Environmental Study of Kinchafoonee Lake

An earth dam is planned for a recreational lake to extend from the dam in Webster County into Marion and Stewart Counties. Length will be approximately 10 miles. Lake level is to be established at about 425' elevation and cover 4,450 acres. A 300' perimeter is to be developed for home sites and two additional recreational sites of 1,600 acres have been planned. The total area to be developed is 9,250 acres. Types and numbers of animals presently in the Kinchafoonee Lake drainage basin are discussed. The environment will be changed; mainly the difference in animals will be increased aquatic life and decreased terrestrial. Fish will be increased in total number, a few species will be added and a few diminished. Deer and turkey populations will be greatly decreased. Mosquitos will be increased. Other mammals, birds, insects, and lower forms of animals will ve affected, but no species will be eliminated or reduced to a critical number as far as Georgia population is concerned. Terrestrial and aquatic plants presently at the proposed development are discussed. Trees will decrease in number, especially swamp varieties. Aquatic plants will be increased in quantity because of increased volume of water and decreased area of rapid flow. Water quality will be changed within the drainage basin mainly by the addition of human food, cleaning chemicals and containers for these two products. There will be petroleum products from transportation and heating systems. Some insecticides and fertilizers used near the lake will enter the water. The major methods of controlling undesirable elements from entering the water utilize the soil for sorption. These methods can be divided into sewage and solid waste disposal. For many years the initial sewage disposal system will be septic tanks and the solid waste will be buried in county pits outside the drainage basin. Siting criteria for septic tanks is suggested for long term clean water. The water must be clean enough for swimming; therefore, design of waste systems must be so that pathogens are sorbed by the soil. Of secondary concern are the elements which support undesirable plant growth in the lake; these are mainly NPK. Of the three elements, P can be controlled by the soil dependent waste systems. Soils in the drainage basin can sorb pathogens and phosphorus for hundreds of years. There are no threatened historical sites of great concern. A few indian artifact sites should be reconsidered after accurate surveying of the usual lake level to determine if they may be damaged by wave action or possible construction near the lake shore.