UNIT : TWO
Subject
: Geography
Target
group : Senior Two
Topic : The development of a River Basin
Brief
description of the topic
The
Tennessee valley project is an example of a multi-purpose scheme. A
multi –purpose scheme or project is a scheme that under takes more
than one purpose. For example generation H.E.P, flood control,
fishing, navigation etc.
The
Tennessee valley is occupied by the Tennessee River and its
tributaries in North America. It is a tributary of the Ohio River,
itself a tributary of the Mississippi river. The people living in
this area faced a number of problems which include poverty,
unemployment, soil erosion, soil exhaustion, low productivity,
diseases such as malaria etc. However the Tennessee Valley Authority
was established in 1933 and it was charged with the supervision and
coordination of all the projects that were to solve the above
problems.
Main
content and concepts to emphasise:
- Location and position of the Tennessee valley
- Condition of the Tennessee valley before the T.V.A was established
- The Aims of the T.V.A
- Activities / steps taken to achieve the aims the T.V.A to develop the river basin
- The contribution of the T.V.A to the development of the area.
Teaching
methods :
- Brain storming
- Discovery
- Illustration
- Discussion
- Question
- Explanation
- Case study
-
Etc
Teaching
/ learning material:
- Text books
- Atlas
Expected
learning objectives:
By
the end of the lesson students should be able to:
- Locate the Tennessee valley
- State the aims for the establishment of the Tennessee valley Authority
- Explain the problems that existed before the setting –up this project
- Explain the steps taken to solve these problems
- Describe the results of the project.
Reference : - M. Yiga – Matovu , (1987) North America.
-
Job mark related skills
- Responsibility
- Sustanable skills
- Appreciation
- Awareness
- Decision making
- Interdependance
- Analysing and interpreting
ICT
REQUEST:
- Photograph
- Maps
Additional
materials:
Teachers
Notes:
THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY: A CASE OF MULTIPURPOSE RIVER UTILISATION
The
Tennessee valley is the valley occupied by the Tennessee river and
its tributaries in North America. It is a tributary of the Ohio
river, which is itself a tributary of the Mississippi river.
Background
of the Tennessee river valley
The
area was destroyed by the first settlers and became an area of abject
poverty. These settlers carried out activities that led to a very
severe economic situation. They cut down trees indiscriminately on
the slopes of the hills, in an effort to create room for settlements
and farming. They practiced poor farming methods, which included over
cultivation and monocropping, and they grew cotton season after
season. The population increased unsustainably; the area became very
poor as far as human occupation was concerned, because there was
famine, no jobs and almost bare rock.
It
was the activities undertaken by the farmers themselves that resulted
in these problems, particularly the occurrence of severe soil erosion
on the slopes that had been cleared of forests. The farm lands
remained almost bare rock.
Soil
erosion refers to the removal of top soil, by water, air, wind or
human activity. Once the top soil has been removed, land ceases to be
productive as far as agriculture is concerned. Normal soil make-up
consists of three layers, which can be observed in any area where
excavation of the soil is taking place. The arrangement of these
layers is called the soil profile.
When
it comes to agriculture Horizon A which is the most important top
soil, because it contains the nutrients for the crops and it is where
the root system is that supports the plants. When the soils in the
Tennessee valley were exposed, the topsoil was lost and
agriculturally the soil lost value to the extent that it could not
support the population any longer. The lost soil was deposited into
the river and its tributaries. The river channels filled up with silt
from the slopes and became shallow, resulting in flooding that
destroyed towns, lives and farmland.
The
above situation led to unemployment and poverty. The over cultivated
and eroded soils could not support meaningful agriculture any longer.
The farmers became unemployed and the region experienced great
poverty.
The
stagnant water following the floods also posed a danger by
encouraging the breeding of mosquitoes and snails. The result was a
high incidence of malaria and bilharzias. The river channels could
not be used for navigation, because they were too shallow and yet
there was no effective road network, so the region became
inaccessible.
There
was no electricity, because the dams had been silted up and the water
was flooding and could not be used to generate electric power.
