TVA will hold an open house on Thursday, May 8 for people to learn more about the proposed work on the Chatuge Dam in Hayesville.
The open house will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Clay County Schools Cafeteria (behind Hayesville Middle School Gym and adjacent to Hayesville High School) at 205 Yellow Jacket Dr., Hayesville.
The public meeting on May 8 will focus on modification options to address an issue with the spillway at Chatuge Dam and the worked needed to help ensure continued safety of surrounding and downstream communities and safe operation of the dam.
According to a Notice of Intent published by TVA, evaluations conducted at the dam between 2016 and 2022 indicate “the risk of uncontrolled releases due to spillway failure exceeds TVA’s risk for dam safety.”
TVA will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to include a “no action” alternative and four “action alternatives.” The action alternatives would require a drawdown during the construction period. The maximum drawdown would be to an elevation of 1,908 feet, which is 10 feet below winter pool. Depending on which alternative is selected, the construction and drawdown period could be four to eight years.
“Residents, local officials, and business owners have expressed strong concerns about the potential economic impact of any extended drawdown, given Lake Chatuge’s importance to tourism and regional commerce,” Rep. Karl Gillespie stated. “My office is actively monitoring this issue and while TVA falls under federal purview, I remain committed to working with federal, state and local stakeholders to advocate for a solution that protects both public safety and our local economy.”
Public input
During the May 8 open house there will be visual displays about why the spillway work is needed and the options to address it as well as handouts with information on the project. There is no formal presentation scheduled for the meeting. Attendees can meet with project managers of TVA Dam Safety, representatives of TVA Natural Resources, and experts on the TVA National Environmental Policy Act process.
Public input on the project is being sought through May 28. Written comments can be sent to Erica McLamb, NEPA Compliance Specialist, 1101 Market Street BR 2C-C, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Comments may also be submitted online at: TVA.com/Chatuge or by email at nepa@tva.gov. The public can sign up for email updates on the project at the website.
In addition to the open house in Hayesville, there will be an in-person open house on May 13 from 5-7 p.m. at the Towns County Recreation Center, 150 Foster Park Rd., Young Harris, GA 30582
A virtual meeting will be held May 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
For more information and to read the full notice, visit tva.com/nepa; select Chatuge Dam Safety Modifications under the Open for Public Comment section.