WATERFOWL HABITAT MANAGEMENT IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEYL/ 
Opportunities and Limitations 
This report is concerned primarily with problems involved in developing 
waterfowl resources within the limitations imposed by major objectives of 
the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority). In a large measure it deals with the 
coordination of wildlife work with engineering. Some of the principles and 
practices used in improving waterfowl habitat in this area may be applicable 
to basin programs elsewhere in the nation. 
The watershed of the Tennessee River became the site for a regional . 
development project by the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933. In this 
Act, Congress directed that the Tennessee River be developed primarily for 
flood control, navigation, and hydroelectric power. Secondary objectives 
were designated as promotion of agriculture, forestry, malaria control, fish 
and wildlife conservation, and recreation. To accomplish these multiple 
purposes TVA built a series of major lakes including nine reservoirs on the 
Tennessee River and nineteen tributary impoundments. 
To capitalize on waterfowl potentialities in the series of water bodies 
impounded by the TVA, the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established 
by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1939. This refuge is located on 
the Wheeler Reservoir in the north central part of Alabama. Its success 
in attracting waterfowl encouraged the creation of the Tennessee National 
Wildlife Refuge, established in 1945 on Kentucky Lake, the largest of the 
down=stream impoundments. In addition, successful waterfowl habitat devel- 
opments were made on the Kentucky Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge, 
bordering the Kentucky Reservoir. The State of Tennessee, with TVA coop= 
eration, has made improvements on waterfowl units on the Kentucky and 
Chickamauga reservoirs with excellent response from ducks and geese. Alabama 
and Kentucky are now engaged in similar developments in the TVA area. 
Success in all these projects has depended, and will continue to depend, 
largely on cooperation received from TVA. 
The response of waterfowl to those parts of the TVA impoundments . 
especially developed and managed for waterfowl use, has been very impressive. 
The influx. of many thousands of ducks and geese into the TVA area -— with 
populations of over 100,000 wintering birds in recent years -= represents 
a substantial expansion of wintering territory. A typical example of the 
extent to which waterfowl have been drawn into this region is shown by 

1/ the writer is indebted to Dr. Clarence Cottam for advice and assis-= 
tance in these investigations and to Dr. A. ©. Martin for aid in preparation 
of this report, 
