Brookfield Renewable Energy Group's Smoky Mountain Hydropower division will soon begin drawing down Chilhowee Reservoir to investigate a seepage problem at the dam. The drawdown is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8th and will continue until the end of October. The water will be lowered approx. one foot per day until it is lowered 40 feet.

All boat ramps will be closed and no boating will be permitted. All reservoir access above Abrams Creek will be prohibited. Day use areas will remain open.

More info in this public notice...

Brookfield operates a portfolio of renewable energy resources, including hydroelectric dams. They purchased Santeetlah, Cheoah, Calderwood and Chilhowee reservoir oprations from Alcoa's TAPOCA division and obtained a new 40 year operating permit in 2005.

The Canadian company, which has operations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Brazil, owns and manages 204 hydroelectric generating stations, 28 wind facilities, and two natural gas-fired plants. Their facilities have 6,707 MW of generating capacity and annual generation of 23,742 GWh according to their 2014 annual report.

Chilhowee Reservior was drawn down in 2008 to repair earthen parts of the dam, which was built between 1955 and 1957. For more info and some photos see our previous post, Disappearing Chilhowee Lake