KNOXVILLE, Tenn.­­ — The Tennessee Valley Authority is partnering with the Duck River Development Agency (DRDA) on a plan to protect public water supplies in the event of a drought.

TVA and the DRDA are preparing an environmental assessment to consider various alternatives for water releases from Normandy Dam, which would affect water flows on the Duck River below the dam, during drought conditions.

TVA is currently seeking the public’s input on the scope of what should be considered in the environmental assessment of the Duck River Regional Drought Management Plan.

The reservoir and river are important for numerous municipal water supplies in the region. The agencies began working together on a plan to minimize drought impacts after severe drought conditions in 2007 and 2008. TVA is also considering ways to improve its schedule for water releases from Normandy to meet necessary flows downstream.

Under current operation of Normandy Reservoir, TVA provides minimum flows of 155 cubic feet per second from June through November, and 120 cubic feet per second from December through May, at Shelbyville, which is 28 river miles downstream of the dam. In addition, TVA’s current guidelines for Normandy Reservoir require pool elevations of 875 feet from June through November, and 864 feet for flood control from December through May.

TVA and DRDA propose to revise flows as follows:

• Weekly average flow of 120 cfs for the period of December 1 through May 31, with a minimum flow of 100 cfs at any one time during this period;
• Weekly average flow of 155 cfs for the period of June 1 through November 30, with a minimum flow of 135 cfs at any one time during this period.

Normandy Reservoir water levels would not change as a result of changing normal water releases.  For more information about the proposal and how to provide input, please visit: www.tva.gov/nepa.

Comments may be submitted through July 23, 2018 by email to Matthew Higdon at [email protected] and in writing to Matthew Higdon, NEPA Specialist, 400 West Summit Hill Dr., WT 11D, Knoxville, TN 37902.

            For more information about TVA and its 85-year mission of service to the Tennessee Valley, click here.

            For more information on the Duck River Development Agency, visit www.duckriveragency.org.