TVA, Area Officials Celebrate Bear Creek Dam Upgrades

September 2, 2009

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. - Alabama public officials joined TVA representatives at Bear Creek Dam on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the dam located about 30 miles southwest of Muscle Shoals. TVA Senior Vice President of River Operations Janet Herrin introduced Alabama 4th District Congressman Robert Aderholt and other speakers at the ceremony, including State Sen. Roger Bedford, State Rep. Johnny Morrow and Franklin County Commissioner Barry Moore.

“The series of dams on Bear Creek is vital to this region’s infrastructure and its economy,” Herrin said. “The reservoirs provide critical water supply for local communities and create opportunities for outdoor recreation that support local businesses and economic development.’’

The restoration required removal of all topsoil and extensive reinforcement of the dam’s foundation. Many local workers assisted in the project, which TVA completed on schedule earlier this summer.

A special state-of-the-art concrete placement technique, called rolled compacted concrete (RCC), was used to repair the dam. The RCC process at Bear Creek “has been a testing and proving ground for other projects within and outside the Tennessee Valley,” Herrin said.

The project was completed with an excellent on-site safety record. No major injuries occurred over the course of the restoration, which took about 200,000 work hours.

The work required excavating 136,134 cubic yards of soil and 24,000 cubic yards of rock, 7,044 cubic yards of sprayed-on concrete to fill the eroded areas of the structure, and 190,000 cubic yards of fill to complete the project.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also creates economic development opportunities and manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

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Laura Smith, Knoxville, (865) 632-8287
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

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