tices, jjarticularly when water was being held in the reservoir. The number 

 of home gardens would be reduced since residences would be removed. 

 However, despite the increased distances from farm buildings, many tracts 

 could still be profitably used for pasture, hay, vegetables, or potatoes. Use 

 of the land for forest would provide the best possibility for much of the 

 land, even providing the opportunity for large scale improved practices by 

 a federal, state, or private operation. 



The above assumptions were substantiated by the use of land which was 

 taking place in the post-construction period. Some dairy and livestock 

 farmers who operated lands in the areas prior to acquisition for reservoirs 

 have continued to use these lands under lease for pasture, hay, or cropland. 

 Many former owners have left; some are farming in new locations and there 

 are a few new operators. Several photographs in tliis bulletin illustrate 

 typical use being made of land for agriculture in the reservoir areas at the 

 present time. The study of pre- and post-construction management and out- 

 put of woodlands in the reservoir areas is not covered by this report. Such 

 a study, however, might prove interesting and informative as one facet 

 of appraising the total effects of flood control projects. 



B. Operational History of the Reservoirs 



To provide a basis for comparison of the pre-construction and post-con- 

 struction agricultural situations, a summary of the history of reservoir 

 operations and their effect on agriculture is presented. Records of land 

 utilization in the Franklin Falls. Blackwater, Surry Mountain, and Mac- 

 Dowell reservoir areas show only a small amount of damage to crops and 

 hayland on the leased areas during the period following construction. In 

 most instances the damages occurred at locations that would be recom- 

 mended for pasture under good levels of management or by land .cap- 

 ability classification. Some operators reported a tendency for legume seed- 

 ings to run out faster on tracts flooded every year, but this would be ex- 

 pected in any area on wet soils. A few of the lessees mentioned deposition 

 of debris (logs and branches) on areas of pasture which were inundated. 



tmH 



Edward MacDowell dam, We^t Pett>rborough, N. H. 

 as seen from Verney dam downstream. 



8 



