Tennessee Valley Authority
Boone Reservoir
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Ecological health rating
Boone Reservoir rated poor in 2005 monitoring by TVA.
Swimming advisories
The state of Tennessee has not issued any advisories against swimming in Boone Reservoir. There is a bacteriological advisory for a tributary creek.
Fish consumption advisories
The state of Tennessee has issued a precautionary fish consumption advisory for catfish and carp from Boone Reservoir because of PCB and chlordane contamination.
Related Links
More about Boone Reservoir
Sport
fishing ratings
Get
the facts on the availability of important sport species.
Spring
sportfish survey results
View
the results from TVA’s latest black bass population survey.
General information
Monitoring
river conditions
Find
out how TVA evaluates the river system’s ecological health
and suitability for human use.
Ecological health rating
TVA monitored Boone Reservoir annually from 1991 through 1995 to establish baseline data on the reservoir’s ecological health under a range of weather and flow conditions. Boone is now monitored every other year.
Ecological conditions in Boone Reservoir have rated poor since TVA began monitoring it in 1991. Throughout the years, all indicators have indicated some stress at all sample locations - high levels of chlorophyll, low DO levels, fair fish assemblage, poor bottom life, and the presence of metals and organic contaminants in the sediments.
Boone Reservoir Ecological Health Ratings, 1994-2005
Click chart for raw data.
The table below shows the ratings for individual ecological health indicators at Boone in 2005. These ratings are briefly explained in the paragraphs that follow.
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Dissolved oxygen
Dissolved oxygen rated poor at two monitoring locations (near Boone Dam and the South Holston mid-reservoir location) and good at the Watauga mid-reservoir. Dissolved oxygen levels have varied considerably from year to year and from site to site. Weather conditions and the related changes in reservoir flows are a major factor in the differences that arise from year to year. Higher reservoir flows in 2003 resulted in the best overall DO conditions to date; dissolved oxygen rated good at all locations that year.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll levels were elevated at both mid-reservoir sites, rating poor. Levels were only slightly elevated at the forebay, remaining low enough to rate good. High chlorophyll levels are a common problem on Boone and poor ratings are typical. Chlorophyll rated poor at all locations in 2003.
Fish
As in previous years, the fish community rated fair at all three monitoring locations. TVA did not collect as many species as expected and found relatively few intolerant species (species known to require good water quality conditions).
Bottom life
Bottom life rated poor at both mid-reservoir locations and “low fair” at the forebay. All of the animals collected were species able to tolerate poor water quality conditions. Bottom life typically rates poor at all locations.
Sediment
Sediment quality rated fair at all monitoring locations. Problems with metals and organic contaminants have persisted over the years. Chlordane, a pesticide previously used to control termites and crop pests, was present at all locations, and elevated levels of copper were also present at the Watauga River mid-reservoir site.
Swimming advisories
TVA has not issued any swimming advisories for Boone Reservoir.
E. coli bacteria levels in samples collected in 2007 were within the state of Tennessee’s guidelines for water contact with the following exceptions.
- Jays Dock Boat Ramp: Exceeded the single sample maximum 2 of 10 sampling events
- Wing Deer Park Swimming Area: Exceeded the single sample maximum 1 or 10 sampling events
- Bluff City Park Swimming Area: Exceeded the single sample maximum 2 or 10 sampling events
- Boone “Tract 22R” Boat Ramp: Exceeded the single sample maximum 2 or 10 sampling events
The locations sampled in 2007 were
Site Name |
Location |
County |
State |
|---|---|---|---|
Boone Dam Reservation Beach |
South Holston River Mile 18.7 |
Washington |
TN |
Wing Deer Park Swimming Area |
Watauga River Mile 10.7 |
Washington |
TN |
Bluff City Park Swimming Area |
South Fork Holston River Mile 34.5 |
Sullivan |
TN |
Jays Dock Boat Ramp |
Watauga River Mile 5.5L |
Washington |
TN |
Pickens Bridge Boat Ramp |
Watauga River Mile 5.9L |
Sullivan |
TN |
Boone "Tract 22R" Boat Ramp |
South Fork Holston River Mile 19.7R |
Sullivan |
TN |
The state of Tennessee has bacteriological advisories on Beaver Creek from the Tennessee-Virginia line to Boone Reservoir (20 miles). For more information on the state advisory, go to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Fishing and Bacteriological Advisories.
Fish consumption advisories
The state of Tennessee has issued a precautionary fish consumption advisory for catfish and carp from Boone Reservoir because of PCB and chlordane contamination. A precautionary advisory means that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children should not eat the fish species named. All others should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.
TVA analyzed tissue from channel catfish and largemouth bass from Boone in the autumn of 2005. The results, which will be provided to state agencies in Tennessee, were similar to those of previous years. TVA will analyze fish from Boone again in the autumn of 2009.
