Spanning the North Carolina/Tennessee state line is the four-dam Tapoco Hydroelectric Project located on the Little Tennessee and Cheoah Rivers. The Project sits between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests. This region has tremendous biological diversity, and is habitat for four endangered fish species, which are directly affected by the hydropower operation.
In 2004, the Service participated with Alcoa Inc., the National Park Service, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, local governments, homeowner associations, and national and local non-governmental organizations in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission=s Alternative Licensing Process, a collaborative effort which has resulted in a comprehensive relicensing Settlement Agreement.
The Agreement includes a land exchange between Alcoa, Inc. and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which results in a net gain of 100 acres for the park, facilitated by legislation introduced by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Representative John J. Duncan (R-TN). The Agreement provides permanent easements on nearly 6,000 acres of land currently owed by Alcoa, including 5,500 acres linking the park with the Cherokee National Forest. An additional 4,000 acres will be protected in an easement for the duration of the new license. The agreement provides for fish passage for both the endangered fish species and other recreationally important species, such as the smallmouth and rock bass, and will enhance the native biological diversity in the region.
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