The
aims of the TVA
The
TVA was set up in 1916, but work did not start until 1933. it was set
up with these aims / goals:
- To control floods
- To conserve soil
- To provide hydro-electric power
Those
were the main goals, but as they were being pursued many other
achievements were made.
Activities
of the TVA project
The
first step was the construction of dams. Nine dams were built
Tennessee river (900 miles long) and 23 o-n its tributaries. The
biggest dam of them all is the Kentucky dam. Behind each of the dams
a huge artificial lake / reservoir formed, thus increasing the depth
of the water.
The
project also embarked on afforestation and reforestation to correct
or heal the gullied hill slopes. Each year some two million trees
were planted; they were intended to have their roots hold the soil
together and at the same time reduce the direct effect of raindrops
on the soil. The open gullies were filled with brushwood barriers so
that they would trap soil and fill the gullies. Reforestation is the
planting of forests in an area where they once existed before,
whereas afforestation is the planting of forests where they did not
exist before.
Better
farming methods were introduced to help improve the final output of
the farmlands. Such farming methods included contour ploughing,
terracing and strip farming on the hill slopes; crop diversification
and crop rotation were introduced in order to help in the maintenance
of soil fertility. Research was also carried out on the land and on
agriculture in general, and farmers were freely advised on how to
overcome the problems they were facing.
Demonstration
farms were purposely set up to give the farmers hands-on experience
of the better methods that has been introduced. The farmers were
encouraged and persuaded to adopt such methods.
The
new dams constructed generated enough power to encourage the growth
of industries, which manufactured chemicals, farm machinery and
electrical apparatus, and established fisheries.
Achievements
of the TVA
The
project was a great success, as we shall see below. All the
activities that were undertaken paid off very well. It is a
reflection of the fact that with good planning and careful resource
management, environmental disasters caused by humans can be overcome.
The
dams that were constructed served many purposes for the good of
region. As noted earlier, each dam had a huge water reservoir behind
it and these reservoirs stored water during the periods when the
rains were heavy. This greatly helped in controlling flooding, and at
the same time released the water controllably during the dry season
for irrigation purposes, so that even during droughts the farmers did
not suffer.
The
reservoirs help in the generation of hydro-electric power, which is
used both domestically and in industry. The great majority of people
in the Tennessee valley obtain their power from the Tennessee river
Valley Authority. This is because a steady water supply to the
tributaries is maintained both during the rainy season and during
droughts.
The
dams have turned the Tennessee into a navigable waterway, because of
the artificial lakes along it. Barges can now travel upriver one
thousand kilometers, as far as Knoxville. A barge is a large, low
boat on a waterway. Barges have provided a cheap alternative to road
or rail for carrying heavy goods like coal, chemicals or mineral
ores. Efforts to improve navigation along the Tennessee have also
seen the construction of navigation locks the volume of freight
carried along the waterway has increased.
The
dams generate enough power to attract many industries to be set up in
the area. The industries set up include aluminium manufacture,
fertilizer production and paper making. The fertilizers supplied to
farmers cheaply, which has led to further improvements in
agriculture. The industries have offered employment to many people,
resulting in many people leaving agriculture and therefore allowing
farms to expand and subsequently be mechanized.
Malaria
has been eradicated, because reservoirs had varying water levels and
the mosquito larvae could not survive there. This was reinforced by
the fact that floods had been eliminated too.
Tourism
has developed, because many people visit the region for its
attractive scenery, provided by the careful landscaping of the shores
of reservoirs, the forests on the slopes and the planned parks. On
the lakes, tourists come to swim, fish and sail.
Industrial
development in the Tennessee Valley
The
Tennessee Valley benefited from a boom of industrial development as a
result of the many power-generating dams set up; however, in this
book it is aluminum manufacturing that will be discussed.
Aluminium
manufacturing
This
industry smelts bauxite to obtain aluminum. Bauxite is mined near
Chattanooga and smelted at Alcoa, which is the largest aluminum
rolling mill in the world. Aluminum is used in the manufacture of
various metallic utensils such as saucepans, but more importantly in
aircraft manufacture and other transport applications.
Activity
1
What
are the other industries found in the Tennessee Valley?
