Chattanooga Times Free Press:

The agency will spend $8 million to place temporary cages of sand atop the sides and embankments of Watts Bar, Fort Loudoun, Tellico and Cherokee dams, Mr. Bach said.

According to the article, the work will be completed by Jan. 1 due to concerns about the "highly unlikely" potential for massive flooding if heavy rains overtop the dams.

Don't they have sluice gates? What is TVA not telling us? Why the sudden urgency after all these decades? Would we have even heard about this if it weren't for the fact that people driving over Ft. Loudoun Dam might notice the sandbagging? Does anyone trust anything TVA says any more? /tinfoilhat

UPDATE: The Maryville Daily Times has more details in this article. Once you get past all the rigamarole, the last paragraph offers a clue as to what really might be going on:

The higher predicted flood levels are the result of improved data gathered in part from experience gained during large storms, revised analysis of spillway water flow rates at dams and higher initial reservoir levels in TVA's new reservoir operating policy.

Emphasis added.

TVA adopted a new reservoir operating policy in 2004, allowing for higher winter reservoir levels. At the time, it was determined there would be no increased flood risk under the new policy.

TVA's Record of Decision on the new policy states with regard to flood control:

Based on the results of the flood risk analysis, TVA has decided to raise winter flood guides and winter operating ranges on Blue Ridge, Boone, Chatuge, Cherokee, Douglas, Fontana, Hiwassee, Norris, Nottely, South Holston, and Watauga. Additionally to better protect against the risk of flooding for all main river projects (with the most benefits realized at Chattanooga), TVA will slow the filling of the three upper mainstem projects (Fort Loudoun/Tellico, Watts Bar, and Chickamauga) to reach the summer operating zone by early May.

[..]

Based on computer simulations, the Preferred Alternative is not expected to increase flood damage associated with flood events up to a 500-year magnitude at any critical location within the Tennessee Valley, including Chattanooga. Rather, with the slowed filling of the three upper mainstem reservoirs, flood risk protection should be increased for locations on all of TVA’s mainstem reservoirs, including Chattanooga. The Preferred Alternative will increase the minimum depth of the Tennessee River navigation channel at two important locations and will maintain power system reliability while lessening impacts on the delivered cost of power compared to other alternatives.

So instead of revising the policy based on the new computer models and data, they're going to pile sandbags on top of the mainstream dams?