A mile long boom has been pulled across Douglas Lake upstream from Dandridge to collect the large field of floating debris that is accumulating there.
Douglas Lake is fed by the waters of the Nolichuckey, French Broad, and Pigeon Rivers. All three reached record flood stages, bringing debris from North Carolina and Tennessee into the lake. Trees, houses, campers, propane tanks, dead animals – anything scoured away by the flood waters is making its way down toward Douglas Dam. The debris field on Douglas is approximately one square mile in size and moving one mile per day downstream toward Douglas Dam.
To help contain the debris, TVA has deployed a one mile wide boom across Douglas Reservoir above the town of Dandridge. This is one of the largest boom deployments of its kind in TVA’s history. A boom is a floating barrier that captures surface and submerged debris in bodies of water.
The boom extends across the entire lake surface at Mile 11 at Swanns Shoals upriver from downtown Dandridge and will be in place until further notice. Deployment of the boom is intended to help protect water supply intakes and other infrastructure downstream of the debris mat and ensure TVA’s ability to continue flood control and normal operations at Douglas Dam.
Containing the debris allows more time for partner agencies and groups to explore options for removing the debris. Debris can include vegetation (trees, branches, shrubs), household items (garbage, glass, appliances, propane tanks), and construction materials (roofing, lumber), among others. Debris can be hazardous, with the potential to cause injury or death.
For the safety of the crews installing the boom as well as the safety of boaters, the public is advised to stay off the lake in this area until further notice. TVA Police along with officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be on the water patrolling to help ensure safety, and signage will be set up around the area of the boom.