Comparison
with Uganda
Land
Reclamation in Kibimba
Kibimba
is located in the eastern region of Uganda, at latitude 0º32’N
and longitude 33º51’E, in Bugiri district. Kibimba was not
degraded land, but it was land that was producing much less than it
ought to have produced.
Land
reclamation refers to the making of once useless land fir for use.
This could be by irrigation, by eradicating pests, or any other
suitable way. As for Uganda, we shall look at land reclamation
through irrigation.
Kibimba
irrigation scheme
This
was an area occupied by big swamps, almost unused in spite of having
fertile soil, cheap labour and access to markets from the dense
population in the area, as well s accessibility through the Jinja
Tororo highway, which cuts through the area. It also has good access
to water.
At
this place, an irrigation scheme was started as a joint venture
between the Ugandan government and the people of China. It started
with the construction of a small dam, fed by the small kibimba river.
The size of the irrigation scheme is approximately 1400 acres, which
are annually planted with rice. This scheme was privatized later on
and is now run by Tilda Ltd, a foreign company.
In
terms of acreage, the kibimba rice scheme is very small in comparison
with the area operated by TVA. However, it also has given some good
results for the people of Uganda and for Uganda as a country. The
rice serves as food for many people in the country and has reduced
the amount of food imported into Uganda.
It
has also provided employment for many people. The scheme employs both
skilled and unskilled workers. Unskilled people do the planting,
weeding and any other jobs which don’t require technical skills.
Foreign
exchange has been brought in because some of the rice is exported to
neighboring countries. Tax revenue goes to the government and is used
to develop other areas in the country.
The
scheme has resulted in an improvement in rice growing on the whole,
because it carries out research and gives advice to the small-scale
rice farmers, eventually leading to an improvement in output quality
and quantity.
Activity
2
Consider
one of the following places that is nearest to you: the kigezi
highlands, Mount Elgon slopes and the slopes of the Ruwenzori ranges.
These areas include the following districts: Kabale, Rukungir,
Kisoro, Mbale, Sironko, Manafwa, Kapchorwa, Bundibugyo, Kasese and
Kabarole. Carry out this activity:
- Observe carefully the form of soil erosion taking place.
- List the causes of this soil erosion.
- Explain how the people or the government has tried to overcome the problem of soil erosion in this area.
Revision
exercise
- Define the following:
- Terracing
- Crop diversification
- Contour ploughing
- Crop rotation
- What is meant by gulley erosion?
- What are the other types of soil erosion?
- Considering what has been done by the TVA, how could Uganda increase her power supply?
- What is meant by silting of a river?
ACTIVITY 1
- (a) What is a multi- purpose scheme or project?
(b)
Give examples of the multi-purpose schemes in Africa?
- (a) Name any FOUR states under the Tennessee Valley Authority (T.V.A)
(b)
Name any FOUR rivers draining the area under the Tennessee valley
Authority.
©
Outline FIVE activities carried out in the establishment T. V.A.
(d)
Name THREE important industries found in the Tennessee valley.
ACTIVITY
2
Study
the map of the Tennessee valley above and answer the questions that
follow:
(a)
Name the;
(i)Rivers
marked A –
B –
(ii)
Dam marked C –
D –
(iii)
States marked 1 -
2 –
(iv)
Towns marked 3 –
4 –
(b)
Describe the factors that led to the establishment of the Tennessee
valley multi – purpose scheme.
(c)
Explain the contribution of the Tennessee valley multi- purpose
scheme to the development of any ONE state named in (a) (iii) above.
(d)
Outline the problems that have resulted from the establishment of the
Tennessee valley multi –purpose scheme.
ACTIVITY
3
- What is soil erosion?
- State the major types of soil erosion.
- Suggest FOUR ways in which soil erosion can be controlled.
- Define the following terms;
- Soil profile
- Soil conservation
- Soil catena.
ACTIVITY
4
- Learners take part in the planting of trees exercise around the school compound.
ANSWERS TO THE TENNESSEE QUESTION
1.
Using the map provided of the Tennessee Valley.
