TVA inspects river dams

Every five years the Tennessee Valley Authority conducts a formal inspection of the river dams in the TVA system, and this year it was time for one of those inspections in the Franklin County system.

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.