Tennessee Valley Authority
TVA To Host Informational Open House on Dam Modifications
September 9, 2011
KKNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority is hosting an open house to provide the public with information and to receive comments on proposed permanent modifications to Fort Loudoun and Tellico dams.
The modifications are designed to increase public safety and the structural integrity of the dams in case of a rare, extreme weather event.
TVA is hosting the meeting on Sept. 15. from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. EDT at the Louisville Town Hall, 3623 Louisville Road, in Louisville, Tenn.
The modifications, if approved, would replace temporary, sand-filled, wall-like structures TVA installed in 2008 atop earthen embankments at Fort Loudoun, Tellico, Cherokee and Watts Bar dams. The structures were designed to prevent water overtopping the dam during a probable maximum flood.
As part of TVA's ongoing dam safety program, the agency updated its modeling of maximum flood conditions based on extreme storm events. The river modeling indicates that the maximum floodwater elevations are higher than previously calculated. The permanent structures TVA is considering are above current dam heights and would be necessary only if water levels rose above both established 100- and 500-year flood elevation projections. TVA is not changing its flood control operations for floods up to and including the 500-year flood projection.
TVA staff will be on hand at the open house to answer questions about the proposed modifications, discuss concerns and receive comments. More information is available at www.tva.com/environment/reports/.
To submit comments, contact Kenneth Parr at kpparr@tva.com or by mail to Kenneth Parr, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St., LP 5U, Chattanooga, Tenn., 37402-2801. The deadline for comments is Sept. 30, 2011.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.
Media Contact
Travis Brickey, Knoxville, (865) 632-6263
TVA Media Relations, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000