The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently released the results of the 2 year long Reservoir Operation Study (ROS) that includes TVA staff’s recommended preferred alternative. The preferred alternative represents the TVA staff’s professional judgement on how TVA should change their operations to better meet the public’s interests in the Tennessee River Watershed. The public now has one final opportunity to comment on the ROS and the preferred alternative before the board of TVA makes a final decision on the operation of almost every dam in the TVA system for the next 10-20 years. If you like or dislike any part of the preferred alternative, a quick email sent to TVA could really make a difference. The preferred alternative is not set in stone, so take a moment to voice your concerns or praise by sending comments to: rostudy@tva.gov. It is just as important to write in support of things you like as it is to critique things you don’t like. For more information on the ROS and the preferred alternative, check out the TVA News Release at:http://www.tva.com/feature_rostudy/index.htm with links to the ROS itself, and the ROS Fact Sheet at http://www.tva.com/feature_rostudy/pdf/feis_factsheet.pdf.
American Whitewater began working on the Reservoir Operations Study as a means of affecting positive change on the management of the Upper Ocoee. Based on our in depth involvement, TVA invited AW to represent river recreationists on a steering committee called the ROS Public Review Group. AW staff attended meetings roughly once every two months and provided advice on how the ROS could best serve the public interest. While TVA shockingly refused to study the Upper Ocoee in the ROS, they did look at river recreation elsewhere and the preferred alternative proposes recreational enhancements on 5 other river reaches.
TVA has proposed scheduled recreational releases at:
Apalachia Dam on the Hiwassee River (Class II)
Norris Dam on the Clinch River (Class I-II).
Ocoee #1 Dam on the Lower Ocoee River (Class I-II)
South Holston Dam on the South Holston River (Class I-II)
Wilbur Dam on the Lower Watauga River (Class I-II)
Details of these releases can be found on pages 22 and 23 of Appendix B of the ROS Final Environmental Impact Statement: (http://www.tva.com/environment/reports/ros_eis/appendix_b.pdf)
In addition to these recreational releases TVA has agreed to maintain its current, recently revised minimum instream flow releases in all reaches, and to introduce a minimum instream flow into the Apalachia Bypass Reach of the Hiawassee River. Other changes include altered reservoir levels across the system.
American Whitewater is proud to have played a role in securing recreational and ecological benefits on these Class I-II rivers, and would like to thank all those who wrote comments in support of TVA providing more recreational benefits downstream of their dams. It is now time to show that commitment one more time, and write an email or a letter in support of these recreational enhancements, and any other changes you feel would benefit the TVA region. Nothing in the preferred alternative is certain until the TVA Board of Directors agrees to sign the Final ROS.