Tennessee Valley Authority
Douglas Reservoir
Contents of this page
Ecological health rating
Douglas Reservoir rated fair in 2005 monitoring by TVA.
Swimming advisories
The state of Tennessee has not issued any advisories against swimming in Douglas Reservoir, but it has issued a bacteriological advisory for Leadvale Creek, a tributary stream of the reservoir.
Fish consumption advisories
The state of Tennessee has not issued any advisories against consuming fish from Douglas Reservoir.
Related Links
More about Douglas 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 Douglas Reservoir annually from 1991 through 1995 to establish baseline data on the reservoir’s ecological health under a range of weather and flow conditions. Douglas is now evaluated every other year.
The ecological health of Douglas Reservoir rated fair in 2005. Douglas has rated poor in most previous years.
Douglas Reservoir Ecological Health Ratings, 1994-2005
Click chart for raw data.
The table below shows the ratings for individual ecological health indicators at Douglas in 2005. These ratings are briefly explained in the paragraphs that follow.
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Dissolved oxygen
Consistent with findings from previous years, dissolved oxygen levels at both the forebay and mid-reservoir sites were very low during the summer, especially in the bottom half of the water column. TVA has installed aeration equipment to add oxygen to the deep water near the dam and to improve conditions downstream from the dam in the French Broad River. Learn more about these improvements.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll rated good near Douglas Dam and poor at the mid-reservoir monitoring location. Summer chlorophyll averages are generally higher at the mid-reservoir site, rating poor to “low fair” in most years. Summer chlorophyll averages at the forebay indicate a trend of increasing from 1991 to 2005, but ratings have been variable, rating good, fair, or poor. Rainfall and the resulting runoff have played a significant role in year-to-year variation.
Fish
The fish community rated good at both the forebay and mid-reservoir monitoring locations. As in previous years, TVA collected a good number and variety of healthy fish.
Bottom life
Bottom life rated poor at both monitoring locations. As in previous years, TVA found relatively few animals in samples collected from the reservoir bottom, mainly those capable of tolerating poor conditions.
Sediment
Sediment quality rated good at both locations. Low levels of chlordane, a pesticide previously used to control termites and crop pests, were detected in sediment samples from the mid-reservoir monitoring location in previous years, causing sediment quality to rate fair.
Swimming advisories
TVA has not issued any swimming advisories for Douglas Reservoir. The state of Tennessee has issued a bacteriological advisory for Leadvale Creek, a tributary stream of Douglas Reservoir.
E. coli bacteria levels in samples collected in 2007 were within the state of Tennessee’s guidelines for water contact.
The following sites were sampled in 2007:
Site Name |
Location |
County |
State |
|---|---|---|---|
Douglas Dam Reservation Beach |
Flat Creek Mile 0.8 |
Sevier |
TN |
Dandridge Municipal Park Beach |
French Broad River Mile 45R |
Jefferson |
TN |
Shady Grove Boat Ramp |
French Broad River Mile 37R |
Jefferson |
TN |
TRWA Boat Ramp at Walters Bridge |
French Broad River Mile 64 |
Cocke |
TN |
Moon Hill Bridge Swimming Area |
French Broad River Mile 41.0, Muddy Creek Embayment |
Jefferson |
TN |
The state of Tennessee has issued a bacteriological advisory for Leadvale Creek, a tributary stream of the reservoir. The advisory is from Douglas Reservoir to the headwaters (1.5 miles). For more information, go to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Fishing and Bacteriological Advisories.
Fish consumption advisories
There are no fish consumption advisories for Douglas Reservoir. TVA collected channel catfish and largemouth bass from the reservoir for tissue analysis in fall 2003. The results, which were similar to those of previous years, were provided to state agencies in Tennessee. TVA will analyze fish from the reservoir again in autumn 2007.
