Unusually heavy rains and high water levels resulted in the release of an unknown "sludge-like material" into the Ocoee River earlier in the week.
According to Public Affairs Officer Terry McDonald at the Cherokee National Forest office in Cleveland, heavy rains and high water prompted a release from TVA's Ocoee Dam #3, which sent debris and a heavy flow of "sludge-like material" into the Ocoee River from the "White Water Center on down." Mr. McDonald said that samples of the material were collected and sent out for analysis.
TDEC has taken over investigation of the event. We contacted them about the release and will let you know when we hear back.
The Ocoee watershed in the lower East Tennessee Copper Basin is impacted by pollution from area copper and sulfur mining operations going back to 1843.
Ocoee Reservoir #3 is on the EPA's list of impaired waters, and a recent TDEC statewide water quality status report identifies the primary pollutants as copper, iron, and zinc. The 2008 report also says that Ocoee #3 is "almost filled" with sediment and suspended solids.
The public health risks do not appear to be serious or immediate. An EPA human health risk assessment advised against consuming more than 31.5 grams (4.5 servings) of fish per month from Ocoee #3 because of mercury (presumably from other sources such as coal-fired power plant emissions).
But the report also says that "exposure to contaminants in sediment and surface water of the Ocoee River are not predicted to result in unacceptable levels of health risk to area residents, recreational visitors, or whitewater rafting guides."
There's no word yet, though, on what the sludge-like material from Ocoee #3 is or what pollutants it might contain.
UPDATE: TDEC initial report.
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Record level for the Emory
Although not unusual for the season, the Emory River hit a record high level for the date yesterday. The previous record high was 19,100 Cubic Feet per Second. For comparison, the Ocoee typically runs around 1,200 CFS during rafting season. From the graph of the river flow measured at Oakdale (still above some of the smaller tributaries like Clifty Creek but a good indicator for the spill location) The flow hit 25,000 cfs.
Questions will have to be answered about how much sludge got past the new weir. A certain amount has to be expected.
TN has turned in to a toxic
TN has turned in to a toxic waste dump.
I guess we'll hear more...
It's FDR's fault. Or: Don't blame me--I voted Hoover!
How big is this dam? It's #3
How big is this dam? It's #3 of how many? Are they numbered going downriver or upriver? Is it a power-generating dam or the one that regulates flow in the whitewater channel?
#3 is the dam most up river.
#3 is the dam most up river. It regulates releases for the whitewater area. I thought that was done mostly by sending water through the flume to the powerhouse or not, but I'm really hazy on details.
Edit: Here's the TVA webpage on this reservoir. (link...)
#3 is upsteam of #2 and #1.
#3 is upsteam of #2 and #1. #1 is the biggest. 3 is the second biggest. it is power generating primarily but of course they regulate how much is release for commercial use. in the summer, water is released from #3 about 30 days - just saturdays and sundays. water is released from #2 five days a week from memorial day to labor day. over 300,000 people raft on an 11 mile stretch each year immediately downstream of #3.
There are three, looks like
There are three, looks like they are numbered going upstream (from looking at the map). TVA says together they generate 67,000 KW of power. #3 provides whitewater for the Olympic section, and the rafting area from #2.
They were built a long time ago and look pretty primitive. There's a wooden sluice running from one down the mountain to its powerhouse, as I recall.
Here's TVA's info on the system:
(link...)
ETA: Reservoir #3 is 480 acres, #2 is 494. I believe Ocoee #1 is approx. 2000 acres.
Metal Release from Bottom
Metal Release from Bottom Sediments of Ocoee Lake No. 3, a Primary Catchment Area for the Ducktown Mining District
Link...The massive amounts
2002 planning report: (link...)
Coincidentally, this problem now appears to be "solved"?
I found this pretty good set
I found this pretty good set of Ocoee images on Flickr about a month ago.
According to 'flee the cities' the no. 1 dam was built in 1912.
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I know way too much about the Ocoee Dams
TVA charges us for our own water in order to have a whitewater mecca. Say what you will, the Ocoee rafting business has been an economic bonanza for several nearby counties.
We have to pay to run the Olympic course. It's worth it.
The sludge that got released is old mining sediment that filled in the reservoirs and gets flushed out from time to time. WE've been here before and nobody noticed or listened even though river people were screaming. Now it's different. This is very bad...and it's very good. Everybody's looking now. It's costing me tens of thousands of dollars in lost property values and more is property sales that have been lost, but...In the long run it's going to be worth it.
Suddenly, Everybody in America is an environmentalist. I welcome them to the fight.
TVA charges us for our own
TVA charges us for our own water in order to have a whitewater mecca.
Or, alternatively, the ratepayers don't subsidize the whitewater industry.
Ratepayers subsidize the
Ratepayers subsidize the Coal Industry and the Greater Energy Industry as well as paying for the final product.
What you missed was that the economic boom of that area now has branched out far beyond the small rafting industry. The rafting tourism is the catalyst and the cost of the lost generating capacity is a pittance, and yet TVA demanded the people pay for something they had taken from the people in the first place.
I know way too much about
I know way too much about the Ocoee Dams
Tell us more!
All of this reminded me of
All of this reminded me of this blast from the past...
To: TVA, From: God, Re: My river
SK Bubba, 7/17/2002 10:05:23 AM
thedailytimes.com - Boulder damages TVA flume; whitewater rafters may benefit
Sometimes mankind, and even TVA, needs to be reminded of their station in the universe lest we become too arrogant and self-important. In this case of sweet irony, TVA is served up a little reminder that they can't mess with Mother Nature and get away with it all the time, and maybe a little message from upstairs ("And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.").
Of course, it may have just been some yahoo rafters or outfitters with a stick or two of stolen dynamite, or even George Hayduke and the Monkey Wrench Gang. We may never know. But then again, they say God works in mysterious ways.
At any rate, it seems like appropriate payback for TVA for this:
TVA ENDS FREE WATER FOR EVENTS On Ocoee
That's great stuff, Randy
I was there for most of the fight to get water for events. Our savior was the late great Johnny Hayes, who just walked in the door at Dagger one day and said, "Educate me about this stuff." We talked, he listened, and the Olympics happened on the Ocoee. Ok, It was more complicated than that, but we had a TVA Director who had a broader vision than just delivering the watts.
Oh Johnny, Where are you now that we really need you?