Tue
Dec 15 2009
08:01 am
If the good Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise...
By: R. Neal

...Neyland Stadium won't be underwater for the 2010 season opener. Scott Barker files this update on a TVA project underway to permanently raise the heights of four TVA dams on the upper Tennessee River system. Residents of communities along the affected waterways are expressing a variety of concerns.

As discussed here previously and in this latest report, TVA says the changes are needed because of updated rainfall computer models that suggest a greater risk of flooding. And oh by the way, TVA changed their reservoir operating policy in 2004 to, as I understand it, balance recreational and flood control needs while maximizing power generation and the flow of water needed for cooling at TVA's coal and nuclear power plants. TVA said at the time that it would not create any additional flood risk.

PREVIOUSLY: TVA to sandbag dams

Topics:
Terry Troll's picture

Question sir,

Submitted by Terry Troll on Tue, 2009/12/15 - 2:04pm.

TVA said at the time that it would not create any additional flood risk.

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...and we believe TVA because they are realllly nice people, right?

gonzone's picture

heh

Submitted by gonzone on Tue, 2009/12/15 - 2:34pm.

Be a shame to see all that fine lakefront property go under water now, wouldn't it?  :-)

Can we start with Tellico?

 

"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"

rikki's picture

What's the life expectancy

Submitted by rikki on Wed, 2009/12/16 - 10:26am.

What's the life expectancy of a dam? Who decided the "probable maximum flood" makes a good engineering specification? When there were really bad floods in Wisconsin a couple years ago, a small tributary hit the PMF level, a few hit 500-yr flood stage but the main channel didn't reach a 100-yr flood. Planning for a PMF in the main channel of the Tennessee is folly. TVA might as well launch a zoological division and start keeping two of everything.

smalc's picture

What's the life expectancy

Submitted by smalc on Wed, 2009/12/16 - 10:52am.

What's the life expectancy of a dam?

For concrete dam the controlling factor is usually sedimentation.

Who decided the "probable maximum flood" makes a good engineering specification?

Just about everyone on the planet that has anything to dam design.

rikki's picture

What's the sedimentation

Submitted by rikki on Wed, 2009/12/16 - 12:13pm.

What's the sedimentation rate in Fort Loudoun Lake? How long until it has lost half its capacity to sediment?

WhitesCreek's picture

AS I look out over the

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Wed, 2009/12/16 - 11:47am.

AS I look out over the confluence of the Emory and Clinch rivers at the billion dollar plus remediation effort that will take years and never really be complete, let me just say that I totally trust TVA engineering and wish only that all TVA executives be required to live in magnificent housing at the base of these dams.

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