TVA Changes Water Releases from Tims Ford Dam

June 24, 2008

Flows To Help Protect Mussels, Fish Downstream

WINCHESTER, Tenn – TVA is changing the way it releases water from Tims Ford Dam to help protect six species of mussels and fish in the Elk River that are on the federal threatened and endangered species list.

After consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, TVA will alter releases from the dam to help provide more consistent flows and stable temperatures near the dam and increase water temperatures further downstream. To continue to protect trout fishing TVA will release a mix of warm and cold water from Tims Ford Reservoir to ensure that the existing trout fishery is not adversely impacted by the changes.

“By reducing high flows and mixing cold and warm water we believe the trout will continue to prosper, while at the same time the threatened species will be protected,” said Peggy Shute, TVA manager of Heritage Resources. “TVA will try different flow rates and water temperatures to determine the best means of providing the correct habitat for all species including the trout and the endangered species further downstream.”

If rainfall increases water levels in the reservoir behind the dam, TVA will release additional water from the dam to meet its operating guide for reservoir levels. Any time TVA plans to increase water flow from the dam, either by generating power or by spilling water, the information will be posted on the TVA Web site. This information can be found at www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/.

TVA will continue to balance other benefits that the reservoir and dam provide such as recreation, flood control, water supply and power generation.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 159 power distributors that serve approximately 8.8 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.

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TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

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