a short presentation at the start.
Here are some of our concerns:
1. While it might be reasonable for TVA to sell vacant industrial sites and
office buildings, there are many acres of woodlands in the 1,380 acres proposed
for redevelopment. This viable wildlife habitat could be harmed or destroyed by
the redevelopment. Much of this wooded acreage is located off of Hatch Blvd.,
2nd Street and Wilson Dam Road (AL-133), areas that the cities of Sheffield &
Muscle Shoals have asked TVA for in the past for development. Development of
these woodlands will surely have a negative impact on wildlife.
2. Is TVA selling or giving the land away? The TimesDaily’s Mike Goens recently
wrote that this land was a “gift”. We were told earlier by TVA employees that it
was to be sold. Should federal land that was obtained in the early 20th Century,
possibly against the will of the land owners, be given away?
3. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wetlands map shows many palustrine wetlands
in the 1,380 acres considered for redevelopment, including a large one on the
north side of 2nd Street, midway between Hatch and Wilson Dam Road, a smaller
one on the north side of 2nd Street just west of the power line ROW along Wilson
Dam Road and another large one between Pond Creek and Wilson Dam Road. There
appear to be 14 more small wetlands in the redevelopment zone. There is also
thought to be a wetland between Hatch Blvd. and the historic Village 2 site
(just across Hatch from the Holiday Inn), although it doesn’t appear on the
USF&W map. What will be the effect of the redevelopment on these wetlands?
4. Although the south side of the Reservation does not have any official walking
trails it is regularly used for informal recreation. There are numerous old
abandoned roads that are used for walking and jogging. For almost a decade,
regular Friday morning birding walks, led by Biologist Damien Simbeck, have
been held on the “Wetlands Trail” during the fall migration period. On these
walks, 127 different species have been observed. How will these activities be
affected by the redevelopment? How will redevelopment affect the birdlife?
5. In its 2002 cultural resources survey of the reservation, TRC recommended
that a large portion of the TVA Reservation be designated as a historic
district, the “Muscle Shoals Historic District.”
Friday, I asked a local TVA employee and a member of TVA’s cultural resources
staff in Knoxville about this historic district designation. Neither had ever
heard of it. Yet, in the Notice of Intent (NOI) for the redevelopment’s
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), we read this:
“The Muscle Shoals Historic District (MSHD) includes historic properties
associated with five prehistoric and historic contexts, which include a
prehistoric mortuary complex, the Civil War, the Wilson Dam, the New Deal, and
TVA's development of Muscle Shoals after the New Deal. Because a large number of
buildings and structures, as a whole, demonstrate significant prehistoric and
historic events associated with the area, the MSHD was recognized as eligible
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) by the Alabama
Historical Commission in October 2007. The boundaries of the MSHD include the
1,380 acres of the MSR subject to this EIS.”
The “five prehistoric and historic contexts” mentioned above were all proposed
in the 2002 TRC report. Has the reservation been designated (or been
nominated to be) a historic district? If so, how will the redevelopment affect
it? Regardless, it has certainly been deemed worthy of this designation. Do we
really need to line it’s periphery with gas stations, convenience stores and
fast food joints?
6. Before the 2002 TRC survey, several structures in the 1,380 acres
considered for redevelopment had already been deemed elgible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These are the National Ferilizer
Development Center and the TVA Environmental Research Building. In its report,
TRC stated that the TVA Greenhouse complex (currently being leased by
Jack-o-Lantern Farms) is also elgible for listing on the NRHP.
Other historic sites in the redevelopment zone, listed in the 2002 TRC report,
are the Murphy-Kemper-Cockburn Cemetary and the Wilson Dam Village #2 site.
How will these historic sites be affected by the development? Note: There
are possibly other sites affected by the redevelopment. In our copy of the 2002
TRC report (obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the ever vigilant
John Crowder) the locations of historic and prehistoric sites were usually
redacted. A large part of the redevelopment area was not even surveyed by TRC in
2002, because it wasn't part of the RSA project.
7. How will possible development along Reservation Road, Hatch Blvd., 2nd Street
and Wilson Dam Road affect traffic flow?
The Patton Island Bridge corridor was supposed to relieve traffic congestion; do
we need development on Wilson Dam Road or does it need to be restricted?
Remember, Cox Creek Parkway was originally intended to be a bypass road around
downtown Florence, but development was not restricted and look at it now!
8. How will the “viewshed” on these roads and elsewhere on the reservation be
impacted by development. At the moment the Reservation sustains a “park-like”
ambience, what TVA’s 1996 Reservation Land Plan terms a “theme of passive
recreation and woodland”. Development will surely have a negative effect in this
regard. Compare the experience of driving on Reservation Road versus that of
plodding along Cox Creek Parkway or Woodward Ave. Which do you prefer?
9. If strip development occurs along Hatch, 2nd Street and Wilson Dam Road, what
effect will all these added impervious surfaces have on flooding, already a
major problem in the City of Muscle Shoals ?
10. Why did TVA confer only with the local “powers-that-be” in deciding to
redevelop the Reservation (selling or giving it away) without any input from the
public?
11. There seems to be a glut of vacant commercial lots, buildings & houses on
the market in the Shoals. Do we really need to destroy woodlands and wetlands to
build more? Will it benefit anyone other than the developers?
12. Why is there not any effort by TVA to redevelop it in a “green, sustainable
way?
Given the fact that the Reservation is considered worthy of being an historic
district and contains a campground, numerous miles of walking trails, boat
ramps, a picnic pavilion, a native plant garden, stands of native wildflowers,
civil war sites, and is the site of several stops on the North Alabama Birding
Trail, would not some kind of outdoors-themed or educational-themed use for the
south side of the reservation be more appropriate to the Reservation’s
“park-like” setting?
Perhaps something like a ”green” energy efficient-solar rustic lodge could be
located there. Maybe a horse stable with trails where the public could rent
horses and enjoy nature. Perhaps a nature center or an interpretive center and
museum.
This could be just the tourist attraction that Dr. David Bronner has been
looking for!
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From TVA: To be added to the Muscle Shoals Reservation Redevelopment mailing
list, please sign up here. This list will allow TVA to forward other
information, such as the draft EIS, for review and comment during the remainder
of the environmental review process. Submitting Comments
In addition to submitting comments at the July 14 public meeting, comments may
also be submitted by one of the following methods by August 5, 2009. To avoid
duplication, please do not submit comments in more than one form.
1. Click here to submit comments via our online form.
2. Send a letter or fax to Mr. Davis at
the appropriate address or fax number shown below.
Click here for a
Map of Muscle Shoals Reservation, showing the areas for
redevelopment.
Click here to read the entire
Notice of Intent
For more information, contact:
Stanford E. Davis, Senior NEPA Specialist
Tennessee Valley Authority
400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D
Knoxville, TN 37902-1499
sedavis2@tva.gov
Fax: (865) 632-3451; TVA Environmental Information Center Phone: (800) 882-5263