Upper French Broad Defense Association Records, ORG.131
Abstract
In 1961, the North Carolina Regional Planning Commission sought funding from the Tennessee
Valley Association to build 14 dams along portions of the Upper French Broad River
and to "channelize" portions of the river in order to ease flash flooding, attract
industry and provide recreational opportunities. Grassroots opposition to the project
grew and by the late 1960s several groups joined to form the Upper French Broad Defense
Association. By November 1972, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced its decision
to withdraw the project because of local opposition and failing government support.
The Upper French Broad Defense Association Records contain correspondence, minutes,
clippings, scapbook pages, audio recordings, and slides.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Upper French Broad Defense Association Records
- Call Number
- ORG.131
- Creator
- Upper French Broad Defense Association
- Date
- 1916, 1965-1984
- Language
- English
- Repository
- Western Regional Archives, State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], ORG.131, Upper French Broad Defense Association Records, State Archives of North Carolina, Western Regional Archives, Asheville, North Carolina, USA
Collection Overview
The Upper French Broad Defense Association Records contain correspondence, minutes, clippings, scapbook pages, audio recordings, and slides.
Biographical/Historical
The dams would form ponds or lakes between 250 and 1,000 acres. Half of the 6,600 acres proposed for flooding were bottom lands of the French Broad River, which was valuable agricultural land to local farmers. Six hundred families would be displaced, as well as several small communities along the river.
Grassroots opposition to the project grew and a number of citizen and taxpayer groups and residents of Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania counties joined ranks to form the Upper French Broad Defense Association in September, 1970. Objections to the project included the loss of cultural heritage, agricultural lands, archeological sites, functioning communities, historic properties, and native trout streams.
In May of 1971, the Upper French Broad Defense Association sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. to testify before public works committees of the U.S. House and Senate against the TVA proposal. A public hearing at the University of North Carolina at Asheville August 31, 1971 was so well-attended that it was extended from 1 to 3 days because of the number of citizens who requested to speak.
In the towns and counties affected by the proposed TVA project, voters made an impact, and a number of government seats were filled by local legislators against the proposal. By November 1972, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced its decision to withdraw the project because of local opposition and failing government support.