1.3 Surry Mountain Dam 



The Surry Mountain Dam was built during the time period of 1939 to 1942 

 by the Corps of Engineers to reduce flood damage. Prior to the dam's con- 

 struction major flow damage was experienced, particularly in the years 1927, 

 1936, and 1938. Since the construction major damage resulting from flooding 

 has been substantially reduced. In more recent years impoundment of water 

 has been maintained behind the Surry Mountain Dam, and this forms a nu- 

 cleus for recreational activity, including picnicking, water-related activities, and 

 camping. An analysis of flood-control projects by G. B. Rogers,' and G. B. 

 Rogers, W. F. Henry, and G. E. Frick,^ indicates that benefits arising from the 

 flood-control project on agriculture have been incorporated into the general 

 economy. 



Only the recreational features of the Surry Mountain Dam complex have 

 been included in the analysis, and they were treated as a public sector recre- 

 ational activity based on lake-oriented activities. The flood-control features of 

 the Surry Mountain Dam, now 30 years old, are still contributing benefits to the 

 area but are taken for granted. Analysis of these features of the structure is 

 beyond the scope of this study. 



1 .4 Source of Data 



The data employed were entirely from secondary sources. Three aspects of 

 the data were issues of concern: the first dealt with the existence of the data, 

 the second with the quality of the data, and the third with the units of the 

 data. 



Sufficient data concerning water, supply, and related land use did exist and, 

 fortunately with regard to quality, a sufficient number of studies has been 

 made by independent agencies for similar communities and areas so that compari- 

 son tests could be made. But before the comparison could be made, the data 

 were adjusted for area, economies of size, annual and seasonal variation, and (in 

 the case of prices) common time of occurrence. 



For the communities and areas included in this study, at least one study 

 (and, for most, two studies) of water supply and use has been made, with 

 proposed programs for meeting the demand for potable water and waste-water 

 treatment. Many of these studies were made during the mid or late 1960's. A 

 description of data sources and data management is provided in Appendix A. 



1.5 Some Model Assumptions 



Biochemical oxygen demand, coliform count, and (in certain cases) suspended 

 solids were the only water-quality constraints considered in the model. It was 

 assumed that mineral and toxic materials will not be disposed of in waterways 



Rogers, George B. Effects of Flood Control Projects on Agriculture: I. Reservoir Areas. 

 Durham, New Hampshire: University of New Hampshire, Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 1958. BuUetin 449. 



^Rogers, George B., Hemy, W. F., and Frick, G. E. Effects of Major Floods and of 

 the Surry Mountain Dam on Agriculture, Ashuelot River Valley, New Hampshire. Durham, 

 New Hampshire: University of New Hampshire, Agricultural Experiment Station, in co- 

 operation with U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Economics Research Division, 1958. 

 Agricultural Economics Research Mimeograph No. 21. 



