Tellico Reservoir

Ecological health rating

Tellico Reservoir rated at the low end of the fair range in 2007. Tellico has rated either poor or at the low end of the fair range consistently, except in 2004 when it scored slightly higher due primarily to improved chlorophyll concentrations.

TVA monitors two locations on Tellico Reservoir (the deep, still water near the dam and the middle part of the reservoir), usually on a two-year cycle.

Tellico Reservoir Ecological Health Ratings, 1994-2007

Click chart for raw data.

The table below shows the ratings for individual ecological health indicators at Tellico in 2007. These ratings are briefly explained in the paragraphs that follow.

Monitoring locations	Dissolved oxygen	Chlorophyll	Fish	Bottom life	Sediment
Ecological Health Indicators at Tellico Reservoir, 2007
Forebay	Poor	Poor	Fair	Poor	Good
Mid-reservoir	Good	Poor	Fair	Poor	Good
Dissolved oxygen Dissolved oxygen rated good at the mid-reservoir location and poor at the forebay due to low concentrations near the bottom of the reservoir. Dissolved oxygen ratings at the forebay have fluctuated between good, fair, and poor. Weather conditions and related changes in reservoir flows are a major factor in the differences that arise from year to year. Dissolved oxygen has consistently rated good at the mid-reservoir location. Chlorophyll Chlorophyll rated poor at both monitoring locations. Higher chlorophyll levels can be expected at the forebay monitoring location because of the exchange of water from the chlorophyll-rich forebay of Fort Loudoun Reservoir via the canal connecting the two reservoirs. However, concentrations were higher than expected at the mid-reservoir location given the nutrient-poor soils in the upstream watershed. The average summer chlorophyll concentration at this site has trended upward since the early 1990s. Fish The fish community rated fair at both monitoring locations. The fair rating is typical for this indicator because of reduced species diversity and density. Bottom life As in previous years, bottom life rated poor at both monitoring locations because few animals were found and most were capable of tolerating poor conditions. Sporadic low dissolved oxygen levels and cold bottom water are likely contributing factors. Sediment Sediment quality rated good at both monitoring locations. Sediment quality rated good in most previous years because no pesticides or PCBs were detected, and concentrations of metals were within expected background levels. The exceptions were 2001 and 2005 when slightly elevated concentrations of arsenic were found in the forebay, resulting in a fair rating for this location. See definitions of ecological health indicators and monitoring locations.

Fish consumption advisories

There is one fish consumption advisory for Tellico Reservoir. The state of Tennessee advises against eating catfish from Tellico Reservoir because of PCB contamination. TVA collected channel catfish and largemouth bass from the reservoir for tissue analysis in fall 2005. The results, which were similar to those of previous years, will be provided to state agencies in Tennessee. TVA will analyze fish from the reservoir again in autumn 2007.