Norris Lake almost at summer pool level
The TVA is expecting lots of moving water this week, according to TVA’s Scott Brooks. The levels on some lakes will already be at summer pool level due to the rainy weather.
“After record rainfall in 2018, we are seeing much of the same so far in early 2019,” said James Everett, senior manager for TVA’s River Forecast Center. “With above average rainfall totals on already-saturated ground possible next week, we are moving lots of water through the system to create as much storage as possible in our reservoirs while also limiting flows to protect downstream areas.”
Some areas can expect up to 10 inches of rainfall this week.
TVA has been monitoring this system closely since early last week and spilling or sluicing water from its tributary reservoirs – including at Norris Dam – to create more storage for expected rainfall. At the same time, TVA has been spilling water through all dams on the main stem of the Tennessee River to accommodate the tributary releases to come.
Once the heaviest rains arrive, TVA will use the storage space it has created in the tributary reservoirs to hold back water as it manages high flows along the main stem. Even so, the heavy rains expected could raise both tributary and main stem reservoirs to summer pool or above later this week.