Regional Resource Stewardship Council
Public Lands Subcommittee

Policy Recommendations on TVA’s Management of Public Lands

Approved by the Regional Resource Stewardship Council on May 18, 2001

1. TVA public lands are a public good. Therefore they should be utilized and managed for long-term benefits as determined by an informed and fully representative public involved in planning and decisionmaking.

• TVA is the appropriate entity to continue management of the public lands under their stewardship.
• Water quality should be a number one consideration.
• TVA should continue with land use plans scheduled and update others periodically, as well as actively manage and implement plans with appropriate management techniques.
• To contribute to the sustainability of the region, TVA should balance multiple benefits, including conservation, economic development, and recreation.
• A balanced set of recreational experiences should be provided on TVA-managed lands.
• TVA-managed property currently evaluated as appropriate for industrial development should be included in the site selector system and made available for potential use.
• Future industrial, commercial, and residential development should enhance natural resource conservation by incorporating innovative site planning and design techniques.

2. Funding for public land management should not be unduly borne by ratepayers. Additional funding sources, new or enhanced partnerships, and creative approaches are critical to the long-term effective management of TVA’s public land resources and the overall well being of the region and the nation. Local, state and other agencies of the federal government, in addition to private associations and entities, should actively assist TVA in finding new funding, establishing partnerships, and developing creative funding approaches.

• Legislators of the region should periodically explore the feasibility of resuming federal appropriations at some point in the future for TVA’s unique and historic stewardship and public responsibilities.
• Economic sustainability for both new and existing activities/facilities should be examined.
• TVA should examine fee structures and full reimbursement as methods to recoup all or an appropriate part of the costs of public lands management.
• TVA’s debt and the need to keep rates competitive with deregulation on the horizon should be kept in mind.
• TVA should ensure that adequate levels of maintenance services for existing recreation facilities are provided.

3. Decisions made in the future relative to TVA Public Lands should be guided by scientific research, substantive public input, and the needs of an integrated river management system.

4. TVA should build in the capacity to change, be more accepting of change and adaptable to the changing environment and needs of communities, particularly as it relates to customer service. TVA has made some improvements in its customer responsiveness. However, continued improvement is warranted in customer interactions relating to implementing shoreline management policies and working with the public on lake level fluctuations.