Recreation on Reservoirs

Increasing human population and new technologies have led to rapid increases in recreation on lakes. Recreational demand for public freshwater lakes and reservoirs is increasing nationally and is especially high where there are few natural lakes, such as in the southern Appalachians.

The region contains nearly 870 square miles of reservoir water surface, mainly because of the large number of Tennessee Valley Authority impoundments (SAMAB 1996). Although most public reservoirs have been constructed for flood control or water supply, they are heavily used for activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. Because these reservoirs and the adjacent public property may represent the only accessible public recreational land, additional uses such as hiking, picnicking, and aesthetics are also important.