- (i) River marked
- Mississipi
- Tennessee
(ii)
Dam marked C – Kentucky
D
– Guntersville
(iii)
States marked 1- Alabama
2
– Tennessee
(iv)Towns
marked 3 – Knoxville
4
– Chattanooga
- Factors that led to the establishment of the Tennessee Valley multi- purpose scheme
- Presence of numerous rivers with irregular flows which led to flooding e.g Tennessee, Mississipi, Ohio, e.t.c. There was need to control flooding
- Poor methods of farming which led to deforestation and soil erosion.
- Problem of low productivity in agricultural sector which led to poverty.
- Need to improve water transport on the available rivers.
- There was need to diversify the economy; from predominantly agriculture to Industry
- Need to produce cheap H.E.P for use in Industry and domestic purposes. There were numerous waterfalls and rapids.
- Soil exhaustion resulted into soil erosion.
- Pest and diseases.
- Climate: There was heavy rainfall of over 1000mm which culminated in large volumes of water hence there was need to conserve such water for future use.
- Government policy – Need for the federal government to harmonise the sustainable utilization of natural resources by the member states.
©
Contributions of the Tennessee Valley Multi- purpose scheme to the
development of any one state named in (a) (iii) above.
- Land reclamation through Afforestation.
- Control soil erosion.
- Control of floods.
- Opening up of the area to mining e.g Bauxite and Phosphates
- Re-afforestation.
- Development of urban centres e.g Knoxville, Huntsville, Chattanooga, Muscle shoal etc.
- Income / improved standard of living.
- Employment opportunities to the population in the area under T.V.A.
- Tourism.
- Development of industrial centres e.g Fertilizers, Alluminium, Iron and Steel industries.
- Improved agriculture –increased products
- Controlled diseases.
- Infrastructural development: roads, railway, dams, H.E.P stations.
- Problems that resulted from the establishment of the Tennessee valley multi- purpose.
- Industrial development has resulted into pollution .
- The T.V.A scheme led to the displacement of the population.
- Loss of the beautiful scenery affecting the Tourism industrial.
- Urbanisation and urban related problems of congestion, poor sanitation, high rates of crime, unemployment etc.
- Increased demand for electricity / energy led to the use of coal and other alternative sources of energy.
Siltation
THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY: A CASE OF MULTIPURPOSE RIVER UTILISATION
The
Tennessee valley is the valley occupied by the Tennessee River and
its tributaries in North America. It is a tributary of the Ohio
River, which is itself a tributary of the Mississippi river.
Background
of the Tennessee River valley
The
area was destroyed by the first settlers and became an area of abject
poverty. These settlers carried out activities that led to a very
severe economic situation. They cut down trees indiscriminately on
the slopes of the hills, in an effort to create room for settlements
and farming. They practiced poor farming methods, which included over
cultivation and monocropping, and they grew cotton season after
season. The population increased unsustainably; the area became very
poor as far as human occupation was concerned, because there was
famine, no jobs and almost bare rock.
It
was the activities undertaken by the farmers themselves that resulted
in these problems, particularly the occurrence of severe soil erosion
on the slopes that had been cleared of forests. The farm lands
remained almost bare rock.
Soil
erosion refers to the removal of top soil, by water, air, wind or
human activity. Once the top soil has been removed, land ceases to be
productive as far as agriculture is concerned. Normal soil make-up
consists of three layers, which can be observed in any area where
excavation of the soil is taking place. The arrangement of these
layers is called the soil profile.
When
it comes to agriculture Horizon A which is the most important top
soil, because it contains the nutrients for the crops and it is where
the root system is that supports the plants. When the soils in the
Tennessee valley were exposed, the topsoil was lost and
agriculturally the soil lost value to the extent that it could not
support the population any longer. The lost soil was deposited into
the river and its tributaries. The river channels filled up with silt
from the slopes and became shallow, resulting in flooding that
destroyed towns, lives and farmland.
The
above situation led to unemployment and poverty. The over cultivated
and eroded soils could not support meaningful agriculture any longer.
The farmers became unemployed and the region experienced great
poverty.
The
stagnant water following the floods also posed a danger by
encouraging the breeding of mosquitoes and snails. The result was a
high incidence of malaria and bilharzias. The river channels could
not be used for navigation, because they were too shallow and yet
there was no effective road network, so the region became
inaccessible.
