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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Tennessee River and reservoir system operation and planning review: Record of decision, Tennessee Valley Authority

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5427763

The TVA Board authorized a study in September 1987 to determine whether TVA dams and reservoirs should continue to be operated as they have basically been for the last 50 years, given the changes that have occurred in the Tennessee Valley since the 1930's. The TVA Act directs TVA to manage the reservoir system primarily for navigation and flood control, and (consistent with those purposes) for power generation. Noting increased public demand for abundant supplies of clean water and for high quality recreation on the region's lakes and streams, the Board sought to determine how the reservoir system should be operated to meet the future needs of the Valley. Based on the comments received during the scoping process, two sets of alternatives -- releases and lake levels -- were developed and evaluated in the draft Environmental Impact Statement. A Notice of Availability was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 1990. TVA has decided to: (1) improve dam tailwater conditions by maintaining minimum flows below 16 dams and aerating releases below 16 dams to increase dissolved oxygen, and (2) delay unrestricted summer drawdown until August 1 on 10 tributary reservoirs to improve recreation and associated economic development.

Research Organization:
Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
TVA; Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN (United States)
OSTI ID:
5427763
Report Number(s):
TVA/PUB-90/9; ON: DE91015955
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English