Chatuge Dam Safety Modifications

Clay County, North Carolina and Towns County, Georgia

Chatuge Reservoir is located on the Hiwassee River. The reservoir is approximately 13 miles long and extends southeast from Chatuge Dam, located in Clay County, North Carolina, into Towns County, Georgia. Chatuge Reservoir is operated for many purposes, including flood damage reduction, power generation, water supply, recreation, and augmentation of downstream water flows. Chatuge Reservoir has a flood-storage capacity of 62,600 acre-feet between an elevation (El.) of 1918 and 1928 feet.

TVA operates Chatuge Dam according to seasonal curves that guide operations. The guide curve represents idealized target operations, with a low point of El. 1915 in the middle of February when flood risk is highest, and a high point of El. 1926 around Memorial Day. The flood guide varies from El. 1918 in the winter to El. 1926 in the summer; all volume above the flood guide is reserved for flood control storage. Thus, in a year with normal rainfall, the water level in Chatuge Reservoir varies about 10 feet (ft) from summer to winter to provide seasonal flood storage.

During its program of dam safety risk assessments and integration of dam safety industry findings, TVA concluded the chute slab of the primary spillway at Chatuge Dam is in poor condition. TVA determined that the potential for removal of one or more sections of the chute slab during a rare, extreme flood event poses a dam safety risk outside of TVA tolerances. TVA also investigated secondary sources of dam safety risk associated with internal erosion through the dam. TVA judged that the internal erosion risks were of lesser magnitude and within widely accepted tolerable risk guidelines.

TVA is evaluating the No Action Alternative and four action alternatives. Alternatives B and C would include rehabilitation of the spillway. Alternatives D and E would include construction of a new spillway. All alternatives include replacement of the Howell Bunger Valve. Alternatives D and E would also include dam bank stabilization. All alternatives would require a temporary drawdown of the reservoir during construction. The maximum drawdown would be 10 feet below winter pool elevations. Additional information on the alternatives and drawdown durations are described in the Notice of Intent.

Additional information can be found here.

Public Involvement

TVA has issued a Notice of Intent pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to consider the potential impacts on the environment associated with the proposal. TVA will prepare an EIS. TVA is seeking public comments on the scope of the review, alternatives being considered, and environmental issues that should be addressed.

Comments may be submitted online, by email to [email protected], or by mail to the TVA address below.  All comments must be submitted no later than May 28, 2025, to be considered. Please note that all names and addresses will be part of the public administrative record. 

Public Open House Meeting: TVA will be hosting two in-person public open houses and two virtual public meetings to discuss this project and provide an opportunity to submit comments.

Meeting Recording

May 6, 2025 

Public Open House Opportunities

May 13, 2025, in Towns County, Georgia, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET at the Towns County Recreation Center, 150 Foster Park Rd. Young Harris, GA 30582.
Format: Informational booths and materials. Access to subject matter experts. No formal presentation.

Virtual Meeting on May 15, 2025, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET
Format: Dam Safety and NEPA presenters with a Q&A session.
Register here.