There
was no electricity, because the dams had been silted up and the water
was flooding and could not be used to generate electric power.
The
aims of the TVA
The
TVA was set up in 1916, but work did not start until 1933. it was set
up with these aims / goals:
- To control floods
- To conserve soil
- To provide hydro-electric power
Those
were the main goals, but as they were being pursued many other
achievements were made.
Activities
of the TVA project
The
first step was the construction of dams. Nine dams were built
Tennessee river (900 miles long) and 23 o-n its tributaries. The
biggest dam of them all is the Kentucky dam. Behind each of the dams
a huge artificial lake / reservoir formed, thus increasing the depth
of the water.
The
project also embarked on afforestation and reforestation to correct
or heal the gullied hill slopes. Each year some two million trees
were planted; they were intended to have their roots hold the soil
together and at the same time reduce the direct effect of raindrops
on the soil. The open gullies were filled with brushwood barriers so
that they would trap soil and fill the gullies. Reforestation is the
planting of forests in an area where they once existed before,
whereas afforestation is the planting of forests where they did not
exist before.
Better
farming methods were introduced to help improve the final output of
the farmlands. Such farming methods included contour ploughing,
terracing and strip farming on the hill slopes; crop diversification
and crop rotation were introduced in order to help in the maintenance
of soil fertility. Research was also carried out on the land and on
agriculture in general, and farmers were freely advised on how to
overcome the problems they were facing.
Demonstration
farms were purposely set up to give the farmers hands-on experience
of the better methods that has been introduced. The farmers were
encouraged and persuaded to adopt such methods.
The
new dams constructed generated enough power to encourage the growth
of industries, which manufactured chemicals, farm machinery and
electrical apparatus, and established fisheries.
Achievements
of the TVA
The
project was a great success, as we shall see below. All the
activities that were undertaken paid off very well. It is a
reflection of the fact that with good planning and careful resource
management, environmental disasters caused by humans can be overcome.
The
dams that were constructed served many purposes for the good of
region. As noted earlier, each dam had a huge water reservoir behind
it and these reservoirs stored water during the periods when the
rains were heavy. This greatly helped in controlling flooding, and at
the same time released the water controllably during the dry season
for irrigation purposes, so that even during droughts the farmers did
not suffer.
The
reservoirs help in the generation of hydro-electric power, which is
used both domestically and in industry. The great majority of people
in the Tennessee valley obtain their power from the Tennessee river
Valley Authority. This is because a steady water supply to the
tributaries is maintained both during the rainy season and during
droughts.
The
dams have turned the Tennessee into a navigable waterway, because of
the artificial lakes along it. Barges can now travel upriver one
thousand kilometers, as far as Knoxville. A barge is a large, low
boat on a waterway. Barges have provided a cheap alternative to road
or rail for carrying heavy goods like coal, chemicals or mineral
ores. Efforts to improve navigation along the Tennessee have also
seen the construction of navigation locks the volume of freight
carried along the waterway has increased.
The
dams generate enough power to attract many industries to be set up in
the area. The industries set up include aluminium manufacture,
fertilizer production and paper making. The fertilizers supplied to
farmers cheaply, which has led to further improvements in
agriculture. The industries have offered employment to many people,
resulting in many people leaving agriculture and therefore allowing
farms to expand and subsequently be mechanized.
Malaria
has been eradicated, because reservoirs had varying water levels and
the mosquito larvae could not survive there. This was reinforced by
the fact that floods had been eliminated too.
Tourism
has developed, because many people visit the region for its
attractive scenery, provided by the careful landscaping of the shores
of reservoirs, the forests on the slopes and the planned parks. On
the lakes, tourists come to swim, fish and sail.
Industrial
development in the Tennessee Valley
The
Tennessee Valley benefited from a boom of industrial development as a
result of the many power-generating dams set up; however, in this
book it is aluminum manufacturing that will be discussed.
Aluminium
manufacturing
This
industry smelts bauxite to obtain aluminum. Bauxite is mined near
Chattanooga and smelted at Alcoa, which is the largest aluminum
rolling mill in the world. Aluminum is used in the manufacture of
various metallic utensils such as saucepans, but more importantly in
aircraft manufacture and other transport applications.
