TVA inspects river dams
Engineers and technicians work together to assess Little Bear Creek Dam Oct. 23.
Various instruments are placed throughout the dam to assess its needs and functionality.
The spillway is an important part of the dam that helps maintain the threshold of water.
Structures like the valve house and intake tower must be safely maintained for the efficiency of the dam.
Several engineers and technicians worked together Oct. 23 to conduct the inspection of Little Bear Creek Dam. According to engineer Kristen Smith, they held a meeting earlier that week to discuss the inspection, what they were looking for and potential failures the dam could exhibit.
“We walk every square inch of this dam looking for changes, potential issues and repairs that need to be done,” Smith said.
TVA representatives check everything from the spillway – which helps direct the water back to the river – to the embankment, to their instrumentation.
Various instruments record stats like the water level in the embankment. Senior specialist Scott Walker said all of these things work together to keep the water below the threshold so the dam doesn’t flood.
“We study risks, and it helps us determine where to spend money,” Walker said. “So we look at what could happen, the probability of it happening, solutions to the risks and how to reduce the risks.”
The formal inspection every five years isn’t the only time the dams are inspected, but it is the most in-depth analysis conducted, with everyone from structural engineers to geo-technicians on the job. It is all done in an effort to keep the dam safe and working efficiently and keep the surrounding communities safe.
