Tims Ford Dam Release Water Quality Improvements

Franklin County, Tennessee

TVA requests your comments on a draft environmental assessment (EA) of proposed changes to releases of water from Tims Ford Dam. The proposed changes would improve habitat conditions for two endangered species, the boulder darter and cracking pearlymussel. They should also benefit five other endangered species and two species which are candidates for listing as endangered or threatened.

The EA considers two alternatives: 1) the No Action Alternative of continuing to operate Tims Ford Dam under historic multi-use guidelines established when the project was completed in 1970, as modified over the years to include minimum flow releases; and 2) an Adaptive Management for Multi-use Action Alternative. Under the Action Alternative, TVA would change flows in the Elk River downstream of Tims Ford Dam from May through mid-October to more closely resemble natural stream flows and water temperatures, which would improve habitat conditions for native fish and mussels. This would be done by a combination of spilling, sluicing, and hydroelectric generation. TVA proposes to implement these changes in 2008 and they would not affect the water levels in Tims Ford Reservoir. The changes are proposed in response to a recent evaluation and consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the effects of operating the TVA reservoir system on endangered and threatened species.

Please provide your comments on this proposal to Tina Tomaszewski at the address below by May 25, 2008.

Documents

PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader .

Draft Environmental Assessment (PDF, 2.2 mb)

Contact Information

Submit comments, requests for more information, and requests for a printed copy of the DEA to:

Tina M. Tomaszewski, NEPA Resources
Tennessee Valley Authority
1101 Market Street, LP 5U
Chattanooga, TN 37402
tmtomaszewski@tva.gov
Phone: 423-751-7291