Activity
1
What
are the other industries found in the Tennessee Valley?
Comparison
with Uganda
Land
Reclamation in Kibimba
Kibimba
is located in the eastern region of Uganda, at latitude 0º32’N
and longitude 33º51’E, in Bugiri district. Kibimba was not
degraded land, but it was land that was producing much less than it
ought to have produced.
Land
reclamation refers to the making of once useless land fir for use.
This could be by irrigation, by eradicating pests, or any other
suitable way. As for Uganda, we shall look at land reclamation
through irrigation.
Kibimba
irrigation scheme
This
was an area occupied by big swamps, almost unused in spite of having
fertile soil, cheap labour and access to markets from the dense
population in the area, as well s accessibility through the Jinja
Tororo highway, which cuts through the area. It also has good access
to water.
At
this place, an irrigation scheme was started as a joint venture
between the Ugandan government and the people of China. It started
with the construction of a small dam, fed by the small kibimba river.
The size of the irrigation scheme is approximately 1400 acres, which
are annually planted with rice. This scheme was privatized later on
and is now run by Tilda Ltd, a foreign company.
In
terms of acreage, the kibimba rice scheme is very small in comparison
with the area operated by TVA. However, it also has given some good
results for the people of Uganda and for Uganda as a country. The
rice serves as food for many people in the country and has reduced
the amount of food imported into Uganda.
It
has also provided employment for many people. The scheme employs both
skilled and unskilled workers. Unskilled people do the planting,
weeding and any other jobs which don’t require technical skills.
Foreign
exchange has been brought in because some of the rice is exported to
neighboring countries. Tax revenue goes to the government and is used
to develop other areas in the country.
The
scheme has resulted in an improvement in rice growing on the whole,
because it carries out research and gives advice to the small-scale
rice farmers, eventually leading to an improvement in output quality
and quantity.
Activity
2
Consider
one of the following places that is nearest to you: the kigezi
highlands, Mount Elgon slopes and the slopes of the Ruwenzori ranges.
These areas include the following districts: Kabale, Rukungir,
Kisoro, Mbale, Sironko, Manafwa, Kapchorwa, Bundibugyo, Kasese and
Kabarole. Carry out this activity:
- Observe carefully the form of soil erosion taking place.
- List the causes of this soil erosion.
- Explain how the people or the government has tried to overcome the problem of soil erosion in this area.
Revision
exercise
- Define the following:
- Terracing
- Crop diversification
- Contour ploughing
- Crop rotation
- What is meant by gulley erosion?
- What are the other types of soil erosion?
- Considering what has been done by the TVA, how could Uganda increase her power supply?
- What is meant by silting of a river?
ACTIVITY 1
- (a) What is a multi- purpose scheme or project?
(b)
Give examples of the multi-purpose schemes in Africa?
- (a) Name any FOUR states under the Tennessee Valley Authority (T.V.A)
(b)
Name any FOUR rivers draining the area under the Tennessee valley
Authority.
©
Outline FIVE activities carried out in the establishment T. V.A.
(d)
Name THREE important industries found in the Tennessee valley.
ACTIVITY
2
Study
the map of the Tennessee valley above and answer the questions that
follow:
(a)
Name the;
(i)Rivers
marked A –
B –
(ii)
Dam marked C –
D –
(iii)
States marked 1 -
2 –
(iv)
Towns marked 3 –
4 –
(b)
Describe the factors that led to the establishment of the Tennessee
valley multi – purpose scheme.
(c)
Explain the contribution of the Tennessee valley multi- purpose
scheme to the development of any ONE state named in (a) (iii) above.
(d)
Outline the problems that have resulted from the establishment of the
Tennessee valley multi –purpose scheme.
ACTIVITY
3
- What is soil erosion?
- State the major types of soil erosion.
- Suggest FOUR ways in which soil erosion can be controlled.
- Define the following terms;
- Soil profile
- Soil conservation
- Soil catena.
ACTIVITY
4
1. Learners
take part in the planting of trees exercise around the school
compound.
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