TVA monitors Little Bear seepage
It was in early April that Tennessee Valley Authority Dam Safety engineers noted a small, muddy seepage below the Little Bear Creek dam spillway near Russellville. But after a month of investigation, TVA officials said they are confident in the cause and that it is not a reason for concern.
The dam, TVA spokesperson Jim Hopson said, remains stable and will continue to be closely monitored as an investigation continues. As a precautionary safety measure, the water level in the reservoir was lowered to 608 feet above sea level in April, the normal winter pool level for the reservoir.
“That allowed us to do additional investigation and detailed inspection,” explained Hopson, public relations manager for the TVA.
Hopson said the seepage appears to be caused by an issue similar to one several years ago on the opposite side of the dam. This background experience has given the TVA a good handle on the situation and informed plans for long-term addressing of the situation.
TVA plans to start slowly raising the lake level over the spring and summer to 615 feet, which is about 5 feet below normal summer pool, Hopson said, but higher than the 608-foot winter level.
“It won’t go all the way to its normal summer pool level,” Hopson iterated. “We are not going to discharge more (water) than is necessary from the reservoir.”
TVA will closely monitor and inspect the dam as investigation continues, and Hopson said any necessary corrective actions will continue. However, there is no risk to anyone downstream or any threat to those who wish to enjoy Little Bear in typical summertime activities.
“Those who are used to seeing the water level higher might not like it, in the sense that you have less water to (enjoy recreation),” Hopson said. But other than any potential slight inconvenience of slightly lower water levels, people should not see any impact.
Hopson said TVA has taken the slight seepage seriously because even a small leakage “could erode the foundation of the dam and eventually cause damage further down the road.” However, “we feel confident we have a good solution for dealing with that seepage.”
Hopson did advise boaters and lake-goers to use a little extra caution, with lower water levels, as underwater obstructions may be closer to the surface than usual.
