Boone project manager Sam Vinson, TVA senior water resources specialist Shannon O’Quinn and TWRA representative John Hammonds provided updates for both TVA stakeholders and the media earlier this month on the status of the Boone Dam Project.
Vinson said that more than 170,000 tons of rock has been placed on both sides of the dam to fortify the dam during construction. Berm construction is expected to be completed by June 1. Vinson said TVA is currently in procurement for the cutoff wall contractor.
The cutoff wall is the primary element for the composite seepage barrier that also includes instrumentation, grouting, rock berms and all other supporting structures.
“We anticipate having a partner ready to start work this fall,” he said. “We will be able to provide the public with a definitive schedule estimate at that time.”
TVA has an internal committee reviewing supplemental vegetation management. O’Quinn talked about an online brochure—developed in conjunction with other agencies—that provides guidance for homeowners who want to clean up vegetation on their properties. Find it online at www.tva.com/Newsroom/Boone-Dam-Project/Boone-Exposed-Lakebed-An-Owners-Guide.
Homeowners should remember that while the lakebed may look like part of the backyard, everything below the ordinary high water mark is under the jurisdiction of five government agencies. The TVA, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) all have a vested interest in activities that take place on the lakebed.
So before venturing out onto the lakebed this spring to clear brush, trees or do any sort of landscaping, homeowners are urged to consult the online brochure.
