“Blue Ridge Dam is safe. We are enhancing our safety system,” Mary Ellen Miller said last week.
Miller, Community Relations program manager for TVA, was responding to questions over a TVA update for winter reservoir levels.
That update said due to the significant population downstream of the dam TVA is “focused on reducing risks...to levels which are as low as reasonably possible.”
Several short term safety activities and a 2024 start date for any major construction if such were deemed necessary were listed.
Some concern arose from those who saw the update that a problem with the dam might exist. Miller addressed the situation more specifically to dispel any such concerns.
“As a national leader in dam safety, TVA takes dam safety seriously. We manage and maintain TVA’s 49 dams with public and employee safety as the top priority,” Miller wrote in an email.
“The project at Blue Ridge Dam is designed to address emergency warning needs in case of a catastrophic natural disaster, such as a major eartquake, and address other unlikely events.” Similar work has been done at other TVA dams.
Miller pointed out that TVA is continuing to work with state officials for approval of the siren warning system.
Fannin County commission Chairman Jamie Hensley pointed out that it was several months ago when county commissioners gave their approval to this system.
Miller said up to four sirens are planned downstream, with their exact location yet to be determined.
Other specifics of the enhanced safety work at the dam will include:
•Installing an instrumentation automation and notification system;
•Monthly engineering inspections;
•Increased frequency of non-engineering inspections of the dam (weekly now instead of monthly); and,
•Installing cameras to monitor the dam remotely.
These safety improvements fall on the heels of many modifications TVA has made at the dam over the years to ensure its safety, Miller said. Major work among those included reinforcing the penstock, and modifying the surge tank and intake tower to enhance their seismic resistance.
Meanwhile, the water level at Blue Ridge Lake is expected to stay within its expected elevation for this time of year.