Dry Conditions Affect Recreation Releases on Hiwassee River

May 24, 2007

FARNER, Tenn. -- TVA will release less water than planned from Apalachia Reservoir for whitewater recreation on the Hiwassee River because of the lingering dry conditions.

Recreation releases will be provided daily beginning with the Memorial Day weekend as previously announced, but the volume and duration of flow will be reduced until rainfall returns to more normal levels.

Since January, average rainfall in the Tennessee Valley above Chattanooga has been 11.1 inches - 53 percent of normal. The four-month period from January through April 2007, was the second driest such period in 118 years.

TVA staff met with Hiwassee River outfitters to develop a revised schedule for recreation releases from Apalachia Reservoir for May and June. Another meeting is planned in mid-June to evaluate whether the July and August release schedules will need to be modified.

Up-to-date release schedules are available on TVA’s web site.

“The reservoir operating policy adopted by TVA in 2004 increases the priority placed on providing recreation releases,” said TVA Senior Vice President of River Operations Janet Herrin. “We’ve had to reduce recreation releases on the Hiwassee because of the dry conditions, but we are doing our best to minimize the impact on whitewater enthusiasts. We are committed to providing scheduled releases so paddlers, anglers and other stakeholders will know when they can count on whitewater flows.”

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 8.7 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Media Contact

Barbara Martocci, (865) 632-8632
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

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