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| | Monday, February 17, 2020
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TVA reminds boaters of reservoir dangers As a result of heavy rains recently, TVA is reminding boaters that reservoir levels are higher than normal, and many dams in the TVA system are generating or spilling water, creating potentially dangerous conditions. The power producer is actively working to prevent flooding across the system by moving water downriver to open flood storage capacity. Conditions on the Tennessee River and its reservoir system are volatile, at best. It’s not unusual for dams to spill at rates of up to a million gallons per second. This creates hazardous conditions for recreational lake users—particularly those who ignore horns and lights and signs meant to warn them away from certain danger and even potential deadly situations. “There is a lot of water moving through the system at a pretty good clip now, and I think that many people just don’t understand the tremendous power that water has,” says Todd Peney, director of TVA Police. “We’re seeing situations in which people are ignoring our warning systems, thinking that they can handle the water or that they know better, and that can lead to disaster.” The current situation could lead to boats being pulled over spillways and plunging hundreds of feet into roiling water. Or fishermen on banks losing their footing and getting sucked under the surface during generation, and kayakers in lifejackets losing control to strong undertows. “When the water is like this, you just can’t win—no boat engine can overcome the force of a dam spillway,” adds Peney, who has seen more than his fair share of drownings. “We’re seeing a lot of debris throughout the system, which is another danger. You can easily encounter a log that’s been swept out of someone’s yard or away from a dock, and that, too, can capsize a boat or knock a fisherman off his feet.” So be smart, be safe. Pay attention to water warnings, and always heed alarms when you’re in the water near dams.
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